Perhaps the best news of the season for the New England Patriots is the availability of their superstar quarterback Tom Brady in this season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The 38-year-old four-time Super Bowl champion and three-time Super Bowl MVP recently avoided the four-game Deflategate suspension charged by the NFL after a federal court judge nullified Commissioner Roger Goodell's decision earlier this month, as reported by the New York Times.
With Brady in harness, head coach Bill Belichick's squad will be at its finest to kick off their 2015 campaign.
Meanwhile, Pittsburgh counterpart Ben Roethlisberger will surely not make the contest a walkover at the Gilette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Thursday, September 10.
Roethlisberger and his band of Steelers will also want to start the new season with a win, even though some of their key players are out with injuries.
Center Maurkice Pouncey had a severe ankle injury in a preseason game against the Packers and is expected to be out for 10 games. Defensive end Stephen Tuitt is also out with an injured ankle while linebacker Lawrence Timmons is suffering from turf toe.
Aside from injuries a couple of key Steelers are suspended for substance abuse such as running back Le'Veon Bell and wideout Martavis Bryant, as per SB Nation.
However, with both quarterbacks running the show, fans should expect a close game between these two teams with their offenses anchored on the two stars, Brady and Roethlisberger.
Prediction: Patriots win, 28-24
New England Patriots starting lineup
Offense: Brady (QB), Bolden (RB1), Blount (RB2), Edelman (WR1), Amendola (WR2), Gronkowski (TE), Solder (LT), Kline (LG), Stork (C), Wendell (RG), Vollmer (RT)
Defense: Ninkovich (DE), Branch (DT), Siliga (DT), Jones (DE), Collins (OLB), Mayo (MLB), Johnson (OLB), Butler (CB1), Ryan (CB2), Chung (SS), McCourty (FS)
Pittsburgh Steelers starting lineup
Offense: Roethlisberger (QB), D. Williams (RB), Johnson (FB), Brown (WR1), Wheaton (WR2), Miller (TE), Beachum (LT), Foster (LG), Wallace (C), DeCastro (RG), Gilbert (RT)
Defense: Heyward (DE), McLendon (NT), Walton (DE), Moats (OLB), Shazier (ILB), V. Williams (ILB), Jones (OLB), Gay (CB1), Allen (CB2), Thomas (SS), Mitchell (FS)