Kickoff: Football is officially back in Foxborough. Following a physical joint practice session earlier in the week, the New England Patriots host the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium for their 2026 preseason opener. With the majority of the starters getting their primary work during practice, and out for this game, tonight’s game shifts the spotlight entirely onto the fringe roster battles, developmental prospects, and position group depth.
Four Downs
1st Down: Get a Look at the Depth: Preseason openers are won and lost in the trenches and second-string rotations. Both coaching staffs plan to sit a large chunk of key starters, leaving plenty of live snaps to evaluate critical positional depth. New England will be watching its offensive line chemistry closely, particularly at backup tackle and interior depth. On defense, keeping an eye on rotation at edge rusher and safety will determine who secures the final few active-day roster spots come late August.
2nd Down: Assess Tommy DeVito and Behren Morton at Quarterback: While Drake Maye not playing, the quarterback room behind him will get all the reps tonight. Tommy DeVito brings proven NFL regular-season game experience, looking to solidify his mark as a dependable, poise-under-pressure backup. On the flip side, rookie Behren Morton gets his first NFL game action. Morton’s arm talent and processing speed under live pressure will be tested as he competes to prove he deserves a spot on the 53-man roster rather than the practice squad.
3rd Down: Give the Rookies a Long Look: Tonight is all about classroom-to-field translation for the draft class and undrafted free agents. Rookie skill players like tight end Eli Rairdon and running back Jam Miller and defensive backs like Karon Prunty in particular, will get ample playing time. The coaching staff wants to see how quickly young skill players adjust to game-speed route running, live-tackling, and special teams coverage duties. A strong outing here from an unheralded rookie can completely alter their standing on the depth chart.
4th Down: Evaluate the Veteran Back-ups: It isn’t just about young upside; reliability from seasoned vets is vital for long-term depth. Second and third-tier veterans across the linebacking corps, secondary, and running back rooms are fighting to prove they can still contribute. Coaches need to see disciplined assignment football, leadership in the huddle, and consistent execution from the guys who have been around the league.
Extra Points: The Patriots and Colts share a rich history, with New England holding the edge in the regular season series at 53–31 (plus a 4–1 postseason record). Preseason meetings between these former AFC East rivals are exceedingly rare—tonight marks just their third all-time preseason matchup. Their last exhibition clash came back in 1992, when the Colts won 34–14 at the Hoosier Dome.
Final Drive: Don’t worry about the final score on the scoreboard tonight; preseason Week 1 is purely an evaluation product. The main objectives for New England are staying healthy, executing basic installations smoothly, and finding out which bubble players rise to the occasion under the lights at Gillette Stadium.