Patriots-Raiders a Thursday opener

For the second straight year, the NFL will open its season with a "Kickoff Weekend" featuring four nationally televised games. And, for the second straight year, the defending champion Patriots will kick off the season by hosting the Thursday night game.

The Patriots will play the Oakland Raiders Sept. 8 in a 9 p.m. game on ABC (Channel 5). It will be Oakland's first visit to New England since the 2001 AFC playoff game that is remembered for the "Tuck Rule" and Adam Vinatieri's clutch field goals in the snow.

On Sunday, Sept. 11, Fox's national doubleheader game will have the Cowboys playing at San Diego in a "Drew Bowl." The Cowboys envision it as the debut of new quarterback Drew Bledsoe vs. the Chargers, led by resurgent quarterback Drew Brees.

Sunday night, ESPN has the Colts at Baltimore in an 8:30 p.m. national telecast. The weekend wraps up with the Monday night game, a rematch of last season's NFC Championship, with the Eagles at Atlanta. At the NFL meetings in Hawaii, Raiders owner Al Davis did not seem pleased about the scheduling.

"Payback, that's all," Davis said. "They have us playing the model franchise in pro football on a Thursday night. It's payback. But it's fine." Davis, who has fought the NFL multiple times in court cases, believes the league is determined to make life as difficult as possible for his team.

Ron Borges of the Globe staff contributed to this report from Hawaii.