Packers open season vs Da Bearz; also play on Thanksgiving

Despite the ho-hum season last year and the absence of Ol' #4, the Packers remain a huge national TV draw. That's why the NFL rewarded the Pack with an opening weekend Sunday night game at home against Da Bearz. The Pack will beat up on Da Bearz on Sunday evening, September 13, at 7:30 p.m. Central time, and you can bet Lambeau Field will be cranked up. The game will be carried by NBC. This will be the 178th meeting between the two teams; no teams have played each other more.

For the second time in three seasons, the Packers will be playing on Thanksgiving. The Pack will play the Lions at Detroit's Ford Field at 11:30 a.m. (CT) on Thursday, November 26. So make your turkey plans for later in the afternoon, folks. The game will be televised nationally by FOX. According to the Packers, this marks the 33rd Thanksgiving contest in franchise history. At one time, it seemed as if it was always the Packers and Lions on Thanksgiving. Can't you just hear the late, great Ray Scott announcing those games?

Anyway, this is the second straight year the Packers have opened the season with a nationally televised game. Go Pack Go!!!

Only the opening weekend and the Thanksgiving game schedules were announced by the league. The NFL will release the full season schedule in April. The other games announced were: Tennessee at Pittsburgh, Thursday night, Sept. 10; Buffalo at New England and San Diego at Oakland, Monday night, Sept. 14; Oakland at Dallas and New York Giants at Denver on Nov. 26 (Thanksgiving Day).

You can read more about the announced Packers' games here.