NFL Announces Nationally Televised Primetime 2008 Kickoff Weekend Games

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

From their Annual Meeting in Palm Beach, FL, the NFL announced today its 2008 Kickoff Weekend national primetime television schedule, including a Monday night doubleheader. It’s always exciting to watch the schedule piece itself together and this is where it begins.

In a tradition that began in 2004, the Super Bowl champion annually hosts the NFL Thursday night season kickoff the following year. This September 4 at 7:00 PM ET on NBC, the Super Bowl XLII champion New York Giants will host their NFC East-rival Washington Redskins and their new head coach Jim Zorn. Kickoff will be 90 minutes earlier than the start time of the traditional season opener due to the Republican National Convention, which NBC News will cover following the conclusion of the game.

The Sunday night primetime game (8:15 PM ET) on NBC will feature a rematch of Super Bowl XLI as the Indianapolis Colts host the Chicago Bears. I’m excited to see this one as the game marks the first regular-season contest at new Lucas Oil Stadium.

Then on Monday night, September 8, ESPN will host a Monday Night Football doubleheader featuring two critical division matchups. The first game (7:00 PM ET) will send the Minnesota Vikings to Green Bay to visit the NFC North champion Packers (without Brett Favre). The MNF nightcap (10:15 PM ET) will be an AFC West battle as the revamped Oakland Raiders host the Denver Broncos. The rest of the 2008 regular-season schedule will be completed and announced in April.