Expanded 13-Game Thursday Night Football Schedule Kicks off with Most-Played Rivalry in NFL History
Deion Sanders Sitdown Interview with Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Thursday Night Football Kickoff Presented by Craftsman Pregame Show at 6:00 PM ET
NFL Network kicks off its expanded 13-game Thursday Night Football schedule Thursday, September 13 at 8:00 PM ET when the Green Bay Packers host the division-rival Chicago Bears. This marks the 185th meeting including Playoffs between the two teams – the most-played rivalry in NFL history.
Play-by-play announcer Brad Nessler and Emmy-nominated analyst Mike Mayock return to theThursday Night Football broadcast booth for the second season and are joined by Alex Flanagan, who enters her third year as the sideline reporter.
Two hours before kickoff, NFL Network’s Thursday Night Kickoff Presented by Craftsman pregame show is live from the stadium starting at 6:00 PM ET, taking viewers right up to kickoff with analysis and the latest reports. Host Rich Eisen is joined by Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk, Deion Sanders andMichael Irvin, and former head coach Steve Mariucci. Reporter Stacey Dales provides pregame news reports from the locker rooms, as well as interviews with players and coaches.
Featured on the pregame show this week:
· Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers sitdown interview with Deion Sanders
· The top 10 NFL rivalries of all time
· NFL Network analysts Kurt Warner and Donovan McNabb discuss Chicago Bears quarterbackJay Cutler’s leadership
· Preview of the remaining Week 2 matchups, including Jets-Steelers, Ravens-Eagles and Lions-49ers
Bollywood superstar and 2101 Records/Desi Hits!/ Interscope Records recording artist Priyanka Chopra will be the featured artist for NFL Network’s Thursday Night Kickoff Presented by Craftsmanpregame show. Priyanka’s debut single “In My City,’ featuring will.i.am and produced by RedOne (Lady Gaga) and Brian Kennedy, will be the music bed for the intro to Thursday Night Kickoff Presented by Craftsman. The release of the full song and accompanying video for “In My City” are expected later this fall. For more information on Priyanka Chopra, please visit iampriyankachopra.com.
Leading in to every Thursday Night Football game, Grammy Award-winning artist CeeLo Green will sing the anthem entitled “I Love Football,” set to The Ramones’ “Blitzkrieg Bop.” The 90-second show open for each Thursday Night Football game will feature fan-sourced videos uploaded by fans. To submit videos, please visit www.nfl.com/fanchise.
Eisen, Faulk, Sanders, Irvin and Mariucci provide additional analysis on the Lexus Halftime Show and the McDonald’s Pregame Show.
Following the game, hosts Chris Rose and Lindsay Rhodes as well as analysts Willie McGinest andShaun O’Hara will deliver a postgame edition of NFL Total Access live from NFL Network’s studios in Los Angeles.
QUOTABLE:
– “He’s a complete back. Nowadays you have backs go out on third down – he is an every down back and he blocks well.” – Deion Sanders on Bears running back Matt Forte who rushed for 80 yards and one touchdown in Chicago’s 41-21 win over the Indianapolis Colts
– “You add him with Brandon Marshall and all of a sudden this Bears team has a receiving corps.” – Steve Mariucci on Bears rookie wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey
– “It’s what makes the Green Bay Packers so tough. You have Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings and then you have James Jones who looks like he’s a number one receiver when he’s playing.” – Michael Irvin on the Green Bay Packers wide receivers