NFL announces date, time of Patriots’ divisional round game
The Patriots are not playing in their signature Saturday night spot on Divisional Weekend.
FOXBORO, MA – SEPTEMBER 10: Fireworks go off as the New England Patriots reveal their Super Bowl XLIX championship banner before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium on September 10, 2015 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
Jim Rogash/Getty ImagesGet your day off request in as soon as possible, as there's been a slight deviation from the norm when it comes to the Patriots' playoff schedule, as they will begin their march to the Super Bowl on Sunday, Jan. 13 at 1 p.m.
It's a slight change from what Patriots fans had become accustomed to, as the Patriots typically played host to their opponent on the Saturday before, often in the 4:25 p.m. or 8:20 p.m. timeslot, truly giving the Patriots the primetime shine.
Instead, that spot will go to the Chiefs (4:25 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12) and Rams (8:15 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 12). The Chiefs finished with the top seed in the AFC, while the Rams finished in the second seed in the NFC.
In fact, this will be the first time in the Brady-Belichick Era that the Patriots will not host a team on Saturday afternoon/night at Gillette Stadium in the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs.
The last time the Patriots hosted an opponent in a 1 p.m. playoff game at Gillette Stadium in any round was all the way back in 2010 when they lost to the Balitmore Ravens in the Wild Card Round by a 33-14 final.
Overall, the Patriots are 11-1 in the Divisional Round when playing as the home team.
This year, they will play either the Ravens, Houston Texans, or Los Angeles Chargers.
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