17 games, 17 subplots for Patriots’ daunting 2024 schedule

17 games, 17 subplots for Patriots’ daunting 2024 schedule originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

A side benefit of having a bad football team? The fanbase won’t be bleary-eyed on Monday morning from watching the local 53 play in prime-time on Sunday night. Or almost any night.

First impression of the Patriots’ 2024 schedule: Sunday at 1. Sunday at 1. Sunday at 1. Sunday at 1. Holy crap.

It’s not surprising in the least that the Patriots have been practically exiled from prime-time television until further notice. The exception? The “everybody but the Panthers has to play one” Thursday night game against the Jets in Week 3.

But to actually see the team’s 2024 schedule and realize they are locked into the 1 p.m. ET time slot for 11 of the 15 announced games is still eye-opening. The only exceptions are the TNF game against the Jets in Week 3, the 9:30 a.m. start against the Jaguars in London in Week 7 and the two games out West. And those two – San Francisco in Week 4 and Arizona in Week 15 — kick off in the 1 o’clock hour local time.

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