NFL Prime-Time Schedule 2015: List of Monday, Thursday and Sunday Night Games
The full 2015 NFL regular-season schedule was released Tuesday, including the complete list of prime-time games that provide a nice change to the typical gridiron Sunday afternoons.
Kicking off the slate is a compelling season opener Thursday, Sept. 10, when the reigning Super Bowl champion New England Patriots host another respected franchise in the Pittsburgh Steelers. That's only the beginning of the tantalizing matchups on tap.
Check out all the prime-time listings below, courtesy of NFL.com, along with more detailed analysis on the best early showdowns on paper ahead of the new season.
TOP NEWS
.jpg?w=256 "Cardinals Draft Love Football")
NFL strength of schedule breakdown
Report: Seahawks Sign Veteran Edge
Projecting NFL Teams Most Likely to Tank for 2027 📉
| Thursday, Sept. 10 | Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots | 8:30 p.m. | NBC |
| Sunday, Sept. 13 | New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys | 8:30 p.m. | NBC |
| Monday, Sept. 14 | Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons | 7:10 p.m. | ESPN |
| Monday, Sept. 14 | Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers | 10:20 p.m. | ESPN |
| Thursday, Sept. 17 | Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs | 8:25 p.m. | CBS, NFL Network |
| Sunday, Sept. 20 | Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers | 8:30 p.m. | NBC |
| Monday, Sept. 21 | New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Thursday, Sept. 24 | Washington Redskins at New York Giants | 8:25 p.m. | CBS, NFL Network |
| Sunday, Sept. 27 | Denver Broncos at Detroit Lions | 8:30 p.m. | NBC |
| Monday, Sept. 28 | Kansas City Chiefs at Green Bay Packers | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Thursday, Oct. 1 | Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers | 8:25 p.m. | CBS, NFL Network |
| Sunday, Oct. 4 | Dallas Cowboys at New Orleans Saints | 8:30 p.m. | NBC |
| Monday, Oct. 5 | Detroit Lions at Seattle Seahawks | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Thursday, Oct. 8 | Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans | 8:25 p.m. | CBS, NFL Network |
| Sunday, Oct. 11 | San Francisco 49ers at New York Giants | 8:30 p.m. | NBC |
| Monday, Oct. 12 | Pittsburgh Steelers at San Diego Chargers | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Week 6 | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV |
| Thursday, Oct. 15 | Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints | 8:25 p.m. | CBS, NFL Network |
| Sunday, Oct. 18 | New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts | 8:30 p.m. | NBC |
| Monday, Oct. 19 | New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Thursday, Oct. 22 | Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers | 8:25 p.m. | CBS, NFL Network |
| Sunday, Oct. 25 | Philadelphia Eagles at Carolina Panthers | 8:30 p.m. | NBC |
| Monday, Oct. 26 | Baltimore Ravens at Arizona Cardinals | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Thursday, Oct. 29 | Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots | 8:25 p.m. | CBS, NFL Network |
| Sunday, Nov. 1 | Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos | 8:30 p.m. | NBC |
| Monday, Nov. 2 | Indianapolis Colts at Carolina Panthers | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Thursday, Nov. 5 | Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals | 8:25 p.m. | NFL Network |
| Sunday, Nov. 8 | Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys | 8:30 p.m. | NBC |
| Monday, Nov. 9 | Chicago Bears at San Diego Chargers | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Thursday, Nov. 12 | Buffalo Bills at New York Jets | 8:25 p.m. | NFL Network |
| Sunday, Nov. 15 | Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks | 8:30 p.m. | NBC |
| Monday, Nov. 16 | Houston Texans at Cincinnati Bengals | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Thursday, Nov. 19 | Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars | 8:25 p.m. | NFL Network |
| Sunday, Nov. 22 | Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers | 8:30 p.m. | NBC |
| Monday, Nov. 23 | Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Thursday, Nov. 26 | Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers | 8:30 p.m. | NBC |
| Sunday, Nov. 29 | New England Patriots at Denver Broncos | 8:30 p.m. | NBC |
| Monday, Nov. 30 | Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Thursday, Dec. 3 | Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions | 8:25 p.m. | CBS, NFL Network |
| Sunday, Dec. 6 | Indianapolis Colts at Pittsburgh Steelers | 8:30 p.m. | NBC |
| Monday, Dec. 7 | Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Thursday, Dec. 10 | Minnesota Vikings at Arizona Cardinals | 8:25 p.m. | NFL Network |
| Sunday, Dec. 13 | Seattle Seahawks at Baltimore Ravens | 8:30 p.m. | NBC |
| Monday, Dec. 14 | New York Giants at Miami Dolphins | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Thursday, Dec. 17 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers at St. Louis Rams | 8:25 p.m. | NFL Network |
| Saturday, Dec. 19 | New York Jets at Dallas Cowboys (considered "Thursday Night Football") | 8:25 p.m. | NFL Network |
| Sunday, Dec. 20 | Cincinnati Bengals at San Francisco 49ers | 8:30 p.m. | NBC |
| Monday, Dec. 21 | Detroit Lions at New Orleans Saints | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Thursday, Dec. 24 | San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders | 8:25 p.m. | NFL Network |
| Saturday, Dec. 26 | Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles (considered "Thursday Night Football") | 8:25 p.m. | NFL Network |
| Sunday, Dec. 27 | Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens | 8:30 p.m. | NBC |
| Monday, Dec. 28 | Cincinnati Bengals at Denver Broncos | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
Best Early Prime-Time Matchups
Thursday, Sept. 10: Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots
Oh, there's just a ho-hum opener with multiple-Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks in Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger and prolific counterpart Tom Brady to get things started.
Steelers President Art Rooney II weighed in on his team being part of the first game, per Steelers.com's Bob Labriola:
"It does indicate that the league believes there are a lot of fans who want to watch our games, and they have put us in a lot of the marquee games, which is a place where we want to be. We want to be a team that's in the big games, a team that is able to play in the big games. To be featured in some of those kickoff-the-season-type games, I'm not going to complain about that.
"
Both of these secondaries are on the thin side. New England lost starting cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, while the Steelers saw veteran cornerback Ike Taylor and legendary safety Troy Polamalu retire this offseason.
There is thus a great chance that fans will be treated to plenty of offensive fireworks from these prolific passing attacks. Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown are among the most lethal, explosive combinations in the game, so they ought to have an easy time ripping off chunks of yardage even in Foxborough.
Pittsburgh will be without running back Le'Veon Bell, though, because he'll be serving a three-game suspension. This may make the Steelers too one-dimensional to steal one on the road against the mighty Patriots.
NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano notes how the schedule ahead for New England seems to be favorable:
With a vertical threat in Rob Gronkowski to challenge Pittsburgh up the seam and shifty slot wideout Julian Edelman to burn the Steelers underneath, Brady has plenty to work with to pick the Steelers apart. Plus, the Pats can get physical and pound the rock with LeGarrette Blount if need be.
New England is deeper on defense and has an All-Pro free safety in Devin McCourty to hold down the back end well enough, mitigating the Steelers' ability to generate big plays with the deep ball.
It will be an uphill battle for Pittsburgh in its first game, but with Roethlisberger under center, the Steelers always have a puncher's chance.
Monday, Sept. 14: Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons
For anyone who felt offended by the Eagles not partaking in the first game of the season, the NFL didn't forget about Philadelphia in prime-time scheduling.
Coach Chip Kelly had an eventful offseason as personnel chief, and that's a huge understatement. His new-look roster will be put to the test in the hostile environment of the Georgia Dome to start 2015 against Atlanta.
This is only the beginning of Philadelphia's time in the spotlight to start 2015, as PhillyMag.com's Sheil Kapadia points out:
Most salient among the many things to watch for out of the gates is the health of prospective Eagles starting QB Sam Bradford, who's coming off a twice-torn ACL. Bradford will need to have reps under his belt in Kelly's system and prove he's healthy to thrive right away.
The Falcons have had two down seasons since making the NFC title game in 2013. New coach Dan Quinn is a breath of fresh air for the locker room, as is offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.
A zone-blocking running scheme ought to help Atlanta's stagnant rushing attack, taking pressure off veteran signal-caller Matt Ryan and providing better balance. ESPN's Adam Schefter notes how an instant turnaround may be feasible in Quinn's first year at the helm:
If the Falcons can at least keep Philadelphia honest on the ground, they have the ability to put up plenty of points in front of the home crowd.
But Kelly went out and got two downhill ball-carriers in Ryan Mathews and DeMarco Murray, which should help his offense continue to roll. The key will be whoever is under center leading the way. If it's Bradford and he is indeed healthy enough to play to his potential, Week 1 could be the start of something special in Philly.
Sunday, Sept. 20: Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers
Oh my, is this a dandy! The Packers took a commanding lead against Seattle in the conference championship game—on the road, at that—only to lose in overtime, falling just short of a Super Bowl XLIX berth.
Seattle has to be devastated by its loss to the Patriots, and the going won't be easy with trips to St. Louis and Lambeau Field to start its 2015 slate.
The NFL on ESPN notes how tough the defending NFC champions have it all year—though it does only take into account the prior season's records:
One big addition the Seahawks didn't have last time around is superstar tight end Jimmy Graham, acquired in an offseason trade with New Orleans. It cost Seattle the 31st overall pick in the draft and center Max Unger, but Graham figures to be well worth the price.
Defense hasn't been Green Bay's strong suit. Provided that the "Legion of Boom" secondary is all healed up after three marquee members played the Super Bowl injured, Packers stud QB Aaron Rodgers figures to have his hands full even at home.
ESPN Stats & Info highlights how Seattle may be Green Bay's kryptonite, even at its typical Lambeau fortress:
Every game in the NFL is critical, and there's a different feeling between a team being 2-0 or 1-1. One of these NFC powerhouses could fall to 0-2 with a loss in this marquee matchup. That provides an idea of the stakes even as early as Week 2.
Rodgers has played as well as any quarterback in the game of late. He'll have plenty of fuel to drive him as he bids to carve up Seattle's vaunted defensive backfield. On the other hand, the Seahawks may have a psychological edge, having had the Packers' number as of late.
Even the first two weeks of the 2015 NFL season are filled with prime-time clashes that figure to have huge implications for the rest of the year. Perhaps none is as significant as the battle between Green Bay and Seattle.
.jpg?w=480 "Cardinals Draft Love Football")
.jpg?w=480 "Chiefs Rookies Football")
.jpg?w=600 "Browns Declined Cowboys Trade")
.jpg?w=600 "Draft Value Picks Who Could be Fantasy Football Sleepers 🧐")
.png?w=600 "NFL Free-Agent Tracker ✍️"){kind=tracking}
.jpg?w=600 "Breaking News")