Super Bowl XLIV MVP Drew Brees Holding Lombardi Trophy
MVP Drew Brees Holding Lombardi Trophy

It all gets going at the Louisiana Superdome on Thursday, September 9!

That night, the NFL will kick off its 2010 season when the Super Bowl XLIV champion NEW ORLEANS SAINTS host the MINNESOTA VIKINGS on NBC at 8:30 PM ET.

This year's opening game is a rematch of last season's thrilling NFC Championship Game, won by the Saints 31-28 in overtime.

In 2009, the Vikings won the NFC North with a 12-4 record and the Saints captured the NFC South with a franchise-best 13-3 mark en route to the team's first-ever Super Bowl victory.

"I can't imagine it being any more charged than the last time we were down there," says Vikings head coach BRAD CHILDRESS. "That's always a great, hostile environment to play in."

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

On Thursday, September 9 fans will be able to witness a celebration at the Louisiana Superdome preceded by a music and football event in New Orleans.

 

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 458 teams which won openers: 243 went to the playoffs (142 won division titles).

Of the 458 teams which lost openers: 102 went to the playoffs (60 won division titles).

In 2009, 10 of the 12 playoff teams -- Baltimore, Dallas, Green Bay, Indianapolis, Minnesota, New Orleans, New England, New York Jets, Philadelphia and San Diego -- were victorious on Kickoff Weekend.

 

A rundown of the NFL Thursday night season openers:

NFL KICKOFF WEEKEND THURSDAY 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.

2009 - PITTSBURGH STEELERS 13, Tennessee Titans 10 (OT)

Pittsburgh's Jeff Reed kicks a 33-yard gamewinning field goal in overtime as the defending Super Bowl champions defeat Tennessee.

 

NFL FOOTBALL ARTICLES [...]

 

NFL 2010 - Saints & Vikings Kick Off 2010 NFL Regular Season