The 2020 NFL Schedule is officially out, which means that the New England Patriots now know when they are playing their respective opponents.
One of the more exciting times of the NFL offseason has finally come to pass, as the 2020 NFL Schedule has been released and the New England Patriots as well as all teams and their fanbases know when they will be facing off against their opponents.
This is an especially intriguing time for the Patriots given how different the team will look going into the new season.
There are quite a few games where we will see the Patriots stacked up against elite competition, and how they fare in those games should give us an idea of just how much of a drop off we are getting from the Tom Brady era. It will be exciting to see what the newest members of the team are able to accomplish, along with watching the progression of second year players such as N’Keal Harry and Chase Winovich.
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For the first time in a long time New England is not among the Super Bowl favorites going into the season, but if they find a way to win the following games then they may be able to change the narrative.
Week 2 @ Seattle Seahawks, September 20th
One of the most difficult games of the year for the New England Patriots will come very early, as they will travel to CenturyLink Field to face the Seattle Seahawks for a primetime showdown in just the second week of the season.
The Patriots and Seahawks played some memorable games in the 2010s, having met during the Legion of Boom’s ascendance in 2012, again two seasons later for a legendary Super Bowl, and a third time in a nail biter at Gillette Stadium in 2016.
Even when the Patriots were at their best, the Seahawks lead by Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson gave them trouble. Without Tom Brady at the helm, it will be an even bigger challenge. This game will be a great test for the beginning of a new age in New England.
How will a generally younger Patriots defense handle Wilson? How will an inexperienced quarterback handle the famed home field advantage that Seattle has benefitted so much from over the years? The way the Patriots play in this game could tell us a great deal about how their season will go.
Week 4 @ Kansas City Chiefs, October 4th
Yet another tough matchup early in the season comes in the form of a trip to Arrowhead Stadium, where the New England Patriots will taking on the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs are the defending Super Bowl champions and have brought back almost their entire starting core with eyes on a repeat.
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The Chiefs have a record of 1-2 against the Patriots with Patrick Mahomes under center, but this will be the first time Mahomes faces a Patriots team without Tom Brady. Even the most opportunistic Patriots fan would probably admit that seeing them come out of this game with a win would be miraculous.
With that said, it’s not so difficult to doubt that Bill Belichick will have a plan for Mahomes and company. While the Patriots have been able to slow down Mahomes in the past, shutting him down is borderline impossible. It will likely take a herculean effort in all three phases of the game in order to emerge victorious.
Whenever Andy Reid is the coach on the opposing sideline, it’s safe to assume the game will be competitive throughout. The Patriots are definitely the underdogs in this one, but they are probably fine with that.
Week 7 vs. San Fransisco 49ers, October 25th
The New England Patriots will do battle with another elite NFC West team when they face the 49ers at home in week 7. This game will mark the first time that quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo faces the Patriots after they traded him to the 49ers during the 2017 season.
Garoppolo’s return to Foxborough will be the headline, but the biggest issue for the Patriots in this game is how they will handle the vaunted defensive line of the 49ers, which was the key to their Super Bowl appearance last season. They ranked top 10 or better in sacks, pressures, and hurries.
The 49ers did lose All-Pro defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, as they traded him to the Indianapolis Colts. However, they immediately filled that void by drafting Javon Kinlaw in the first round of the NFL draft to line up with Nick Bosa, Dee Ford, and Arik Amstead.
The 49ers might have the best defense the Patriots will face in 2020, as they are well rounded from top to bottom. Points will likely be at a premium in this game.
Week 10 vs. Baltimore Ravens, November 15th
The New England Patriots will take on Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens in Gillette Stadium at about the midway point through the season. The first time the Patriots played against Jackson was last year, and like many other teams they had a rough time trying to defend him.
Last season the Ravens finished with the best record in the AFC but ultimately failed to get out of the divisional round of the playoffs, losing to the Tennessee Titans. They will certainly be looking for redemption and are expected to be just as dangerous in 2020.
Bill Belichick might need to have a few new tricks up his sleeve in order the Patriots’ defense to defend Jackson better than they did last year. If they are able to slow him down it could be a very interesting game.
By this point in the season we will have a better idea of just how good this Patriots team is, but even if they exceed our expectations this will be a game that draws a ton of eyeballs.
Week 14 @ Los Angeles Rams, December 10th
The last time the New England Patriots squared off against the Los Angeles Rams was Super Bowl LIII, a defensive battle that resulted in New England hoisting their sixth Lombardi trophy. In order to beat the Rams again, the Patriots will once again need to play stellar defense.
The Rams are coming off a bit of a down year, going 9-7 in 2019 and missing the playoffs. Surely they will be motivated to bounce back, and are likely seeking some revenge for the Super Bowl loss they were handed by New England.
Sean McVay is still one of the best young coaches in the NFL and should have some new wrinkles for the Patriots to deal with. It will also be fascinating to see how Rams quarterback Jared Goff is doing at this point in the season as well, considering how much of a drop off he had last year.
This could be a pivotal game for both teams given how late into the season it will take place. Odds are, at least one of these teams will still be in playoff contention by this point.