NFL Network Thursday Night Preseason Special & Week 1 Preseason Game Schedule

Special Around the League: Preseason 2011 Thursday, August 11 at 7:30 PM ET Features Live Action of Eagles, Cowboys, Patriots & Other Games

Super Bowl Champion Packers Kick Off Their Preseason LIVE on NFLN vs. Browns Saturday, August 13 at 7:30 PM ET

NFL Network’s 64 Preseason Games Begin Thursday with Ravens-Eagles at 11:00 PM ET

NFL Network is the number one destination for fans to get “Back to Football.”

On Thursday, August 11 at 7:30 PM ET, Around the League: Preseason 2011 provides live look-ins of preseason games, beginning with the opening kickoffs. Host Rich Eisen and analyst Daryl Johnston take viewers around the league, delivering live game action and highlights of the Eagles’ Michael Vick against the Ravens, Patriots’ Tom Brady taking on the Jaguars, the quarterback battle between Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow in Denver, and more.

NFL Network’s live preseason game schedule kicks off on Saturday, August 13 at 7:30 PM ET when the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers take the field in Cleveland against the Browns. Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers leads the high-scoring Packers offense against quarterback Colt McCoy. Cleveland’s Pat Shurmur makes his NFL head coaching debut after spending last season as the offensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams.

NFL Network’s schedule featuring all 64 preseason games begins Thursday at 11:00 PM ET when Ray Lewis and the Baltimore Ravens travel to Philadelphia to face Vick and the new look Eagles.

Coverage of Week 1 of the preseason continues with two games on Friday, August 12. At 4:00 PM ET, Tom Brady and new wide receiver Chad Ochocinco lead the New England Patriots against the Jacksonville Jaguars in rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert’s first start. At 11:30 PM ET, Denver quarterbacks Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow battle for the starting position against Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys.

On Sunday, August 14 at 1:00 PM ET, NFL Network airs No. 1 overall pick Cam Newton’s first game when the Carolina Panthers open their preseason schedule hosting the New York Giants.

In total, NFL Network’s Week 1 preseason game coverage consists of 43 games (including re-airs), highlighted by seven contests on Saturday, August 13 and eight on Sunday, August 14 beginning at 7:00 AM ET. Week 1 matchups continue Monday, August 15 through Thursday, August 18, at 7:00 AM ET, with six games on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and four games on Thursday.

For the second year, NFL.com’s NFL Preseason Live offers live preseason games where available (games only available out of market) with full DVR controls allowing fans to pause, rewind and replay both live and archived game action. Additional viewing options include picture-in-picture – dual and quad views – providing the ability to watch multiple games on the same screen.

Below is NFL Network’s Week 1 broadcast schedule.

NFL NETWORK AIR TIMES FOR 2011 WEEK 1 PRESEASON GAMES

(ALL TIMES EASTERN; ALL GAMES IN HIGH DEFINITION)

Thursday, August 11

11:00 PM – Baltimore Ravens at Philadelphia Eagles

Friday, August 12

1:00 PM – Baltimore Ravens at Philadelphia Eagles

4:00 PM – Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots

11:30 PM – Denver Broncos at Dallas Cowboys

2:30 AM – Arizona Cardinals at Oakland Raiders

Saturday, August 13

7:00 AM – Seattle Seahawks at San Diego Chargers

10:00 AM – Cincinnati Bengals at Detroit Lions

1:00 PM – Miami Dolphins at Atlanta Falcons

4:00 PM – Pittsburgh Steelers at Washington Redskins

7:30 PM – Green Bay Packers at Cleveland Browns – LIVE

10:30 PM – San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints

1:30 AM – Baltimore Ravens at Philadelphia Eagles

Sunday, August 14

7:00 AM – Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots

10:00 AM – Minnesota Vikings at Tennessee Titans

1:00 PM – New York Giants at Carolina Panthers

4:00 PM – Denver Broncos at Dallas Cowboys

7:00 PM – Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears

10:00 PM – Indianapolis Colts at St. Louis Rams

1:00 AM – Arizona Cardinals at Oakland Raiders

4:00 AM – Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Kansas City Chiefs

Monday, August 15

7:00 AM – Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots

10:00 AM – Baltimore Ravens at Philadelphia Eagles

1:00 PM – New York Giants at Carolina Panthers

4:00 PM – Green Bay Packers at Cleveland Browns

11:00 PM – Indianapolis Colts at St. Louis Rams

2:00 AM – Seattle Seahawks at San Diego Chargers

Tuesday, August 16

7:00 AM – Miami Dolphins at Atlanta Falcons

10:00 AM – Cincinnati Bengals at Detroit Lions

1:00 PM – Minnesota Vikings at Tennessee Titans

4:00 PM – Jacksonville Jaguars at New England Patriots

8:00 PM – Pittsburgh Steelers at Washington Redskins

12 MIDNIGHT – San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints

Wednesday, August 17

7:00 AM – New York Jets at Houston Texans

10:00 AM – Indianapolis Colts at St. Louis Rams

1:00 PM – Arizona Cardinals at Oakland Raiders

4:00 PM – Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears

8:00 PM – Denver Broncos at Dallas Cowboys

12 MIDNIGHT – Minnesota Vikings at Tennessee Titans

Thursday, August 18

7:00 AM – New York Giants at Carolina Panthers

10:00 AM – San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints

1:00 PM – Denver Broncos at Dallas Cowboys

4:00 PM – Pittsburgh Steelers at Washington Redskins

The following broadcast teams will be calling each Week 1 matchup on NFL Network:

* – FOX National Telecast

** – ESPN National Telecast

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