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Early Betting Lines Suggest Trouble For Patriots To Open 2026 Season originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
If the oddsmakers are right, the New England Patriots could be in store for a rude awakening to begin the NFL's 2026 season.
When the NFL revealed the official schedule on Thursday night, the Patriots learned they'll begin their AFC title defense against stout competition. The season will commence with a Super Bowl rematch against the Seattle Seahawks, followed by a trio of AFC teams that also made the playoffs last season.
Three of those games are on the road. Although the Patriots went undefeated away from Gillette Stadium last season, Vegas foreshadowed immediate regression this fall.
The Patriots are underdogs in three of their first four games, per DraftKings Sportsbook.
Seattle opens as a 3.5-point favorite to defeat New England on Wednesday, Sept. 9. Those remembering a lopsided Super Bowl at Santa Clara may feel that line still shows considerable respect to the Pats.
The Patriots are favored by 4.5 points to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2, but they're 1.5-point underdogs the following week against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Buffalo Bills are three-point favorites to avenge last season's upset at Orchard Park.
That creates a scenario where the Patriots match last season's loss total on Oct. 4. While the Patriots are then massive favorites to topple the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets at home, they're 1.5-point underdogs against the Chicago Bears in Week 7.
DraftKings also lists New England as underdogs against the Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs. They're favored to win all eight games at Gillette Stadium, but only two road matchups against the Jets and Miami Dolphins.
That helps explain why DraftKings set New England's win total at 9.5. Seven AFC teams have an equal or higher number, so the Patriots must be careful to avoid a Super Bowl hangover out of the gate.
More Patriots: NFL Analyst Predicts Patriots Will Miss Playoffs After Schedule Reveal
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