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Titans-Steelers to open 2009 season

The Titans will open the 2009 season at the Super Bowl XLIII champion Pittsburgh Steelers, part of the league's annual Thursday night season kickoff and a rematch of last season's late season match-up in which Titans' players stomped on the Steelers' iconic Terrible Towels.


NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made the announcement Monday at the league's annual meeting in Dana Point, Calif. The game will be broadcast on NBC at 7:30 p.m., marking the second time a Titans game will be broadcast to a national audience.

During the preseason, the Titans will play the Buffalo Bills in the televised Hall of Fame game Aug. 9.

Last season, the Titans sealed home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs by beating the Steelers 31-14 at LP Field. But the Dec. 21 game also will be remembered for the controversy sparked after several Titans mocked Steelers rally towels in the game's final moments.

Some Titans players pretended to blow their noses with the towels or stepped on them.

Ben Roethlisberger passed for 329 yards and two touchdowns but also threw two interceptions, including a fourth-quarter pick that Michael Griffin returned for a score.

While the Titans went on to the playoffs, losing to the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round, the Steelers advanced to the Super Bowl in Tampa, winning the franchise's sixth title, an NFL record.

The league also announced an NBC Sunday night game between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears on Sept. 13. And on Sept. 14, ESPN will host a Monday Night Football doubleheader that will be part of the NFL's celebration of the 50th anniversary season of the American Football League.

The Buffalo Bills will travel to the New England Patriots, while the Oakland Raiders host the San Diego Chargers.

On Thanksgiving, Green Bay will play at Detroit, the Raiders at the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants at the Denver Broncos.

The rest of the 2009 schedule will be announced in April.

LINK >> Titans-Steelers to open 2009 season | www.tennessean.com | The Tennessean

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