New England Patriots 2018 home and away opponents released

FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 31: New England Patriots fans celebrate after the Patriots defeated the New York Jets 26-6 at Gillette Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA - DECEMBER 31: New England Patriots fans celebrate after the Patriots defeated the New York Jets 26-6 at Gillette Stadium on December 31, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /
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The New England Patriots home and away schedule for the 2018 season has been released.

Earlier this week, the New England Patriots received their opponents for the 2018 season. The Patriots will take on the NFC North and the AFC South along with their usual division opponents and AFC division winners.

The home and away opponents are:

HOME: Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs

AWAY: Jacksonville Jaguars, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bulls, and Tennessee Titans

The Patriots last took on the NFC North in 2014, finishing 3-1. The lone loss came against the Packers in a Week 13 game in Green Bay.

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Against the AFC South, the Patriots beat the Texans in a 36-33 thriller this year. They last played the entire division in 2015, finishing a perfect 4-0.

As for the division leaders, Kansas City, Pittsburgh and Jacksonville fall under that category. This year, New England lost in the season opener against Kansas City and beat Pittsburgh to help wrap up the No. 1 seed. A potential playoff matchup against one of these three teams is highly likely.

Breaking down the schedule, the Patriots have a number of exciting games and matchups to look forward too. If the Patriots go on to win Super Bowl 52 this year, the team would open the season at home yet again.

The NFL would have a number of great options. Opening the season with a potential Aaron Rodgers vs Tom Brady matchup, or perhaps with second-year phenom Deshaun Watson squaring off against Brady.

A Super Bowl rematch could also open the 2018 season if Minnesota meets New England in February. Kansas City and New England have also played in several exciting games over the past few years, but the league could shy away from that matchup as they opened the 2017 season.

As for the away games, Jacksonville and Pittsburgh appear to provide the biggest challenge for the Patriots. Both games have the potential to be a rematch of this years AFC Championship Game.

Next: Patriots Top 5 Plays Of 2017 Thus Far

Chicago and especially Detroit have the potential to be an interesting game as both teams currently have head coaching vacancies. If Josh McDaniels or Matt Patricia take one of those jobs, that would provide for a big storyline leading up to kickoff. The Colts also have the potential to have one of the Patriots assistants on their sideline next season.