The Top-5 Must-See Games On Patriots' 2016 Schedule
By Matt Dolloff, CBS Boston
BOSTON (CBS) -- Of course, every New England Patriots game is pretty much a must-see. But every new season brings a fresh handful of absolute can't-miss, consider-skipping-major-life-milestones kind of games. The defending AFC East Champions (for the 13th time in 16 seasons under Bill Belichick) obviously get the class of the AFC, as well as some intriguing NFC opponents, headlined by the Super Bowl XLIX rematch against the Seattle Seahawks in Foxboro in Week 10 on Sunday Night Football.
That game, however, is arguably not the biggest game of the season for the Patriots. The team's full list of opponents has been known since the end of the 2015 season, but the scheduling always has potential to magnify the importance of certain games over others. The Patriots' Week 15 return to Denver to face the Broncos could end up having massive implications on the standings, so that game naturally has added weight compared to other tough opponents, like the Seahawks or the Arizona Cardinals, who along with former Patriot Chandler Jones face the Patriots in Week 1 on Sunday Night Football.
Here are the top-five games that you absolutely, positively cannot skip on the schedule, along with some honorable mentions.
5. Week 16 vs. New York Jets
The New York Jets still may not threaten the Patriots for the AFC East crown, but like last season there is a good chance they will be playing for a playoff spot in the penultimate week of the season. The Jets' ferocious defensive front will present one of many significant tests for the Patriots' offensive line throughout the season, especially down the stretch.
Honorable Mention: The Patriots again get the Miami Dolphins, who will have a new look under new head coach Adam Gase, at home early in the season as opposed to playing in late-summer Miami.
4. Week 1 @ Arizona Cardinals
The question "How does Chandler Jones fit in on the Cardinals?" will get its first "answer" right at the start of the season, when the Patriots face their former Pro-Bowl defensive end in the season's Sunday Night Football premiere. This will also be one of the most compelling coaching matchups of the whole season, as Belichick takes on Bruce Arians, who will not hesitate to take shots down the field or coach tentatively, as so many mistake-averse Patriots opponents have done in the past. This may not be the most important Patriots game of the season, but it has a good chance to be the most entertaining.
Honorable Mention: Chris Long also gets to face his former team, the Los Angeles Rams, in Week 13.
3. Week 7 @ Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers remain high on the list of the Patriots' top conference rivals in the way of a seventh trip to the Super Bowl for Brady & Belichick. They may not have Martavis Bryant for this game, but they still bring back a solid defense and arguably the league's deadliest QB-WR combo in Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown. This game could have a significant, if not decisive, impact on playoff seeding - oh, and Mike Tomlin won't be able to blame it on the headsets if they lose this time.
Honorable Mention: The Baltimore Ravens return to Foxboro for the first time since the memorable 2014 AFC Divisional Playoff game - the one with the ineligible receivers that have since driven John Harbaugh insane - on Monday Night Football, which is notable because the Patriots head to Denver on a short week after that game.
2. Week 10 vs. Seattle Seahawks
Get your Malcolm Butler games ready. Check out the prop bets. It's a Super Bowl XLIX rematch in Foxboro, with Al Michaels and the Sunday Night crew coming back as well, so expect lots and lots of Butler talk. My over/under on the number of times they mention his Super Bowl-sealing interception is about 42.5. It could be the over, because unlike the Super Bowl Butler will be on the field for just about every defensive snap.
Honorable mention: Belichick gets a rematch against Chip Kelly, now the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, after last season's debacle against the Philadelphia Eagles. I wouldn't bet on seeing a mortar kick in this one.
1. Week 15 @ Denver Broncos
The Broncos may have taken a step back in the off-season, turning to Mark Sanchez at QB (at best, a lateral move) and losing key members of their league-best defense like Malik Jackson (Jaguars) and Danny Trevathan (Bears). But they still have Super Bowl MVP Von Miller, a dominant secondary, and the home-field advantage once again. The Patriots offense will have plenty to prove in this game after failing to overcome the conditions of Mile High Stadium or mismatches in the trenches in last year's AFC Championship Game.
Honorable mention: The improved Houston Texans, potentially now with a competent quarterback in Brock Osweiler throwing to DeAndre Hopkins, come to Foxboro in Week 3 for a short-week matchup on Thursday Night Football. The Patriots are still by far the better team and should win, but Bill O'Brien's Texans ought to be extra-energized for this one.
What's your pick for the biggest game on the Patriots' 2016 schedule? Vote below and your thoughts in the comments. See the full schedule here.
Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. His opinions do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Have a news tip or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.