The New England Patriots will host their 2026 home opener on Sunday, but fans might have to bring some rain gear to the game. The upcoming Week 2 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers could become a wet affair.
According to NFL Weather, rain showers could move through Gillette Stadium throughout the day, with the chance of precipitation hovering around 40-45%. Temperatures, meanwhile, will not exceed 63°F and are expected to drop to as low as 58°F by the fourth quarter.
The National Weather Service
shared a similar projection with “a chance of showers, mainly after noon.” The chance of precipitation has been calculated at 50% for Sunday afternoon.
For both the Patriots and Steelers, this would present a change compared to their respective season openers last week. Whereas New England played the Seahawks in sunny conditions at Seattle’s Lumen Field, the weather was cloudy but dry in Pittsburgh on Sunday versus the visiting Falcons.
The Patriots did practice in the rain in training camp, but they have not played a game in wet conditions since the AFC Championship Game — a contest that was impacted by heavy snowfall. Their last true rain game took place a full calendar year ago: the 2025 home opener versus the Raiders, a game New England lost 20-13.
Kickoff between the Patriots and Steelers is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 20 at 1 p.m. ET.
