Winning a Super Bowl comes with quite a few benefits. A parade. A shiny ring. Fans memorizing your name. Visiting the White House, sometimes. That extra little piece of serenity in retirement.
However, the lone on-field perk the NFL gives its Super Bowl champion is the privilege of hosting the following year’s league-wide season opener. In addition to all the fun of celebrating a championship, the game also usually takes place on a Thursday, giving its participant an extra three days of preparation for Week 2 while the rest of the league plays Sunday.
Unfortunately for the New England Patriots, the NFL might have different plans for next season.