NFL Schedule Release Party: Vikings, Saints Open Season On Thursday Night

The Rams traded DT Adam Carriker to the Redskins on Tuesday morning. On Tuesday evening they found out he won't be out of town for long as the Rams will play the Redskins in week three of the NFL season.

SB Nation's Rams community, Turf Show Times, says while the schedule looks easier, looks can be deceiving.

Don't be too hasty to judge this as an easier schedule. There are several .500 teams or worse from last season who figure to be much closer to competing this year. San Francisco is a prime example. A Detroit rematch at this point doesn't favor the Rams either. 

And like most NFL teams, they believe the key to a strong season is a fast start.

The key to the season will be starting strong. Games against the Seahawks, Redskins and Raiders should be a good match up for the Rams, and the Cardinals won't be the same without Warner.  Steven Jackson had 100+ yard games against the Redskins and the Cardinals last season.

Check out the full reaction at Turf Show Times.

The Falcons will open the season in Pittsburgh against the Steelers. If recent reports are true, Ben Roethlisberger will not be playing that week, which has to make the Falcons fans at SB Nation's The Falcoholic happy.

The Falcoholic has the entire Falcons schedule. Here's their take:

• No Ben Roethlisberger. Any of you scared of Dennis Dixon? Was kind of hoping to let John Abraham personally avenge the honor of the entire town of Milledgeville, but that'll have to wait til next time.
• The three-game road stretch at Tampa Town, Charlotte, and Seattle could be tough, but it's a cakewalk while wearing cake cleats on cake turf compared to last year's meat grinder of a late-season gauntlet.
  
• Two prime-time games, both at our place for once. Two division home games to close the season seems huge at first, until you remember we'll have been resting all our starters for like three weeks at that point.

Another game of note is when the Falcons will face their former quarterback, Michael Vick, and the Eagles on October 17th.

Read all of the Falcons fans reaction at The Falcoholic.

The Kevin Kolb-era Philadelphia Eagles kicks off with the season opener, hosting the Green Bay Packers. The first, and perhaps most intriguing matchup with the Washington Redskins, takes place in week four when the Eagles host former Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. SB Nation's own Bleeding Green Nation reacts to the Eagles tough schedule.

Looks like a pretty rough schedule, starting off with a bang with Green Bay. The Eagles better have all of their depth chart questions answered by then if they hope to best Aaron Rodgers and the Pack. We get a bit of a reprieve against the Lions and Jaguars, but both are away games and after Oakland last year, it's never safe to assume an easy win. Our first division rival matchup comes against none other than the Redskins, which curiously isn't scheduled for prime time, considering the intriguing Donovan McNabb-returns-to-Philly storyline.

Good thing we're known to play our strongest football in December.

The Eagles, like most NFL teams this year, will hit a gauntlet of division games to finish the season, with two games against the Cowboys in a four week span. In between, the Eagles only have to travel to New York to play the Giants and host the Vikings in week 16.

Check out Bleeding Green Nation reacts to the Eagles tough schedule.

The Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers will fly across the pond -- say "'ello, mate" -- playing this year's international game in London. Even though San Francisco is perhaps the farthest away any NFL team could possibly be from London, they'll be the home team.

This will be the fourth time an NFL regular season game has been played in London since the league's inaugural international game between the Dolphins and Giants in 2007.

The Broncos kick off the season at Jacksonville playing their sixth straight away game during kickoff weekend. Five of the team's final eight games are against AFC West division opponents. In a sort of rarity, between week 13 and 15, the Broncos will play three straight road games in Kansas City, Arizona and Oakland.

Much like Denver, five of San Francisco's final eight games will be against NFC West division opponents, including a regular season finale against the former division champions, the Arizona Cardinals. According to National Football Post's Joe Fortenbaugh, San Francisco and Denver will log the most miles this year, with the 49ers knocking 'em all over with 33,264 milles and the Broncos going a not-so-holy-smokes impressive 23,184 miles.

Check out the Mile High Report for more reaction with the Denver Broncos and Niners Nation for more reaction with the San Francisco 49ers.

The Colts will open the 2010 season against the Texans. By week two, the fun starts.

They also go on a stretch facing five consecutive playoff teams.

SB Nation's Colts community, Stampede Blue, fills us in on some of the Colts schedule.

The NFL does us no favors by looking to mirror the 2007 season with a mid-season fight with the Patriots in Week Eleven followed by a visit from the Chargers in Week Twelve. Interesting that the Colts play the Titans only in the second half of the season, and within three weeks of each other. The Raiders game at the end of the year will not be easy, and having to go to Denver after a late night game against the Giants is kind of ugh.

But, as they said, your schedule should be tough when you went 14-2.

Check out full reaction at Stampede Blue.

While a bulk of the action takes place on Sunday afternoons, the NFL saves many of its marquee matchups for the primetime hours (and the millions of eyeballs that come with it). The 2010 schedule is no exception.

Here is a look at all the Thursday Night (Thanksgiving included), the elusive Saturday night, Sunday Night and Monday Night Football games:

Week 1
Vikings at Saints - Thu., Sep. 9
Cowboys at Redskins - Sun, Sep. 12
Ravens at Jets / Chargers at Chiefs - Mon, Sep. 13

Week 2
Giants at Colts - Sun, Sep. 19
Saints at 49ers - Mon., Sep. 20

Week 3
Jets at Dolphins - Sun., Sep. 26
Packers at Bears - Mon., Sep. 27

Week 4
Bears at Giants - Sun., Oct. 3
Patriots at Dolphins - Mon., Oct. 4

Week 5
Eagles at 49ers - Sun., Oct. 10
Vikings at Jets - Mon., Oct. 11

Week 6
Colts at Redskins - Sun., Oct. 17
Titans at Jaguars - Mon., Oct. 18

Week 7
Vikings at Packers - Sun., Oct. 24
Giants at Cowboys - Mon., Oct. 25

Week 8
Steelers at Saints - Sun., Oct. 31 (spooky!)
Texans at Colts - Mon., Nov. 1

Week 9
Cowboys at Packers - Sun., Nov. 7
Steelers at Bengals - Mon., Nov. 8

Week 10
Ravens at Falcons - Thu., Nov. 11
Patriots at Steelers - Sun., Nov. 14
Eagles at Redskins - Mon., Nov. 15

Week 11
Bears at Dolphins - Thu., Nov. 18
Giants at Eagles - Sun., Nov. 21
Broncos at Chargers - Mon., Nov. 22

Week 12
Thanksgiving (Thu., Nov. 25)
Patriots at Lions
Saints at Cowboys
Bengals at Jets

Chargers at Colts - Sun., Nov. 28
49ers at Cardinals - Mon., Nov. 29

Week 13
Texans at Eagles - Thu., Dec. 2
Steelers at Ravens - Sun., Dec. 5
Jets at Patriots - Mon., Sec. 6

Week 14
Colts at Titans - Thu., Dec. 9
Eagles at Cowboys - Sun., Dec. 12
Ravens at Texans - Mon., Dec. 13

Week 15
49ers at Chargers - Thu., Dec. 16
Packers at Patriots - Sun., Dec. 19
Bears at Vikings - Mon., Dec. 20

Week 16
Panthers at Steelers - Thu., Dec. 23
Cowboys at Cardinals - Sat., Dec. 25
Chargers at Bengals - Sun., Dec. 26
Saints at Falcons - Mon., Dec. 27

Week 17
None

SB Nation's Titans community, Music City Miracles, gives us the skinny on the Titans schedule.

The Titans will play two games on national TV.

Week six against the Jaguars is a Monday night game while Week 14 against the Colts is a Thursday night game.

The Titans will also face the likely Roethlisberger-less Steelers in week two. They end the season in Indianapolis for the third time in four years.

Five of their final six games are against divisional opponents.

Read all about the Titans schedule at Music City Miracles.

The Cincinnati Bengals will play three prime time games this year, according to the recently released NFL schedule [entire Bengals regular season schedule] On November 8, Cincinnati hosts the Monday Night football crew as the Bengals take on heated division rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers. It will be the Bengals first Monday Night Football appearance since playing Baltimore and New England in 2007.

On November 25, the Bengals will play their first ever Thanksgiving game, taking on the New York Jets in New York. Then in week 16, the Bengals will host the San Diego Chargers on NBC's Sunday Night Football.

Including the preseason, the Bengals will be national television five times.

Other things of note. The Bengals will play three of their first four games on the road and their final four road games are at Indianapolis, New York, Pittsburgh and Baltimore. Three of the final four games on the season will be against division opponents. Cincinnati plays the Saints, Steelers, Chargers and Ravens in five of the team's final six games of the season.

For more reaction and news on the Cincinnati Bengals, check out Cincy Jungle.

Joe Fortenbaugh of the National Football Post has taken a quick look at the five "must-see" games of 2010.

His list includes:

• Redskins at Eagles (SNF)
  
• Jets at Patriots on (MNF)
• Vikings at Packers (SNF)
• Saints at Cowboys (Thanksgiving)
• Steelers at Ravens (SNF)

You gotta give it to the NFL. They know when to schedule their best games.

Check out the entire article at the National Football Post.

The NFL has released the entire 256 game regular season schedule.

All dates, times and locations of the game can be seen at this link.

The week one headliners include:

• Vikings at Saints, Thursday night, September 9th
• Cowboys at Redskins, Sunday night, September 12th
• Ravens at Jets, Monday night, September 13th
• Chargers at Chiefs, Monday night, September 13th

The Saints are the Super Bowl champs, thus the season opener at home. The Chiefs are opening a renovated stadium. The Giants are technically opening the New York stadium on Sunday but the Jets will bring it to primetime on Monday. And the Cowboys and Redskins game provides us with our first look at Mike Shananan.

Donovan McNabb's return to Philadelphia since being traded to the Redskins may be the most anticipated game of 2010. According to a NBC affiliate in Washington, it'll happen on October 3rd when the Redskins visit the Eagles.

The Redskins will open the season in Washington on Sunday night against the Cowboys.

Here's the Redskins complete schedule:

Sept. 12: vs. Dallas Cowboys

Sept. 19: vs. Houston Texans

Sept. 26: at St. Louis Rams

Oct. 3: at Philadelphia Eagles

Oct. 10: vs. Green Bay Packers

Oct. 17: vs. Indianapolis Colts

Oct. 24: at Chicago Bears

Oct. 31: at Detroit Lions

Nov. 15: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Nov. 21: at Tennessee Titans

Nov. 28: vs. Minnesota Vikings

Dec. 5: at New York Giants

Dec. 12: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Dec. 19: at Dallas Cowboys

Dec. 26: at Jacksonville Jaguars

Jan. 2: vs. New York Giants.

Mike Garafolo of the Newark Star Ledger has gotten his hands on the Giants complete 2010 schedule.

This includes three Sunday night games on NBC and one Monday night game on ESPN. Here's the complete schedule:

Sept. 12 CAROLINA 1:00 PM (FOX)

Sept. 19 at Indianapolis 8:20 PM (NBC)

Sept. 26 TENNESSEE 1:00 PM (CBS)

Oct. 3 CHICAGO 8:20 PM (NBC)

Oct. 10 at Houston 1:00 PM (FOX)

Oct. 17 DETROIT 1:00 PM (FOX)

Oct. 25 (Mon.) at Dallas 8:30 PM (ESPN)

Oct. 31 BYE

Nov. 7 at Seattle 4:05 PM (FOX)

Nov. 14 DALLAS 4:15PM (FOX)

Nov. 21 at Philadelphia 8:20PM* (NBC)

Nov. 28 JACKSONVILLE 1:00PM* (CBS)

Dec. 5 WASHINGTON 1:00PM* (FOX)

Dec. 12 at Minnesota 1:00 PM* (FOX)

Dec. 19 PHILADELPHIA 1:00 PM* (FOX)

Dec. 26 at Green Bay 4:15 PM* (FOX)

Jan. 2 at Washington 1:00PM* (FOX)

Check out all things Giants at Big Blue View.

As the defending Super Bowl champs, the Saints are getting plenty of time in the spotlight. We've already learned that the Saints will host the Vikings to kick off the season on a Thursday night.

SB Nation's Saints community, Canal Street Chronicles, has word that the Saints will play a total of five primetime games in 2010. From CSC:

September 9th, 2010 vs. Minnesota Vikings (NBC)

September 20th 2010 @ San Francisco 49ers (MNF)

October 31st, 2010 vs. Pittsburgh (SunNF)

November 25th vs. Dallas Cowboys (Thanksgiving)

December 27th @ Atlanta Falcons (MNF)

Check out the reaction from Saints fans over at Canal Street Chronicles.

The Detroit Lions' complete 2010 schedule has leaked, as well. Courtesy of the Detroit News, here's who Matt Stafford will be facing this season:

1. Sunday, Sept. 12 -- at Chicago
2. Sunday, Sept. 19 -- Philadelphia
3. Sunday, Sept. 26 -- at Minnesota
4. Sunday, Oct. 3 -- at Green Bay
5. Sunday, Oct. 10 -- St. Louis
6. Sunday, Oct. 1 7 -- at N.Y. Giants
7. BYE
8. Sunday, Oct. 31 -- Washington
9. Sunday, Nov. 7 -- N.Y. Jets
10. Sunday, Nov. 14 -- at Buffalo
11. Sunday, Nov. 21 -- at Dallas
12. Thursday, Nov. 25 -- New England
13. Sunday, Dec. 5 -- Chicago
14. Sunday, Dec. 12 -- Green Bay
15. Sunday, Dec. 19 -- at Tampa Bay
16. Sunday, Dec. 26 -- at Miami
17. Sunday, Jan. 2 -- Minnesota

All things considered, it's not a bad draw for Detroit, who showed some signs of life last year under new head coach Jim Schwartz, and with rookie QB Matt Stafford. Now, both men will return with more experience, and what looks like a reasonably favorable schedule to work with. For more on the Lions, check out SB Nation's Pride of Detroit.

The 2010 NFL schedule is set to be released at 7:00 PM (EST) on Tuesday evening but inevitably there are some leaks.

WDVE in Pittsburgh posted what appears to be the Steelers complete schedule. Minutes later, they deleted the post and replaced it with "Schedule Coming Soon!".

Unfortunately for WDVE, copy and paste still works on a computer. Here is what is believed to be the Steelers entire schedule:

Week 1 - September 12, 2010: vs Atlanta - 1pm ET
Week 2 - September 19, 2010: at Tennessee - 1pm ET
Week 3 - September 26, 2010: at Tampa Bay - 1pm ET
Week 4 - October 3, 2010: vs Baltimore - 1pm ET
Week 5 - Bye Week
Week 6 - October 17, 2010: vs Cleveland - 1pm ET
Week 7 - October 24, 2010: at Miami - 1pm ET
Week 8 - October 31, 2010: at New Orleans - 8:20pm ET
Week 9 - November 8, 2010: at Cincinnati - 8:30pm ET
Week 10 - November 14, 2010: vs New England - 8:20pm ET
Week 11 - November 21, 2010: vs Oakland - 1pm ET
Week 12 - November 28, 2010: at Buffalo - 1pm ET
Week 13 - December 5, 2010: at Baltimore - 8:20pm ET
Week 14 - December 12, 2010: vs Cincinnati - 1pm ET
Week 15 - December 19, 2010: vs NY Jets - 4:15pm ET
Week 16 - December 23, 2010: vs Carolina - 8:20pm ET (NFL Network)
Week 17 - January 2, 2011: at Cleveland - 1pm ET

What's interesting about this is that Ben Roethlisberger is expected to be suspended anywhere from 2-4 games. That bye week conveniently comes right after week four.

Check out SB Nation's Steelers community, Behind the Steel Curtain, for more information.