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The NFL's 2017 regular-season schedule is set to be announced later this week with the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots hosting the opening game on Sept. 7. Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reported Sunday that the Patriots will "almost certainly" play the Kansas City Chiefs for the "Thursday Night Football" season opener at Gillette Stadium.
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The Atlanta Falcons are on New England's home schedule this season and could have been an option for a Super Bowl rematch in Week 1. But the Falcons are likely to open the season at home on "Sunday Night Football" to debut their new stadium, according to the report.
The Chiefs went 12-4 last season and lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the divisional round of the playoffs after winning the second seed in the conference as the AFC West champions.
The Patriots' other home opponents in 2017 include the Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Chargers, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins and New York Jets.
The Falcons' possible home opponent could be the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Bills, Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneeers.
The 2017 regular-season schedule will be unveiled on Thursday, according to Detroit Lions president Rod Wood, who let it slip last week after the team unveiled the look of its new uniforms.
