Patriots Host Steelers in Home Opener as Off-Field Row Simmers

The New England Patriots run out at home for the first time this season against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. Kickoff at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, is set for 1 p.m. ET. It is a Week 2 matchup, meaning a game in the second round of the regular season, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The game airs live on CBS. Viewers with a television can watch through their local CBS affiliate, which is the local station that carries CBS programmes in their area. DIRECTV carries CBS across its signature packages and offers a five-day free trial for new users.

The Steelers arrive at 1-0. The Patriots start at 0-1. The NFL lists the game as Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots 2026 REG 2 on its dedicated game page, according to the NFL, with the Patriots' record reported by Yahoo Sports.

Parking is organised for an early crowd. Lots open at 9 a.m. Gates open at 11 a.m., according to Gillette Stadium.

The matchup arrives with an off-field dispute still in the headlines. Patriots owner Robert Kraft refused to let rapper Macklemore perform at Gillette Stadium after Macklemore made pro-Palestinian comments on tour. Macklemore said on social media that Ed Sheeran had informed him that Kraft would not allow him to perform at the venue, according to ESPN.

Kraft said a Macklemore performance would cross the line. He later said he refused to host the rapper because of what he described as Macklemore's track record of antisemitic rhetoric and tropes, according to Fox News.

Macklemore was later dropped from Sheeran's Loop Tour. Before that, Macklemore had invited Kraft to match a $1 million donation to Palestinian support groups, according to Rolling Stone. Kraft has pledged $2 million for humanitarian aid.

For fans, this means a simple Sunday. Football at 1 p.m. on a familiar channel. The rest of the story will play out away from the field.