The Patriots will open the 2017 regular season at home against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 7. The NFL schedules will be announced at 8 p.m. Thursday night.
The Patriots will unveil their fifth Super Bowl championship banner and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is expected to attend the game at Gillette Stadium, which will broadcast by NBC.
Ben Volin of the Boston Globe was first to report that the Chiefs, who went 12-4 last season and won the AFC West, would be the opening night opponent.
Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald reported that Chiefs would be the opener as well.
There had been much speculation that the Falcons would be the opening night matchup in a Super Bowl LI rematch, but Volin reports they are likely to open their season at home on NBC's "Sunday Night Football" to debut their new stadium.
The full NFL schedule will be announced tonight on NFL Network.