There is a lot of pressure on the Patriots to get back on track with a successful season in 2023, but their road will not be easy.
Because the team is projected to have the most challenging schedule across the league, New England will be put to the test consistently throughout the upcoming season.
From facing the current Super Bowl champions and their opponent to taking on the ever-improving AFC East rivals twice each, the changes Bill Belichick and Co. implemented in the offseason will prove to be enough to make a difference or not fairly quickly.
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- Buffalo Bills
- Denver Broncos
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- Miami Dolphins
- New York Giants
- New York Jets
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 1: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
What a way for the season to start, huh?
Not only will the Patriots be lucky enough to start the season at home, but against the reigning NFC Champions? And they'll be honoring Tom Brady during the game? That's quite a way to kick off the 2023 season.
The Eagles are a team that completely knocked the 2023 draft out of the park, securing nearly the entire title-winning defensive line out of Georgia. With a bulked-up defensive line, an improved secondary, and an explosive offense that comes with a crazy athletic quarterback, it's unlikely the Patriots get the win in this one.
Had this game happened later in the season, it may be a different story. We know how much Bill Belichick has stated that real football doesn't start until Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, the Patriots don't have that luxury against the Eagles this year.
Record: 0-1
Week 2: vs. Miami Dolphins on Sunday Night Football
Welcoming the Dolphins to Foxboro has historically gone far differently than when the teams meet down south.
Although the timing of this game can also help determine who may walk out the victor, the Patriots have kept the score close since Mac Jones took over as quarterback in 2021. The defense has been a consistent force against the speedy Dolphins' offense, with Tua Tagovailoa, Jaylen Waddle, and Tyreek Hill keeping all three mostly in check in their meetings.
This seems like a potential series to be split in the division, with the Patriots getting the win at home.
Week 3: @ New York Jets
Back-to-back divisional games early in the season can be good or bad, depending on how you view things.
The positive? You get an early look at your closest competition, preparing you for the next time you're set to meet again. But the negatives? Your chances of winning can be slimmer due to how early in the season you're playing each other.
Most media and New York fans have already decided the Jets are a team to be feared based on what we see of their team on paper. But the Patriots are not a team that goes into a game with a losing mentality, even if their quarterback is a future Hall of Famer.
It's obvious that playing the Jets twice a season now won't be easy with a Rodgers-led offense and a much-improved defense.
However, recent history (even with Mac Jones under center) suggests the Patriots can get the job done in New York or at home when facing their long-time divisional rival, making it difficult to choose against them for this game, especially with the uprise and improvements made to an already impressive Patriots defense.
Record: 2-1
Week 4: @ Dallas Cowboys
As one of the few teams that Mac Jones has already played going into the third year of his career, playing in Dallas will surely be challenging.
The last time the two teams matched up was a complete shootout, so much so it took almost an entire overtime period for the game to finally end. Although it's possible that could be the case this season as well, the Cowboys look far too improved for the Patriots to keep up. So they'll unfortunately leave Dallas with a loss.
Week 5: vs New Orleans Saints
This matchup will be one of the more exciting games of the season, mainly due to the dramatic facelift the Saints have undergone this offseason.
It may not be a Drew Brees-led team anymore, but they did acquire former Raiders quarterback Derek Carr through a trade earlier this year, ensuring their offense will be better than what has been seen since Brees retired a few seasons ago.
The teams last met in week three of the 2021 season, a game that saw James White go down with a season-ending injury after having an impactful start to the year. As both teams work through a rebuild post-game changing quarterback departures, it certainly makes for a much more difficult game to predict. But since I lean on the optimistic side, especially with the Patriots' defense, I think New England walks away with the win here.
Record: 3-2
Week 6: @ Las Vegas Raiders
Thinking about the Patriots playing the Raiders in Las Vegas again this soon after the nightmare game of last season is not for the weak-hearted.
Both teams look pretty different than the last time they met, but the Raiders are still considered the Patriots West, as they added even more former New Englanders to their roster this offseason. Former Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will now lead their offense with Brian Hoyer as his backup, and Jakobi Meyers will be vying for the WR2 spot under Davante Adams.
Like other teams the Patriots will face, Vegas picked up some good talent in the draft this year with top-ranked tight end Michael Mayer and EDGE Tyree Wilson. Mac Jones and the offensive line will have their hands even more full now with Wilson joining Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones, but this feels like a winnable game for New England regardless.
Week 7: vs Buffalo Bills
Last season, the Patriots were fortunate not to play Buffalo for the first time until week 13, giving them ample time to get settled into the season and establish themselves before playing their toughest divisional opponent. Although they lost both times in 2022, New England's offense and defense are better now than they were, and they actually had a much closer game in week 18 than most would expect.
With an improved run game, more weapons on offense and defense, and substantial upgrades made to special teams, it seems plausible the Patriots could get one win against the Bills next season, with it likely coming from the one played at Gillette.
Record: 5-2
Week 8: @ Miami Dolphins
The season opener against Miami last season was as memorable as it was forgettable.
Neither team established a run game nor looked fully prepared for their opponent throughout the day. But the Patriots turnovers made the real difference, leading to a first-possession interception and a fumble-returned touchdown in the first half.
Assuming that won't be their kiss of death this season, playing the Dolphins in Miami has always been challenging for the Patriots over the years. And unfortunately, despite the overall improvements, it's safer to believe they will lose this game, just as they have done so many times in the past.
Week 9: vs Washington Commanders
It seems like the Commanders have been a team in flux for a long time now, as they enter the 2023 season with continued question marks regarding their quarterback.
The Patriots haven't played Washington since the 2019 season, but it goes back to 2015 since they matched up in Foxboro. That certainly plays into New England's favor, if they can get back to holding home team advantage when playing at Gillette again.
Because there still hasn't been any determination about who will be leading the offense for the Commanders as of yet, and the options they do have don't pose much threat to the Patriots defensively other than possibly Jacoby Brissett due to his familiarity with New England, it seems safe to say the Patriots will get the win here.
Record: 6-3
Week 10: vs Indianapolis Colts in Germany
Typically, the gut reaction to seeing this game on the schedule would make you conclude an easy Patriots win, given how poorly the Colts have played over the last several seasons. However, with a great draft headlined by landing their new franchise quarterback, it may become a trickier outing for New England than initially anticipated.
The tallest task will come at the hands of the defense, as they will have to be far better at limiting mobile quarterbacks than they have shown in the past. Anthony Richardson is a freaky athlete and is bound to give any defense problems.
Still, if the Patriots can utilize their tried and true pass-rushers (Matthew Judon, Josh Uche, Ja'Whaun Bentley) along with their latest additions from the draft (Keion White and Marte Mapu), this could be another game added to the win column.
Week 11: BYE WEEK
Week 12: @ New York Giants
It's still an odd feeling to write about the Giants in a non-joking way since Brian Daboll has brought the team back from the dead since he was hired last year.
They made the playoffs for the first time in six years last season, and although they may have been eliminated in the divisional round, the strides they have made make them a bigger threat than they typically have been to the Patriots.
Even if that is all true, I believe the Patriots can win this game. They have the players to better stop the run, which will be a tremendous feat against a guy like Saquan Barkley, and the pass rush will have a field day taking down Daniel Jones. Plus, this game takes place right before the Giants' bye week; they will be exhausted, especially after playing seven road games in nine weeks.
This shouldn't be a difficult game to win if the Patriots' offense can play up to par with the defensen.
Record: 8-3
Week 13: vs Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert has been quite a performer since joining the league in 2020, but he has had forgettable outings when going against the Patriots. And to make matters worse for the Chargers, they're playing at Foxboro, which the quarterback is yet to do in his career thus far.
It will be the first time J.C. Jackson returns to Foxboro since leaving in free agency last year, creating an interesting dynamic for the Patriots' offense to overcome. And the defense will need to be better at stopping the run, as Austin Ekeler can be an absolute menace on the field.
If they can consistently stop the run game and not allow the speedy receivers to define the game, this shouldn't be a game the Patriots can't win. Recent history shows they can do all of that and get the win.
Week 14: @ Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football
The Patriots just played in the Steel City last season, walking away with a narrow victory, winning just 17-14 in week two. Mac Jones and the Patriots' defense had pretty good performances in that game, but the Steelers have been a much different team since they last met.
With second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett set to be the starting quarterback moving forward, New England must prepare far differently than last season when developing a game plan against Mitch Trubisky. Plus, they lucked out with T.J. Watt missing the game due to injury, creating a much more comfortable atmosphere for Mac Jones, even with a depleted offensive line.
Assuming both teams will be healthy when this game happens (because you should never hope for the opposite), the pass rush on Jones will need to be dealt with immediately. And the defense will have its hands full with an offense made of talented receivers Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, and Allen Robinson, in addition to tight ends Pat Freiermuth and rookie Darnell Washington.
Because the task seems significant, believing the Steelers may be too much for the Patriots to handle doesn't seem completely unethical. But because of their last meetings and remaining optimistic, the Patriots get the job done in Pittsburgh once again.
Record: 10-3
Week 15: vs Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football
There's not much to say about this matchup; it screams Patriots L.
Not necessarily because they couldn't make it difficult for Patrick Mahomes to secure a win, but the Chiefs are a red-hot team coming off another Super Bowl win. It's difficult to bet against Kansas City ever.
Week 16: @ Denver Broncos on Christmas Eve
Denver is an interesting team as it goes through a transition phase for the second season in a row. Sean Payton came out of retirement to become the new head coach and hopes to bring back the winning culture to the once highly-decorated team.
Unlike other recently hired head coaches, Payton didn't dramatically change the roster upon his arrival, keeping Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton despite the rumors they would be on the trade block. With the few changes the Broncos have made, Russell Wilson has a better chance of returning to his old self, making the Patriots' job more difficult.
That said, though, this feels like a winnable game for New England. The teams haven't met since October 2020 and have a well-established rivalry, making it a bit of a toss-up. But the Patriots have a stout enough defense to shut down a potentially explosive Jeudy, even in Denver.
Record: 11-4
Week 17: @ Buffalo Bills
Because it has been a common theme over the last few seasons, the game in Buffalo is happening near the very end of the season.
Why must the league continue to punish New England like this?
Unfortunately for the Patriots, this is not the most fantastic news considering their poor history in recent years playing in Buffalo late in the year. So it's fair to assume the game won't go the same as last season, with Nyheim Hines scoring two punt return touchdowns on the day. But it also seems fair to assume the Patriots are taking an L here.
Week 18: vs. New York Jets
This certainly ain't Zach Wilson's Jets' anymore.
Generally speaking, no matter when the Patriots and Jets are set to face off, it seems like a fair assumption that New England will walk away with another win. But with the trade for Aaron Rodgers, along with the signing of all his Green Bay buddies and an increasingly tough defense, this may not be the walk-in-the-park game the Patriots have gotten accustomed to.
However, because it is a home game and (hopefully) there is still an advantage to that, the home team will walk away with the win in this one.
It has been a long time since the Bills have been a threat to the Patriots, but now they sit atop the AFC East with no end in sight for the divisional domination. Although I don't expect New England to be completely blown out in this game, the Bills are just too good at home to bet against.