Can the next Patriots game be flexed?

Patriots at Bills in Week 4 can't move under the NFL's published rules.

When is the next flex decision for a Patriots game?

Oct. 6, for the Week 6 Sunday night window: that is the latest date the NFL can decide under its published rules, 4 days from today.

Has a Patriots game been flexed in 2026?

No. The NFL has announced no flex for a Patriots game in 2026.

Patriots Flex Schedule 2026: Which Games Can Still Move?

8 of New England’s 14 remaining games can still move. The next latest decision date is Oct. 6, for the Week 6 Sunday night window. No Patriots game has moved. The Week 17 and 18 games have no date yet; the NFL sets them after Weeks 15 and 17.

Open means the published rules allow a move. CBS and Fox can each protect one game a week. The NFL does not publish their choices.

Patriots 2026 Flex Status: 14 Remaining Games by Week

Gameweek, kickoff Eastern	Answerunder NFL rules	Sunday nightlatest decision date	Monday nightlatest decision date	Thursday nightlatest decision date
Week 4Patriots at BillsSun, Oct. 4, 1:00 PM ET	Can't move	Not in window	Not in window	Not in window
Like every Sunday afternoon game, its kickoff can move between 1:00, 4:05 and 4:25 PM ET.
Week 5Raiders at PatriotsSun, Oct. 11, 1:00 PM ET	Can't move	Deadline passedSept. 29 · passed	Not in window	Not in window
Like every Sunday afternoon game, its kickoff can move between 1:00, 4:05 and 4:25 PM ET.
Week 6Jets at PatriotsSun, Oct. 18, 1:00 PM ET	Can still move	OpenOct. 6 · 4 days	Not in window	Not in window
Like every Sunday afternoon game, its kickoff can move between 1:00, 4:05 and 4:25 PM ET.
Week 7Patriots at BearsThu, Oct. 22, 8:15 PM ET	Can't move	—	—	Not in window
Week 8Patriots at DolphinsSun, Nov. 1, 4:25 PM ET	Can still move	OpenOct. 20 · 18 days	Not in window	Not in window
Like every Sunday afternoon game, its kickoff can move between 1:00, 4:05 and 4:25 PM ET.
Week 9Packers at PatriotsSun, Nov. 8, 4:25 PM ET	Can still move	OpenOct. 27 · 25 days	Not in window	Not in window
Like every Sunday afternoon game, its kickoff can move between 1:00, 4:05 and 4:25 PM ET.
Week 10Patriots at LionsSun, Nov. 15, 9:30 AM ET	Can't move	Not in window	Not in window	Not in window
Week 12Patriots at ChargersSun, Nov. 29, 8:20 PM ET	Can still move	Could move to Sunday afternoonNov. 17 · 46 days	—	—
Week 13Bills at PatriotsSun, Dec. 6, 4:25 PM ET	Can still move	OpenNov. 24 · 53 days	OpenNov. 25 · 54 days	OpenNov. 12 · 41 days
Like every Sunday afternoon game, its kickoff can move between 1:00, 4:05 and 4:25 PM ET.
Week 14Vikings at PatriotsThu, Dec. 10, 8:15 PM ET	Can still move	—	—	Could move to Sunday afternoonNov. 19 · 48 days
Week 15Patriots at ChiefsMon, Dec. 21, 8:15 PM ET	Can still move	—	Could move to Sunday afternoonDec. 9 · 68 days	—
Week 16Patriots at JetsSun, Dec. 27, 1:00 PM ET	Can still move	OpenDec. 21 · 80 days	OpenDec. 16 · 75 days	OpenDec. 3 · 62 days
Like every Sunday afternoon game, its kickoff can move between 1:00, 4:05 and 4:25 PM ET.
Week 17Broncos at PatriotsDate not set	Date not set	—	—	—
Set by: after Week 15. Two of the four play Saturday (4:30 and 8:00 PM ET). The others can go to Thursday night, Sunday afternoon (1:00 or 4:25 PM ET), Sunday night or Monday night.
Week 18Dolphins at PatriotsDate not set	Date not set	—	—	—
Set by: after Week 17. Three games play Saturday (1:00, 4:30 and 8:00 PM ET). The rest play Sunday afternoon (1:00 or 4:25 PM ET) or Sunday night.

NFL Flex Rules 2026: Published Rules and Reported Limits

Published by the league, and the only rules that decide an answer or a window:

NFL, "2026 Flexible Scheduling Procedures and Scheduling for Week 18".
NFL.com, 2026 Week 16 schedule: the four Week 16 games set after Week 14.
NFL.com, 2026 Week 17 schedule: the four Week 17 games set after Week 15.
NFL.com, 2026 Week 18 schedule: all Week 18 games, set after Week 17.

Reported, not published. These only add a “Likely blocked” warning to a game that can still move, and are skipped in Week 18:

Primetime limit per team (reported, not published). No team plays more than 8 primetime games: 7 scheduled and one flexed in. Source: Pro Football Talk (Mike Florio), "Rams could potentially end up with nine prime-time games", May 15, 2026, citing the NFL.
Division rivals (reported, not published). The NFL usually keeps one of the two games between division rivals on Sunday afternoon. Sources: NBC Sports (Michael David Smith), Dec 1, 2025; MorganWick.com, NFL Flexible Scheduling Primer.
International games (reported, not published). A game played outside the United States is marked likely blocked. No published source: the NFL's procedures page does not mention games played abroad.

Patriots Flex Schedule 2026: 3 Questions

Can the next Patriots game be flexed?: Patriots at Bills in Week 4 can't move under the NFL's published rules.
When is the next flex decision for a Patriots game?: Oct. 6, for the Week 6 Sunday night window: that is the latest date the NFL can decide under its published rules, 4 days from today.
Has a Patriots game been flexed in 2026?: No. The NFL has announced no flex for a Patriots game in 2026.

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Updated: October 1, 2026