Looking at the Patriots’ complete 2021 schedule

The NFL released the New England Patriots’ schedule for the 2021 season — or they will. There have been leaks ahead of the announcement at 8 p.m. on Wednesday. That’s how we got a sneak peak at New England’s first-ever 18-week season.

The Patriots bookend their season with matchups against the Miami Dolphins. New England has, perhaps, their most interesting game of the season against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 4. And the Patriots have a pair of appointments with the Buffalo Bills in the final six weeks of the season. Will they be battles for the No. 1 spot in the AFC East?

Here’s a look at how the NFL put together New England’s schedule for 2021.

WEEK 1: Sep. 12: vs. Miami Dolphins, 4:25 PM (CBS)

Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

WEEK 2: Sep. 19: at New York Jets, 1:00 PM (CBS)

Rick Bowmer/Pool Photo-USA TODAY NETWORK

WEEK 3: Sep. 26: vs. New Orleans Saints, 1:00 PM (FOX)

Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

WEEK 4: Oct. 3: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8:20 PM (NBC)

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

WEEK 5: Oct. 10: at Houston Texans, 1:00 PM (CBS)

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

WEEK 6: Oct. 17: vs. Dallas Cowboys, 4:25 PM (CBS)

Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

WEEK 7: Oct. 24: vs. New York Jets, 1:00 PM (CBS)

(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

WEEK 8: Oct. 31: at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:05 PM (CBS)

(AP Photo/Steven Senne)

WEEK 9: Nov. 7: at Carolina Panthers, 1:00 PM (CBS)

(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

WEEK 10: Nov. 14: vs. Cleveland Browns, 1:00 PM (CBS)

(Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)

WEEK 11: Nov. 18: at Atlanta Falcons (Thu), 8:20 PM (FOX, NFLN, Amazon)

(Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

WEEK 12: Nov. 28: vs. Tennessee Titans, 1:00 PM (CBS)

Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

WEEK 13: Dec. 6: at Buffalo Bills (Mon) 8:15, ESPN

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

WEEK 14: BYE

Syndication: Nashville

WEEK 15: Dec. 18 or 19: at Indianapolis Colts, TBD

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

WEEK 16: Dec. 26: vs. Buffalo Bills, TBD

David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

WEEK 16: Jan. 2: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 1:00 PM (CBS)

(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

WEEK 17: Jan. 9: at Miami Dolphins, 1:00 PM (CBS)

(Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)

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