Looking at the Patriots' 2026 schedule, there are several games that fans across the NFL will be looking forward to, and it's not just the ones that will be featured in primetime. Although most of those are projected to be among the best games of the season, a few that will only be shown locally could become game-of-the-year candidates.
Besides the shocking decision not to have either matchup with the Bills in primetime, the Patriots' AFC Championship rematch against the Broncos in Week 17 is already being circled on the NFL calendar.
Why is that? Because Denver quarterback Bo Nix suffered an injury that unexpectedly kept him out of the game earlier this year, and if all goes well, he will be on the field in Week 17 to finally match up against Drake Maye for the first time.
And because of that, Kay Adams has it as her top game of the upcoming season.
The Patriots have quickly become a team worth watching again for NFL fans
Considering how far down the totem pole the Patriots had fallen over the last six years, it's pretty incredible to see that they are set to have six primetime games this fall, and some of their other games are already being hyped just as much, if not more.
That includes the rematch with the Broncos, which has Adams excited about what we could see.
Here are @heykayadams' Top 5 Games of the 2026 NFL Season:
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) May 15, 2026
1⃣ Broncos at Patriots (Wk 17)
2⃣ Bears at Bills (Wk 15)
3⃣ Chiefs at Seahawks (Wk 7)
4⃣ Bengals at Commanders (Wk 11)
5⃣ Giants at Colts (Wk 12) pic.twitter.com/6A8eyn2JnQ
Looking at her list, it says a lot about what Mike Vrabel and Co. have built in just one year to make it the most exciting game on the 2026 schedule.
Seeing that teams like the Bills, Chiefs, and Seahawks are further down the rankings proves just how far the Patriots have come with such a quick turnaround, while also confirming they are a team to properly prepare for and not overlook, as some teams have been doing in recent years.
Despite what the naysayers have suggested, New England earned their spot in Super Bowl LX, and although it didn't go the way anyone hoped, they are still a team to watch out for moving forward, which is why Adams has them topping her list.
Maybe it's more about seeing Nix finally take on one of his presumed AFC rivals for the next several years, or perhaps it's a little bit of both. Regardless, the Patriots are not a joke franchise anymore, and that's something we can celebrate, especially since their biggest competition is not happy about it in the slightest.
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