NFL schedule kicks off with Packers at Seahawks

The NFL released its 2014 schedule Wednesday evening, revealing that Seattle will play host to Green Bay in the Thursday kickoff opener.

That’s a rematch of the controversial “Fail Mary” game in 2012, when replacement officials awarded the Seahawks the winning touchdown on a Hail Mary throw that appeared to be intercepted in the end zone by Green Bay.

In Week 3, Seattle plays host to Denver, the team it beat in Super Bowl XLVIII in February. The Seahawks also play at San Francisco on Thanksgiving night, with the rivalry between those NFC West foes rounding into the NFL’s most bitter.

The 2014 schedule also features Indianapolis at Denver on the opening Sunday night. That means Peyton Manning gets another chance to knock off Andrew Luck, the quarterback who replaced him in Indianapolis. Manning wound up on the losing end when he returned to his old hometown last season.

This is the first year of a Thursday night partnership between CBS and the NFL Network. CBS will produce the full slate of 16 Thursday night games, with Jim Nantz and Phil Simms in the booth. NFL Network hosts and analysts will be featured in the pregame, halftime and postgame shows along with CBS Sports announcers.

The 2014 “Thursday Night Football” schedule will feature games from Weeks 2 to 8 and Week 16 (Saturday) broadcast on CBS that also will be simulcast on NFL Network. The “Thursday Night Football” schedule in Weeks 9 to 12 and Weeks 14 to 16 will be televised on NFL Network, and will be simulcast on over-the-air stations in the primary markets of the participating teams.