Patriots Release Final Injury Report For Matchup With Steelers

The New England Patriots are opening their regular season Sunday night. The Pittsburgh Steelers are the first on their list. The final injury report is out now.

Three players made the list Friday. Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas is on the list due to his hamstring injury. Tight end Matt LaCosse recovers his ankle, and safety Obi Melifonwu deals with the same injury.

What are the predictions about the game?

ESPN’s Mike Reiss goes with the Patriots. “Tom Brady faces the Steelers’ pass rush, which tied for an NFL-high 52 sacks last season, with backup center Ted Karras stepping in for David Andrews (IR, blood clots in lungs) and 2018 first-round pick Isaiah Wynn (IR as a rookie/torn Achilles) making his first career start at left tackle. How the Patriots’ offensive line protects him might be the difference.”

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler says the Steelers will win the game. “The Steelers’ improved defense will intercept Brady inside Gillette Stadium for the first time ever. Pittsburgh feels it finally has the playmakers in the back seven to match wits with Brady, who has never lost to Pittsburgh at home.”

According to Gregg Rosenthal, says it will be tight.

”Tomlin’s group is flying high after a productive camp where rookie Devin Bush emerged, Pittsburgh’s strong defensive line stayed healthy and the team’s young secondary talent stepped up. The Patriots should be similarly optimistic about their defense’s prospects with a potential hotshot new play-caller named Bill Belichick and the deepest linebacker group and secondary since Willie McGinest patrolled the field. The Patriots love to accumulate information and find advantages within. Week 1 has the smallest body of work to learn from. Those were the many reasons the Steelers are dangerous, yet picking against Brady in Foxborough remains a fool’s errand.”

ProFootball Talk’s Mike Florio agrees with Reiss.

”Two years ago, the Patriots lost to the Chiefs on the night they hung a banner. Bill Belichick won’t let that happen a second time.”

Well, the only thing we should do is wait and see what happens on Sunday. It will be a big day for the Patriots nation.