After starting in Week 12 in the beginning of the series back in 2006, then in Week 9 since 2008, Thursday Night Football now encompasses an entire season running 13 weeks on NFL Network. After being an 8 game series, TNF now begins in Week 2 and will run through Week 15 with a one week break for Thanksgiving which will be an NBC game from now on.
So Brad Nessler and Mike Mayock return for their second season together. Alex Flanagan also returns to roam the sidelines.
This Thursday, the crew heads to Lambeau Field in Green Bay to call the NFL’s oldest rivalry, the Chicago Bears against the Packers. The game will begin 8:15 p.m. ET. Pregame coverage hosted by Rich Eisen live from Lambeau airs starting at 6 p.m.
We have the particulars plus the pregame show features below.
CHICAGO BEARS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 AT 8:00 PM ET ON NFL NETWORKExpanded 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 Pregame Show at 6:00 PM ETNFL 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 the Thursday 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 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 and Michael 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 quarterback Jay 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 pregame 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 Halftime Show and the Pregame Show.
Following the game, hosts Chris Rose and Lindsay Rhodes as well as analysts Willie McGinest and Shaun 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
TEAMS: BEARS (1-0) PACKERS (0-1) ANNOUNCERS Brad Nessler (play-by-play), Mike Mayock (game analyst); Alex Flanagan (sideline) PREGAME (6:00 PM ET) Thursday Night Kickoff
In Green Bay: Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders, Stacey Dales, Alex FlanaganPRE-KICK (8:00 PM ET) Brad Nessler, Mike Mayock, Alex Flanagan, Rich Eisen, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders, Michael Irvin, Stacey Dales HALFTIME Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan POSTGAME Rich Eisen, Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, Steve Mariucci, Deion Sanders, Stacey Dales, Alex Flanagan NFL Total Access Postgame Show
In-studio: Chris Rose, Lindsay Rhodes, Willie McGinest, Shaun O’HaraWHERE TO WATCH DirecTV – Channel 212 (SD/HD), DISH Network – 154 (SD/HD)
Verizon FIOS – Channel 88 (SD) 588 (HD), AT&T U-Verse – Channel 630 (SD) 1630 (HD), Cablevision – Channel 150 (SD/HD)Check your local cable listings
NFL.com LIVE – live “look-ins” at select moments of game
NFL Mobile Live on Verizon WirelessLOCAL OTA SIMULCAST* My50 Chicago (WPWR) Green Bay: NBC Ch. 26 (WGBA)
Milwaukee: FOX Ch. 6 (WITI)
That will do it.
