National Football League

Saints, Vikings to kick off NFL season in NFC title game rematch

Published Apr. 20, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

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The Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints will host the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL season opener in a rematch of their thrilling NFC championship game that was decided in overtime.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed the Vikings-Saints matchup for Thursday night, Sept. 9, during a web chat on NFL.com Tuesday.

The Buffalo Bills said Tuesday they will play the Chicago Bears on Sunday, Nov. 7, in Toronto at the Rogers Centre.

The league will release the entire regular-season schedule later Tuesday.

"I know I will get in trouble from our scheduling makers for releasing this in advance, but the Saints will be hosting the Minnesota Vikings for our kickoff game," Goodell said on the website. "It should be a great celebration in a great city."

The Saints beat the Vikings 31-28 in the NFC title game on a 40-yard field goal by Garrett Hartley 4:45 into overtime. The Saints went on to defeat the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in the Super Bowl.

The schedule will also feature 28 divisional games in the last three weeks of the season, Goodell said, including all 16 in Week 17.

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