If you are wondering what time is the Patriots game, the answer depends on which week you mean. For the next New England Patriots game, the team is scheduled to host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots opened their 2026 regular season against the Seattle Seahawks on September 9, so the Steelers matchup is their Week 2 contest.
For fans trying to plan their Sunday around the game, knowing the kickoff time is only part of the story. The opponent, location, television coverage, and the changing nature of NFL scheduling can all affect how and when supporters follow the team.
What Time Is the Patriots Game This Week?
The Patriots’ next scheduled game is against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, September 20, at 1:00 p.m. ET. It will be played at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, giving New England its first home regular-season game of the 2026 campaign. The matchup is scheduled for broadcast on CBS in the Patriots’ listed market.
For viewers outside the Eastern Time Zone, the same kickoff naturally falls at different local times. Fans on Central Time will see the game at noon, while those on Mountain Time will have a 11:00 a.m. start. On Pacific Time, kickoff comes at 10:00 a.m.
International viewers should check their local listings because broadcast schedules and time-zone conversions can vary depending on location.
Why the Patriots’ Schedule Is Drawing Attention
New England’s 2026 schedule began in an unusual way. The Patriots traveled to Seattle for a Wednesday night matchup against the Seahawks on September 9. The game was a rematch of Super Bowl LX and marked the first Wednesday game in Patriots history. The scheduled kickoff was 8:20 p.m. Eastern Time.
That unusual opening means the Patriots’ Week 2 home game has a completely different feel. Instead of another primetime contest, New England returns to a traditional Sunday afternoon slot.
The Patriots’ schedule features a mixture of early Sunday games, late-afternoon contests, Thursday night appearances, a Monday night game, and a special international matchup. That variety makes checking the exact kickoff time before every game worthwhile.
Patriots 2026 Schedule and Kickoff Times
After the Pittsburgh matchup, New England travels to Jacksonville for a September 27 game scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET. The following week brings another road contest, this time against the Buffalo Bills on October 4, also at 1:00 p.m. ET.
The Patriots then host the Las Vegas Raiders on October 11 at 1:00 p.m. ET before welcoming the New York Jets to Gillette Stadium on October 18 for another 1:00 p.m. kickoff.
Week 7 changes the rhythm considerably. New England travels to Chicago to face the Bears on Thursday, October 22, with kickoff scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
November contains some of the most distinctive games on the schedule. The Patriots visit Miami on November 1 for a 4:25 p.m. ET game and then host Green Bay on November 8 at the same time. On November 15, New England faces Detroit in Munich, Germany, with the game scheduled for 9:30 a.m. ET.
After the international matchup comes the team’s bye week. The Patriots then return on November 29 against the Los Angeles Chargers in an 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday night game.
Late-Season Games Include Several Primetime Matchups
December gives Patriots fans several important time slots to remember. New England hosts Buffalo on December 6 at 4:25 p.m. ET before facing the Minnesota Vikings at home on Thursday, December 10. That game is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET.
The Patriots then travel to Kansas City for a Monday night matchup with the Chiefs on December 21. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET.
The regular season continues with a road game against the New York Jets on December 27 at 1:00 p.m. ET. The Week 17 meeting with Denver and Week 18 game against Miami were listed without finalized kickoff times in the published schedule, meaning those times can be determined later.
This is important for anyone searching what time is the Patriots game several weeks in advance. A game may initially have a listed time, while other contests can remain marked as “TBD” until the league makes a later announcement.
Where Do the Patriots Play Their Home Games?
The Patriots play their home games at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The venue remains one of the defining parts of the team’s game-day experience, and the 2026 schedule includes several significant home matchups.
The Steelers, Raiders, Jets, Packers, Bills, and Vikings are among the teams scheduled to visit Gillette Stadium during the regular season. The Broncos and Dolphins are also listed as home opponents later in the year, although their Week 17 and Week 18 kickoff times remain undecided.
For supporters attending in person, arriving well before kickoff is generally sensible. Parking, stadium entry, security procedures, and pregame activity can make the experience much longer than simply watching the game from home.
How to Follow the Patriots Game
The Patriots’ 2026 schedule includes games carried by several major television networks. CBS is scheduled to handle a number of Sunday afternoon games, while FOX, NBC, Prime Video, and ESPN are also part of the team’s broadcast lineup during the season.
The Week 2 Steelers game is scheduled for CBS. Fans can also follow the Patriots through their radio network, with 98.5 The Sports Hub listed as the team’s flagship radio station on the official schedule.
Because broadcast assignments and game times can change later in the season, checking the latest official schedule close to game day remains the safest way to avoid missing kickoff.
What Makes the Steelers Game Important?
The Week 2 meeting with Pittsburgh is significant because it is New England’s first regular-season home game of 2026. It also comes after an unusual season opener in Seattle.
The Patriots enter the contest looking to establish momentum early in the season. Playing at Gillette Stadium gives New England the advantage of familiar surroundings and home support, while Pittsburgh arrives with its own ambitions for a strong start.
The matchup also gives fans an early opportunity to see how the Patriots perform against another AFC opponent. With a long regular season ahead, games against conference teams can become especially meaningful when playoff positioning is eventually decided.
Why Kickoff Times Can Change
NFL schedules are not always completely fixed when they are first released. Beginning later in the season, certain games can be moved through flexible scheduling. The Patriots’ official 2026 schedule notes that games beginning in Week 5 are subject to flex scheduling.
That means a game originally listed for a particular Sunday afternoon could potentially move to another broadcast window if the league determines that it has greater national interest.
For that reason, searching what time is the Patriots game shortly before kickoff can be useful, particularly for late-season games. The date may remain unchanged while the exact starting time is adjusted.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time is the Patriots game against the Steelers?
The Patriots are scheduled to play the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time at Gillette Stadium.
Where can I watch the Patriots game?
The Steelers game is scheduled for CBS in the Patriots’ listed broadcast market. Other Patriots games throughout the season are scheduled across CBS, FOX, NBC, Prime Video, and ESPN depending on the matchup.
What time do Patriots games usually start?
Many Patriots Sunday afternoon games begin at 1:00 p.m. ET, but the schedule also includes 4:25 p.m. games and several primetime contests. The 2026 schedule demonstrates that kickoff times can vary considerably from week to week.
Do Patriots game times ever change?
Yes. Later-season NFL games can be affected by flexible scheduling. The Patriots’ published schedule specifically notes that games beginning in Week 5 are subject to flex scheduling.
Where do the Patriots play their home games?
The Patriots play their home games at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Their 2026 home schedule includes matchups with Pittsburgh, Las Vegas, the New York Jets, Green Bay, Buffalo, Minnesota, Denver, and Miami.
Conclusion
For fans asking what time is the Patriots game, the next answer is straightforward: New England’s Week 2 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 20, 2026, at Gillette Stadium.
The broader 2026 schedule offers plenty of variety, from traditional Sunday afternoon games to Thursday night football, an international contest in Munich, and several primetime appearances. Since later games can be affected by scheduling changes, checking the latest official information before game day is the best way to confirm the exact kickoff.
For Patriots supporters, the season promises plenty of different game-day experiences. Whether watching from Gillette Stadium, following the action at home, or listening on the radio, knowing the kickoff time is the first step toward making sure you are ready when New England takes the field.
