When a team achieves the second-greatest upset in Super Bowl history, there’s plenty of interest heading into the next season. Such is the case with the Giants, who in 2008 will play four prime-time night games and could play as many as six.
The Giants kick off the NFL season with the traditional and previously announced Thursday night season-opener, facing the NFC East rival Redskins at Giants Stadium. The other scheduled night games are a Monday contest at Cleveland on Oct. 13 and Sunday games at Philadelphia (Nov. 9) and in Dallas (Dec. 14). One or two late-season games could be shifted to prime time under the NFL’s flexible schedule policy.
The first road game for the Giants is in Week 2, when they face the Rams in St. Louis. Figure the Road Warrior Giants won’t be intimidated by that assignment, considering they set an NFL record a year ago, going an astonishing 11-0 away from Giants Stadium.
The Giants’ bye week comes early, Sept. 28, after only three games, which no doubt is too early to suit Tom Coughlin. Last year, he repeatedly praised the timing of the bye, exactly at mid-season, after eight games.
“It’s a very, very challenging schedule,” Coughlin said. “Week in and week out, we will be challenged by outstanding opponents.”