Considering everything that has happened in the last couple of months in the NFL, without a game even having been played, you would be forgiven for thinking the 2012 season happened already. Well, cast aside all side stories, here comes the real thing. Move over Manning, Sean Payton, Tebow and Warren Sapp's bankruptcy hearing. It's time to play some football.

Well, almost!

The 2012 New England Patriot's schedule has been officially released, and there are some cracking story lines in the making hidden amongst the scheduled game dates.

Apart from the obvious Jets games (and one of those is on Thanksgiving), the Patriots travel to London to face St Louis, travel to the Ravens, host Peyton and the Broncos (still doesn't seem real, does it?!), and host Houston and San Francisco, amongst other notable fixtures.

You know what, it actually looks like a pretty decent schedule for Patriots fans to look forward to. Plenty of interesting games, plenty of winnable matchups!


So here we go, without further ado, the 2012 New England Patriots schedule

2012 PATRIOTS PRESEASON SCHEDULE

Date.........................Opponent..............................Time....................TV Coverage
Thurs., Aug. 9.........New Orleans Saints..............7:30 p.m. ET.......Patriots Preseason Network
Mon., Aug. 20..........Philadelphia Eagles..............8:00 p.m. ET.......ESPN (Nationally Televised)
Fri., Aug. 24............at Tampa Bay Buccaneers.....7:30 p.m. ET.......Patriots Preseason Network
Wed., Aug. 29..........at New York Giants...............7:30 p.m. ET.......Patriots Preseason Network


2012 PATRIOTS REGULAR SEASON

Date............................Opponent....................Time.........................Affiliate.........Network
Sunday, Sept. 9..........at Tennessee.................1:00 p.m. ET........WBZ...............CBS
Sunday, Sept. 16........Arizona...........................1:00 p.m. ET........WFXT..............FOX
Sunday, Sept. 23........at Baltimore...................8:20 p.m. ET........WHDH............NBC
Sunday, Sept. 30........at Buffalo........................1:00 p.m. ET........WBZ...............CBS
Sunday, Oct. 7............Denver.............................4:15 p.m. ET.......WBZ...............CBS
Sunday, Oct. 14.........at Seattle........................4:05 p.m. ET........WBZ...............CBS
Sunday, Oct. 21..........New York Jets................4:15 p.m. ET........WBZ...............CBS
Sunday, Oct. 28.........at St. Louis (London)......1:00 p.m. ET........WBZ...............CBS
Sunday, Nov. 4............BYE WEEK
Sunday, Nov. 11..........Buffalo.............................1:00 p.m. ET........WBZ..............CBS
Sunday, Nov. 18..........Indianapolis....................1:00 p.m. ET........WBZ..............CBS*
Thursday, Nov. 22.......at New York Jets.............8:20 p.m. ET.......WHDH...........NBC
Sunday, Dec. 2.............at Miami..........................1:00 p.m. ET........WBZ.............CBS*
Monday, Dec. 10..........Houston..........................8:30 p.m. ET........WCVB...........ESPN
Sunday, Dec. 16...........San Francisco................8:20 p.m. ET........WHDH...........NBC*
Sunday, Dec. 23...........at Jacksonville...............1:00 p.m. ET........WBZ..............CBS*
Sunday, Dec. 30...........Miami..............................1:00 p.m. ET........WBZ..............CBS*




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