Only the NFL could create a spectacle out of announcing a schedule that won't matter for another five months. But the seemingly inane makes perfect sense when demand outstrips supply. And in the league where there truly is no offseason, everything is a primetime event worthy of the national spotlight.

The 2017 NFL schedule -- in all its 256-game glory -- is no different. There's everything from the intriguing games, the holiday specials, the best games from one week to the next and, of course, the Thursday night lineup, which has gone from midweek afterthought to a nationally televised affair.

Here's the Thursday night slate of games (all times Eastern ):

  • Week 2, Sept. 14: Texans at Bengals, 8:25 p.m., NFL Network
  • Week 3, Sept. 21: Rams at 49ers, 8:25 p.m., NFL Network
  • Week 4, Sept. 28: Bears at Packers, 8:25 p.m, CBS/NFL Network/Amazon
  • Week 5, Oct. 5: Patriots at Buccaneers, 8:25 p.m., CBS/NFL Network/Amazon
  • Week 6, Oct. 12: Eagles at Panthers, 8:25 p.m., CBS/NFL Network/Amazon
  • Week 7, Oct. 19: Chiefs at Raiders, 8:25 p.m., CBS/NFL Network/Amazon
  • Week 8, Oct. 26: Dolphins at Ravens, 8:25 p.m., CBS/NFL Network/Amazon
  • Week 9, Nov. 2: Bills at Jets, 8:25 p.m., NFL Network
  • Week 10, Nov. 9: Seahawks at Cardinals, 8:25 p.m., NBC/NFL Network/Amazon
  • Week 11, Nov. 16: Titans at Steelers, 8:25 p.m., NBC/NFL Network/Amazon
  • Week 13, Nov. 30: Redskins at Cowboys, 8:25 p.m., NBC/NFL Network/Amazon
  • Week 14, Dec. 7: Saints at Falcons, 8:25 p.m., NBC/NFL Network/Amazon
  • Week 15, Dec. 14: Broncos at Colts, 8:25 p.m., NBC/NFL Network/Amazon
  • Week 16, (Saturday) Dec. 23: Colts at Ravens, 4:30 p.m., NFL Network
  • Week 16, (Monday) Dec. 25: Steelers at Texans, 4:30 p.m., NFL Network/Amazon

This year, for the first time, you'll be able to stream 11 games on Amazon Prime.

"We're focused on bringing our customers what they want to watch. Prime members want the NFL," Jeff Blackburn, Amazon's head of business development and entertainment, said earlier this month. "For us, this is about starting to bring live sports to our Prime members all around the world."

Meanwhile, for the fourth consecutive year, CBS will televise more football than any other network, and it's the fourth season CBS partners with NFL Network for "Thursday Night Football."

There's more! Via the CBS Sports press release:

CBS All Access subscribers will be able to stream all NFL ON CBS games, including Thursday Night Football on CBS, as well as pregame and halftime coverage live on CBS All Access platforms, including on tablets via the CBS App for iOS, Android and Windows 10, on connected device platforms, including Xbox One and Xbox 360, Roku Players, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, and PS4™, and online at CBS.com in more than 150 markets across the U.S. CBS All Access subscribers will receive all NFL ON CBS games being broadcast in their local market.

Now all that's left is the waiting.