The 2015 NFL season will commence on September 10, and the first game has been revealed.
Yahoo Sports reported that the opening game will be between the reigning champions New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers will begin the season without All-Pro running back Le'Veon Bell. The Patriots will also be without running back LeGarrette Blount. Both Bell and Blount were suspended for violating the substance abuse policy.
Bleacher Report wrote that quarterback Tom Brady will be leading the Patriots, while Ben Roethlisberger will be at the helm of the Steelers. Without their running backs, both quarterbacks are expected to go head-to-head in terms of passing yards. The last time that the Patriots and Steelers played in the regular season was in 2013, with New England winning 55-31.
CBS Sports reported that NFL fans will also be excited about a few more games for Week 1. The New York Giants will play against the Dallas Cowboys for the Sunday Night Football Opener on September 13, 2015. The Philadelphia Eagles will also play against the Atlanta Falcons for the Monday Night Football Opener on September 14. Another great game on the same Monday night will be between the San Francisco 49ers and the Minnesota Vikings.
On October 18, the Seattle Seahawks will face the Carolina Panthers while the Patriots will meet the Indianapolis Colts. On November 29, the Patriots will play against the Denver Broncos.
There will also be three games in London. On October 4, the New York Jets will be playing against the Miami Dolphins. On October 25, the Buffalo Bills will play against Jacksonville Jaguars. On November 1, Detroit will play against the Kansas City Chiefs.
For the traditional Thanksgiving Day games, the Detroit Lions will play against the Eagles while the Carolina Panthers will play against the Cowboys.
For the holidays, the Chicago Bears will face the Green Bay Packers. Brett Favre is also set to be honored that time, based on a report by Huffington Post.
Mike McCarty, coach of the Packers, said, "I think it's great, and it will be great for our fans, the first time we've had a Thanksgiving night game here at Lambeau Field," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "I think it will definitely be a special night."
He added in the same report by Huffington Post, "Going to Chicago is always a big game. Doing it Week 1 with a new (Bears) coaching staff brings some extra challenges, but we're looking forward to starting off with the oldest rivalry in the National Football League."
Meanwhile, let's watch the latest NFL Draft commercial.