Sept. 9, 2004.Exactly two years to the day after raising their first Super Bowl banner, the Patriots raised their second. A festive pregame ceremony featured musical performances by The Boston Pops, Elton John, Destiny's Child, Toby Keith and Lenny Kravitz. Mary J. Blige sang the National Anthem, and the Pats defeated the Colts 27-24.

Sept. 8, 2005.Prior to raising their third championship banner, and third in four years, Patriots fans were treated to musical acts by Green Day, Carlos Santana and Michelle Branch, and Ozzy Osbourne, who performed "Crazy Train" as the Patriots took the field. Trisha Yearwood sang the National Anthem. Corey Dillon ran for two touchdown in the Pats' 30-20 victory. 

Sept. 10, 2015.The Patriots improved to 4-0 on banner raising nights, defeating the Steelers 28-21 behind three Rob Gronkowski TD catches. Prior to the game, fans helped display an in-stadium cart stunt, the Dropkick Murphys and T-Pain performed, and Patriot greats Troy Brown, Willie McGinest and Ty Law joined Robert Kraft on stage with the team's four Super Bowl trophies. Grace Potter sang the National Anthem.

Sept. 9, 2002.The Patriots opened Gillette Stadium with a bang, raising their first Super Bowl banner. The pregame ceremony featured a coin flip by honorary captain and former President George H.W. Bush. There was even more celebration that night as New England topped Pittsburgh 30-14.

Tom Brady – Until there is reason to think otherwise, the 40-year-old G.O.A.T. is THE player to watch every time he steps on the field. Brady is coming off a strong summer as he opens up his 18th season against a Chiefs team that led the NFL with 33 takeaways. 

Devin McCourty – The Pro Bowl safety is the glue in the back end, a secondary that should be the strength of the Patriots defense. New England's biggest focus will be keeping Kansas City's top playmakers – Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce – from picking up yards in chunks and McCourty will be key both in terms of his tackling and his communication.

Brandin Cooks – The former Saint arrived via trade this offseason and despite an impressive summer on the practice field he was quiet in preseason action. As a guy with big-play potential and a pretty big personality, look for Cooks to find a way to stand out in his prime time New England debut.

Trey Flowers – No position has been talked about more in New England than the defensive end spot. Flowers is the only reliable option at the position and will be leaned on to key the pass rush coming off his big Super Bowl Sunday performance against the Falcons. Is Flowers ready for prime time once again in 2017?

Mike Gillislee – The restricted free agent addition showed both big-play burst and a nose for the goal line in limited preseason action. The former Bills backup is an intriguing figure in the Patriots deep, versatile stable of offensive weapons and it will be worth watching how exactly he and the rest of the running backs are deployed on opening night.

Marcus Peters – The playmaking cornerback tied for second in the NFL with six interceptions last fall after leading the league with eight picks as a rookie. Kansas City is a heavy underdog in the opener and will need big plays from Peters and the rest of the ball-hawking defense to pull off the big upset.

Tyreek Hill – Few found more ways to impact games and score touchdowns a year ago than Hill. The impact rookie had 12 touchdowns spread among runs, receptions and returns. He has the potential to line up anywhere on the field and score any time he touches the ball.

Dee Ford – The Patriots offensive line returns all five starters, though Nate Solder may be seeing his first playing time of the year after sitting out the preseason. Ford is a dangerous young rusher who led the Chiefs with 10 sacks last fall. No better way to start the year as a young pass rusher than to get after Tom Brady early and often with the entire football world watching.

Alex Smith – The veteran quarterback inspires a wide variety of opinions. Patriots defenders think Smith is one of the best in the game, a guy who minimizes mistakes and takes what a defense gives him. But is that enough to keep up with Tom Brady's offense on what should be a likely electric opening night in Foxborough?

Travis Kelce – This game offers up two of the best tight ends in the game today. While everyone is well aware what a healthy Rob Gronkowski can do, Kelce is trying to continue to establish himself as an elite player at the position a year after leading K.C. with 85 catches for 1,125 yards (13.2 avg.)  and four touchdowns. 

Oct. 4, 1981. Patriots 33, Chiefs 17Stanley Morgan's 66-yard TD reception, on a double reverse pass from RB Andy Johnson, helped the Patriots pull away in the fourth quarter and gave New England its first win of the season following an 0-4 start. Mike Haynes, Mike Hawkins, Tim Fox and Mark Buben each had interceptions.