ONE THURSDAY ONLY: Broncos owner Pat Bowlen said one Thursday game is enough in 2006.
So that means the Broncos will play in Kansas City on Thanksgiving night instead of the league's regular-season opener in Pittsburgh.
The league had asked the Broncos if they also wanted to be the Steelers' opponent in the opener, but Bowlen said he preferred to play only the holiday game.
"We're playing on the road, in Kansas City, on a Thursday," Bowlen said. "Playing Pittsburgh on the opening Thursday would be a great game, but we don't need two of them."
Earlier this year, the league was leaning toward an opening rematch of the AFC Championship Game in prime time. Asked why it wouldn't happen, Steelers owner Dan Rooney simply said, "Ask them."
"We finished the season with them, we lost, that's not something we wanted to do on a short week coming out of training camp to open the season," Bowlen said.
"It may be fun for (the Steelers) to wait at home for us there, but it wouldn't be a hell of a lot of fun for us."
Though the date for the final roster cutdown to 53 players has not been set, it's expected to be Saturday, Sept. 2, five days before the Steelers' opener against the Miami Dolphins.
"We know we're going to play them in Pittsburgh this season, just not that first week," Bowlen said.
The full schedule is expected to be released within two weeks.
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