Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
On Thursday, the New England Patriots found out their schedule for the 2013 season. The team will open up the season on the road with the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Sept. 8. They will also close out the season against the Bills, and that game is at home on Dec. 29.
The Patriots are scheduled for five primetime matchups including a Thursday night game against the New York Jets in Week 2. It could make for an interesting start of the season because of the short turnaround time. They will play each team in the NFC South and AFC North.
In Week 12 the Peyton Manning, Wes Welker and the rest of the Denver Broncos will come to Foxboro. Will the fans cheer Welker for his years of outstanding service or boo him for leaving town? I hope they give Welker a nice hand and then they can boo him every time he makes a catch over the middle.
New England will have to face Joe Flacco and the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens on the road in Week 16. It could wind up being a huge battle for playoff position.
The Patriots won’t have to do a whole bunch of traveling. The furthest west they have to go is to Houston in week 13.
The complete schedule is listed below. All times are Eastern.
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 8 at Buffalo Bills 1:00 p.m.
Week 2: Thursday, Sept. 12 New York Jets 8:25 p.m.
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 22 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1:00 p.m.
Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 29 at Atlanta Falcons 8:30 p.m.
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 6 at Cincinnati Bengals 1:00 p.m.
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 13 New Orleans Saints 4:25 p.m.
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 20 at New York Jets 1:00 p.m.
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 27 Miami Dolphins 1:00 p.m.
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 3 Pittsburgh Steelers 4:25 p.m.
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 10 Bye Week
Week 11: Monday, Nov. 18 at Carolina Panthers 8:40 p.m.
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 24 Denver Broncos 8:30 p.m.
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 1 at Houston Texans 4:25 p.m.
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 8 Cleveland Browns 1:00 p.m.
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 15 at Miami Dolphins 1:00 p.m.
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 22 at Baltimore Ravens 8:30 p.m.
Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 29 Buffalo Bills 1:00 p.m.
