What You Need to Know About the New England Patriots Season Opener at Gillette Stadium Against the Pittsburgh Steelers

Editor’s Note: Information in this article was provided by Patriots Media Relations.

After a summer of discussions about deflated balls, suspension talks, reports, and court battles, football returns to the field Thursday night when the New England Patriots host the 2015 NFL Season Opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

This week’s game is the NFL’s 14th consecutive kickoff celebration to start the season and the 11th time the NFL has saluted the Super Bowl champions with the opening game In their stadium on a Thursday in primetime. As part of the Kickoff events leading up to Super Bowl XL 10 years ago, the NFL incorporated musical performances from Los Angeles (home to the first Super Bowl), Detroit (host of Super Bowl XL) and New England (which won Super Bowl XXXIX).

The NFL’s Thursday Night Kickoff tradition began in 2002 and the defending Super Bowl champions has hosted every year since 2004. The Patriots won the first two such contests. New England defeated Indianapolis, 27-24, on Sept. 9, 2004, and Oakland, 30-20, on Sept. 8, 2005 in Thursday games at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots will open the season at home for the first time since 2010, when they hosted the Cincinnati Bengals in the home opener.

To help you get ready for the game, here is what you need to know!

TV and Radio Information

TELEVISION: This week’s game will be broadcast by NBC and can be seen locally on WHDH Channel 7 in Boston. Al Michaels will handle play-by-play duties with Cris Collinsworth as the color analyst. Michele Tafoya will work from 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. Kevin Harlan and Boomer Esiason will call the game. Ross Tucker will report from the sidelines.

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.

Important Times

• 4:30 p.m. - Parking lots open
• 6:30 p.m. - Gillette Stadium gates open
• 8 p.m. - Pregame banner ceremony
• 8:30 p.m. - Kickoff

Due to the pregame ceremony and planned fan participation, fans are encouraged to be in their seats by 8:00 p.m. To celebrate the 2015 NFL Kickoff, the Patriots will be hosting a New England-themed championship ceremony inside the stadium, featuring pregame entertainment by multiple New England musicians and a world championship moment celebrating the team’s Super Bowl XLIX title and unveiling of the organization’s fourth championship banner in 14 years. Fans will participate in the special ceremony with a card stunt from their seats immediately following the national anthem.

Arrive Early and Allow for Plenty of Time Around Gillette Stadium

With evening commute traffic and a capacity crowd of nearly 67,000 fans, Gillette Stadium officials encourage drivers to allow themselves plenty of time when traveling near the stadium on game day. Traffic restrictions will be in place on local roads before and after the game. Fans must use I-95, I-495 or Route 140 to access Route 1 and Gillette Stadium. For ease of entry and exit, fans are reminded of the following:

Parking and Public Transportation

Stadium parking lots open at 4:30 p.m. Parking is $40 for cars and motorcycles and $150 for buses, RVs, and limos. Those who would prefer to not drive can take the MBTA Commuter Rail to the stadium from South Station in Boston and TF Green Airport in Warwick, R.I. for $15 roundtrip.

South Station Schedule

• South Station: Departs for Gillette Stadium at 6:35 p.m.
• Back Bay: Departs for Gillette Stadium at 6:40 p.m.
• Dedham Corp: Departs for Gillette Stadium at 6:55 p.m.
• Arrive: Train arrives at Gillette Stadium at 7:40 p.m.

TF Green Airport Station Schedule

• TF Green Airport: Departs for Gillette Stadium at 6:05 p.m.
• Providence: Departs for Gillette Stadium at 6:35 p.m.
• South Attleboro: Departs for Gillette Stadium at 6:45 p.m.
• Attleboro: Train arrives at Gillette Stadium at 6:55 p.m.
• Mansfield: Departs for Gillette Stadium at 7:05 p.m.
• Arrive: Train arrives at Gillette stadium at 7:40 p.m.

Both trains will leave Gillette Stadium 30 minutes after the conclusion of the game.

The Dos and Do Nots of the Parking Lot

No one wants to be that person that gets in trouble for something that could have been avoided by knowing the rules of the parking lot. Here are the regulations for parking at the stadium. To provide all visitors with a safe and enjoyable visit to Gillette Stadium, the following parking lot restrictions apply on game days:

• Visitors must be in possession of a valid ticket to that day’s game to gain access to parking lots.
• Parking license is limited solely to the purpose of parking your vehicle on our property to gain entry to Gillette Stadium. Each paid license entitles the licensee to occupy one parking space.
• Solicitation, commercial or otherwise, by anyone for any purpose is expressly prohibited.
• Sale of any food, beverage or other items in Gillette Stadium parking lots, either prepaid or walk-up, without obtaining prior written approval of stadium management is expressly prohibited.
• Visitors must follow the directions given by the parking attendants and park within the space they designate for your use.
• Spaces cannot be held for vehicles arriving at a later time.
• Vehicles cannot be pulled into drive aisles after they are parked.

Prohibited Items

• Fans may not bring the following items into the stadium:
• Bags larger than a 12” x 12” x 6”. Contents of all bags will be inspected. Exceptions can be made for guests with special medical needs.
• Unmanned Aircraft Systems
• Remotely Controlled Model Aircraft
• Selfie sticks
• GoPro Cameras
• Battery Operated Heated Jackets
• Any type of portable chair or seat, other than those approved for persons with accessibility issues
• Video cameras
• Tripods or monopods
• Flagpoles over 2 feet in length
• Weapons of any kind, including pocket/utility knives
• Food or beverages
• Illegal drugs and substances
• Coolers or containers, including cans and bottles
• Umbrellas
• Fireworks, pyrotechnics, flares
• Laser pointers
• Animals, other than service dogs assisting those with disabilities
• Strollers or baby seats
• Segways
• Noisemakers, bullhorns, air horns, vuvuzelas
• Helium balloons, beach balls
• Lacrosse balls
• Any alcoholic beverages
• Food or beverages [unless the individual is in possession of a letter signed by Kelly Way, Director of Operations, TeamOps LLC
• Folding and/or standalone chairs
• Seat Cushions
• Soccer balls

Clear Bag Policy

The NFL Clear Bag Policy will be in effect once again throughout the 2015 season. That policy states that all bags entering the stadium must be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and no larger than 12” x 6” x 12.” Fans can use one-gallon clear (see through) plastic freezer bag or similar. In addition, small clutch bags (not to exceed 7” x 4” x 2”) may be carried into the stadium along with one of the clear bag options. Prohibited items include, but are not limited to: non see-through purses larger than a clutch bag, coolers, briefcases, backpacks, fanny packs, cinch sacks, luggage of any kind, seat cushions, computer bags and camera bags or any bag larger than the permissible size. For additional information, go to NFL.com/allclear.

Series History

The Patriots and Steelers will square off for the 28th time overall, including 23 regular season meetings and four postseason meetings, two of which were AFC Championship matchups.

This week’s game will be the fifth meeting at Gillette Stadium and the third time that the two clubs have squared off in the season-opener.

The last time the two teams played in the opener, the Patriots posted a 30-14 win in the grand opening of Gillette Stadium on Monday Night Football on Sept. 9, 2002 against the Steelers. The last time the two teams played was on Nov. 3, 2013 when the Patriots beat Pittsburgh, 55-31, at Gillette Stadium.

New England owns a 3-1 record against the Steelers in the postseason and Pittsburgh holds a 14-9 advantage in the regular season.

The teams played in the AFC Championship Game following the 2001 and 2004 seasons, with the Patriots winning both times en route to Super Bowl titles. The teams played in the divisional round in 1996 and 1997. The Patriots beat Pittsburgh, 28-3, at Foxboro Stadium en route to their Super Bowl XXXI appearance. Pittsburgh beat the Patriots the following season, 7-6, at Three Rivers Stadium.

Connections

NEW ENGLAND TIES

• Steelers QB/WR Tyler Murphy attended Wethersfield (Conn.) HS, where he was a two-sport athlete in football and track. After high school, Murphy joined the football team at Florida before transferring to Boston College where he was named the starting quarterback following the school’s annual spring game in 2014 for his final season of eligibility.

PITTSBURGH TIES

• Patriots special teams assistant Ray Ventrone was born in Pittsburgh. As a seventh grader, he and two of his friends founded the Nathan S. Arenson Fund for Pancreatic Cancer Research, which supports research for pancreatic cancer at the University of Pittsburgh. Ventrone attended Chartiers Valley HS in Bridgeville, Pa., where he was a three-time all conference performer and also set three high school records in track and field. Ray’s younger brother is Steelers S Ross Ventrone, who was originally signed by the Patriots in 2010 and appeared in eight games with New England in 2011.
• Patriots RB Dion Lewis attended Pittsburgh from 2009-10, where he finished fourth on the school’s all-time rushing list with 2,860 yards. During his freshman year in 2009, Lewis became the first player since Michael Vick (Virginia Tech, 1999) to earn Big East Offensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year honors in the same season after rushing 325 times for 1,799 yards (5.5 Avg.) and 18 total touchdowns.
• Patriots DL Jabaal Sheard played in 47 career games with 38 starts over four years (2007-10) at Pittsburgh, compiling 142 tackles, 19.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. In his final season, Sheard was named consensus first-team All-America, first-team All-Big East and the Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
• Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski attended Woodlands Hills HS in Churchill, Pa., his senior year.
• Patriots CB Bradley Fletcher attended Liberty HS in Youngstown, Ohio (about an hour northwest of Pittsburgh), where he was named first-team All-Conference, All-District and All-State as a senior.

FORMER NFL TEAMMATES

• Patriots pro scout Steve Cargile and Steelers S Will Allen were defensive teammates at Tampa Bay in 2009, when Cargile played safety for the Buccaneers.
• Steelers CB Brandon Boykin spent time playing in the defensive backfield with Patriots S Patrick Chung (2013) and CB Bradley Fetcher (201314) when the three were teammates with the Philadelphia Eagles.
• Patriots TE Scott Chandler and Steelers OL Doug Legursky were offensive teammates with the Buffalo Bills in 2013.
• Patriots DL Alan Branch and Steelers LB Arthur Moats were defensive teammates with the Buffalo Bills in 2013.
• Steelers C/G Cody Wallace blocked for RB LeGarrette Blount when the two were offensive teammates with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012.
• Patriots WR Brandon LaFell and Steelers RB DeAngelo Williams were offensive teammates for four seasons (2010-13) with the Carolina Panthers.
• Patriots defensive line coach Brendan Daly worked with Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin for one season (2006) as members of the Minnesota Vikings defensive coaching staff
• When Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley served as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, Patriots tight ends coach Brian Daboll spent one season (2012) on his staff as Haley’s offensive coordinator.
• Patriots TE Scott Chandler worked with Steelers special teams coordinator Danny Smith for three seasons (2010-12) when Smith held the same position with the Buffalo Bills.
• Patriots offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo worked with running backs coach James Saxon for two seasons (2009-10) when both served in the same capacity with the Miami Dolphins.
• Patriots DE Rob Ninkovich and Steelers defensive assistant Joey Porter were defensive teammates for two seasons (2007-08) when Porter played outside linebacker for the Dolphins.
• Steelers defensive assistant Joey Porter also played with Patriots DL Alan Branch when the two were defensive teammates with the Cardinals in 2010.

FORMER COLLEGE TEAMMATES

• Patriots DB Nate Ebner played with Steelers CB Doran Grant (2011-14) and DE Cameron Heyward (2009-10) at Ohio State. Ebner and Grant helped the Buckeyes capture a BCS National Championship during their final season in 2014.
• Patriots DE Chandler Jones and Steelers S Shamarko Thomas were defensive teammates at Syracuse from 2009-11.

Injury Report

New England Patriots

• Bryan Stork - Out, placed on injured reserved with a designation to return.
• Tavon Wilson - Questionable
• Travaris Cadet - Questionable
• Trey Flowers - Questionable

Pittsburgh Steelers

• Landry Jones - Out

What to Look For

The return of the Two-Tight End Offense?

With Brandon LaFell on the physically unable to perform list and little depth at wide receiver, look for the Patriots to use a lot of two-tight end formations with Rob Gronkowski and Scott Chandler. In a Q&A ESPN Boston writer Mike Reiss said the odds were pretty high that we would see the formation. Reiss added that the Patriots could use multiple personnel grouping at once including two running backs at once.

Yes, Brady is Starting

After a summer of uncertainty, Tom Brady will start at quarterback for the Patriots. Initially suspended for four games due to his alleged role and knowledge of the controversy known as Deflategate, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Berman vacated the Brady suspension, clearing up who would be behind center on opening night.

Who Stands Behind Brady?

New England comes into Thursday night’s game shorthanded at running back with Jonas Gray released and LeGarrette Blount serving a one-game suspension for or violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy. That leaves the Patriots with Brandon Bolden, Dion Lewis, James White and Travaris Cadet, who currently has a hamstring injury. Bolden is likely to step up as the top running back with Lewis possibly taking over as the third-down back in the Shane Vereen role.

Ben Volin of the Boston Globe expects Lewis to have a decent role, calling the new Patriots team member a shift runner and good all around skill set.

The New Secondary

The biggest loss for the Patriots is perhaps the departure of cornerback Darrell Revis to the New York Jets following the end of the 2015 season. In fact without cornerback Brandon Browner, and safety Kyle Arrington, the Patriots secondary will be filled with new faces and numbers.

One face that fans is sure to remember is Super Bowl hero Malcolm Butler at left corner. Likely to be the team’s top corner, the expectations represent a meteoric rise for the second-year player who went underrated and played Division II football at West Alabama.

As for who is at safety next to Devin McCourty? Duron Harmon and Patrick Chung could be used on passing downs with Tarell Brown jumping on the field for the nickel defense.

Less Weapons for the Steelers

Pittsburgh comes into the game without two of their biggest weapons on offense. Le’Veon Bell is out for two games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy while Martavis Bryan faces a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

The absence of Bell and Bryan eliminates two matchup challenges for the Patriots but don’t expect for things to be a walk on defense. The secondary, specifically Butler, will be tasked with stopping wide receiver Antonio Brown, a regular target for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Photo Credit: New England Patriots