2011 NFL Schedule Revealed: Saints and Packers to Kickoff Season

The 2011 NFL regular season schedule was released on Tuesday night at 7:00 PM ET, maybe giving some hope to fans that mediation will help both the NFL and NFLPA*settle their differences and reach a new agreement so these games can be played.

To start, the 2009 Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints will travel to Lambeau Field in Green Bay to take on the defending Super Bowl champion Packers on September 8 to kick off the season. Week 1 also includes another Monday night doubleheader featuring the Patriots at the Dolphins followed by the Raiders at the Broncos.

Also in week 1, the New York Giants will travel to Washington D.C. to face the Redskins. The NFL will honor the victims of the attacks on both New York City and Washington D.C. on September 11, 2001.

In week 5, the Detroit Lions will host the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. The Lions will make their first appearance on Monday night since 2001. Week 7 includes the Bears and Buccaneers traveling to Wembley Stadium in London for the NFL’s annual international game.

Week 11 consists of the Chiefs visiting the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football. Quarterback Matt Cassel will face his former team and head coach in Bill Belichick.

Because Sunday of week 16 falls on Christmas Sunday, the league decided to move all afternoon games to Saturday, December 24. There will be one game played on Christmas night when the Bears travel to Green Bay to play the Packers in a rematch of the NFC Championship Game.

Week 17 will again consist of all division games as was the case last year when the league decided it would help with reducing the number of teams that sit their starters due to clinching playoff seeds.

The full interactive 2011 NFL schedule can be found here.