The New England Patriots underwent quite a tumultuous offseason filled with changes. They lost nine-year veteran tight end and league superstar Rob Gronkowski to an early retirement, saw key contributors like Trey Flowers and Trent Brown depart for other teams in free agency, and then had to wait until the regular season nearly was upon them to learn that Josh Gordon would be conditionally reinstated by the NFL.
And yet, none of that mattered on Sunday night.
Opening up their title defense against a familiar AFC foe in the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Patriots picked up right where they left off last February.