Breaking down every Pats matchup
The Patriots’ 2022 schedule is more than a slate of games.
It’s a road map to contention, a test of roster-building and pure, uncut competition with occasional side dramas all rolled into one.
Some Pats games will pack surprises, other playoff stakes. A year ago, many believed the Patriots’ 2-4 start with a rookie quarterback spelled doom for their postseason hopes. Instead, they ripped off a seven-game win streak that inspired talk of returning to the Super Bowl. But instead, the Pats limped into the postseason and got blown to smithereens in Buffalo, a sharp turn that dropped them back to the middle of the league’s pack.
Welcome to the NFL. Best to buckle up and on hold tight.
Here’s what to know about every matchup on the Patriots’ 2022 schedule:
WEEK 1: AT MIAMI, 1 P.M., SEPT. 11 (CBS)
The Pats are opening against Miami for the third straight season. This year, there’s a twist: they kick off in South Florida.
How the Pats handle the heat, not to mention the new offense installed by firstyear Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, should determine whether they start 1-0 or 0-1. Look for new Miami wide receiver Tyreek Hill to play a pivotal part.
WEEK 2: AT PITTSBURGH, 1 P.M., SEPT. 18 (CBS)
The first Pats-Steelers matchup of the post-Tom Brady era will also be Mac Jones’ first trip to the Steel City. But ignore the Terrible Towels for a second.
The Steelers’ pass rush, led by Defensive Player of the Year and All-Pro linebacker T.J. Watt, will decide this one. Pittsburgh led the league with 55 sacks last year. Facing a Patriots offensive line that replaced both starting guards this offseason, expect the Steelers to scheme interior pressure against Jones.
WEEK 3: VS. BALTIMORE, 1 P.M., SEPT. 25 (FOX)
Finally, some home cooking.
The Patriots’ home opener could hinge entirely on how well they contain Lamar Jackson, considering the Ravens’ weapons shouldn’t scare any opponent, even a secondary as depleted as New England’s. The Pats limited Jackson to 249 passing yards in their last meeting, a 2020 win that finished in a driving rainstorm. Safety Kyle Dugger led both teams with 12 tackles that night and should see plenty of Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews this afternoon.
Offensively, Jones and Co. will have their hands full against a blitz-happy Baltimore defense backboned by arguably the NFL’s best secondary.
WEEK 4: AT GREEN BAY, 4:25 P.M., OCT. 2 (CBS)
Bill Belichick vs. Aaron Rodgers. Need we say more?
WEEK 5: VS. DETROIT, 1 P.M., OCT. 9 (FOX)
By now, the Patriots should know what they have with their roster. The Lions shouldn’t have the firepower to hang in New England, though they will fight hard under second-year coach Dan Campbell. One major difference should be whether Detroit firstround rookie wideout Jameson Williams has recovered fully from his torn ACL.
Williams is a game-breaking touchdown waiting to happen.
WEEK 6: AT CLEVELAND, 1 P.M., OCT. 16 (CBS)
It’s unclear if Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will be suspended this season for his alleged sexual misconduct. If so, he could miss the first six or more games, based on past punishments for players’ off-field transgressions. In that case, the Browns’ top backup should be Jacoby Brissett, whose presence might install the Patriots as favorites.
WEEK 7: VS. CHICAGO, 8:15 P.M., OCT. 24 (ESPN)
Barring injury, Jones versus Bears quarterback Justin Fields will be the story entering the Patriots’ first prime-time game, a matchup of two first-round quarterbacks from the 2021 draft. The bad news for Fields is he may be surrounded by the worst offensive talent in the league. A Patriots blowout isn’t out of the question.
WEEK 8: AT NEW YORK JETS, 1 P.M., OCT. 30 (CBS)
It’s been a long time since the Patriots were scared down in the Meadowlands, but this might be the year, kicking off a day before Halloween.
This offseason, the Jets fortified virtually every position around second-year quarterback Zach Wilson, who boasts some of the best arm talent in the league. Defensively, New York also boosted its sad sack secondary, drafting cornerback Sauce Gardner fourth overall.
WEEK 9: VS. INDIANAPOLIS, 1 P.M., NOV. 6 (CBS)
The Colts believe Matt Ryan could be their missing piece as a dangerous playoff team, and there will be no better battleground for him to prove it than Foxboro. Ryan is 0-4 against the Patriots in his career with a 83.8 passer rating. Then again, if the Pats can’t stop Jonathan Taylor on the ground, it might not matter how Ryan fares through the air.
WEEK 10: BYE WEEK 11: VS. NEW YORK JETS, 1 P.M., NOV. 20 (CBS)
A home date with the Jets, particularly coming off a bye, should be the second-easiest win on the Patriots’ schedule after the Lions. And if they drop this one, they’re in real trouble.
WEEK 12: AT MINNESOTA , 8:20 P.M., NOV. 24 (NBC)
The Patriots will play on Thanksgiving for the first time in 10 years and kick off inside U.S. Bank Stadium for the first time since losing Super Bowl LII to the Eagles. A fun twist? New Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell was a Patriots third-round pick in 2008.
WEEK 13: BUFFALO, 8:15P.M., DEC. 1 (AMAZON PRIME)
Another Thursday game brings Josh Allen and Co. to Gillette Stadium, where they didn’t punt once last season in a de facto AFC East championship game. Like the Patriots, Buffalo will be coming off a Thanksgiving kickoff the week before. The only thing higher than the anticipation for this game could be the division stakes.
WEEK 14: AT ARIZONA, 8:15 P.M., DEC. 12 (ESPN)
Fireworks will fly in the desert, where All-Pro wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins will have returned from his suspension long ago and rejoined dynamic quarterback Kyler Murray, plus fellow weapons A.J. Green, Zach Ertz and Marquise Brown. Expect the Patriots to then stay out West preparing on a short week for the Raiders.
WEEK 15: AT LAS VEGAS, 8:20 P.M., DEC. 18 (NBC)
Talk about storylines.
A reunion with longtime offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels in prime-time makes this as juicy a matchup as there is on the schedule. How will McDaniels attack Jones, his former pupil? What will Belichick cook up to confuse Derek Carr, McDaniels’ new quarterback? And could one team knock the other out of the postseason race?
WEEK 16: VS. CINCINNATI, 1 P.M., DEC. 24 (CBS)
Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow gets to match wits with Belichick for the first time in his career on a Saturday night. But history will be working against him, considering the Patriots are 8-2 versus Cincinnati under Belichick and unbeaten at home.
WEEK 17: VS. MIAMI, 1 P.M., JAN. 1 (CBS)
The Patriots will ring in the New Year with an old foe. This time, the weather works in their favor, and a little snow may help negate the speed of Hill and 2021 Dolphins first-round receiver Jaylen Waddle.
WEEK 18: AT BUFFALO, TBD, JAN. 7/8 (TBD)
It’s possible the AFC East crown could come down to this game. But more likely? The Patriots are fighting for their playoff lives or positioning. If they’re lucky, they’ll catch the Bills, who are currently slated as Super Bowl favorites, resting a few starters.
NANCY LANE / HERALD STAFF FILE MAC JONES