A rematch of the most watched Super Bowl in history highlights the 2009 NFL preseason TV schedule, but not before one of the league’s most scrutinized figures makes his debut with a new team.
The 2009 NFL preseason schedule kicks off with Terrell Owens‘ first game as a Buffalo Bill. Owens and the Bills will take on the Titans in the NFL Hall of Fame Game on Sunday, August 9 on NBC. This will mark only the second appearance for the Bills on NBC since the network began airing NFL games again in 2006. The previous occurrence was a 2007 regular season game against the New England Patriots.
Owens, who seems to have a Pavlovian effect on sports media, will no doubt attract plenty of national television exposure for the Bills, who are also scheduled to play in ESPN’s regular season opening Monday Night Football doubleheader.
Another preseason matchup that figures to attract relative buzz is the rematch of last year’s Super Bowl. ESPN will open its 2009 NFL coverage with the Cardinals visiting the Steelers on Thursday, August 13. The last time a Super Bowl rematch occurred during the preseason, the game also aired on ESPN and drew a 4.1 U.S. rating (2007, Bears/Colts).
Cardinals/Steelers will be the first of four Monday Night Football telecasts during the preseason.
Overall, NBC, ESPN, CBS and FOX will combine to air 11 preseason telecasts this year, all in prime time.
