NFL Network on Tuesday announced its expanded 13-game, regular-season, prime-time "Thursday Night Football" schedule, which kicks off in Week 2 (Sept. 13) and features nine 2011 playoff teams, including six that won division crowns and both NFC Championship Game opponents (New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers). Game times for the contests are 8 p.m. ET.
Among the highlights of NFL Network's 2012 schedule:
• The opener features the 185th meeting between Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers -- the most-played rivalry in NFL history.
• No. 1 drafted quarterbacks face off in Week 3 -- the Giants' Eli Manning (two-time Super Bowl MVP) and Carolina's Cam Newton (2011 Offensive Rookie of the Year).
•Peyton Manning's first start as Broncos QB at Oakland's "Black Hole."
• Indianapolis and its new No. 1 overall draft pick at Jacksonville.
• New Orleans visits Atlanta in a meeting of clubs that have won the past three NFC South titles.
• Nine divisional matchups.
The critically acclaimed "Thursday Night Football" broadcast team returns, featuring Emmy-nominated game analyst Mike Mayock, play-by-play announcer Brad Nessler and sideline reporter Alex Flanagan.
NFL Network's 2012 "Thursday Night Football" schedule
Week 2: Thursday, Sept. 13 at 8 p.m. ET
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers
Week 3: Thursday, Sept. 20 at 8 p.m. ET
New York Giants at Carolina Panthers
Week 4: Thursday, Sept. 27 at 8 p.m. ET
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens
Week 5: Thursday, Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. ET
Arizona Cardinals at St. Louis Rams
Week 6: Thursday, Oct. 11 at 8 p.m. ET
Pittsburgh Steelers at Tennessee Titans
Week 7: Thursday, Oct. 18 at 8 p.m. ET
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers
Week 8: Thursday, Oct. 25 at 8 p.m. ET
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings
Week 9: Thursday, Nov. 1 at 8 p.m. ET
Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers
Week 10: Thursday, Nov. 8 at 8 p.m. ET
Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 11: Thursday, Nov. 15 at 8 p.m. ET
Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills
Week 13: Thursday, Nov. 29 at 8 p.m. ET
New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons
Week 14: Thursday, Dec. 6 at 8 p.m. ET
Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders
Week 15: Thursday, Dec. 13 at 8 p.m. ET
Cincinnati Bengals at Philadelphia Eagles
For the entire 2012 NFL schedule, visit www.nfl.com.
This year marks the seventh season of live regular-season, prime-time games on NFL Network. Last year's edition of "Thursday Night Football" was the most-watched in the network's history, with a record average of 7.3 million viewers per game (including OTAs).
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 Network games also will be carried on free, over-the-air television in the city of the visiting team and in the city where the game is played, if the game is sold out 72 hours in advance of kickoff.
NFL Network airs seven days a week, 24 hours a day on a year-round basis and is the only television network dedicated entirely to the NFL and the sport of football. For more information, log on to www.nfl.com/nflnetwork. NFL.com is the exclusive internet home of NFL Network.
