New England Patriots fans won't have to wait long until the NFL schedule is released in full on May 14th. This schedule will include the season opener, the first look at Mike Vrabel, and a plethora of new Patriots brought in during this offseason, which will be a highly anticipated game as the new era of Patriots football begins.
It will also include all of the primetime games, which the Patriots had one of last season, on Thursday Night Football in Week 3 against the Jets. Given the moves New England made across the roster and coaching staff, they could be playing on primetime more than once in 2025.
While the schedule with dates and times of games has yet to be released, the Patriots do know all of the opponents they'll be facing this season. The list of opponents reads like this.
- Home: Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, New York Giants, Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Las Vegas Raiders
- Away: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans
As Patriots fans try to come up with record predictions ahead of the season, all can agree that this schedule looks a bit easier than the 2024 schedule. It also includes a matchup with the Tennessee Titans, the team Mike Vrabel coached from 2018-2023.
A last-place finish in the AFC East means New England will face more bottom-dwellers this season. The Raiders, Browns, Titans, Giants, and Saints all finished last in their respective divisions in 2024, and most have more question marks than the Patriots do. While every game is winnable in the NFL, the Patriots will want to win a majority of these five matchups if they want a chance at making the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
The Patriots' retooling of their defensive personnel points toward a more stout unit this season, with new additions headlined by Milton Williams and Carlton Davis, and while the defense should be causing more havoc this season, a tough matchup presents itself on the road against this AFC North opponent.
On the other hand, the new-look Patriots offense should be able to score points on said opponent, making for a high-scoring affair whenever these two teams square off in 2025.
Patriots-Bengals Game Most Likely to be a Shootout
Everyone remembers Week 1 of the 2024 season. The Patriots snuck away with a win in Cincinnati, beating the Bengals 16-10 in Jerod Mayo's first game as coach. It was an ugly game from an offensive standpoint, much like every Patriots game in 2024, with Jacoby Brissett only throwing for 121 yards. Rhamondre Stevenson carried the load with 120 yards and a touchdown on the ground, and the Bengals' struggles continued after, as they started the season 0-3.
This season, I expect much more of a shootout given the Bengals' inability to defend the pass, paired with the Patriots' defense having a tough time stopping the Bengals' own aerial attack.
Joe Burrow led his offense to ninth in yards per game and sixth in points scored last season. Burrow, paired with one of the best receiving duos in the league in Chase and Higgins, poses problems for any defense as they have been among the most productive offenses over the past few seasons.
Chase Brown is a solid young running back who can do it all, as he totaled over 1,300 yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns last season, another player the Patriots will have their hands full with.
It's a whole different story on defense for the Bengals, who allowed the 12th most passing yards and 14th most rushing yards to opposing offenses last season. The defense remained a big problem all season, especially in the secondary, and was a big reason why they missed the playoffs at 9-8.
This offseason, Cincinnati has lost some key pieces on defense and could be losing their All-Pro pass rusher, Trey Hendrickson, if the two sides cannot work out a new contract. The team also lost their captain, linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither, in free agency, and Sam Hubbard retired.
For the Patriots, they have a cornerback room of Gonzalez and Davis that can cause problems for Chase and Higgins, but it would be a tall task to keep the two in check all game. Chase won the receiving triple crown with an extraordinary 127/1,708/17 stat line and is a top receiver in the league, while Higgins posted 73/911/10 despite missing five games.
The Patriots offense, with an improved offensive line and skill positions, should be able to score more than 17 points a game this season, especially against this Cincinnati defense that allowed the seventh-most points in 2024.
Depending on what week this game is scheduled in, these two offenses should be able to go to work. Drake Maye has gotten much more help this offseason, and can finally start growing into the star quarterback that New England fans envision him to be.
A full offseason of preparation with improved coaches and weapons on the outside could turn Maye from a rookie showing flashes into a true superstar in year two, and a date with Joe Burrow and the Bengals is a chance for Maye and this Patriots offense to show off their improvements.
Joe Burrow is as good as they come in the NFL, and has the supporting cast to put up 30+ points a game. Don't be surprised if the Patriots and Bengals combine for 60 points in their 2025 matchup, with the week to be determined.