Patriots Will Open The Season Against Colts

Ian Logue

Mar 29, 2004 at 5:00am ET

The NFL announced on Monday four key games of its 2004 Kickoff Weekend, one of which included the Indianapolis Colts returning to Gillette Stadium for a Thursday night match-up against the New England Patriots on September 9th at 9:00 PM ET.

Tedy Bruschi Celebrates After the Patriots beat the Colts 24-14 to win the AFC Championship back on January 18th. CLICK HERE To Purchase This Photo!

The Colts lost to the Patriots 24-14 in the AFC Championship game at Gillette Stadium back on January 18th.

Meanwhile the NFL also announced that on Sunday, September 12, the FOX national doubleheader game at 4:15 PM ET will feature the Dallas Cowboys at the Minnesota Vikings, and the Sunday night primetime game on ESPN (8:30 PM ET) will be an AFC West Division match-up between two playoff teams from last season, the Kansas City Chiefs at the Denver Broncos.

The September 13th Monday night opener on ABC at 9:00 PM ET will feature another meeting of playoff clubs - the Green Bay Packers at the NFC champion Carolina Panthers.

The announcement of the Kickoff Weekend games was made Monday afternoon by NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue at the NFL Annual Meeting in Palm Beach, Florida.

The rest of the 2004 regular-season schedule will be announced at a later date.

CLASSIC MATCH-UPS

On Monday May 10th at 8:00pm ET NFL Network will rebroadcast the PATRIOTS vs. CHARGERS (Originally aired on 10/14/01) where Tom Brady led the Patriots to a 10-point fourth quarter comeback against the Chargers to force the game into overtime.

On Sunday May 16th at 1:00 PM ET the NFL Network will rebroadcast the PATRIOTS vs. JETS (Originally aired on 9/12/99) where Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe passed for 340 yards and a touchdown against Keyshawn Johnson and the Jets on opening weekend of the 1999 season. The game would be decided on special teams.

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