Who will the Patriots face to kick off 2015 season? [Archive]

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Lady Steel

02-02-2015, 10:51 AM

Put the pigskin away, football season is over.

The most depressing moment each year, as we decompress from a glorious Super Bowl (http://www.nfl.com/superbowl), is that there will be zero NFL-sanctioned football games for the next seven months.

No Tom Brady (http://www.nfl.com/player/tombrady/2504211/profile), Aaron Rodgers (http://www.nfl.com/player/aaronrodgers/2506363/profile), Marshawn Lynch (http://www.nfl.com/player/marshawnlynch/2495663/profile), Luke Kuechly (http://www.nfl.com/player/lukekuechly/2533056/profile),Calvin Johnson (http://www.nfl.com/player/calvinjohnson/2495647/profile), Joe Haden (http://www.nfl.com/player/joehaden/496733/profile), Andy Dalton (http://www.nfl.com/player/andydalton/2495143/profile) or Geno Smith (http://www.nfl.com/player/genosmith/2539335/profile) for months. Instead we get to debate potential rookies and spin the free agency wheel before summer workouts finally begin.

To help even out that sobering state overcoming you by the thought of not having a football fix, let's take a moment to consider who might play opening night. (Official dates and times to be announced in the spring).

Super Bowl (http://www.nfl.com/superbowl) champion New England Patriots (http://www.nfl.com/teams/newenglandpatriots/profile?team=NE) will open NFL Kickoff 2015 Weekend on Thursday, Sept. 10 at home. Opponents that will travel to Foxborough next year include:

Buffalo Bills (http://www.nfl.com/teams/buffalobills/profile?team=BUF), Miami Dolphins (http://www.nfl.com/teams/miamidolphins/profile?team=MIA), New York Jets (http://www.nfl.com/teams/newyorkjets/profile?team=NYJ), Jacksonville Jaguars (http://www.nfl.com/teams/jacksonvillejaguars/profile?team=JAC), Tennessee Titans (http://www.nfl.com/teams/tennesseetitans/profile?team=TEN), Pittsburgh Steelers (http://www.nfl.com/teams/pittsburghsteelers/profile?team=PIT), Philadelphia Eagles (http://www.nfl.com/teams/philadelphiaeagles/profile?team=PHI), Washington Redskins (http://www.nfl.com/teams/washingtonredskins/profile?team=WAS)

Our three favorite potential kickoff matchups:

1. Steelers (http://www.nfl.com/teams/pittsburghsteelers/profile?team=PIT) at Patriots (http://www.nfl.com/teams/newenglandpatriots/profile?team=NE)

One former dynasty versus the modern-day titans. The historical storylines jump off the page. The on-field matchup would be just as great. Sure there is the Tom Brady (http://www.nfl.com/player/tombrady/2504211/profile)-Ben Roethlisberger (http://www.nfl.com/player/benroethlisberger/2506109/profile) quarterback narrative network TV loves, but this one is better than that. The Steelers (http://www.nfl.com/teams/pittsburghsteelers/profile?team=PIT) were one of the hottest teams down the stretch last year before Le'Veon Bell (http://www.nfl.com/player/le'veonbell/2540175/profile)'s injury hurt their playoff chances. If Darrelle Revis (http://www.nfl.com/player/darrellerevis/2495717/profile) returns to New England, we'd get the highly entertaining Antonio Brown (http://www.nfl.com/player/antoniobrown/2508061/profile)-Revis faceoff.

The fun matchups go much deeper, but we'll get into that when the schedule comes out. This would easily be my pick for opening night.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000467717/article/who-will-the-patriots-face-to-kick-off-2015-season

Steelman

02-02-2015, 11:16 AM

I'm for whichever matchup includes Marsha eating turf, which unfortunately probably isn't us.

vader29

02-02-2015, 11:17 AM

Steelers will be without Bell for the first two games of the season so depending on who the backup running back is next season that wouldn't be a great matchup for us in the first game of the year.

KeiselPower99

02-05-2015, 07:01 PM

Steelers will be without Bell for the first two games of the season so depending on who the backup running back is next season that wouldn't be a great matchup for us in the first game of the year.

Which is why it will be the matchup week 1

salamander

02-05-2015, 07:21 PM

Which is why it will be the matchup week 1

Goodell will make sure of that.

NCSteeler

02-06-2015, 09:22 AM

Damn that is a cushy home schedule for a superbowl non-loser!

fansince'76

02-06-2015, 09:36 AM

Damn that is a cushy home schedule for a superbowl non-loser!

Yeah, a whopping one playoff team. Bet they get their usual week 9/10 bye, while we revert back to our usual bye in week 3 or 4 as well. :coffee:

Goodell has to make up for sleeping on the job as we got our bye in week 12 this past season.

86WARD

02-06-2015, 12:52 PM

How do they know that the Revis-Brown matchup would be highly entertaining?

zulater

02-06-2015, 01:51 PM

Hope it's the Eagles. Opening week really favors the Super Bowl champ opening at home.

As far as LeVeon. Is it a given that he's going to be suspended for games? First time offender, no positive tests. Hell half the NFL smokes semi regularly and the league knows it. I understand he was arrested. But to the best of my knowledge this wont be considered much more than a speeding ticket or first time DUI with no aggravating circumstances. Which by the new policies shouldn't bring about a suspension.

Mojouw

02-06-2015, 01:58 PM

ALLD

02-06-2015, 01:59 PM

I would like to kick Brady in the face.

zulater

02-06-2015, 02:05 PM

The new policies could not care less about the dope charge. The NFL is basically admitting defeat on that issue.

It is the DUI (which the same policy changes that loosened the rules on pot; tightened them on DUI's) that is more than likely going to cost Bell between 1-3 games.

Has anyone in league history ever been suspended for a first time DUI without aggravating circumstances also involved? I know the policy has changed but is the union going to stand back and let it change to that degree?

Mojouw

02-06-2015, 04:01 PM

Has anyone in league history ever been suspended for a first time DUI without aggravating circumstances also involved? I know the policy has changed but is the union going to stand back and let it change to that degree?

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2015/02/06/Steeler-Le-Veon-Bell-admitted-into-program-for-first-time-offenders-Ross-Blount/stories/201502060170

His lawyer seems to think so. Everything I have read says that the league and the union horse traded. Softer stance on pot and harsher stance on DUI.

Again, it is all PR. No one cares about weed, but the public does get outraged at DUI.

tube517

02-15-2015, 03:21 PM

http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Labriola-on-Sept-10-DBs-backup-RBs/0c23e7dd-8c01-4792-8ed4-506ae0b39ebb?campaign=social_20150215_40463986&adbid=10153162568079905&adbpl=fb&adbpr=146175949904

* Buffalo, Miami, New York Jets, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Philadelphia, Washington. Those are seven of the eight teams that the defending champion New England Patriots will be hosting in 2015 at Gillette Stadium.

* Because the Steelers are the eighth is why I see Steelers-Patriots on Thursday, Sept. 10 to open the 2015 NFL season as being close to a foregone conclusion.

* A foregone conclusion, especially given the provision that the teams appearing on the opening Thursday night telecast are then available to be scheduled for an additional Thursday night telecast later in the season. With the exception of the two participants on Sept. 10, each team will have just one Thursday night game in 2015. The Patriots, and the Steelers if selected as the opponent for Sept. 10, would be eligible for two Thursday night appearances next season.

Great. They would have to play TWO Thursday night games.

salamander

02-15-2015, 03:34 PM

Crash

02-16-2015, 05:31 PM

If it's not us? I expect it to be the Bills so they can shove Rex vs. Belichick down our throats.