NFL Kickoff Weekend Review: Eh, I’m Not a Fan
Kickoff Weekend, NFL, Uncategorized March 31st. 2008, 3:35pm
As commenter Jay mentioned, the NFL announced the NFL Kickoff Weekend schedule just a little bit ago, and here is our review:
- Opening Thursday Night (September 4, 7pm)–Washington Redskins @ New York Giants: Jim Zorn gets his “Welcome to the NFL” moment unlike most of other coaches, with a national debut. He’ll be going up against the Giants, and the ‘Skins first choice for head coach, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Who says the NFL doesn’t have a sense humor? By the way, you can thank/blame the republicans and their damned convention for the early start time.
- Sunday Night Football (September 7, 8:15pm)–Chicago Bears @ Indianapolis Colts: Going for a little bit of nostalgia, the NFL threw out a Super Bowl XLI rematch, with the Colts opening up their new home Lucas Oil Stadium and hosting the Bears. The Colts will probably continue to do their thing; but, on the other side of the field, amazingly, Rex Grossman will still be the Bears’ quarterback, and Lisa Lampanelli will be breaking in the rookies. (Is that joke dead yet, or does it still have a little bit of life left?)
- Monday Night Football Doubleheader (September 8, 7pm and 10:15pm)–Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers, Denver Broncos @ Oakland Raiders As the comments will probably indicate, what was the NFL thinking?? The beginning of the Aaron Rodgers Era!! Woo-Hoo! A MNF Packers’ game without Brett Favre is likely to make John Madden cry. In the night cap, obviously the league went with a west coast friendly game, but was LaDanian Tomlinson unavailable? Maybe JaMarcus Russell will prove that he was worth the wait. Or, not.
37 Responses to “NFL Kickoff Weekend Review: Eh, I’m Not a Fan”
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March 31st, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Screw JaMarcus Russell - it’s the East Coast’s first taste of Justin Fargas in primetime!
March 31st, 2008 at 3:40 pm
The NFL dropped the ball here. This is something you’d expect from Bug Selig, not Roger Goodell.
March 31st, 2008 at 3:46 pm
@CRM- Maybe the NFL is praying that the Raiders take Darren McFadden, or the fix could be in already…
March 31st, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Matchups are lousy, but you have scheduling considerations to take into account, like not scheduling San Francisco and Oakland in the same time slot (mentioned earlier). Same goes for New York, but they’re easier. However, I’m not complaining a ton because I am so grateful that the Cowboys aren’t in there. I guess their 11 nationally-televised games will come on other weekends. However, San Diego or Seattle should have gotten the late Monday Night slot. And Green Bay/Minnesota without Favre? Come on.
March 31st, 2008 at 3:51 pm
A monday night game with two NFC North teams and no Lions? WTF?
/havent had a MNF game in at least 20 years
March 31st, 2008 at 3:52 pm
BTW, for those who don’t pay attention. Oakland got the late MNF game this year. San Francisco got it last year. Oakland got it the year before that. Even if they don’t tell that’s why, that’s why.
March 31st, 2008 at 3:58 pm
I’m just going to call the Raiders my sleeper for next season and act like I want to see the Raiders. Then when every city outside Oakland is eradicated in August I can brag about the Raiders being the best team alive.
March 31st, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Considering there is a full slate of games the Sunday before the MNF double header, don’t be surprised to get to watch the Cowboys on National television. Fox or CBS will surely pick them up.
March 31st, 2008 at 4:05 pm
I thought NBC wasn’t a fan of having the Colts at home in primetime because, well, because they usually blow the other team out?
March 31st, 2008 at 4:06 pm
@CRM: Are you privy to information that the rest of are not? Who is eradicating the rest of the world? The black hole denizens?
March 31st, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Buffalo Bills winning it all
March 31st, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Ben: Nothing you need worry about.
March 31st, 2008 at 4:19 pm
The fact it is not Cowboys\Giants to open the year is a big upset as far as I am concerned
March 31st, 2008 at 4:21 pm
No Cowboys or Patriots? Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?
I’m just surprised somehow the Giants are playing the Miami Heat. *rimshot*
March 31st, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Agree 100% Tedwerkin.
March 31st, 2008 at 4:25 pm
@CRM: In unrelated news, I’ll be asking for a transfer to the Oakland office. When did you say this was going to happen again?
March 31st, 2008 at 4:26 pm
That should say aren’t playing the Miami heat. Son of a bitch.
March 31st, 2008 at 4:27 pm
No need to waste Cowboys/Giants in Week One…the ratings will be big for the first game as is so save the real bread winner for later on in the season (like NBC last season not making Patriots-Colts the first game)
Think about the money people…that’s all it ever comes down to
March 31st, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Raiders are a sleeper, just like the 49ers were a sleeper last year. Remember the Monday nighters aren’t supposed to pit 2 great teams against each other anymore, that’s what Sunday nighters are supposed to do. Monday nights are usually 1 pretty good team and 1 below .500 team.
March 31st, 2008 at 4:29 pm
I think the NFL said NBC couldn’t make Patriots/Colts the first game last year, I remember reading something where CBS was guaranteed that game.
March 31st, 2008 at 4:31 pm
So I guess they wasted it last year? Seeing as the Cowboys/Giants played on NBC first SNF game
March 31st, 2008 at 4:34 pm
It was clearly indicated after the smoke had cleared that the Redskins did not and were not going to offer the job to Spagnuolo. Certainly wasn’t their “first choice”.
March 31st, 2008 at 4:36 pm
So I guess they wasted it last year? Seeing as the Cowboys/Giants played on NBC first SNF
I think Giants/Cowboys is bigger now than it was last year.
March 31st, 2008 at 4:38 pm
So I guess they wasted it last year? Seeing as the Cowboys/Giants played on NBC first SNF game
I don’t how that makes sense considering at that point you were looking at two teams that were mediocre the season before…had they wanted to take the best NFC East matchup last season it would have been Cowboys-Eagles right off the bat
My point still stands that there’s no real reason to take the best game possible and use it in Week One when the ratings will be there anyway
March 31st, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Monday nights are usually 1 pretty good team and 1 below .500 team.
Haha I wonder if that was the sales pitch the NFL gave ESPN.
March 31st, 2008 at 4:53 pm
I think it was, they said hey you are on cable, you ain’t gettin Colts/Pats or Cowboys/Packers
March 31st, 2008 at 4:53 pm
I know the NFC won the Super Bowl, BUT… How can they have 5 NFC teams out of 8 and only have one AFC playoff team?! And if they want west coast ratings, can’t they have the Chargers instead of the freaking Raiders, or the Donkees?
And
March 31st, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Do they even need a double header on the first Monday night?
March 31st, 2008 at 4:54 pm
There is about a 100% chance that Brett Favre will be the guest in the booth for that MNF game.
March 31st, 2008 at 4:56 pm
The NFL already knows what I’ve said since day one. Pussyboy Favre ain’t retiring. What better way to showcase his triumphant “return” than a national TV game. I call bullshit!
March 31st, 2008 at 4:59 pm
The problem with the Giants schedule is that it really has not great out of division team.
HOME: San Francisco, Seattle, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Carolina
AWAY: Arizona, St. Louis, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Minnesota
You might have sold Seattle but the best home matchup is the Cowboys. The skins are fourth in terms of teams coming in, I rank them Cowboys, Seahawks, Eagles and Skins. The Giants should win 11 games next year with this schedule.
March 31st, 2008 at 5:01 pm
It’s a shame because favre WAS the man! I’m sure the networks are hoping his retirement is bullshit, if they don’e alreday know. Either way, I can’t watch NFC central games anyways becuase it’s not 1812 anymore so i won’t have to suffer through Favre on the field or in the booth.
March 31st, 2008 at 5:01 pm
What better way for ESPN to shove more Douchebag and Golic down viewers throats?
March 31st, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Do they even need a double header on the first Monday night?
Only if they bring back that trio of Nessler, Jaws and Vermeil like they had in Game Two of the 2006 doubleheader…it should have been embarrassing for ESPN to see just how much better their B team was
March 31st, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Jaws is on the main crew now, but I do like Vermeil and Nessler
March 31st, 2008 at 5:24 pm
I can’t watch NFC Central games because it isn’t 2001, NFC North games I can get behind.
March 31st, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Do you like the Adams Division NHL games?