FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The New England Patriots will open the 2013 National Football League season with a pair of AFC East contest in four days.

The Patriots will head to BuffaloonSept.8fora1p.m. start before hosting the New York Jets on Sept. 12 at 8:30 p.m. at Gillette Stadium.

Five of the Patriots’ 16 games will be against teams that had winning records last season. One of them, the Denver Broncos, visits the Patriots on Nov. 24, with former New England wide receiver Wes Welker set to return after signing with the Broncos as a free agent. The game will be broadcast on NBC’s Sunday Night Football.

The other four games against teams with winning records are on the road at Atlanta (13-3) on Sept. 29, Cincinnati (10-6) on Oct. 6, Houston (12-4) on Dec. 1 and Super Bowl champion Baltimore (10-6) on Dec. 22.

The Ravens beat the Patriots 28-13 in Foxboro in the AFC title game last season.

The reigning AFC East champions remain hot with television networks and landed five prime-time games.

New England has been a dominant force in the AFC East for the past dozen years. The Patriots have another opportunity to establish their division dominance right away by starting with two rivalry games.

But, it’s rarely about the regular season for the Patriots. The key will be winning enough in New England to position itself for another deep playoff run.

The Patriots have the 14thranked strength of schedule next season, with a late bye (Nov. 10).

New England Patriots
Sep. 8 at Buffalo 1 p.m.
Sep. 12 N.Y. Jets 8:25 p.m.
Sep. 22 Tampa Bay 1 p.m.
Sep. 29 at Atlanta Falcons
8:30 p.m.
Oct. 6 at Cincinnati 1 p.m.
Oct. 13 New Orleans 4:25
p.m.
Oct. 20 at N.Y. Jets 1 p.m.
Oct. 27 Miami 1 p.m.
Nov. 3 Pittsburgh 4:25 p.m.
Nov. 10 BYE
Nov. 18 at Carolina 8:40
p.m.
Nov. 24 Denver 8:30 p.m.
Dec. 1 at Houston 4:25 p.m.
Dec. 8 Cleveland 1 p.m.
Dec. 15 at Miami 1 p.m.
Dec. 22 at Baltimore 8:30
p.m.
Dec. 29 Buffalo 1 p.m.