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Patriots’ preseason schedule is announced

Tom Brady and the Patriots will play their first preseason game between Aug. 7 and 10.Getty Images

The Patriots’ 2014 preseason slate will have an NFC East flavor.

The NFL announced its preseason schedule Wednesday afternoon, and the Patriots will play three of the four NFC East teams.

Dates and times have not yet been announced for three of the Patriots’ four games. They will open at Washington (between Aug. 7 and 10), then host Philadelphia (Aug. 14-18) and Carolina (Aug. 21-24) the next two weeks and finish at the New York Giants Aug. 28. It will be the 10th straight year the Patriots end the preseason with the Giants.

It is unclear whether the Patriots will engage in joint practices with the Redskins and Eagles, as they have done with their first two preseason opponents in the recent past. The Patriots held a joint practice with the Eagles last year in Philadelphia, and it’s possible that they will host the Eagles this year.

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The full 2014 regular-season schedule has not been announced, though opponents and venues are known. Last year, the NFL announced the regular-season schedule exactly two weeks after the preseason schedule.

This year, the Patriots will host the Jets, Bills, Dolphins, Raiders, Broncos, Bears, Lions, and Bengals. They will play road games at the Jets, Bills, Dolphins, Chiefs, Chargers, Packers, Vikings, and Colts.

NFL rules require each team to play at least one nationally televised game on a Thursday, Sunday, or Monday night, and the Patriots are a candidate to play in a few, as usual. The NFL is also expected to place more premier games on Thursday nights in accordance with its new expanded package with CBS and NFL Network.


Follow Ben Volin on Twitter at @BenVolin.