HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 05: Dont'a Hightower #54 of the New England Patriots celebrates with Devin McCourty #32 after forcing a fumble from Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons during the fourth quarter of Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas.
The NFL on Thursday night released the schedule for the 2017 regular season, and the opening game will see the defending Super Bowl-champion New England Patriots host the Kansas City Chiefs at Gillette Stadium on Thursday, Sept. 7.
The Patriots, who defeated the Atlanta Falcons in overtime in Super Bowl LI last February for their fifth national title, will likely raise their latest championship banner during the season opener.
The Chiefs will surely face a challenge in playing the Patriots, to whom they lost in the Divisional Round of the 2015 postseason.
Also in Week 1, the New York Giants will visit the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 10 for the Sunday night matchup. The New York Jets will visit the Buffalo Bills on Sunday afternoon.
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The first two Monday night games on Sept. 11 will see the Minnesota Vikings host the New Orleans Saints, and then the Los Angeles Chargers visit the Denver Broncos later that evening.
The rest of the opening week schedule for the 2017 season can be viewed at nfl.com.
The final day of the regular season will be on Dec. 31, 2017, and the playoffs will begin on Jan. 6, 2018. Super Bowl LII will be held at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Feb. 4.
HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 05: Dont’a Hightower #54 of the New England Patriots celebrates with Devin McCourty #32 after forcing a fumble from Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons during the fourth quarter of Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
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