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New England Patriots to open NFL regular season vs Pittsburgh Steelers

By Patrick Schmidt

Nov 3, 2013; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) makes a call at the line of scrimmage during the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 3, 2013; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) makes a call at the line of scrimmage during the second quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Super Bowl champion New England Patriots will open the NFL regular season against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Tom Brady and the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots get the honors of opening the NFL regular season against the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter.

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This could be a potential AFC Championship Game preview with the two perennial powers opening what should be another phenomenal 2015 season, but it would have been a lot better if Steelers running back, Le’Veon Bell wasn’t suspended to begin the season stemming from his marijuana arrest last year.

However, this will still be a showdown between two of the greatest quarterbacks with Brady going toe-to-toe with Ben Roethlisberger who have won a combined six Super Bowls between them and two of the best head coaches with Bill Belichick matching wits with the Steelers’ Mike Tomlin.

Hopefully we also get to see Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown who is holding out from offseason team activities as he seeks a new contract, but there will still be plenty of great storylines in anticipation of the season getting underway with the two powers.

Will Brady show any signs of slowing down as he begins 16th season after turning 38 years old?

I don’t think he will but the Steelers defense has made a lot of great quarterbacks look bad in years past.

Will the Patriots miss Vince Wilfork in the middle of the defense?

The Patriots parted ways with the veteran nose tackle/defensive tackle before the start of free agency and have a leadership void to fill on the defensive side of the ball with him no longer around. His presence on the field and inside the locker room could be tough to replace.

Can DeAngelo Williams carry the load with Bell suspended?

The Steelers signed the former Carolina Panthers back in free agency and will likely be the starting running back for the opener with Bell suspended. He was injured for much of last season and has considerable wear on his tires, but can he show flashes of his old self against a Wilfork-less Patriots front-seven?

Which newcomers make a favorable first impression?

The NFL Draft is nine days away so both teams will be adding some impact performers to their roster and the opener will serve as the first real game to see the team’s rookies and which newcomers make a great first impression. Will the Steelers draft a rookie defensive back to replace Ike Taylor or Troy Polamalu who make a few big plays on Brady and wide receiver Julian Edelman? Will the Pats find a defensive lineman they like to replace Wilfork? Will a late round pick surprise us all and steal the show?

I can’t wait and I’m sure you can’t either.

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