National Football League

Jay-Z, Rihanna to star in 'Thursday Night Football' intro

Published Sep. 3, 2014 1:16 p.m. ET

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Football finally is here.

The 2014 NFL season officially begins Thursday night, when the Seattle Seahawks take on the Green Bay Packers. The following week, CBS and NFL Network will begin their new 16-game slate of "Thursday Night Football," when the Pittsburgh Steelers battle the Baltimore Ravens.

Each Thursday night game will kick off in style, as CBS Sports and NFL Network announced that the opening theme song will be a star-studded performance that features musical artists Jay-Z and Rihanna and actor Don Cheadle.

As Jay-Z and Rihanna perform their award-winning song "Run This Town," Cheadle will narrate a customized preview of that night's game.

"This open combines one of music's biggest stars with one of the most dynamic actors in Hollywood," said CBS Sports creative director Pete Radovich, who directed and produced the theme, via the NFL. "The energy that both talents provide gives the opening to every Thursday night the big-game, primetime feel it deserves. It is a dream scenario for any director."

CBS will broadcast the first seven games of the 16-game slate, including an Oct. 16 matchup between the New England Patriots and New York Jets.

NFL Network will show all "Thursday Night Football" games starting Oct. 30, with the exception of a Thanksgiving Day contest between the Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers, which will be shown on NBC.

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