NFL TV Schedule 2011: Official Pairings for FOX and CBS Telecasts This Season

With the 2011 NFL TV schedule kicking off on Thursday with a matchup between the last two Super Bowl Champions (Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints), the excitement over the NFL is higher than it has been in the last few seasons.

The deprivation of football that was the lockout-shortened offseason has made the fans who love football even more hungry for the sport, and television ratings are expected to rise from their record numbers last season.

In 2010, CBS and FOX averaged 20 million viewers, more than twice what networks receive for their prime-time programming, and they have revamped their announcing crews to get ready for the viewership rush.

CBS Sports president Sean McManus told Sports Illustrated:

"

"With all the movement and so much activity, I think people are really excited about the NFL season. I've given up trying to predict how high NFL ratings will go because often our most optimistic projections are exceeded. But I think there is certainly room for growth and if you get the kind of season and postseason we had last year, I think anything is possible."

"

Both CBS and FOX have kept the same pregame and halftime crews from last season, and the familiarity is something many football fans will lean on, as the NFL itself had an enormous turnover in personnel this offseason.

For FOX, the newest additions to the team are mostly behind the scenes with the hiring of Bill Richards as the studio show’s executive producer. Another great move will be the signing of college football voice Gus Johnson from rival CBS, but they will be using him in a limited NFL role this season.

At least we will get some Johnson. He is just too good to not call some FOX football games.

For CBS, the departure of Johnson was a huge blow for the company, and they knew they would have to do something drastic to fill the void. CBS decided to go after TNT basketball analyst Marv Albert, and now the television veteran will be calling NFL games with Rich Gannon.

With both companies going hard at revamping their programs to provide the best for the fans, it proves that they believe this will be the most watched NFL season in the history of the sport.

One thing I would like to see this season is how much of an impact the new NFL RedZone channel has on the competition and if people steer towards a mix of all the games instead of watching just one game with little impact on their favorite team.

For a full schedule and announce team pairings, check out the Sports Illustrated breakdown.

Check back for more on the NFL world as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s Football Page to get your fill of the NFL.

Follow @Donald_Wood