It’s finally here, the much anticipated release of the 2017-18 schedule for the NFL. Teams and fans alike get an early look at the upcoming season and the matchups that come with it.
When it comes to the Patriots nothing is taken lightly, and this years schedule will not be taken lightly. While the Patriots dominate their division and have won two of the past three super bowls, it’s important to look at the pivotal matchups that could play a role in spoiling a possible perfect season.
As you can see, the schedule kicks off with a bang in a primetime matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs previously 12-4 will definitely be tough draw in a Sunday Night Football matchup at home. Immediately following, they head to New Orleans to take on Drew Brees and the high-powered offense. Luckily for New England, a defense that ranked eighth in total yards allowed and 12th in pass defense, they should be able to stifle the saints offense quickly.
After that, it should be easy sailing until week seven when Atlanta will stroll into Gillette in what should be an epic Super Bowl rematch. The Falcons will look to boost a defense that ran out of gas late in the closing moments of Super Bowl LI. It will be a close one, similar to the home loss against Seattle last year where it was too little too late and resulted in a 31-24 loss.
The NFL did New England a favor by granting them a bye week in week nine which happens to split their season perfectly in half. They take on the newly dubbed L.A. Chargers which should be an easy win heading into the bye week. This allows New England two weeks to prepare for a matchup at Mile High.
Bienvenido a Mexico!
Welcome to Mexico! That’s right, for only the second time ever the NFL will travel to Mexico where the Raiders and Patriots will duke it out in what should be another great game. The Raiders lost Derek Carr to a broken leg in the closing weeks last season and in turn ran out of gas, pun intended, barring any setbacks the Raiders should put up a fight. The Raiders, in a sense, are the bulls looking to thrash the Patriots but Belichick and Brady are the Matador with a red cape concealing what they are really going to do.
The final six games of the season are all divisional foes, with the exception of the week 15 matchup vs. the Steelers which is at Heinz Field this time around. The Steelers will look to avenge their AFC Championship loss. Rumors were whirling in the off-season that Big Ben was looking to retire, but he’s back and in full health, look for him to be lights out at home.
New England will look to make another run for the Super Bowl, and seem fully capable of doing so with this year’s schedule. The odds of a perfect season are slim, but possible, as there will be teams looking to foil whatever postseason plans the Patriots have.
