The New England Patriots could be headed for their worst season in two decades. Not only has Tom Brady ended his 20-year stint in Foxborough, but the team has the NFL’s most difficult schedule in 2020.

Based on the final 2019 standings, New England ranks first in strength of schedule. The Patriots’ opponents had a combined .535 winning percentage last season.

New England is set to face both teams that met in Super Bowl LIV. The San Francisco 49ers will visit the Patriots. The defending AFC East champions are scheduled to play the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City won in New England in Week 14 last year.

The Baltimore Ravens will play the Patriots on the road. Baltimore handed New England its first loss of 2019 in Week 9. Lamar Jackson was named the unanimous NFL MVP and the Ravens won an NFL-high 14 games in the regular season.

The Houston Texans will try to defeat the Patriots at home for a second straight year. The Seattle Seahawks will also host New England after a trip to the divisional playoffs.

The Patriots will, of course, face every AFC East team twice. The Buffalo Bills are coming off a wild-card berth, putting six playoff teams on New England’s 2020 schedule.

The New York Jets and Miami Dolphins both finished below .500 in 2019.

The Los Angeles Rams missed the postseason, but they will present New England with a challenging road game. The Rams went 9-7 last season in a competitive NFC West.

New England will visit the Los Angeles Chargers, who won’t have Philip Rivers under center for the first time in 15 years. The Patriots are set to host a pair of second-year quarterbacks when Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals and Drew Lock and the Denver Broncos visit Gillette Stadium at some point during the upcoming season.

The Las Vegas Raiders are scheduled to play New England on the road, as well.

Bill Belichick had led the Patriots to 11 straight division titles and 16 playoff appearances in 17 years. The Tennessee Titans upset New England in the 2020 wild-card round.

Jarrett Stidham is favored to be New England’s Week 1 starting quarterback.

Bill Belichick NE Patriots
Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots reacts after winning the AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Tennessee Titans at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 13, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Jim Rogash/Getty Images
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