The NFL schedule release is one of the most anticipated events of the offseason, and a fresh leak has just given Patriots fans a major reason to circle their calendars. According to a report from NBC Sports Boston, New England is set for a high-stakes primetime rematch against a loaded AFC team in November.

Mark your calendars for Sunday, Nov. 29, because the Patriots will reportedly visit the Los Angeles Chargers in a Week 12 "Sunday Night Football" showdown. This isn't just any regular-season game—it's a wild-card playoff rematch from the 2026 postseason, when the Patriots kicked off their run to Super Bowl LX with a gritty 16-3 home victory over the Chargers.

But the Chargers are not the same team the Patriots faced in January. Los Angeles made waves this offseason by hiring former Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel to orchestrate the offense, putting star quarterback Justin Herbert in an even more dynamic system. The Bolts also bolstered their lineup by signing former Patriots guard and first-round pick Cole Strange, adding him to a stacked skill group featuring standout wide receiver Ladd McConkey and explosive running back Omarion Hampton—the No. 22 overall pick in the 2025 draft.

This leak comes hot on the heels of another report that revealed the Patriots' first three games of the 2026 season: a Week 1 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, followed by the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 2, and the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 3. With a primetime playoff rematch now on the docket, the Patriots' schedule is shaping up to be one of the most exciting in recent memory.

For Patriots fans, this November clash is the kind of game that could define a season—and it's already shaping up to be a must-watch event.