Report: Cardinals vs Patriots to open Sunday Night Football in 2016

According to a report, the Patriots will hit the road and face the Cardinals on Sunday Night Football in Week 1.

While NBC always has the television rights to the NFL opener on Thursday of Week 1 every season, Sunday Night Football isn’t official until the very first Sunday night game of the season. Every year, NBC likes to stack their card with a marquee matchup to close off the first Sunday of football.

This year, it looks like it could be quite the showdown, as the Boston Globe‘s Ben Volin is reporting that the New England Patriots are expected to play on Sunday Night Football the first week of the year. His second tweet after that was not so subtle, insinuated that the Patriots will be playing the Arizona Cardinals.

If this is indeed the game, then it will be the first time the Patriots play at the University of Phoenix Stadium, since they won Super Bowl XLIX. It’s also interesting to note that one of the biggest trades during the free agency period occurred between the Patriots and Cardinals.

The trade sent pass rusher Chandler Jones to the Cardinals in exchange for offensive lineman Jonathan Cooper and a second-round pick. It makes the opening week even more intriguing, as it will feature two of the best coaches in the game, Bruce Arians and Bill Belichick. using strategies to defeat the others.

Lastly, it’s a game featuring Carson Palmer and Tom Brady, both of whom were two of the best quarterbacks in football last season. It’s two elite teams doing battle in a non-conference game. Sunday Night Football is going to get off to a hot start in the desert in 2016.

For more NFL coverage, be sure to visit our hub page.