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Patriots pick up where they left off, beating Steelers in NFL opener

The singsong chant echoed through Gillette Stadium midway through the fourth quarter of New England's 28-21 victory over Pittsburgh.

It was a thumb in the eye of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who didn't attend Thursday night's kickoff opener, saying he didn't want to be a distraction. The league is still smarting from a stinging rebuke in federal court, one that erased the four-game suspension of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady for his alleged role in deflating footballs.

“Where is Roger?” the crowd chanted, undeterred by the driving rain.

Not only was Brady un-suspended, he played like a guy revived from suspended animation, showing no signs of rust and picking up where he left off in New England's Super Bowl XLIX victory in February.