Keep this in mind, in 2005, after their last Super Bowl win, New England played home games against:
Indianapolis (Colts were really good plus Manning vs Brady, rivalry)
NY Jets (playoff team in 2004 who nearly went to the AFC championship game)
San Diego (won the AFC West)
All good teams from the year before who would have produced high ratings. Yet who did they play on opening night? The Oakland Raiders. Anything is possible.