Super Bowl champs kick off NFL season

The Kansas City Chiefs will open defence of their Super Bowl championship by hosting Houston on Sept. 10 in the NFL’s annual kickoff game — pending developments in the coronavirus pandemic, of course.

The Texans won a regularseason game at Arrowhead Stadium in 2019, then blew a 24-0 lead in the divisional round of the playoffs.

Another highlight of the opening weekend will have Tom Brady’s regular-season debut with Tampa Bay against Drew Brees at New Orleans on Sept. 13 — the first matchup of 40-plus quarterbacks in NFL history.

The opening of SoFi Stadium in the Los Angeles area that Sunday night has the Rams hosting the Cowboys.

Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas will debut on the Monday night, Sept. 21, with the Raiders facing Brees and the Saints.

All of the 32 teams released their schedules Thursday night.

The Seattle Seahawks will play four prime-time games, including its home opener Sept. 20 against the Patriots on Sunday Night Football. The Seahawks also will play on Monday Night Football on Nov. 30 at Philadelphia and will play on Thursday Night Football on Nov. 19 at home against Arizona.

The NFL schedule, not to mention off-season activities and the preseason, has to be considered tentative given the current prohibition on large gatherings. But Commissioner Roger Goodell has said the league is planning for a normal season, albeit while making contingency plans.

“The league and the clubs have been in contact with the relevant local, state and federal government authorities and will continue to do so,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said.