LOS ANGELES (AFP) – The New England Patriots will open their 2019 campaign with a blockbuster clash against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the National Football League revealed Wednesday as the schedule for the league’s centenary season was unveiled.
In a break with recent tradition, the Patriots will not be involved in the opening game of the season, which this year will see the Chicago Bears face the Green Bay Packers on September 5.
Instead, the reigning Super Bowl champion Patriots will host the Steelers at their Gillette Stadium home on September 8 in a battle of veteran quarterbacks Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger, the league said.
An NFL statement said the league’s 100th season would aim to serve up a regular ‘Game of the Week’ which would reference a famous game played, a fierce rivalry or matchup of original teams.
Season highlights include a rematch between the Patriots and the Kansas City Chiefs, two teams who have scored a combined 152 points in their last two regular season meetings.
The league’s international fixtures includes four games in London and one in Mexico City.
The Oakland Raiders will face the Chicago Bears on October 6 at the new London home of English Premier League side Tottenham.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face the Carolina Panthers at the same venue on October 13 before the final two games are staged at Wembley, with the Los Angeles Rams playing the Cincinnati Bengals on October 27 and the Jacksonville Jaguars meeting the Houston Texans on November 3.
The Kansas City Chiefs meanwhile will face the Los Angeles Chargers at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium on November 18.
The regular season will conclude on December 29.
