2012 NFL Schedule: Green Bay Packers to Host San Francisco 49ers in Week 1

According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the Green Bay Packers will open the 2012 NFL season by hosting the San Francisco 49ers. 

Silverstein confirmed what many have speculated through a league source familiar with the NFL schedule, which is to be released tonight at 7:00 p.m. EST. 

"

Source familiar with NFL schedule confirms #Packers will open against San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field Sept. 9 at 3:15 p.m.

— tom silverstein (@TomSilverstein) April 17, 2012"

Given a 3:15 CST start, the matchup would likely be featured as the late game on FOX on the opening Sunday of the season.

It's hard to envision a better late-game start than the Packers vs. 49ers, who each should be considered an NFC favorite heading into the 2012 season. 

Many envisioned the two teams meeting in the NFC Championship Game last January, but the New York Giants upset the 15-1 Packers at Lambeau Field to advance to the conference title game. The 49ers would go on to lose that game in overtime.

The game also pits the reigning MVP in Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers against one of the NFL's best defenses. The 49ers kept their unit intact this offseason and may even add to it sometime in the draft. 

Of course, the Packers will counter with an offense that scored the second most points in NFL history last season. 

Green Bay will likely add a number of new defensive pieces through the draft, and that new-look defense will see some new faces in the 49ers' offense, too. 

San Francisco dipped into free agency to add receivers Mario Manningham and Randy Moss, plus running back Brandon Jacobs. Quarterback Alex Smith was re-signed after the team briefly flirted with Peyton Manning. 

The Super Bowl champion Giants and the Dallas Cowboys start the 2012 season with a Wednesday kickoff.