FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The NFL announced the 2019 preseason pairings today, and the Patriots will be on the road for the first two weeks with games at Detroit (Preseason Week 1) and at Tennessee (Preseason Week 2), before closing the preseason at Gillette Stadium with games against Carolina (Preseason Week 3) and the N.Y. Giants (Preseason Week 4). The dates and times of those games will be mutually decided upon between the teams and announced at a later date.
The 2019 preseason marks a reverse of the 2018 schedule when the Patriots opened with two home games followed by two road games. The last time the Patriots opened the preseason with consecutive road games was in 2000 when they traveled for three straight games, including the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio.
The defending Super Bowl Champions will open the preseason on the road at Detroit. The Patriots traveled to Detroit for preseason contests in 2011, 2013 and 2017, all of which were Week 3 matchups.
The Patriots only AFC opponent this preseason will be the Tennessee Titans. The Patriots have only played three AFC opponents in the preseason in the last eight years with Week 1 matchups against Jacksonville at Gillette Stadium in 2011 and 2017 and a road game at Houston in 2017. The Patriots only previous preseason contest against the Titans since the franchise moved to Tennessee came at Gillette Stadium in a Week 2 matchup on Aug. 17, 2007 – a 27-24 Tennessee victory.
The 2019 preseason will be the fifth time in six seasons that the Patriots and Panthers will meet in Week 3 of the preseason. The Patriots hosted Carolina in 2014 and traveled to the Panthers for games in 2015, 2016 and 2018.
The Patriots and Giants will square off in the preseason finale for the 15th straight season and for the 29th time overall. The two teams began meeting annually in 2005 and have alternated hosting the preseason finale since then. The Giants lead the all-time preseason series with an 18-10 record. The Patriots ended a four-game losing streak last season with a 17-12 win at MetLife Stadium on Aug. 30. The Patriots will also host the Giants in the 2019 regular season.
2019 PATRIOTS PRESEASON SCHEDULE
| DATE | OPPONENT | TIME | TV COVERAGE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1* | at Detroit Lions | TBA* | WBZ and Patriots Preseason Network |
| Week 2* | at Tennessee Titans | TBA* | WBZ and Patriots Preseason Network |
| Week 3* | Carolina Panthers | TBA* | WBZ and Patriots Preseason Network |
| Week 4* | New York Giants | TBA* | WBZ and Patriots Preseason Network |
*-Specific date and time TBA
