2016 New England Patriots Preseason Schedule

FOXBOROUGH, MA — The 2016 NFL regular season is almost here, but first you need to get through the four games known as preseason.

This week, the New England Patriots kick off the annual exhibition schedule with a match against the New Orleans Saints at Gillette Stadium. The Saints have been in town for the past couple of days for joint-practices with the team.

The following week, it's the Chicago Bears' turn to have joint-practices in Foxborough, followed by a game on Aug. 18.

The last two weeks of the preseason will see the Patriots go on the road to visit the Carolina Panthers and they'll wrap it up with the annual preseason showdown against the New York Giants.

Here's the full schedule and information:

• Aug. 11, 7:30 p.m. - vs. New Orleans Saints
• Aug. 18, 8:00 p.m. - vs. Chicago Bears
• Aug. 26, 7:30 p.m. - at Carolina Panthers
• Sept. 1, 7:00 p.m. - at New York Giants

All games are scheduled to be shown in the Boston area on WBZ-TV CBS and WBZ-FM 98.5 The Sports Hub. On TV, Dan Roche and former Patriots tight end Christian Fauria will be in the broadcast boot, former Patriots linebacker Matt Chatham and Steve Burton will provide sideline analysis, and Patriots Football Weekly’s beatwriters Paul Perillo and Andy Hart will also provide insight and analysis.

Bob Socci will call the game on radioalong side Scott Zolak.