Patriots get five prime-time game slots

The Patriots will defend their Super Bowl championship throughout a regular-season schedule loaded with prime-time games and manageable travel.

The NFL on Wednesday released its regular-season schedule for all 32 teams and all 256 games. The Patriots will play in five prime-time games, starting with their season opener against the Steelers on “Sunday Night Football” Sept. 8.

New England did miss out on being featured in the kickoff game, usually hosted by the defending Super Bowl champion. This year, though, the Thursday night kickoff game will be in Chicago as the Bears host the Packers Sept. 5. The matchup is a nod to the league’s oldest rivalry in recognition of the NFL entering its 100th season.

A pair of New England’s most anticipated games of the year — a Week 11 battle against the Eagles and a Week 14 game against the Chiefs in a rematch of the AFC Championship Game — will both be at 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS.

The emerging Browns will be showcased with three prime-time telecasts. Last year, the Browns had only one prime-time game, a Week 3 Thursday game, though each team is required to play at least one Thursday night game each season. In Week 2, the team will travel to face the Jets on “Monday Night Football.” The last time Cleveland was in a Monday night game was Nov. 30, 2015. The Jets and Browns also played in the first Monday Night game, Sept. 21, 1970.

Cleveland reloaded its roster this offseason, most notably with the trade for star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. The Browns also added defensive end Olivier Vernon (trade with Giants), Sheldon Richardson (free agency) and safety Morgan Burnett (free agency).

Four games will be in London: Oakland-Chicago, Oct. 6 at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium; Tampa BayCarolina, Oct. 13, also at Tottenham; the L.A. Rams-Cincinnati, Oct. 27, Wembley Stadium; JacksonvilleHouston Nov. 3, Wembley.

On Nov. 18 in Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium, Kansas City will meet the L.A. Chargers.