Super Bowl rematch. Minus Peyton Manning, of course.

The NFL season will begin the way the last Brian Quick Jerseyone ended, with the Denver Broncos playing the Carolina Panthers.

Denver beat Carolina 24-10 in February in the Super Bowl, Manning's final game. The rematch will be on Thursday night, Sept. 8 in Denver.

''We're glad that it's out,''http://www.... Broncos executive vice president of football operations John Elway said.

''We knew who we were going to play and now we know when we're going to play them. It's always exciting to take that next step and look at the 2016 season. With the schedule coming out, that's kind of the first step. With the draft coming up in the next couple of weeks, we're on to 2016.''

It is the first Super Bowl rematch on opening weekend since 1970, when Minnesota beat [url=http://www.ramsshopsnfl.com/chris-givens-jersey_c-411.html]http://www.ramss... Kansas City 27-10.

''It's exciting for our players to compete on a national stage,'' Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. ''We have earned the right to be in the spotlight and we have to take advantage of it.''

Among the highlights for opening weekend is the Rams' return [url=http://www.officialsabresteamshop.com/Womens_Youth_Evander_Kane_Jersey]Evan... Kane Jerseyto representing Los Angeles as they visit San Francisco in the nightcap of a Monday night doubleheader. Pittsburgh is at Washington in the first game.

Also facing off in Week 1 will be the Patriots and Cardinals at Arizona on Sunday night, Sept. 11.

''It is truly an[url=http://www.officialsabresteamshop.com/Womens_Youth_Gilbert_Perreault_Jers... [/url] honor to open the season at home, at MetLife Stadium, on the 15th anniversary of 9/11,'' Jets center Nick Mangold said of a matchup with the Bengals. ''I know that will be an emotional time for everyone, as it was in 2011.''

The Rams get their first home game in the LA Coliseum in Week 2, hosting Seattle. That night, the Vikings open their new stadium in Minneapolis against Green Bay.