Sources: Patriots will host Steelers on Thursday Sept. 10
— -- The New England Patriots will begin the defense of their Super Bowl title by hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 10 in the Thursday night opener of the NFL's 2015 season, sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Another date of interest will be the league's annual Thanksgiving showcase, which this year will feature the Green Bay Packers hosting the Chicago Bears, the same night the Packers are expected to retire former quarterback Brett Favre's No. 4 to the stadium's facade, a source confirmed to ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky.
The matchup of NFC North Division rivals is slated for prime time Nov. 26. It will be the first time since 1923 that Lambeau Field has played host to a game on Thanksgiving.
Dallas will continue its tradition of hosting a game on Thanksgiving, with the Cowboys facing the Carolina Panthers, sources confirmed to ESPN.com's Todd Archer and David Newton.
The game will be the Panthers' first appearance on Thanksgiving and will be a reunion of sorts, as Carolina will face former defensive end Greg Hardy, who signed with Dallas this offseason.
The entire schedule will be released at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday.
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