NFL Announces National TV Opening Weekend

[TexasTerror]

Where's the Patriots? They are apparently not on tap while the Super Bowl Champion is...

The New York Giants will host the NFL East rival Washington Redskins in the season opener Sept. 4, continuing the tradition of the Super Bowl champion hosting the Thursday night season opener. Kickoff will be 90 minutes earlier than usual because of the Republican National Convention.

The Indianapolis Colts will host the Chicago Bears in Sunday night's prime-time game, the first regular-season contest at Lucas Oil Stadium. ESPN will feature a Monday night doubleheader -- the Green Bay Packers, in their first game without retired quarterback Brett Favre, will host the Minnesota Vikings in the early matchup, while the Oakland Raiders will host the Denver Broncos in the late contest.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3322323

[DaveK]

Where's the Patriots? They are apparently not on tap while the Super Bowl Champion is...

The New York Giants will host the NFL East rival Washington Redskins in the season opener Sept. 4, continuing the tradition of the Super Bowl champion hosting the Thursday night season opener. Kickoff will be 90 minutes earlier than usual because of the Republican National Convention.

The Indianapolis Colts will host the Chicago Bears in Sunday night's prime-time game, the first regular-season contest at Lucas Oil Stadium. ESPN will feature a Monday night doubleheader -- the Green Bay Packers, in their first game without retired quarterback Brett Favre, will host the Minnesota Vikings in the early matchup, while the Oakland Raiders will host the Denver Broncos in the late contest.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3322323

Looking forward to it. Go Pack!!!

[brownbear]

Where's the Patriots? They are apparently not on tap while the Super Bowl Champion is...

The New York Giants will host the NFL East rival Washington Redskins in the season opener Sept. 4, continuing the tradition of the Super Bowl champion hosting the Thursday night season opener. Kickoff will be 90 minutes earlier than usual because of the Republican National Convention.

The Indianapolis Colts will host the Chicago Bears in Sunday night's prime-time game, the first regular-season contest at Lucas Oil Stadium. ESPN will feature a Monday night doubleheader -- the Green Bay Packers, in their first game without retired quarterback Brett Favre, will host the Minnesota Vikings in the early matchup, while the Oakland Raiders will host the Denver Broncos in the late contest.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3322323

Those are some lousy Monday night matchups.

[UNHWildCats]

Where's the Patriots? They are apparently not on tap while the Super Bowl Champion is...

The New York Giants will host the NFL East rival Washington Redskins in the season opener Sept. 4, continuing the tradition of the Super Bowl champion hosting the Thursday night season opener. Kickoff will be 90 minutes earlier than usual because of the Republican National Convention.

The Indianapolis Colts will host the Chicago Bears in Sunday night's prime-time game, the first regular-season contest at Lucas Oil Stadium. ESPN will feature a Monday night doubleheader -- the Green Bay Packers, in their first game without retired quarterback Brett Favre, will host the Minnesota Vikings in the early matchup, while the Oakland Raiders will host the Denver Broncos in the late contest.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3322323
There were certainly several matchups they could have used for the Patriots on a national game opening week, i just dont think they wanted to schedule any of these game for the first week.

nationally televised games the Pats could have later in 2008 include games against Seattle, Indy, Pittsburgh, San Diego.

A point having nothing to do with the schedule too... you'd think the NFL could do better and not actually schedule divisions in the east to have the AFC West and NFC West as opponents in the same season.... 4 trips to the west coast for Miami, NE, NY and Buffalo is just plain crazy.

[Grizzaholic]

So do the Pats follow the curse of the loser in the Super Bowl and fail to make the playoffs?

[tribe_pride]

So do the Pats follow the curse of the loser in the Super Bowl and fail to make the playoffs?

In the AFC East. No way. I am a Jets fan and I say they win the division hands down.

[UNHWildCats]

If they can get a top CB in the draft (likely) they have the ability to chase a perfect season again.

[citdog]

If they can get a top CB in the draft (likely) they have the ability to chase a perfect season again.




xlolx xlolx xlolx xlolx xlolx YOU'RE FUNNY!

[Touchdown Yosef]

If they can get a top CB in the draft (likely) they have the ability to chase a perfect season again.

yes, and if they get a hold of some choice substances they can also chase the dragon, and I'd prefer that they all go ahead and do that.

[brownbear]

There were certainly several matchups they could have used for the Patriots on a national game opening week, i just dont think they wanted to schedule any of these game for the first week.

nationally televised games the Pats could have later in 2008 include games against Seattle, Indy, Pittsburgh, San Diego.

A point having nothing to do with the schedule too... you'd think the NFL could do better and not actually schedule divisions in the east to have the AFC West and NFC West as opponents in the same season.... 4 trips to the west coast for Miami, NE, NY and Buffalo is just plain crazy.

The schedule is on a three-year rotation for AFC opponents, four-year rotation for NFC opponents, or the opposite if you're in the NFC, so once every 12 years or so, it is bound to happen that you get both in the same year.

The Steelers had to play the AFC and NFC West in the same season back in 2003, and we went 0-4 in those four road games, 3-1 when the west coast teams had to travel to Pittsburgh (St. Louis, who has the shortest distance to travel, was the one game the Steelers lost at home to Western teams).

[Bison_Kent]

Love to see my Broncos playing on Monday night against the hated Raiders. Hopefully, we see the Broncos turn things around next year.

[DaveK]

So do the Pats follow the curse of the loser in the Super Bowl and fail to make the playoffs?

The Yankees of the NFL will make the playoffs by default, thanks to the fact that they play in the league's weakest division. But, unlike last year, they'll lose 4-5 regular season games.