Patriots-Steelers NFL Opening Night Predictions
BOSTON (CBS) -- Football is finally returning.
The 2015 NFL season kicks off Thursday night, as the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots host the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium. The Pats will raise their Super Bowl XLIX banner before the tilt, closing the book on their fourth championship in franchise history.
After that celebration the focus will shift to the new season, as New England squares off against another AFC favorite in Pittsburgh. While there are 17 long weeks ahead of us, Thursday's opener could be an early preview of the AFC Championship game.
Read: Patriots-Steelers Preview
But let's not look too far ahead, and like the Patriots, just take it one game at a time. Here is how the WBZ-TV, WBZ NewsRadio 1030 and 98.5 The Sports Hub sports teams see Thursday night's opener going down:
Steve Burton, WBZ-TV Sports
The last time the Patriots played the Steelers in their home opener was way back in 2002, and the Pats won that game 30-14 on Monday Night Football. That season, they were coming off their first Super Bowl win in franchise history, and now 13 years later, the Pats will start their title defense against Pittsburgh once again.
Thursday night is Banner Night in Foxboro, and Tom Brady and company know how special the night will be. With all that Brady has endured during the offseason, he can't wait to explode against the Steelers. New England fans deserve this one.
Patriots 34, Steelers 21
Dan Roche, WBZ-TV Sports
I think the Patriots will come out firing on all cylinders on offense and put up a bunch of points against a young Steelers defense.
On the flip side, I think the Patriots will let up some points against a relentless quarterback in Big Ben Roethlisberger.
I think the Patriots will go up big but the Steelers score late to make it a little more interesting.
Patriots 42, Steelers 31
Levan Reid, WBZ-TV Sports
So after all the DeflateGate drama, we are ready for some football.
I feel like this offseason has seen more changes than others, but one item remains the same: The Patriots have Tom Brady. In his last three outings against the Steelers, Brady has thrown for 980 yards, nine touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Brady will be pumped up opening night, and this team goes the way of the quarterback. They will do what they do offensively at a high pace and tire out Pittsburgh. Most defenses struggle with stamina in the first games of the season, so the offense should take advantage.
The Steelers will be missing their biggest offensive weapon in Le'Veon Bell and that will be tough for them to overcome.
Patriots 34, Steelers 17
Adam Kaufman, WBZ NewsRadio 1030/98.5 The Sports Hub
The opener in Foxboro probably won't be the blowout fans and the insulted-daily Patriots are hungry for in the wake of a nearly eight-month Deflategate controversy and Tuesday's re-opened Spygate wounds, but it will be a win.
It's possible the Pats have never wanted to win an opener so badly. Tom Brady will do his talking on the field and play well, despite an ailing receiving corps and a reconfigured offensive line. But the new-look secondary will have its hands full with Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown. After that pair, though, Pittsburgh won't have much with which to work.
Patriots 24, Steelers 17
Mike Riley, WBZ NewsRadio 1030/98.5 The Sports Hub
Tom Brady comes out fired up, but will sit back in the rain as the run game will get the majority of work against a Steelers defense that isn't your Father's "Steel Curtain" D.
Patriots 28, Steelers 13
Scott Zolak, 98.5 The Sports Hub
Patriots 31, Steelers 17
Marc Bertrand, 98.5 The Sports Hub
The Patriots will have emotion on their side.
Patriots 24, Steelers 13
Rob "Hardy" Poole, 98.5 The Sports Hub
There will be lots of missed extra points, due to the new rules moving the kick back.
The big surprise is that Ryan Lindley will see very little action. I wouldn't expect to see Lindley until the middle of the third quarter.
Patriots 25, Steelers 12
Tune in to Patriots-Steelers Thursday night on 98.5 The Sports Hub — the flagship station of the New England Patriots! Pregame coverage begins at 5:30pm with Patriots Preview, kickoff is set for 8:30pm and stay tuned after the game for full analysis on Patriots Postgame! You can also catch Patriots 5th Quarter on myTV38 immediately following the game!