NFL Schedule 2016: Week 1 TV Channels, Start Times, Dates For Raiders-Saints, Cowboys-Giants And All Other Games

Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers — Cam Newton is coming off the best season of his career. Getty

With the conclusion of the preseason on Thursday night, the 2016 NFL regular season is set to get underway. The season officially begins on Thursday, Sept. 8, with 13 games scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 11 and two set for the following night.

A rematch of Super Bowl 50 kicks off the season as the Carolina Panthers visit the Denver Broncos. Cam Newton is back for the reigning NFC Champions, looking to defend his MVP award. The Broncos will have a new quarterback at the helm when Trevor Siemian gets his first start and takes over for the retired Peyton Manning.

Nine games have a 1 p.m. ET kickoff on the first NFL Sunday of the year. None of those games feature two teams that made the playoffs a year ago, and the matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jets is probably the best of the bunch.

With three games scheduled to start in the 4 p.m. ET hour, only one team that made last year’s postseason will take the field during that time. The New York Giants visit the Dallas Cowboys in one of three divisional games in Week 1.

While the Cowboys will be without Tony Romo in the season opener, the New England Patriots won’t have quarterback Tom Brady available. Jimmy Garoppolo leads the Patriots on the road against the Arizona Cardinals in the first Sunday Night Football game of the season.

Two Monday Night Football games close out the Week 1 schedule. The Pittsburgh Steelers visit the Washington Redskins in the early contest, and the San Francisco 49ers host the Los Angeles Rams to end the week.

Below is the complete schedule for Week 1 of the 2016 NFL season, including start times and TV channels.

Thursday, Sept. 8

Carolina Panthers at Denver Broncos, 8:30 p.m. ET, NBC

Sunday, Sept. 11

Green Bay Packers at Jacksonville Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET, FOX

Buffalo Bills at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Chicago Bears at Houston Texans, 1 p.m. ET, FOX

Cleveland Browns at Philadelphia Eagles, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. ET, FOX

Minnesota Vikings at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m. ET, FOX

Cincinnati Bengals at New York Jets, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Oakland Raiders at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. ET, FOX