2011 KICKOFF WEEKEND NOTES - Ingles

It’s time to get “Back to Football.”

Kickoff Weekend begins on Thursday, September 8 in primetime on NBC when the defending-champion Green Bay Packers welcome the Super Bowl XLIV-champion New Orleans Saints to Lambeau Field. It’s when things start to count.

Some clubs have excelled in openers. Here is a sampling of notable active NFL Kickoff streaks:

The Super Bowl champion GREEN BAY PACKERS, who host New Orleans in the spotlight Kickoff 2011 game on Thursday night, have 51 wins on Kickoff Weekend, tied with Chicago for the most in league history. The Packers have 48 wins in home openers, tied with Detroit and the New York Giants for the second-most in NFL annals. Green Bay travels to Carolina in Week 2 and has 52 wins in road openers, the most in league history. The Packers are 52-36-2 (.591) in road openers, the third-best mark in the NFL, and have won five consecutive road openers, the longest active streak in the league.

The CHICAGO BEARS, who host Atlanta on Kickoff Weekend, have 62 wins in home openers, the most in NFL history. The Bears are 62-25-4 (.713) in openers at home, the best mark in the NFC. Chicago has 51 wins on Kickoff Weekend, tied with Green Bay for the most in league history. The Bears, who visit New Orleans in Week 2, have 43 wins in road openers, the third-most in NFL annals.

The NEW YORK GIANTS, who open the season at Washington, have 49 wins in openers, the third-most in NFL history. The Giants have 48 wins in road openers, the second-most in NFL history, and New York’s 48- 33-5 (.593) mark in road openers is the second-best in the league. The Giants will host St. Louis on Monday night in Week 2. New York has 48 wins in home openers, tied with Detroit and Green Bay for the second-most in NFL history.

The PITTSBURGH STEELERS, who travel to Baltimore on Kickoff Weekend, have won 40 openers, the most among AFC teams. The Steelers have won eight consecutive openers, the longest current streak in the NFL. Pittsburgh, which hosts Seattle in Week 2, has won eight consecutive home openers, the third-longest active streak in the league.

The DALLAS COWBOYS own a 34-16-1 (.677) record on Kickoff Weekend, the top mark in the NFL, including wins in a record 17 consecutive openers from 1965-81. The Cowboys, who open the season at the New York Jets on Sunday night, have the league’s best record in road openers at 32-19 (.627). In Week 3, Dallas will host Washington on Monday night and the Cowboys are 34-16-1 (.680) in home openers, the second-best mark among NFC teams.

The DENVER BRONCOS, who open the season hosting Oakland on Monday night, have won 16 of their past 22 openers and are 32-18-1 (.637) on Kickoff Weekend, the best mark in the AFC. The Broncos have won 11 consecutive home openers overall, the longest current streak in the NFL. Denver is 38-12-1 (.760) in home openers, the best mark in the league.

The NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS have won 14 of their past 16 home openers, including a perfect 9-0 record at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots host San Diego in Week 2 and aim for their 10th consecutive win in a home opener. New England opens the season in Miami on Monday night and has won seven consecutive openers overall, the second-longest active streak.

The INDIANAPOLIS COLTS, who visit Houston on Kickoff Weekend, have won nine of their past 12 openers. Indianapolis has 34 wins in road openers, the most among AFC teams. The Colts host Cleveland in Week 2 and have won seven of their past eight home openers.

The MIAMI DOLPHINS, who host New England on Monday night, are 31-13-1 (.705) in home openers, the third-best mark in the NFL. Miami travels to Cleveland in Week 3 and has a 23-21-1 (.523) record in road openers, the best among AFC teams.

The OAKLAND RAIDERS host the New York Jets in Week 3 and are 35-15-1 (.696) in home openers, the thirdbest mark among AFC teams.

The ARIZONA CARDINALS host Carolina on Kickoff Weekend, just the fourth time in the past 24 years the club has started the year at home.

The NEW YORK JETS open the season at home on Sunday night against Dallas, marking just the 14th time in the past 52 openers the Jets have started the year at home.

HOME SWEET HOME:
The DETROIT LIONS, who host Kansas City in Week 2, have 48 wins in home openers, tied for the second-most in NFL history with Green Bay and the New York Giants…the KANSAS CITY CHIEFS, who open the season at home against Buffalo, have won 15 of their past 22 home openers…the MINNESOTA VIKINGS, who host Tampa Bay in Week 2, have won 18 of their past 24 openers at home…the ST. LOUIS RAMS, who host Philadelphia on Kickoff Weekend, have won 10 of their past 16 openers in St. Louis the SAN DIEGO CHARGERS, who host Minnesota to start the season, have won 11 of their past 18 openers at home…the SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS, who host Seattle on Kickoff Weekend, have won 13 of their past 18 home openers… and the SEATTLE SEAHAWKS, who host Arizona in Week 3, have won seven of their past eight home openers.

HEAD COACHES:
Washington’s MIKE SHANAHAN is 13-4 (.765) on Kickoff Weekend and his 13 wins are the most among active head coaches…the New York Giants’ TOM COUGHLIN (10-5, .667) and New England’s BILL BELICHICK (10-6, .625) are tied for second among active head coaches with 10 wins on Kickoff Weekend…the opener between AFC North rivals Pittsburgh and Baltimore will feature two undefeated coaches on Kickoff Weekend: the Steelers’ MIKE TOMLIN is 4-0 and the Ravens’ JOHN HARBAUGH is 3-0…and the spotlight 2011 Kickoff game on Thursday night features two head coaches with success in openers: MIKE MC CARTHY of the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers and SEAN PAYTON of the New Orleans Saints are both 4-1 (.800) on Kickoff Weekend. McCarthy has won four openers in a row while Payton has been victorious in three consecutive games on Kickoff Weekend.