PRIMETIME FOOTBALL RETURNS TO CBS FOR THIRD YEAR OF "THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL"

2016 Thursday Night Football Schedule on CBS and NFL Network Features Four Division Rivalries; Kicks Off with New York Jets vs. Buffalo Bills on September 15

Thursday Night Football Will Once Again Help Launch CBS's 2016 Fall Primetime Schedule

For the third consecutive year CBS Sports and NFL Network will broadcast a compelling slate of Thursday Night Football games. The 2016 Thursday Night Football schedule features five regular-season games on CBS and NFL Network, kicking off with the New York Jets vs. Buffalo Bills on September 15 (8:25 PM, ET). With the five early-season games, Thursday Night Football will once again help launch CBS's Fall primetime schedule.

CBS Sports continues to be the leading NFL broadcaster televising more NFL games than any other network with Thursday Night Football and THE NFL ON CBS Sunday package.

The Thursday Night Football schedule is highlighted by marquee teams including the Super Bowl 50 Champion Denver Broncos, Division winners New England, Arizona and Houston, and a classic NFC North rivalry game between Chicago and Green Bay.

The schedule, which also includes four games produced by CBS Sports airing exclusively on NFL Network, is highlighted by marquee matchups and Division rivalries. Since CBS Sports' partnership with NFL Network in 2014 to broadcast Thursday Night Football, ratings have increased +58%.

The 2016 Thursday Night Football schedule will feature games Weeks 2-3 and Weeks 5-7 broadcast on CBS that also will be simulcast on NFL Network and Twitter. The Thursday Night Football package also includes games on Thursdays in Weeks 4 and 8, a Sunday morning game from London in Week 7 and a primetime game on Christmas Eve in Week 16. These games will be produced by CBS and televised on NFL Network, and simulcast on over-the-air stations in the primary markets of the participating teams. All Thursday Night Football games on CBS will kick off at 8:25 PM, ET.

The Thursday Night Football schedule on CBS, also simulcast on NFL Network and Twitter, includes:

Sept. 15 (Week 2): N.Y. Jets at Buffalo

Sept. 22 (Week 3): Houston at New England

Oct. 6 (Week 5): Arizona at San Francisco

Oct. 13 (Week 6): Denver at San Diego

Oct. 20 (Week 7): Chicago at Green Bay

The Thursday Night Football schedule on NFL Network produced by CBS includes:

Sept. 29 (Week 4): Miami at Cincinnati

Oct. 23 (Week 7; Sun): N.Y. Giants at L.A. Rams

Oct. 27 (Week 8): Jacksonville at Tennessee

Dec. 24 (Week 16; Sat): Cincinnati at Houston

To view the entire 2016 NFL schedule, visit NFL.com and CBSSports.com.