5 Bold Predictions for New England Patriots' Week 1 Matchup

For the New England Patriots, the regular-season kickoff will signal the turning of a page, the beginning of a new chapter. 

The previous chapter was called "DeflateGate and the Super Bowl 49 Champions," so this one, naturally, should be titled "Payback and the Road to Redemption."

The Pittsburgh Steelers will be the first team that tries to keep the Patriots in check, turning their dreams of a Super Bowl repeat on their head and forcing the nation to continue to wonder exactly how much of an advantage the Patriots really gained from underinflated footballs.

It's the Patriots' job to try to keep that discussion from happening. With plenty of reason to be fired up, here's a look at a handful of predictions of what could unfold on Thursday night.

Tom Brady Will Throw for 400 Yards and 4 TDs

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No one would blame Tom Brady if he got off to a slow start in 2015. His entire offseason was surrounded in controversy, court-room appearances and appeal hearings.

This also would not be the first time Brady has started slow in a season. Just last season, he completed only 59.1 percent of his throws for 791 yards, four touchdowns, two interceptions and a 79.1 passer rating through the first four games of the season.

Brady has combined for 61.3 percent completions, 3,032 yards, 18 touchdowns, five interceptions and a 90 passer rating in the first four games of the past three seasons. In all other games since 2012, he has completed 62.9 percent of his throws for 10,427 yards, 74 touchdowns, 23 interceptions and a 95.8 passer rating.

But remember what happened the last time the Patriots were surrounded by a controversial scandal covered on a national scale? That would be SpyGate in 2007. Brady responded to the adversity and silenced the critics by completing 80.7 percent of his passes for 279 yards, three touchdowns, one interception and a 123 passer rating against the San Diego Chargers.

In Brady's past four games against the Steelers, he has completed 69.4 percent of his throws for 1,379 yards, 13 touchdowns, no picks and a 124.1 passer rating. That hot streak could continue in the season opener, when Brady will be as fired up as he was after the SpyGate story hit the national news.

Brandon Bolden Will Rush for 100 Yards

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The Patriots will be without their top running back, LeGarrette Blount, because of a one-game suspension. That means it will be up to Brandon Bolden, Travaris Cadet, Dion Lewis or James White to serve as the No. 1 option in the backfield.

Getting a read on the Patriots backfield can be an exercise in futility, but based on his experience in the offense, Bolden is the safest bet to be the team's top back to start the season. He has the best blend of hard-nosed running between the tackles and versatility to contribute in the passing game.

Only once in Bolden's three-year career has the backup earned more than 100 rushing yards, and that was against a Buffalo Bills defense that allowed a whopping 145.8 yards per game to opposing runners. In 2014, the Steelers were one of the league's 10 best run defenses, allowing only 100.3 yards per game on the ground. Likewise, the Patriots were not an effective running team in 2014 at just 107.9 rushing yards per game and 3.9 yards per rush attempt. 

A hundred yards may not seem bold on paper, but for Bolden against the Steelers, it's bold enough. 

Patriots Will Allow 400 Yards Passing to Ben Roethlisberger

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The Patriots defense is expected to take a step back in 2015, and the season opener could be the first example we get of exactly how far that group will step back.

That being said, yards are a misleading stat, and there should be some context in this prediction. The Patriots should come out fired up and use the Gillette Stadium advantage to build an early lead. As a result, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will likely spend much of the remainder of the game operating out of the shotgun with spread sets as the Steelers attempt to play catch-up.

Pass after pass after pass. Whether the Steelers are winning or losing, don't be shocked if Roethlisberger attempts close to—or upwards of—40 passes on Thursday night. Given the question marks that surround the New England secondary, it would be foolish for the Steelers not to try to exploit that new weakness in the Patriots defense.

Malcolm Butler Will Break Up 3 Passes

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Remember how I said Ben Roethlisberger could throw as many as 40 passes in Thursday night's game?

More pass attempts means more opportunities for passes to be broken up. 

That's good news for Malcolm Butler, who has become one of the best ball-hawking cornerbacks on the Patriots. He has earned a reputation in the past two summers for breaking up passes in training camp, and the 2015 season offers his first opportunity to translate those ball skills onto the field on a full-time basis.

The Patriots will be relying on Butler to lock down one side of the field, and he'll often be matched up against a team's best receiver. He will be tested early and often, but he has proved that he is up to the challenge. 

The Patriots Will Win by Double Digits

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Prior to the 2014 season, the Patriots had won 10 straight Week 1 games. They won the previous four Week 1 games by 14, 14, 21 and two points for an average margin of 12.8 points per victory.

Not only do the Patriots want to get off to a good start in 2015, but head coach Bill Belichick is probably looking to send a message to the rest of the NFL with a resounding Week 1 win.

In the face of media scrutiny and doubt, no team is better at responding than the Patriots. There's no better way to respond than with a banner-raising ceremony followed by a double-digit win.