(Gra;phic courtesy of New England Patriots)

Last year, the National Football League and its television network partners decreed the New England Patriots weren’t ready for prime time.

That, evidently, has changed.

The Patriots/NFL schedule was released on Wednesday night, and after having just one night game last season (a Thursday nighter vs. the Jets), the Patriots will have three.

But first they open the season at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 7 vs. the Las Vegas Raiders. The former Raiders coach, Josh McDaniels, is on the Patriot sidelines as offensive coordinator, and the Raiders are now coached by former Patriots head man Pete Carroll. That’s a 1 p.m. game.

Six of the Patriot home games as of now – pre flexing – are slated for 1 p.m. Two will be in prime time, Thursday Nov. 13 vs. the Jets at Gillette, and Monday night, Dec. 1 vs. the New York Giants. It’s the Monday Night game at Gillette since the Patriots lost to the Bears 33-14 back in 2022.

The Patriots’ third prime timer will be a Sunday Night game, at the Buffalo Bills on Oct. 5 at 8:20 p.m. So New England does return to Sunday and Monday Night Football. It’s the first time they’ve played Buffalo on a Sunday Night since beating the Bills 56-10 in 2007; they’re 4-0 vs. Buffalo on Sunday Night.

Three of the Patriots first four games are home. After visiting Miami on Sunday Sept. 14, they are home the next two Sundays vs. Pittsburgh and Carolina.

Their longest road stretch begins with that Sunday Night game; after facing the Bills they are at New Orleans on Oct. 12 and at Tennessee, head coach Mike Vrabel’s former team, on Oct. 19. The Saints game is a 4:25 p.m. EDT start.

The Patriots do not have a bye week until the weekend of Dec. 6-7, after their Monday night game. They come out of it by hosting the Bills at Gillette on Sunday, Dec. 14 at 1 p.m.

Their final regular season road game is Sunday, Dec. 28 at the Jets; the Patriots are slated to close out the regular season at home for the third straight year, vs. Miami the weekend of Jan. 3-4. The league doesn’t schedule that weekend until late in the season when playoff races, etc. are apparent.

The Patriots three preseason games are also set. They will host the Washington Commanders on Friday, Aug. 8 vs. the Washington Commanders at 7:30 p.m.; and will be at the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday, Aug. 16 at 1 p.m. and at the New York Giants on Thursday, Aug. 21 at 8 p.m. That game will be on Prime Video.

Here’s the Patriots schedule by month:

SEPTEMBER – Sunday, 7 vs. Raiders, 1 p.m; Sunday, 14 at Miami, 1 p.m.; Sunday, 21 vs. Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.; Sunday, 28th vs. Carolina, 1 p.m.

OCTOBER – Sunday, 5th, at Buffalo, 8:20 p.m.; Sunday, 12th, at New Orleans, 4:25 p.m.; Sunday, 19th, at Tennessee, 1 p.m.; Sunday, 26th, vs. Cleveland, 1 p.m.

NOVEMBER – Sunday, 2nd, vs. Atlanta, 1 p.m.; Sunday, 9th at Tampa, 1 p.m.; Thursday, 13th, vs. New York Jets, 8:15 p.m.; Sunday, 23rd, at Cincinnati 1 p.m.

DECEMER – Monday, 1st, vs. New York Giants, 8:15 p.m.; Weekend of 6-7th, Bye; Sunday, 14th, vs. Buffalo, 1 p.m.; Sunday, 21st, at Baltimore, 1 p.m.; Sunday, 28th, at New York Jets, 1 p.m.

JANUARY – Weekend of Jan. 3-4, vs. Miami, time and day to be determined.