In the event that there's an NFL preseason, the Patriots at least know who they'll be playing.
The league released a full preseason slate Tuesday, and the Patriots will host the Jaguars (Aug. 13), visit the Buccaneers (Aug. 20), visit the Lions (Aug. 27) and host the Giants (Sept. 1). The Patriots-Lions game will be on national television.
The Patriots' first three preseason games will be played on Saturdays, while the finale against the Giants will be Thursday night. Last year, all four of the Patriots' preseason games were on Thursdays, but the NFL's list of preseason games has shown the league wanted the majority of its action to be played on Saturdays.
The NFL will release its regular-season schedule later this month, but it has not announced an official date. Based on the preseason schedule, final roster cuts will be Sept. 4, and the first Sunday of the 2011 regular season will be Sept. 11.
