The New England Patriots schedule is out, and, as owner Robert Kraft wanted, there is the potential for, depending on flex scheduling, as many as six 1 p.m. home games. Right now there are three NBC Sunday night appearances (all on the road), and two prime time games at Gillette -- Monday Oct. 20 vs. Denver and an odd Thursday, Nov. 13 vs. the Jets on the NFL Network.

The Patriots open up at home at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 7 vs. Kansas City; are at the Jets on Sept. 14 for a 4:15 game, host Miami on Sept. 21 at 1. The bye week in Sept. 28, followed by an Oct. 5 game at San Francisco (one of four west coast trips). The team is then at San Diego the following week, Oct. 12, for a Sunday night game. Their next game is also in prime time, the MOnday nighter (8:30) at home vs. Denver.

Another 1 p.m. game at home vs. St. Louis takes place on Oct. 26, and then the Patriots have their annual early November game vs. Indianapolis, this one a Sunday night, Nov. 2 game in Indy's new stadium.

They return for the first of four straight at  home to host the Bills at 1 p.m. on Nov. 9, followed by the Thursday night home game vs. the Jets, a scheduled 1 p.m. home game Nov. 23 vs. Miami (flex scheduling starts here), and then a 4:15 home game Sunday, Nov. 30 vs. Pittsburgh.

The Patriots then make their second back-to-back west coast stretch, at Seattle for a Sunday night game on Dec. 7 and Sunday Dec. 14 at 4:15 vs. Oakland. The team's final regular season home game is Sunday, Dec. 21 vs. Arizona at 1 p.m. (again, remember flex scheduling) and the regular season finale is at Buffalo at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 28.

-- TOM KING