NFL Network announced on Tuesday its eight-game, regular-season primetime "Thursday Night Football" schedule. Game times for the contests -- seven on Thursdays and one on Saturday -- are 8 p.m. ET, with a special 7:30 p.m. ET start on Christmas. NFL Network's schedule features teams that combined for eight playoff berths and five division titles in 2009.
This is the fifth season of NFL games on NFL Network. In 2009, NFL Network games featured four of the five most viewed games in the network's history. The following is NFL Network's Thursday Night Football schedule:
Baltimore Ravens at Atlanta Falcons, Thursday, Nov. 11
Class of 2008 quarterbacks Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan meet for the first time. The third-year quarterbacks have a combined 40-22 (.645) regular-season record as starters.
Chicago Bears at Miami Dolphins, Thursday, Nov. 18
These franchises meet for the fifth time in primetime when the Bears visit Miami. One of their most memorable games was on Dec. 2, 1985, Monday Night Football game which drew record 29.6 TV rating for the Dolphins' upset of the unbeaten Bears. Chicago went on to win the Super Bowl that year.
Cincinnati Bengals at New York Jets, Thursday, Nov. 25
The third consecutive nationally televised game between the clubs (2009 Week 17 Sunday Night Football and 2009 AFC Wild Card playoff) is also the first Thanksgiving game hosted by a New York team since the Jets (then the Titans) hosted the American Football League's first two Thanksgiving games in 1960 and 1961.
Houston Texans at Philadelphia Eagles, Thursday, Dec. 2
The Eagles aim for their third consecutive playoff berth and ninth postseason trip in 11 seasons with a new starting quarterback. Houston, which had the league's top passing offense in 2009 led by QB Matt Schaub and WR Andre Johnson, looks to make the first playoff appearance in franchise history.
Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans, Thursday, Dec. 9
NFL MVP Peyton Manning of the Colts and 2,000-yard rusher Chris Johnson of the Titans take the field in this division matchup. In the eight years of the current divisional alignment, Indianapolis and Tennessee have swept all eight AFC South crowns.
San Francisco 49ers at San Diego Chargers, Thursday, Dec. 16
Carolina Panthers at Pittsburgh Steelers, Thursday, Dec. 23
These clubs finished at .500 or better last season but missed the playoffs. They both look to return to the postseason after one year away.
Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals, Saturday, Dec. 25
A pair of 2009 division champions meet in the special Christmas game in Arizona. Star power on both offenses will be on display with Cowboys QB Tony Romo and Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald.
Each NFL Network game telecast will feature a live, two-hour pregame show. In addition, a one-hour postgame show will wrap up the action with interviews, highlights and press conferences.
NFL.com LIVE again will offer complementary Thursday Night Football game coverage, including select live video, statistics and interactive applications. NFL.com LIVE coverage in 2007 and 2008 earned Sports Emmy nominations for outstanding new approaches in coverage.
