The Patriots kick off their season Sunday afternoon at Gillette Stadium against the Miami Dolphins, but things aren’t going to be the same as in years past.
For one thing, no fans will be in attendance.
“I rehabbed throughout the offseason here,” said cornerback Jason McCourty. “I’d go running in the stadium and look up and be like, ‘Man, is this kind of what games are going to be like? Just us out here playing?’ ”
Patriots officials initially explored the possibility of hosting 20 percent of the stadium’s total capacity, which would allow for approximately 13,000 people to sit in socially distanced groups of no more than 10.