Patriots fans will have the chance to see Peyton Manning, Adrian Peterson and Aaron Rodgers in Foxboro this season.
The National Football League announced its 2010 regular-season schedule Tuesday, and New England fans will be treated to at least five nationally televised games. The Patriots’ 2010 opponents have a combined record of 136-120, and nine of New England’s games will be against teams that finished last season with a winning record.
The Patriots sport what is now rated as the sixth-toughest schedule in the NFL. The team opens its season at home against Chad Ochocinco and the Bengals on Sept. 12, followed by its first visit to the new Meadowlands Stadium to face LaDainian Tomlinson and the Jets on Sept. 19.
New England will return home Sept. 26 to battle the Bills and will make its first Monday Night Football appearance against Brandon Marshall and the Dolphins in Miami on Oct. 4.
The Patriots will need all the rest they can get in their bye week during Week 5 because they will next face two AFC playoff teams in consecutive weeks. On Oct. 17, the Pats will host Ray Lewis and the Ravens at Gillette in a rematch of last season’s AFC wild-card game, followed by a date with Philip Rivers and the Chargers in San Diego on Oct. 24.
Will Brett Favre make another appearance in New England? Find out as Gillette hosts its first Halloween game when the Pats face Adrian Peterson and the Vikings on Oct. 31.
Patriots fans can watch Bill Belichick battle Eric Mangini and the Browns in Cleveland on Nov. 7, which will be followed by a matchup against another AFC North opponent when New England faces the Steelers at home on Nov. 14.
Manning makes his first visit to Gillette in four years in a Nov. 21 contest, which will be followed by a Thanksgiving Day appearance against Matthew Stafford and the Lions four days later in Detroit.
Next up, the Patriots will make their second Monday night appearance when they host the Jets on Dec. 6. Then they will face back-to-back NFC North opponents, squaring off against Jay Cutler and the Bears in the Windy City on Dec. 12 and taking on Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in a Sunday night tilt at Gillette on Dec. 19.
The Patriots will close out the 2010 regular season against AFC East opponents when they travel to Buffalo on Dec. 26 then return home to face Miami on Jan. 2.
Check out the complete 2010 Patriots schedule below:
| 2010 Patriots Preseason Schedule | ||||
| Date | Opponent | Time | Affiliate | Network |
| Thursday, Aug. 12 | vs. New Orleans Saints | 7:30 p.m. ET | WBZ | TBA |
| Thursday, Aug. 19 | at Atlanta Falcons | 8 p.m. ET | WFXT | FOX |
| Thursday, Aug. 26 | vs. St. Louis Rams | 7:30 p.m. ET | WBZ | TBA |
| Thursday, Sept. 2 | at New York Giants | 7 p.m. ET | WBZ | TBA |
| 2010 Patriots Regular-Season Schedule | ||||
| Date | Opponent | Time | Affiliate | Network |
| Sunday, Sept. 12 | vs. Cincinnati Bengals | 1 p.m. ET | WBZ |
CBS |
| Sunday, Sept. 19 | at New York Jets | 4:15 p.m. ET | WBZ | CBS |
| Sunday, Sept. 26 | vs. Buffalo Bills | 1 p.m. ET | WBZ | CBS |
| Monday, Oct. 4 | at Miami Dolphins | 8:30 p.m. ET | WCVB | ESPN |
| Sunday, Oct. 10 | BYE WEEK | |||
| Sunday, Oct. 17 | vs. Baltimore Ravens | 1 p.m. ET | WBZ | CBS |
| Sunday, Oct. 24 | at San Diego Chargers | 4:15 p.m. ET | WBZ | CBS |
| Sunday, Oct. 31 | vs. Minnesota Vikings | 4:15 p.m. ET | WFXT | FOX |
| Sunday, Nov. 7 | at Cleveland Browns | 1 p.m. ET | WBZ | CBS |
| Sunday, Nov. 14 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | 8:20 p.m. ET | WHDH | NBC |
| Sunday, Nov. 21 | vs. Indianapolis Colts | 4:15 p.m. ET | WBZ | CBS* |
| Thursday, Nov. 25 | at Detroit Lions | 12:30 p.m. ET | WBZ | CBS |
| Monday, Dec. 6 | vs. New York Jets | 8:30 p.m. ET | WCVB | ESPN |
| Sunday, Dec. 12 | at Chicago Bears | 1 p.m. ET | WBZ | CBS* |
| Sunday, Dec. 19 | vs. Green Bay Packers | 8:20 p.m. ET | WHDH | NBC* |
| Sunday, Dec. 26 | at Buffalo Bills | 1 p.m. ET | WBZ | CBS* |
| Sunday, Jan. 2 | vs. Miami Dolphins | 1 p.m. ET | WBZ | CBS* |
| * Game time and network subject to possible flexible scheduling adjustment. | ||||
