Opening Weekend National Games (1 Viewer)

[RBM]

Broncos to open with RaidersBy Mike KlisThe Denver PostArticle Last Updated: 03/31/2008 11:12:38 AM MDTPalm Beach, Fla. — For starters, the Broncos will be the last to kick off.The Broncos will open their season with the late Monday night game Sept. 8 against their AFC West Division rival Oakland Raiders in the Black Hole.The NFL season will open Thursday, Sept. 4 with the Washington Redskins playing at the defending Super Bowl-champion New York Giants. The Sunday night game in week 1 will feature the Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts.The first Monday night game will pit the Minnesota Vikings at the Green Bay Packers. The Broncos-Raiders game will follow with the start at 8:15 p.m. MDT.Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com.

 

[FUBAR]

Kickoff Weekend primetime schedule includes Monday doubleheader

National Football League

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the 2008 Kickoff Weekend national primetime television schedule on Monday.

NFL owners' meetings

» Behind the scenes at owners' meetings

» Carucci: Owners' meetings primer

» George: Foreshadowing labor strife

» NFL owners mulling rules changes | Video

» Hair today, gone tomorrow?

» Video: NFL meetings of years past

For the fifth consecutive season, the defending Super Bowl champion will open the season by hosting the NFL Thursday night season kickoff. The 2008 regular season officially opens on Thursday, Sept. 4 when the New York Giants host the Washington Redskins at 7 p.m. ET on NBC.

The kickoff will be 90 minutes earlier than the start time of the traditional season opener due to the Republican National Convention.

The Week 1 Sunday night primetime contest will feature a rematch of of Super Bowl XLI, with the Chicago Bears at the Indianapolis Colts at 8:15 p.m. ET. It will mark the Colts' first game in their new home, Lucas Oil Stadium.

The first Monday night of the 2008 season will feature a doubleheader for the third consecutive season. In two matchups of division rivals on Sept. 8, the Green Bay Packers will host the Minnesota Vikings at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the Denver Broncos at the Oakland Raiders at 10:15 p.m. ET. Both games will be televised on ESPN.

The announcement of these national primetime TV games was made by Goodell at the NFL Annual Meeting in Palm Beach, Florida.

 

[menobrown]

That is the weakest opening slate I've seen since they went to the Thursday opener. The Raiders have no business being on MNF. Out of 4 possible games only one game features two playoff teams and that is the Giants against the Redskins who I think most people would project for 4th in their own division. I find this schedule so bad it's almost strange. Best way I can say this is on a typical Sunday when I have access to all games I doubt I would pick any of these games as my preferred game to watch.

 

[Team Tosh]

That is the weakest opening slate I've seen since they went to the Thursday opener. The Raiders have no business being on MNF. Out of 4 possible games only one game features two playoff teams and that is the Giants against the Redskins who I think most people would project for 4th in their own division. I find this schedule so bad it's almost strange. Best way I can say this is on a typical Sunday when I have access to all games I doubt I would pick any of these games as my preferred game to watch.

I'm a homer, but I think the Packer-Viking game will be a good one. First it will be Rodger's debut and the first game w/o Favre in 16 years. Plus they might retire Favre's number that night. Plus the Vikings expect to be better this year and AD is always a treat to watch. The only other nationally televised game that looks good is the Giants-Skins game.

 

[Routilla]

When do the Cowboys play?

 

[cstu]

That is the weakest opening slate I've seen since they went to the Thursday opener. The Raiders have no business being on MNF. Out of 4 possible games only one game features two playoff teams and that is the Giants against the Redskins who I think most people would project for 4th in their own division. I find this schedule so bad it's almost strange. Best way I can say this is on a typical Sunday when I have access to all games I doubt I would pick any of these games as my preferred game to watch.

Will be a lot better if they do end up taking McFadden.

 

[Tom Servo]

Anyone notice the Patriots are not featured on the prime time lineup for week 1?

 

[Godsbrother]

That is the weakest opening slate I've seen since they went to the Thursday opener. The Raiders have no business being on MNF. Out of 4 possible games only one game features two playoff teams and that is the Giants against the Redskins who I think most people would project for 4th in their own division. I find this schedule so bad it's almost strange. Best way I can say this is on a typical Sunday when I have access to all games I doubt I would pick any of these games as my preferred game to watch.

At least I can go to bed early on Monday Night.

 

[FUBAR]

That is the weakest opening slate I've seen since they went to the Thursday opener. The Raiders have no business being on MNF. Out of 4 possible games only one game features two playoff teams and that is the Giants against the Redskins who I think most people would project for 4th in their own division. I find this schedule so bad it's almost strange. Best way I can say this is on a typical Sunday when I have access to all games I doubt I would pick any of these games as my preferred game to watch.

I'm a homer, but I think the Packer-Viking game will be a good one. First it will be Rodger's debut and the first game w/o Favre in 16 years. Plus they might retire Favre's number that night. Plus the Vikings expect to be better this year and AD is always a treat to watch. The only other nationally televised game that looks good is the Giants-Skins game.

Minnesota / Green Bay - Peterson vs. Favre's ghost. They couldn't pass it up. New York Giants / Washington Redskins - Should be a solid game, and it's the Super Bowl Champs vs. the most attended team in the NFL (not that that matters nationally)Chicago Bears / Indianapolis Colts - this should be bad, but at least we get to see Peyton on TV, we never get enough of that.Denver Broncos / Oakland Raiders - If Walker's healthy, this game will be closer than many think. Denver should win, but it could be exciting.Keeping the top teams and looking at their opponents for 2008;I would have preferred the Colts to play another team, perhaps the Patriots or JaguarsBroncos probably should have started the year at Cleveland

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

NFL does not want to promote Patriots. Why? Since the league are money grubbers and the patriots were a cash cow last year they must have their reason for not putting them forward. Does the league suspect having the Patriots as the face of the league would be a bad thing?

Where is Dallas?

Raiders are not ready for prime time. Not even close.

 

[BroncoFreak_2K3]

NFL does not want to promote Patriots. Why? Since the league are money grubbers and the patriots were a cash cow last year they must have their reason for not putting them forward. Does the league suspect having the Patriots as the face of the league would be a bad thing?Where is Dallas? Raiders are not ready for prime time. Not even close.

I agree totally on all points

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Anyone notice the Patriots are not featured on the prime time lineup for week 1? :(

dont worry there is 16 other weeks to have the greatest of all time to not win it shoved down our throats

 

[Godsbrother]

Where is Dallas?

Why does Dallas belong there more than any other playoff teams from last season or even up-and-coming Cleveland?

 

[IndyHavoc]

Bah, the Indy game won't be exciting I suspect. BUT, it will be fun as they christen the new stadium. That thing is an absolute BEAST and looks amazing!! It'll be fun to get the little segments to detail and showoff the stadium once the score gets out-of-hand; like midway through the 2nd quarter they can start.

 

[Nemesis]

The first Monday night of the 2008 season will feature a doubleheader for the third consecutive season. In two matchups of division rivals on Sept. 8, the Green Bay Packers will host the Minnesota Vikings at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the Denver Broncos at the Oakland Raiders at 10:15 p.m. ET. Both games will be televised on ESPN.

for us on the East Coast. (the only consolation is that it's the crappiest game out of the bunch)And they better start that 10:15 game on time using ESPN2 if they have to.

 

[Stinkin Ref]

still amazed by allthe primetime love that Shanahan and the Broncos get every year......it is just amazing for a team that has done nothing over the last few years........

 

[FUBAR]

The first Monday night of the 2008 season will feature a doubleheader for the third consecutive season. In two matchups of division rivals on Sept. 8, the Green Bay Packers will host the Minnesota Vikings at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the Denver Broncos at the Oakland Raiders at 10:15 p.m. ET. Both games will be televised on ESPN.

for us on the East Coast. (the only consolation is that it's the crappiest game out of the bunch)And they better start that 10:15 game on time using ESPN2 if they have to.

maybe that's why they chose a crappy west coast team.

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

Anyone notice the Patriots are not featured on the prime time lineup for week 1? :(

The Dolphins went undefeated primarily to make up for the fact that they had lost the superbowl the prior year.I'm just saying...

 

[PatsFanCT]

NFL does not want to promote Patriots. Why? Since the league are money grubbers and the patriots were a cash cow last year they must have their reason for not putting them forward. Does the league suspect having the Patriots as the face of the league would be a bad thing?

Yeah, that must be it. Or, since it's the opening weekend, the league doesn't need to sell the NFL since everyone will already be amped up to watch whatever game they put in front of us... But I'm sure that's not it. There's some hidden message the NFL must be sending.

 

[RBM]

still amazed by allthe primetime love that Shanahan and the Broncos get every year......it is just amazing for a team that has done nothing over the last few years........

They really have been completely insignificantSurprised Shanny's name never gets mentioned as being in trouble, job wise. So over-rated

 

[cstu]

The first Monday night of the 2008 season will feature a doubleheader for the third consecutive season. In two matchups of division rivals on Sept. 8, the Green Bay Packers will host the Minnesota Vikings at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the Denver Broncos at the Oakland Raiders at 10:15 p.m. ET. Both games will be televised on ESPN.

for us on the East Coast. (the only consolation is that it's the crappiest game out of the bunch)And they better start that 10:15 game on time using ESPN2 if they have to.

Hardly makes up for making me watch football at 10am on Sundays.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Where is Dallas?

Why does Dallas belong there more than any other playoff teams from last season or even up-and-coming Cleveland?

According to Tony Grossi of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, one version of the schedule has Dallas opening at Cleveland in the late Fox national game.http://blog.cleveland.com/sports/2008/04/c...enced_ande.html

... Here come the Cowboys: A league source said one draft of the upcoming 2008 schedule calls for the Browns to open the season Sept.¤7 at home against the Dallas Cowboys. The game would be moved to 4 p.m. and aired on FOX as its national game.

 

[Winning IS Everything]

That is the weakest opening slate I've seen since they went to the Thursday opener. The Raiders have no business being on MNF. Out of 4 possible games only one game features two playoff teams and that is the Giants against the Redskins who I think most people would project for 4th in their own division. I find this schedule so bad it's almost strange. Best way I can say this is on a typical Sunday when I have access to all games I doubt I would pick any of these games as my preferred game to watch.

I'm a homer, but I think the Packer-Viking game will be a good one. First it will be Rodger's debut and the first game w/o Favre in 16 years. Plus they might retire Favre's number that night. Plus the Vikings expect to be better this year and AD is always a treat to watch. The only other nationally televised game that looks good is the Giants-Skins game.

Add to this fact that now ADP will not have to face a potential cold weather/snow game in Green Bay in late December. He gets the away game at Green Bay out of the way right out of the gate. Minnesota must be liking this.....