Reiss: no SBLI rematch for 2017 opener & other post-Phoenix background stories

[fourhour]

It's the NFL. The Falcons-Patriots match-up probably has more to do with ratings and networks and how they distribute marquee games than with the teams' preferences.

My guess is they'll open against the Chargers since it will be their first game in LA. From a Patriots perspective, that's probably the best possible match-up since they don't have to do the cross-country flight later in the season and get an extra three days to recover from it, and it's a game they should win without much difficulty.

Isn't the season opener at the home of the reigning Super Bowl Champs?

 

[signbabybrady]

In my opinion that doesn't make him a *****. He's done a lot of other things that make him tough. I think he's pretty damn physically tough. Maybe he's not the most mentally tough guy. Doesn't always handle losing well

Correct the act doesn't make him a ****y just some evidence of its truth.

 

[jimnance]

In my opinion that doesn't make him a *****. He's done a lot of other things that make him tough. I think he's pretty damn physically tough. Maybe he's not the most mentally tough guy. Doesn't always handle losing well

Sorry man, but you can't BE tough if you're not mentally tough.
Mental toughness>>>physical toughness. It's hard to be physically tough w/o also being mentally tough. But the physical part is EASY. It's the MENTAL part that separates the true tough guys from the wannabes.

 

[goheels22002]

There's ligitamately no other compelling matchup available.

No one is clamoring for the Pats to open against any AFC East team. The Chiefs, Chargers and Texans are all meh opponents and the Panthers would be a decent, yet totally random banner night opponent.

So....yeah, Falcons come on down to Foxboro in your fragile mind state.

I'd like to see the Carolina Panthers and Luke Kuechly on opening night get spanked in front of Clown Face Goodell. Newton - Brady.

 

[meatface]

The NFL wants Tony Romo to the Texans to happen so bad

 

[supafly]

Isn't the season opener at the home of the reigning Super Bowl Champs?

I don't think he's suggesting that the game be played out west, just that the idea of it being the first game for LA may appeal to fans.

 

[PatsBoy12]

Isn't the season opener at the home of the reigning Super Bowl Champs?

Yes.

 

[zoostation]

There's ligitamately no other compelling matchup available.

No one is clamoring for the Pats to open against any AFC East team. The Chiefs, Chargers and Texans are all meh opponents and the Panthers would be a decent, yet totally random banner night opponent.

So....yeah, Falcons come on down to Foxboro in your fragile mind state.

Obviously the Texans with Romo puts that matchup over the top. Hundreds of thousands of Cowgirl fans all over the nation actually feel that the queen of choke is in TB's stratosphere (LMFAO!!!). A wee bit delusional, but the matchup would be a ratings king.

 

[BlueThunder]

Falcon's would be the logical choice.....

See what they could vs Patriots at The Razor !!!

Of course, The ceremony of raising the SB banner prior to the game could go either way..

A big incentive to beat the Patriots...

OR

Crush their ego altogether...

Would be a good game IMHO......

Line might be..

Patriots by 10

 

[Wheelman]

Ron Rivera said at the meetings that playing opening day contributed to their poor season. What a freaking loser! You didn't do anything Ron! You didn't win anything! You're freaking pathetic! This is why you'll never win a world championship.

 

[Kontradiction]

for the NFL and the fans, yes. for atlanta, hell no. i knew that the panthers-broncos home opener last year was going to be a mistake from carolina's perspective. i mean you just lost the super bowl in embarassing fashion and then are forced to travel to denver the very next game and watch your super bowl opponent raise their banner? i'd be pissed if the league made us do that and play the giants in the openers in 2008 and 2012.

I wouldn't. As a matter of fact, in that hypothetical, I'd be pumped because we'd get the chance to enact a small measure of revenge.

 

[Kontradiction]

On a side note, how incompetent is Goodell that he's poised to screw up a product that essentially sells itself? The NFL is basically like selling water in the desert. Yet, with saturation and brain dead rules changes, the NFL is losing ratings. This is just another example of it. How could you possibly get a better Week 1 match-up with the Patriots schedule?

 

[Wheelman]

Are you freaking SERIOUS?!?

Obviously, you don't pay much attention to Carolina.

Dude, I live in NC. Even most Panthers fans I know think he is. From the moping on the sidelines to the constant complaining of getting hit, he *****es worse than any other high-profile player I can think of- except maybe Ben. Ironic that the 2 biggest,strongest QBs in the NFL are also the 2 biggest pansies.

You never hear sh*t like that from TB. Steve Smith was the leader of that team - not Cam. Smith is tough as nails. Newton is a marshmallow.

After the way the refs called that game in the 2016 opener I think Cam has all the right in the world to complain about hits he's taking. But Yeah I agree Cam takes his whining from Coach Rivera.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I wouldn't. As a matter of fact, in that hypothetical, I'd be pumped because we'd get the chance to enact a small measure of revenge.

Agreed.
After the patriots were embarrassed by the Bears in the Super Bowl about 18 months later the Bears came to our stadium. Flutie was the quarterback. I wanted revenge. I bought scalped tickets for the game. Opening play Flutie throws an 80 yard touchdown pass to Irving Fryar. He kicked their ass all afternoon. Of course Raymond berry wouldn't play him much afterwards. Go figure!

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

Unless the league wants to save Pats-Falcons for prime time sweeps in November to get bigger ratings, knowing opening night will get great ratings anyhow no matter who the Pats play....

 

[Mike the Brit]

After the way the refs called that game in the 2016 opener I think Cam has all the right in the world to complain about hits he's taking.

Absolutely agree with this.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

Agreed.
After the patriots were embarrassed by the Bears in the Super Bowl about 18 months later the Bears came to our stadium. Flutie was the quarterback. I wanted revenge. I bought scalped tickets for the game. Opening play Flutie throws an 80 yard touchdown pass to Irving Fryar. He kicked their ass all afternoon. Of course Raymond berry wouldn't play him much afterwards. Go figure!

I looked up the box score. Flutie was 6/18 for 165 yards and 4 TD's.... and Pats won 30-7
Chicago Bears at New England Patriots - October 30th, 1988 | Pro-Football-Reference.com

 

[rochrist]

I've no way to prove it, but I bet that, if the situation were reversed and the Pats had just lost the Super Bowl, playing the opener against the champs would be JUST what Belichick would want to challenge his team with.

Also, just what the league would want to kill them with.

 

[XLIX]

I don't think fragile feelings had much to do with it.

Opening night is a big national game in itself. Falcons-Pats will be a big, prime time game whenever it's played, so why waste it on opening night? To answer the obvious question, I thought it was dumb of the NFL (what's new?) to have the Panthers open last season. With sagging ratings, maybe the geniuses at 345 figured that out...

I am not so sure it is a guaranteed marquee game if played later in the season. The Falcons are not a major draw and if they stumble this year (which I think they will), no one will care much if it is a "Super Bowl rematch" if they are 4-5.

Besides, to the NFL's credit, they usually give fans a good matchup for opening night. They don't take the approach that "this will get high ratings no matter what, so save the marquee games for later in the season." 2 years ago it was the Steelers, which was easily the best home game matchup on the schedule.

 

[Bonzo]

Much more annoyed by the suggestion that we'd want to avoid the Chiefs...