New England Patriots' 2017 opponents

Jim Rogash | Getty Images

There’s still a long way to go in the 2016 National Football League season, but it’s never too early to start looking ahead to the next one.

With Week 16’s outcomes, we now know the New England Patriots 2017’s opponents. The Houston Texans’ and the Pittsburgh Steelers’ wins this past weekend are what helped complete the list, reported by ESPN’s Mike Reiss. Six teams on the schedule will be in the playoffs this season.

Home Opponents (* indicates playoff team):

Atlanta Falcons*
San Diego Chargers
Carolina Panthers
Kansas City Chiefs*
Houston Texans*
Buffalo Bills
Miami Dolphins*
New York Jets

Road Opponents (* indicates playoff team):

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Denver Broncos
New Orleans Saints
Oakland Raiders*
Pittsburgh Steelers*
Buffalo Bills
Miami Dolphins*
New York Jets

The Patriots will be taking on the AFC West and the NFC South next season. By claiming the top spot in the AFC East, they will have to compete against the other first-place teams in the conference – the Texans and the Steelers. The Patriots will also be travelling to Denver again for the third straight year, thanks to the NFL’s rotating schedule format.

Dates and times are scheduled to be released in the spring.

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