Since 2004 the NFL Kickoff Game has featured the defending Super Bowl Champion. With the Patriots and Rams now locked in to the Super Bowl LIII matchup, it is worth considering their possible opponents for the 2019 Kickoff Game. We already know the slate of opponents for every NFL team in 2019 and based on past history can make reasonable guesses regarding the potential opponents. The Steelers are scheduled to play both the Rams and Patriots next year, so this theorhetical exercise does have some bearing on the Steelers 2019 outlook.
The Super Bowl Champion Will Play At Home
In the 15 previous Kickoff Game matchups which featured a defending Super Bowl Champion, only once has the defending Champion not played at home.