The Green Bay Packers will open the 2009 season in prime time, hosting the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Sept. 13. The season opener will mark the 178th meeting in the NFL 's oldest rivalry.
The Packers have opened the season in prime time on four separate occasions, all of which have come on Monday Night Football, including last year's 24-19 victory over Minnesota. Green Bay is 4-0 in those games.
The Packers will also meet the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving day in Detroit. It's the Packers 33rd Thanksgiving NFL game and the 19th against Detroit. The two division rivals played for 13 consecutive seasons on Thanksgiving, from 1951-1963, before the league began rotating opponents for the Lions.
It will be the second Thanksgiving game for the Packers under Head Coach Mike McCarthy. Green Bay defeated the Lions 37-26 in Detroit in 2007.
The Thanksgiving game will be televised nationally on FOX .
(Photo courtesy of the Green Bay Packers)