Patriots unveil 2015 regular season schedule

Start setting your travel plans for the fall. The Patriots 2015 schedule has been released.

The defending Super Bowl champions will open the season at home Thursday night, September 10 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh lost in the first round of the playoffs last season to Baltimore, before the Ravens fell to the Patriots in the divisional round at Gillette Stadium.

The season opener is one of five prime-time appearances for the Patriots, who will play Indianapolis on the road on Sunday night, October 18, Miami at home on Thursday night, October 29, Buffalo at home on Monday night, November 23, and Denver on the road on Sunday night, November 29.

The Patriots bye week is scheduled for Week 4, October 4.

Because the NHL Winter Classic is being played at Gillette Stadium on January 1, the Patriots will end the regular season with two road games, including the season finale in Miami on January 3.

The two divisional games against the New York Jets, where former Patriots CB Darrelle Revis signed this offseason, will both be played on Sundays. New England welcomes the Jets to Gillette Stadium in Week 7 on October 25 and travels to the Meadowlands in Week 16 on December 27.

The game against Houston, where former Patriots captain Vince Wilfork signed this offseason, is set for Week 14 on December 13.

Buffalo's appeal has increased due to the additions of Rex Ryan on the sideline and LeSean McCoy in the backfield. Ryan, an AFC East adversary since taking over the Jets job in 2009, remains in the division with the Bills.

The Patriots opened the 2002 season against the Steelers and it was the first regular season game played at Gillette Stadium. New England won the opener 30-14 but finished the season 9-7 and out of the playoffs.

The matchup with Denver should mark the 17th time Tom Brady and Peyton Manning have met on the football field. The Patriots are 11-5 in head-to-head matchups with teams quarterbacked by Manning since Brady took over as the Pats starting quarterback in 2001.

**Week 1: Thursday, September 10 - Pittsburgh, 8:30
**Week 2: Sunday, September 20 - @ Buffalo, 1:00
**Week 3: Sunday, September 27 - Jacksonville, 1:00
Week 4: Sunday, October 4 - BYE
**Week 5: Sunday, October 11 - @ Dallas, 4:25
Week 6: Sunday, October 18 - @ Indianapolis, 8:30
Week 7: Sunday, October 25 - New York Jets, 1:00
Week 8: Thursday, October 29 - Miami, 8:25
Week 9: Sunday, November 8 - Washington, 1:00 (FOX25)
Week 10: Sunday, November 15 - @ New York Giants, 4:25
Week 11: Monday, November 23 - Buffalo, 8:30
Week 12: Sunday, November 29 - @ Denver 8:30
Week 13: Sunday, December 6 - Philadelphia, 4:25 (FOX25)
Week 14: Sunday, December 13 - @ Houston, 1:00
Week 15: Sunday, December 20 - Tennessee, 1:00
Week 16: Sunday, December 27 - @ New York Jets, 1:00
Week 17: Sunday, January 3 - @ Miami, 1:00

**Denotes games that Tom Brady was suspended for deflategate.

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