Storied rivalries, including Giants-Cowboys, Bears-Packers on Christmas Night at Lambeau, Colts-Patriots, Steelers-Ravens, Cowboys-Eagles, Patriots-Jets and Eagles-Giants; a match-up of the last two Super Bowl Champions as the Packers host the Saints in the opening Thursday night game; and Peyton Manning returning home to New Orleans in a Super Bowl XLV rematch highlight the "Sunday Night Football" 2011 schedule. The season concludes on NBC with Super Bowl XLVI from Indianapolis.

SNF DOMINATED SUNDAY NIGHTS: Last season, “Sunday Night Football” was the No. 1 show all 18 nights (100 percent) vs. its competition (16 Sundays, one Tuesday and one Thursday). In 2009, SNF was the most-watched Sunday night primetime broadcast in a then-record 15 of 16 (94 percent) weeks. In 2008, SNF won 13 of 16 (81 percent) Sunday nights. In 2007, SNF won 11 of 16 (69 percent) and, in 2006, SNF won nine of 16 (56 percent).

For the full season, “Sunday Night Football” averaged 21.8 million viewers, a gain of 12 percent from 2009 (19.4 million) and the best viewership for the NFL’s premier primetime broadcast package in 14 years.

SNF NO. 1 PRIMETIME PROGRAM FOR SEASON: For the primetime television season, “Sunday Night Football,” during its season, ranked as the most-watched show (persons 2+) and the No. 1 program across the key demographics of Adults 18-49, 18-34, 25-54 as well as Men 18-49, 18-34 and 25-54, based on Nielsen live + same day data.  Additionally, SNF was the No. 3 show among Women 18-34 behind only "Grey’s Anatomy" and "Glee," and, remarkably, No. 3 among Women 18-49 behind only "Dancing with the Stars" and "Grey’s Anatomy."

NFL OPENING KICKOFF: In a tradition that began in 2004, the Super Bowl champion annually hosts the following season’s Thursday night season kickoff. The NFL will open this season on NBC, Thursday, Sept. 8, with a match-up of the last two Super Bowl Champions as the Packers host the Saints. Last year’s opening game featuring the Vikings at Saints drew 27.5 million viewers, the most-watched regular-season primetime NFL game ever on NBC.

In the first "Sunday Night Football" contest of the season the Jets host the Cowboys on the 10th anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001.

2011 "SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL" SCHEDULE
Thurs. Sept. 8        NFL Kickoff      New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers
Sun. Sept. 11        Week 1       Dallas Cowboys at New York Jets
Sun. Sept. 18        Week 2       Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons
Sun. Sept. 25        Week 3       Pittsburgh Steelers at Indianapolis Colts
Sun. Oct. 2         Week 4     New York Jets at Baltimore Ravens
Sun. Oct. 9         Week 5       Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons
Sun. Oct. 16        Week 6     Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears
Sun. Oct. 23        Week 7    Indianapolis Colts at New Orleans Saints
Sun. Oct. 30        Week 8    Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles
Sun. Nov. 6         Week 9    Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers
Sun. Nov. 13        Week 10    New England Patriots at New York Jets
Sun. Nov. 20        *Week 11      Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants
Sun. Nov. 27        *Week 12    Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City Chiefs
Sun. Dec. 4         *Week 13    Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots
Sun. Dec. 11        *Week 14    New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys
Sun. Dec. 18        *Week 15    Baltimore Ravens at San Diego Chargers
Sun. Dec. 25        *Week 16    Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers
Sun. Jan. 1          *Week 17    TBA
*Flex Week