NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced Friday that the NFL Networks' "Thursday Night Football" package will increase from 8 games to 13, beginning in the 2012 season.

Speaking at a press conference in Indianapolis, where the Giants and Patriots will meet in Super Bowl XLVI Sunday evening, Goodell announced the expansion of Thursday night games, which will no be played from week 1 to week 15 of the NFL season.

NBC traditionally broadcasts the annual kickoff game on Thursday night of week 1.  The NFL Network's slate of games will begin in week 2.  NBC will broadcast a game Thanksgiving night.  The NFL Network ahd previously been the home of a Thanksgiving night game, from 2006-2011.

Goodell says the expansion of Thursday night telecasts will allow all 32 NFL teams to have a chance to play in "prime time." either on Sunday night, Monday night, or Thursday night.

As defending Super Bowl champions, the Green Bay Packers hosted the New Orleans Saints in the 2010 NFL Kickoff game.  Their last NFL Network Thursday night game was against the Dallas Cowboys in November, 2007.