Ranking best potential games of 2017 National Football League season

A first place team in one division plays the two remaining division winners within their conference.

It’s not often you see a team have three games in a row either way, but that home-heavy start means the Broncos spend the rest of the season trying to balance back out and that means a three-game “road trip” from Weeks 7 to 9.

The Patriots will also get into the global mix when they play a road game on November 19 against Oakland at Mexico City. But no matter how you look at it, it’s a scheduling gift from the NFL.

We knew coming into the offseason that the Giants would be playing against both the AFC and NFC West division this season.

The NFL will release its 2017 regular-season schedule Thursday night. In all likelihood, the game will be featured on NBC’s Sunday Night Football as a prime time game, but those details won’t be released until later.

It’s tough to get a read after these Panthers. The Steelers weren’t particularly competitive in the AFC championship game at New England. In prime time, Washington will be home against the Giants.

This matchup pits the Super Bowl LI champions against a 2016 wild-card playoff team that was crippled by quarterback Derek Carr’s broken leg in Week 15. Many of you are excited about this I know. Now, they’ll have a chance to ease themselves back into things before facing up to the biggest disappointment of their professional lives.

The Dolphins are an ascending team, having won nine of their final 11 games last season. The Houston Texans will come play in Foxboro and the Patriots will hit the road to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It is nearly time for the unveiling of this year’s National Football League regular season schedule.

For those looking even further ahead, here are future Patriot opponents.

The New England Patriots have known their opponents for the upcoming season since they were announced in January. The Patriots’ comeback from a 25-point, second-half deficit goes down as the greatest Super Bowl I’ve seen. Since their inconceivable comeback win in February the Patriots have re-loaded by adding former Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks. But on balance, the Patriots get something of an advantage in their schedule as they get to play one less proper road game. The annual road game against the Jets is always fun.

This year, Amazon will carry 11 games that are a part of the NFL Network package.