Eastern Maine Sports

With the draft a week away, the NFL has released their full league schedule and the defending championNew England Patriots face a tough road back to a repeat. 

The team that went 11-5 and looked like a shell of itself in the regular season hoisted their 6th Lombardi Trophy in February as they defeated the Los Angeles Rams 13-3.

Here are some tidbits to know as the 2019 Schedule is unveiled.

The Patriots will open up their season on September 8th on Sunday Night Football, as they raise their 6th banner against a familiar foe in the Pittsburgh Steelers.

They then go three straight weeks in row of facing AFC East opponents as weeks 2/3/4 are @Miami, home against the Jets, and @Buffalo.

Week six is when the Patriots will play their annual Thursday Night game as they host the New York Giants. 

Week seven is a visit to New York in the teams third of five primetime games as they face the Jets on Monday Night Football.

Week eight brings the young and upcoming Baker Mayfield and the Browns into Foxboro as they will play a 4:25 game on CBS.

Before the Patriots come into the bye week they must face another familiar foe but with a new QB at the helm, as they travel to Baltimore to face Lamar Jackson and the Ravens on Sunday Night Football.

That brings them to their bye week in Week 10.

Then comes a torrid four game stretch. 

Week 11 they travel to Philadephia in a Super Bowl 52 rematch with the Eagles at 4:25 on CBS.

Week 12 they host the Dallas Cowboys on FOX at 4:25.

Week 13 they travel to Houston to face Bill O’Brien and the Texans on Sunday Night. They end the stretch in an AFC Championship rematch when they host the Kansas City Chiefs in what could be a pivotal seeding game on CBS @ 4:25.

The Patriots will end the season by hosting the Miami Dolphins in hopes of making another long run in the playoffs.

Heres the Full Schedule