NFL 2020 schedule updates: Broncos-Patriots rescheduled for Week 6, other teams altered, and latest news

The NFL schedule is starting to become a mess

The NFL schedule has gone topsy turvy once again as a result of positive COVID-19 tests. Two games had been rescheduled for Week 5, but one of those has been moved. After another New England Patriots player tested positive for COVID-19, the Patriots Week 5 game against the Denver Broncos was rescheduled to Week 6. The Patriots had a scheduled bye week for Week 6, but the Broncos were scheduled to play the Miami Dolphins -- that game will be moved as a result of sweeping schedule changes around the league. 

The Tennessee Titans had a coach test positive Sunday and had to shut down their facility again -- seemingly putting Tuesday's a game against the Buffalo Bills in jeopardy. The NFL will play that game on Tuesday as scheduled, which moves the Bills-Chiefs game from Thursday night to Monday, Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. ET.

The New York Jets and Los Angeles Chargers also had their schedules altered as a result of the changes, as eight games in total have been adjusted around the league -- all in the AFC. 

Keep pinned to this live blog below for all the Week 5 (and beyond) schedule changes and updates. We've got you covered. 

[Oct 11, 2020 at 6:05 pm ET · Jeff Kerr]

4. Jets

Week 6 -- at Dolphins (4:05 ET., CBS)
Week 10 -- Bye Week 11-- at Chargers (4:05 ET, CBS)

[Oct 11, 2020 at 3:19 pm ET · Jeff Kerr]

3. Bills -- Week 5 game at Titans on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Will play the Chiefs in Week 6 on Monday, October 19 (5 p.m., Fox). Originally scheduled for Thursday.

BUF:
Week 5-- at Titans (Tuesday) Week 6 -- vs. Chiefs (next Monday)

[Oct 11, 2020 at 3:11 pm ET · Jeff Kerr]

So I'm going to do my best to go over these changes team by team:

1. Patriots -- Week 5 game against DEN PPD to Week 6.
2. Broncos -- Week 5 game against NE PPD to Week 6. Will play the Chargers in Week 8 (their original bye week, which is now Week 5. Originally played Dolphins in Week 6, but that's moved to Week 11.

NE:

Week 5 -- Bye
Week 6 -- Vs. Broncos

DEN:
Week 5 -- Bye Week 6 -- at Patriots Week 8 -- Vs. Chargers Week 11 -- Vs. Dolphins

[Oct 11, 2020 at 2:59 pm ET · Jeff Kerr]

5. Broncos-Patriots next Sunday (Week 6, 1 p.m. ET, CBS) -- was originally supposed to be played Monday

6. Chargers at Broncos from Week 11 to Week 8 (Sunday, November 1, 4:05 p.m., CBS)

7. Dolphins at Broncos from Week 6 to Week 11 ((Sunday, November 22, 4:05 p.m., CBS)

[Oct 11, 2020 at 2:57 pm ET · Jeff Kerr]

3. Jets-Chargers moves from Week 6 to Week 11. (Sunday, Nov. 22, 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS)

4. Jaguars-Chargers from Week 8 to Week 7 (Sunday, October 25, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS)

[Oct 11, 2020 at 2:54 pm ET · Jeff Kerr]

2. Chiefs-Bills from Thursday Night Football to Monday, October 19 ( 5 p.m., Fox). That means Titans-Bills will play Tuesday.

[Oct 11, 2020 at 2:53 pm ET · Josh Edwards]

The NFL has officially announced several schedule changes for eight teams: https://twitter.com/TomPelisse...

[Oct 11, 2020 at 2:53 pm ET · Jeff Kerr]

So the NFL has released the updated schedule of games:

1. Jets-Dolphins from Week 10 to Week 6 (4:05 p.m.) CBS

[Oct 11, 2020 at 11:15 am ET · Jeff Kerr]

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, here's the NFL's plan for the rescheduled games.

1. Broncos-Patriots next Sunday (Week 6)

2. Week 8: Chargers at Broncos (Denver's scheduled bye) 

 3. Week 11: Dolphins at Broncos (Miami's scheduled bye)

[Oct 11, 2020 at 10:48 am ET · Jeff Kerr]

The NFL doesn't plan on having a Week 18 as of this moment. They still want to play the 17-week, 256-game schedule as it stands -- obviously there will be changes, but want to end the year in Week 17. The question is, how are they going to accomplish this? Shorter weeks for the teams that need to make up games? More Monday Night Football games? More Tuesday Night Football games? Playing opponents in consecutive weeks (which the Dolphins may face with the Jets in November). All options are on the table right now.

[Oct 11, 2020 at 10:45 am ET · Tyler Sullivan]

Titans also have additional positive test

A day after they were allowed to get back into the team facility, the Titans saw another positive COVID-19 test come down from a staff member. This latest positive test makes it around two-dozen for the organization since the end of September and now puts their Week 5 matchup with the Buffalo Bills -- that was rescheduled for this Tuesday -- in jeopardy. 

Not only are the Titans holding their breath for this game to be played, but an NFL investigation is looming over the organization that could result in some stiff penalties if it's proven that they broke league protocol. 

[Oct 11, 2020 at 10:41 am ET · Kevin Steimle]

The Titans had another positive COVID-19 test today: https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/...

[Oct 11, 2020 at 10:41 am ET · Tyler Sullivan]

Patriots and Broncos postponed

The New England Patriots and Denver Broncos will have an unexpected bye today after another positive COVID-19 test hit Gillette Stadium. Starting defensive tackle Byron Cowart reportedly tested positive on Saturday, making it four Patriots total to turn in a positive test over the last eight days -- Cam Newton, Stephon Gilmore, and practice squad defensive tackle Bill Murray are the other three. 

New England was set to have a bye in Week 6, so this move isn't too daunting for them schedule-wise. Meanwhile, the Broncos schedule will likely see the biggest changes between the two clubs. They were set to have a Week 8 bye and face the Miami Dolphins next week. Now, reports say that Patriots-Broncos will take place next Sunday, while Broncos-Dolphins will be postponed to a later date. 

[Oct 11, 2020 at 10:40 am ET · Bryan DeArdo]

Despite the ongoing positive cases, the NFL is still planning to play each of their games within the 17-week schedule. This could change if more positive cases force more postponements and delays in the schedule, but for now, the NFL wants to find a way to stay on schedule.

[Oct 11, 2020 at 10:39 am ET · Bryan DeArdo]

As you can see, the Patriots and Broncos join the Steelers that have received an unexpected early bye. The Broncos' Week 6 game against the Dolphins will be rescheduled.

[Oct 11, 2020 at 10:34 am ET · Kevin Steimle]

COVID-19 is wreaking havoc on the NFL schedule. Keep it locked here for all the latest schedule changes.