New England Patriots vs. Arizona Cardinals: What You Need to Know

The preseason is done, the rosters have been trimmed, and now it's time to start the 2016 NFL season.

The Patriots kick things off this weekend with a trip to University of Phoenix Stadium to play the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday Night Football. The visit will be the team's first for a game against the Cardinals, previously playing in the stadium twice for Super Bowls XLII and XLIX.

Lots of questions surround the Patriots going into this season. Third-year quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is set to start his first professional game Sunday and tight end Rob Gronkowski and offensive linemen Nate Solder and Jonathan Cooper didn't make the business trip.

Here's what you need to know:

Start and Location

Sept. 11, 8:30 p.m. at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

Broadcast Information

TELEVISION: This week’s game will be broadcast by NBC and can be seen locally on WHDH-TV Channel 7 in Boston. Al Michaels will handle play-by-play duties with Cris Collinsworth as the color analyst. Michele Tafoya will work the sidelines. The game will be produced by Fred Gaudelli and directed by Drew Esocoff.

NATIONAL RADIO: This week’s game will be broadcast to a national audience on Westwood One Sports. Kevin Kugler and James Lofton will call the game. WEEI 93.7 is the home for the Westwood One broadcast.

LOCAL RADIO: 98.5 FM, The Sports Hub, is the flagship station for the Patriots Radio Network. Play-by-play broadcaster Bob Socci will call the action along with former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak, who will provide color analysis. Produced by Marc Cappello.

The Spread

All the major sports books has the Patriots as the underdog. Here are the betting lines via ESPN.

• Westgate: Arizona by 7
• BOVADA.lv: Arizona by 6.5
• BETONLINE.ag: Arizona by 7
• SportsBetting.ag: Arizona by 7
• 5Dimes.eu: Arizona by 7.5

Expert Picks

Here are what the experts think about Sunday night's game:

• Chris Burke, Sports Illustrated: Cardinals - 24 Patriots - 14
• Kevin Clark, The Ringer: Cardinals - 28 Patriots - 23
• Benjamin Hoffman, New York Times: Cardinals win, no score predicted
• ESPN NFL Expert Picks: 10 choose Cardinals, 0 choose Patriots

Series History

The Patriots will open the season against the defending NFC West Champion Arizona Cardinals for the first time in team history. This week’s game will be the Patriots first time ever facing the Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Patriots have played two games at that stadium, Super Bowl XLII and Super Bowl XLIX. This week’s game will be the Patriots first trip to Arizona to face the Cardinals since a 23-12 win on Sept. 19, 2004, at Sun Devil Stadium and their first trip to the stadium since the Super Bowl XLIX victory.

The Patriots will be opening the season against an NFC team for the fifth time in team history and for the first time since 2000 when they opened the season at home against Tampa Bay on Sept. 3, 2000, a 21-16 loss in head coach Bill Belichick’s first ever game as head coach of the Patriots.

After a 1-6 series start against Arizona, New England won the next five games before losing the 2012 home opener, 20-18, at Gillette Stadium on Sept. 16, 2012 - the last meeting between the two teams.

The Patriots have faced the Cardinals three times during Bill Belichick’s tenure as head coach (2000-present).