The Patriots in 2023 are at risk of missing the playoffs in consecutive seasons for the first time since before Tom Brady took over as their starting QB in 2001.
Bill Belichick did his team no favors in trying to reach the postseason last year, placing Matt Patricia in charge of an offense that largely regressed in 2022 after a promising start for rookie quarterback Mac Jones in 2021. The offensive dysfunction wasn't just limited to the field, either; Jones notably and verbally voiced his frustrations with coaches, leading to rumors of cursing matches with quarterback coach Joe Judge and a possible trade in the 2023 offseason.
Belichick directly addressed those issues on offense by bringing on offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien, as well notable free-agent weapons in tight end Mike Gesicki, running back James Robinson and receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Will those adjustments help the Patriots return to their former glory? Or will the Bills' continued dominance in the division — on top of improvements by the Dolphins and Jets — force New England to the bottom of the AFC East?
MORE: Watch 2023 NFL games with Fubo (free trial)
Here's everything you need to know about New England's 2023 opponents, including dates, times and TV information on top of schedule breakdown and projected win totals:
New England Patriots schedule 2023
| Week | Date | Opponent | Kickoff time | TV channel |
| 1 | Sept. 10 | vs. Eagles | 4:25 p.m. ET | CBS |
| 2 | Sept. 17 | vs. Dolphins (SNF) | 8:20 p.m. ET | NBC |
| 3 | Sept. 24 | at Jets | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| 4 | Oct. 1 | at Cowboys | 4:25 p.m. ET | Fox |
| 5 | Oct. 8 | vs. Saints | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| 6 | Oct. 15 | at Raiders | 4:05 p.m. ET | CBS |
| 7 | Oct. 22 | vs. Bills | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| 8 | Oct. 29 | at Dolphins | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| 9 | Nov. 5 | vs. Commanders | 1 p.m. ET | Fox |
| 10 | Nov. 12 | Colts (Frankfurt) | 9:30 a.m. ET | NFL Network |
| 11 | Nov. 19 | BYE | ||
| 12 | Nov. 26 | at Giants | 1 p.m. ET | Fox |
| 13 | Dec. 3 | vs. Chargers | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| 14 | Dec. 7 | at Steelers (TNF) | 8:15 p.m. ET | Amazon Prime |
| 15 | Dec. 17 | vs. Chiefs | 1 p.m. ET | Fox |
| 16 | Dec. 24 | at Broncos | 8:15 p.m. ET | NFL Network |
| 17 | Dec. 31 | at Bills | 1 p.m. ET | CBS |
| 18 | Jan. 6/7 | vs. Jets | TBD | TBD |
Patriots strength of schedule
The Patriots have the toughest schedule of any NFL team in 2023, based on metrics from Sharp Football Analysis. New England's opponents in 2023 have a combined 127-107-3 record (53.5 winning percentage) from last season, including:
- Nine teams with a record of .500 or better
- Five teams with double-digit wins
- Seven playoff teams
- Three divisional winners
- Both Super Bowl 57 participants
MORE: Which NFL teams have the easiest, hardest strength of schedule in 2023?
Toughest tests: Regardless of where the game is played, facing both the Chiefs and Eagles in the same season seems like a Herculean task, as does a home-and-home with the Bills — the three teams with the best NFL record from 2022. Two games that could determine the course of the season — Giants and Cowboys — are both on the road. The Jets have a new quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, and it's possible Jones is now the worst quarterback in the division.
Biggest breaks: Is it a "break" to face both of the defending Super Bowl 57 participants at home? At the very least, the Chiefs and Eagles have to travel to take on the Patriots in Gillette Stadium. The Broncos, Raiders and Steelers — all road opponents this year — seem like winnable games, while New England also hosts the Saints and Commanders. The Patriots also needs to take advantage of the Colts game, which takes place in Germany.
Bottom line: Things won't get easier for Belichick and Co. in 2023 as they face the toughest of any NFL schedule this year. The Patriots will need to win some games in which they're not favored if they want to make the playoffs, but games vs. Bills, Chiefs and Eagles seem insurmountable at the moment. A resurgent Jets team could pose new problems in the AFC East, as well.
It's tough to count out a Belichick-coached team, and the offense should see improvement with a new coordinator in O'Brien. The Patriots must win the games they're expected to win, but the season could hinge on games at the Giants and Cowboys.
Record prediction: 8-9
