New England Patriots 2021 Schedule Release: Analysis, Predictions, and More.

New England Patriots 2021 Schedule: First Half

Week One | 9/12/ 2021 | Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots

The Patriots will open the 2021 season at home against the Miami Dolphins in what should be an interesting season opener. The Patriots could be starting a rookie quarterback in Mac Jones depending on what happens with Cam Newton in training camp.  I am going to say that Newton has a good camp and starts the season.  The Dolphins are looking to win in Foxborough for the second time in three seasons.  

Prediction: Patriots win 24 – 21

Week Two | 9/19/2021 | New England Patriots at New York Jets

The Patriots will be taking on the Jets in Metlife Stadium.  The Jets will be starting their rookie quarterback Zach Wilson and rookie head coach Robert Saleh will be matching up against Bill Belichick for the first time as a head coach.  Belichick is 21-6 against rookie quarterbacks since he became the head coach of the Pats.  I think the Pats will confuse and frustrate Wilson all day. Make that a record of 22-6.

Prediction: Patriots win 31-10

Week Three | 9/26/2021 | New Orleans Saints at New England Patriots

The Saints will head to New England and Sean Payton will be starting either Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill.  That is much better than facing Drew Brees if you’re the Pats.  They will still have to stop Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas to win this one.  

Prediction: Patriots win 24-17  

Week Four | 10/03/2021 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New England Patriots

Bill Belichick vs Tom Brady. This will probably be the most, if not one of the most anticipated regular-season games in NFL history. Tom Brady makes his return to Gillette Stadium and will face his former team.  Brady will be ready, hyped up, and motivated to play the Pats.  This one could be close or get out of hand.  I am going with the latter and Brady and the defending Super Bowl champion Bucs.

Prediction: Buccaneers win 35-17

Week Five | 10/10/2021 | New England Patriots at Houston Texans

After their first loss of the season, the Pats will face a Texans team facing uncertainty.  Who knows what the status of quarterback DeShaun Watson will be at the time.  They could be starting Tyrod Taylor or the rookie quarterback Davis Mills.  The Texans may be in for a long season in 2021 and could end up with the first pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Prediction: Patriots win 31 – 7

Week Six | 10/17/2021 | Dallas Cowboys at New England Patriots

This will be an interesting non-conference match-up that features the NFL’s two most valuable franchises.  Not to mention two of the NFL’s most powerful owners in Jerry Jones and Robert Kraft.  Two Super Bowl winning head coaches in Bill Belichick and Mike McCarthy. Dak Prescott will be back under center for the Cowboys after missing 11 games with a fractured ankle. This should be a competitive and close game.

Prediction: Patriots win 27-24

Week Seven | 10/24/2021 | New York Jets at New England Patriots

The Jets and Zach Wilson come to Gillette Stadium for a rematch of week 2.  The Jets will play better than they did the previous match-up. The Patriots won the first game and despite some improvement from Zach Wilson, they will take this one as well.

Prediction: Patriots win 24-17

Week Eight | 10/31/2021 | New England Patriots at LA Chargers

The Chargers have a new head coach in Brandon Staley.  They also have the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in Justin Herbert.  The Pats defeated the Chargers 45-0 in SoFi Stadium last season as Belichick once again defeated a rookie quarterback.  This game will be much closer even with Hunter Henry having a big game against his former team.

Prediction: Chargers win 28- 24  

Week Nine | 11/07/2021 | New England Patriots at Carolina Panthers

Cam Newton, who spent the first 9 years of his career with the Panthers, returns to Carolina.  But will he be starting or will the Pats already have Mac Jones under center?  The Panthers should be much improved in year two of the Matt Rhule era in Charlotte.  If quarterback Sam Darnold can keep from seeing any ghosts against the Pats defense once again, the Panthers could win this one.    

Prediction: Patriots win 24-16

New England Patriots 2021 Schedule: Second Half

Week Ten | 11/14/2021 | Cleveland Browns at New England Patriots

The Pats will face a tough test when the Browns come to Foxborough for this matchup.  The Browns have added some pieces to a team that gave the Kansas City Chiefs everything they could handle in last season’s AFC divisional matchup.  The key to this game will be if the Pats defense can contain the Browns one-two punch of running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt and slow down Baker Mayfield.

Prediction: Browns win 31-24

Week Eleven | 11/18/2021 | New England Patriots at Atlanta Falcons

This will be a rematch of Super Bowl LI where the Pats had the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history and won their 5th championship.  The Falcons have not been the same since.  They have a new head coach and GM and may or may not be rebuilding.  Either way, the Pats should be able to get the win.

Prediction: Patriots win 24-14

Week Twelve | 11/28/2021 | Tennessee Titans at New England Patriots

The last time the Titans visited the Pats was in the 2019 AFC Wildcard game.  The Titans won and ended the Tom Brady era in New England.  This game isn’t quite as big but could still have some playoff implications.  The Titans lost a few players from their 2020 team including the new Pats tight end Jonnu Smith.  If the Pats can contain Derrick Henry, they will have won back-to-back games.

Prediction: Patriots win 24-21

Week Thirteen | 12/06/2021 | New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills

The Patriots were swept by the Bills last season for the first time since 1999. That sweep helped the Bills win the AFC East for the first time since 1995.  Josh Allen is one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL and as long as he remains healthy the Bills will be tough to beat in the AFC East.  Containing him will be the key in this match-up.  With this game being played in Buffalo, I give the Bills the nod.  

Prediction: Bills 35-17

Week Fourteen | Bye Week

Week Fifteen | 12/19/2021 | New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts

The Pats will head to Lucas Oil Stadium to play the Colts who have a new quarterback in Carson Wentz. Wentz replaces the retired Phillip Rivers in Indy.  The Colts and Titans figure to be the front runners to win the AFC South division.  With that being the case, this could be an important game for both teams heading into the final 3 weeks of the season.  The Pats will have a difficult match-up in Indy.

Prediction: Patriots win 28-20

Week Sixteen | 12/ 26/2021 | Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots

The Patriots get the Bills at home in this one.  They will need to find a way to stop Josh Allen if they are to end their losing streak to the Bills.  A win here improves their chances in the wild card race.  A loss could mean another season out of the playoffs.  This game will be closer than the one in Buffalo.

Prediction: Bills win 24-21

Week Seventeen | 01/02/2022 | Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots

The Jaguars head to New England for the first time since the 2017 AFC Championship game.  This time the Jags are led by rookie head coach Urban Meyer and the number one overall pick Trevor Lawrence.  Lawrence will be a good quarterback, but everyone knows that Bill Belichick does not lose to rookie quarterbacks.  Especially in Foxborough.

Prediction: Patriots win 31-14

Week Eighteen | 01/09/2022 | New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins

The Pats will finish the regular season in Miami.  The Pats have struggled in Miami and this game will be another tough one. Both of these teams could be in playoff contention the last week of the season and will need to win to get in.

Prediction: Dolphins win 27-20

New England Patriots 2021 Schedule: Overall Record 11-6

The Pats finish the season at 11-6, which is a four-game improvement from 2020. After missing the NFL Playoffs last season, they return to the post-season with a chance to make another run at the Super Bowl.

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Thanks for reading my New England Patriots 2021 Schedule. Follow me on Twitter @JuiceSportsGuy and @OTH_Football page for more content and NFL talk!