Ben Roethlisberger

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It all gets going at Heinz Field on Thursday night, September 10!

That night, the NFL will kick off its 2009 season when the Super Bowl XLIII champion PITTSBURGH STEELERS host the TENNESSEE TITANS on NBC at 8:30 PM ET.

Continuing a tradition that started in 2004, the previous year's Super Bowl winner hosts the NFL Thursday night season Kickoff the following September.

This year's opening game features two NFL 2008 division winners.

The Titans posted an NFL-best 13-3 record and won the AFC South, while the Steelers took the AFC North crown en route to their NFL-record sixth Super Bowl title. The two teams met last season in Week 16 with Tennessee defeating Pittsburgh 31-14.

"I'm excited about getting things started in 2009," says Steelers coach MIKE TOMLIN. "Playing a quality opponent such as those guys makes preparation easier from my standpoint. I know it's going to be an exciting atmosphere and environment for our fans. That's what I'm most excited about."

A rundown of the NFL Thursday night season openers:

2002 - San Francisco 49ers 16, NY GIANTS 13

San Francisco kicker Jose Cortez kicks a 36-yard field goal with six seconds remaining to lead the 49ers to victory in the NFL's first Thursday-night opener since 1949.

2003 - WASHINGTON REDSKINS 16, NY Jets 13

Washington kicker John Hall converts a game winning 50-yard field goal with five seconds remaining to lift the Redskins past his former team.

2004 - NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 27, Indianapolis Colts 24

New England quarterback Tom Brady passes for 335 yards and three touchdowns as the defending Super Bowl champions defeat the Colts.

2005 - NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 30, Oakland Raiders 20

New England quarterback Tom Brady leads the offense by throwing for 306 yards and two touchdowns while running back Corey Dillon adds two scores for the defending Super Bowl champions.

2006 - PITTSBURGH STEELERS 28, Miami Dolphins 17

Pittsburgh quarterback Charlie Batch passes for three touchdowns and running back Willie Parker adds 115 yards as the defending Super Bowl champions defeat Miami.

2007 - INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 41, New Orleans Saints 10

The Super Bowl champion Colts rack up 452 yards of offense as quarterback Peyton Manning passes for 288 yards and three touchdowns.

2008 - NY GIANTS 16, Washington Redskins 7

Quarterback Eli Manning rushes for a touchdown and the Giants' defense allows just 209 total yards as the defending Super Bowl champions defeat division-rival Washington.

NFL KICKOFF 2009 SCHEDULE

September 10, 13-14 (All times local PM)

Since 1978 when the NFL went to the 16-game schedule, and excluding the abbreviated season of 1982, teams that are victorious on Kickoff Weekend are more than twice as likely to reach the playoffs than losers of an opening game:

Of the 442 teams which won openers, 233 went to the playoffs (136 won division titles).

Of the 442 teams which lost openers, 103 went to the playoffs (58 won division titles).

In 2008, eight of the 12 playoff teams – Arizona, Atlanta, Baltimore, Carolina, New York Giants, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Tennessee – were victorious on Kickoff Weekend.

"Hey, nobody said this was going to be easy," says Miami Dolphins head coach TONY SPARANO, whose team lost on Kickoff Weekend last year and rebounded to win the AFC East. "Not in this league."

 

Some clubs have excelled in openers. Some notable active NFL Kickoff streaks

The Super Bowl champion PITTSBURGH STEELERS, who host Tennessee in the spotlight Kickoff 2009 game on Thursday night, have won 38 openers, the most among AFC teams. The Steelers have won six consecutive openers, the longest current streak in the NFL. Pittsburgh has also won six consecutive home openers, the third longest active streak in the league.

The CHICAGO BEARS open the season at Green Bay in primetime on Sunday Night Football and have an NFL-best 50 wins on Kickoff Weekend. The Bears return home to Soldier Field in Week 2 to face Pittsburgh and have 60 wins in home openers, the most in the league. Chicago is 60-25-4 (.706) in openers at home, the second-best mark in the NFC.

The GREEN BAY PACKERS have 49 wins on Kickoff Weekend and can tie Chicago (50) for the most all-time victories when they host the Bears on Sunday night. Green B ay's 46 wins in home openers are tied for the third-most. The Packers travel to St. Louis in Week 3 and have 50 wins in road openers, the most in NFL history. Green Bay has won three consecutive road openers, the longest current streak among NFC teams.

The NEW YORK GIANTS, who open the season hosting Washington, have 47 wins in openers, the third-most in NFL history. New York is tied for third in league annals with 46 wins in home openers and the team's 47 wins in road openers rank second all-time. The Giants face Dallas in Week 2 on Sunday night in the opening game at the Cowboys' new stadium. New York has a 47-32-5 (.595) record in road openers, the second-best mark in the league.

The NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS have won 12 of their past 14 home openers, including a perfect 7-0 record at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots open the season at home on Monday night against Buffalo and aim for their eighth consecutive win in a home opener. New England has won five consecutive openers, the second-longest active streak.

The DALLAS COWBOYS own a 33-15-1 (.688) record on Kickoff Weekend, the top mark in the NFL, including wins in a record 17 consecutive openers from 1965-81. The Cowboys, who open the season in Tampa Bay, have the league's best record in road openers at 31-18 (.633). In Week 2, Dallas will host the New York Giants on Sunday night in the first game at Cowboys Stadium. Dallas is 34-14-1 (.708) in home openers, the best mark among NFC teams.

The INDIANAPOLIS COLTS, who host Jacksonville on Kickoff Weekend, are 8-2 (.800) in their past 10 openers and have won five of their past six home openers. The Colts travel to Miami in Week 2 for a Monday - night contest and have won four road openers in a row, the longest current streak in the NFL.

The DENVER BRONCOS, who open at Cincinnati, have won 15 of their past 20 openers and are 31-17-1 (.646) on Kickoff Weekend, the best mark in the AFC. The Broncos host Cleveland in Week 2 and have won nine consecutive home openers, the longest current streak in the NFL. Denver is 36-12-1 (.750) in home openers, the best mark in the league.

The MIAMI DOLPHINS, who host Indianapolis on Monday night in Week 2, are 31-11-1 (.738) in home openers, the second-best mark in the NFL. The Dolphins open the season at Atlanta and have won 12 of their past 17 openers.

The OAKLAND RAIDERS, who open the season at home against San Diego on Monday night, are 34-14-1 (.704) in home openers. The Raiders have won seven of their past 11 openers at home.

The NFC champion ARIZONA CARDINALS host San Francisco on Kickoff Weekend, just the third time in the past 22 years the club has started the year at home. The Cardinals aim for their fourth consecutive win in a home opener.

The NEW YORK JETS travel to Houston on Kickoff Weekend, marking the 37th time in the past 50 openers the club has started the season on the road.

HOME SWEET HOME

The DETROIT LIONS, who host Minnesota in Week 2, have 48 wins in home openers, the second most in NFL history . . . the MINNESOTA VIKINGS, who host San Francisco in Week 3, have won 17 of their past 22 openers at home . . . the SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS, who host Seattle in Week 2, have won 12 of thei r past 16 home openers . . . the KANSAS CITY CHIEFS, who host Oakland in Week 2, have won 14 of thei r past 20 home openers . . . the ST. LOUIS RAMS, who host Green Bay in Week 3, have won 10 of their past 14 openers in St. Louis . . . the SAN DIEGO CHARGERS, who host Baltimore in Week 2, have won 10 of their past 16 openers at home . . . and the SEATTLE SEAHAWKS, who open the season hosting St. Louis, have won five of their past six home openers.

NFL 2009 Kickoff Weekend

 

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