2015 Kick-Off Game - Pick the Patriots Opponent (1 Viewer)

[Dr. Octopus]

Who should the NFL have come into Foxboro for next season's opening night?

New England doesn't face many marquee names at home next season so it looks like Philly or Pitt are the only legit options - unless the play up the Rex Ryan angle and go with Buffalo.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Imagine if it's Jacksonville or is that one of the London games?

 

[Old Smiley]

Philly'd be not bad. Chip v Bill

 

[Niles Standish]

Pitt is the one that makes the most sense. Between Pitt and NE they have 6 of the last 15 Superbowls. 2 marquee QBs.

Otherwise I think you go with Buffalo or the Jets for the rivalry angle.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Pitt is the one that makes the most sense. Between Pitt and NE they have 6 of the last 15 Superbowls. 2 marquee QBs.

Otherwise I think you go with Buffalo or the Jets for the rivalry angle.

I think they go with Pitts based on what you said, plus Pitt is a big ratings draw.

The two divisions games have the rivalry aspects as you say, but as of right now (and things can change of course) it would mean either EJ Manuel or Geno Smith against Tom Brady.

 

[tangfoot]

Pitt is the one that makes the most sense. Between Pitt and NE they have 6 of the last 15 Superbowls. 2 marquee QBs.

Otherwise I think you go with Buffalo or the Jets for the rivalry angle.

I think they go with Pitts based on what you said, plus Pitt is a big ratings draw.

If I'm the NFL I take the opposite tack. Schedule the ####tiest team on the single game of the regular season with the highest guaranteed rating.

 

[Insein]

Oakland

Cause #### you that's why.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Philly or Pitt

 

[pizzatyme]

Philly seems like the best choice to me. Matchup issues, strategery, and scoring are a recipe for opening night success.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Pitt is the one that makes the most sense. Between Pitt and NE they have 6 of the last 15 Superbowls. 2 marquee QBs.

Otherwise I think you go with Buffalo or the Jets for the rivalry angle.

I think they go with Pitts based on what you said, plus Pitt is a big ratings draw.

If I'm the NFL I take the opposite tack. Schedule the ####tiest team on the single game of the regular season with the highest guaranteed rating.

So you think the NFL would want a poor matchup to kickoff their season?

 

[tangfoot]

Pitt is the one that makes the most sense. Between Pitt and NE they have 6 of the last 15 Superbowls. 2 marquee QBs.

Otherwise I think you go with Buffalo or the Jets for the rivalry angle.

I think they go with Pitts based on what you said, plus Pitt is a big ratings draw.

If I'm the NFL I take the opposite tack. Schedule the ####tiest team on the single game of the regular season with the highest guaranteed rating.

So you think the NFL would want a poor matchup to kickoff their season?

I'm saying that it doesn't matter. That game, after an entire spring and summer of hype, prior to the real heat of the baseball pennant races is absolute gold, and there's no two teams in the league who could #### it up.

 

[ShamrockPride]

If Jets get Mariota or Winston (which I think is unlikely ) I think you gotta go with them.

 

[Rookie_Whisperer]

None of the above:

I know they are supposed to play these two teams away next year but I'd like to see either Denver or Indy for the first game of the season. Either the two greatest QBs of the last 15 years and Peyton's final year or the GOAT(?) vs the best young QB today in Luck. I'd personally like to see Peyton v Brady early in the season and Luck late, just for the story line part of it.

 

[Old Smiley]

My pick is Philly, but I bet they go Buffalo.

 

[MattFancy]

In order of probablity:

Pittsburgh - Big fanbase and a playoff team from last season

Buffalo - Rex Ryan stays in division and gets another chance at Brady and Belichick

Philly - Chip vs Bill would be fun to see. But thought I saw it's been awhile since the opener was against an non-conference opponent

The rest pretty much no chance.

 

[bostonfred]

I think Philly is the biggest draw and a game that casual fans would be most interested in. its a matchup we've never seen, there's lots of fantasy football interest, the over/under would be in the high 50s, and the spread would be lower than against buffalo.

That's the formula for a fan friendly game.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

None of the above:

I know they are supposed to play these two teams away next year but I'd like to see either Denver or Indy for the first game of the season. Either the two greatest QBs of the last 15 years and Peyton's final year or the GOAT(?) vs the best young QB today in Luck. I'd personally like to see Peyton v Brady early in the season and Luck late, just for the story line part of it.

It's going to be a home game for New England, so we're not going to see that - plus after the shellacking Indy took in the AFC Championship game and now the revenge factor of Grigson starting deflategate, no one (except NE fans) want to see that ### kicking.

 

[Flying Elvis]

NFL dropping the ball [guess is should have been deflated?] by having Indy as an away game. They should fix that, and give us the whiny bowl to start the season.

I can only image how loudly the crowd would boo.

My vote is for the Steelers, as they've won 2 SBs recently. Wash/Philly would be good choices financially, as big market teams playing marquee time slots.

 

[Bruce Hammond]

The game will definitely be played at Gillette. Since the SB champ started being involved as the norm, the only time the SB champ hasn't hosted was due to BAL having a scheduling conflict with the Orioles in 2013, and they got blown out at DEN and P Manning's 7 TD passes. So NE will host, and the 8 poll choices are the only options.

Of those choices, no way the NFL is interested in a likely blowout and that eliminates several of the teams.

The only time since the SB champ started hosting that the game has not been an intra-conference game was in 2007 (NO@IND). That's 10 of 11 times it's been an intra-conference game.

To me, that makes it between MIA, BUF and PIT. Not PHI.

Ratings drive decisions, and PIT wins big over BUF here. The PIT fan base dwarfs the BUF fan base nationally, a ratings plus. QBs drive ratings, and Roethlisberger over whoever BUF ends up trotting out there... no comparison. Recent history is in favor of PIT too, considering the last decade not just last year. Then there's the Rooney family influence (by the way, Mike Tomlin is on the 8-man competition committee, just sayin...). I don't think the Rex Ryan factor trumps any of that, or the fact that BUF is getting pretty good or is a division rival. I don't think MIA has as good a shot as BUF, so I'm tossing them out too.

BUF or PHI might be the team a lot of hard core fans want to see play, but I think the NFL is looking for the broader audience and that means...

I think the choice will be PIT @ NE

 

[pats3in4]

Steelers. Lots of history between the teams in the last 15 years. Roethlisberger is almost as old guard as Brady.

Philly - Chip vs. BB, especially since BB borrowed heavily from Chip on his lightning fast no huddle.

Meh on the rest.

 

[RUSF18]

Pitt is the one that makes the most sense. Between Pitt and NE they have 6 of the last 15 Superbowls. 2 marquee QBs.

Otherwise I think you go with Buffalo or the Jets for the rivalry angle.

I think they go with Pitts based on what you said, plus Pitt is a big ratings draw.

If I'm the NFL I take the opposite tack. Schedule the ####tiest team on the single game of the regular season with the highest guaranteed rating.

So you think the NFL would want a poor matchup to kickoff their season?

I'm saying that it doesn't matter. That game, after an entire spring and summer of hype, prior to the real heat of the baseball pennant races is absolute gold, and there's no two teams in the league who could #### it up.

Of course it matters. The last thing the network would want is the game decided at halftime and second half ratings plummet when the east coast and casual gamblers tune out.

 

[Godsbrother]

Steelers makes the most sense in terms of ratings.

 

[NE_REVIVAL]

Steelers makes the most sense in terms of ratings.

Agreed, it will be Pitt.

 

[msudaisy26]

Eagles or Steelers.

 

[JaxBill]

Imagine if it's Jacksonville or is that one of the London games?

No, Jags' London game is Buffalo in a matchup so special they gave it a 9:30 AM Eastern start.

 

[FUBAR]

2014: Packers / Seahawks

2013: Ravens / Broncos

2012: Cowboys / Giants

2011: Saints / Packers

2010: Vikings / Saints

I don't see rivalry games here with the exception of Dallas/NYG, these are just teams the NFL thought would draw well and were expected to do well that season.

Options: Buffalo, Miami, NY Jets, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Philadelphia, Washington, Pittsburgh

Yep, pretty much a lock to be a team from Pennsylvania.

Not sure if it's coincidence, but all 5 years were in conference. (ETA: Bruce covered this, maybe it is just a preference?)

Bet on the Steelers.

 

[Old Smiley]

I guess I'm coming around on Pittsburgh. For ME Philly's more fun 'cause of coaching, but I can see Steelers more of a draw.

 

[Run It Up]

Jets or Bills plz.