(AP)

Eagles get Falcons to start the NFL season

Since the 2004 season, the NFL has put the defending Super Bowl champion in the league’s opening game of the season, traditionally on a Thursday night with the champ being the home team. EXTRA POINTS: Green Bay plays only two home games combined in October and November … Minnesota’s first three road games: at Green Bay, at L.A. Rams on a short-week Thursday, at Philadelphia. > Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys, who went 9-7 and finished second in the NFC East last season, return to Atlanta for the second consecutive season. ATLANTA - The Falcons’ 2018 schedule was released on Thursday night and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Falcons beat writer D. Orlando Ledbetter broke down each opponent for the upcoming season. The 2018 season features road trips to Denver, Oakland, Jacksonville, Tampa and New Orleans, as well as division opponents Baltimore, Cleveland and Cincinnati. — Ten teams will play the maximum number of five games in prime time: Dallas, Green Bay, Kansas City, New England, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Seattle and the Los Angeles Rams.
As expected, the regular-season schedule for the 2018 NFL season is released, with the defending champions Philadelphia Eagles hosting the Atlanta Falcons in the league's season opener on September 6.