The NFL plans to announce its full 2008 schedule Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET. Two NFL shows will be dedicated to the annual event, one is a two hour special on ESPN at 2 p.m. ET, and another simultaneous will also air on NFL Network beginning at 2pm ET.
NFL Network also will rebroadcast its two hour special at 6pm, 930pm, and 1am same day, so if you are an unfortunate sucker without TIVO, watch the ESPN one first, then go back to NFL Network later that day.
The planned announcement, confirmed by the league in a news release Monday, will reveal dates, times and television schedules. Teams have known their opponents for months, thanks to the NFL's scheduling formula.
The league previously announced four nationally televised matchups for Week 1.
The Washington Redskins open the 2008 season when they visit the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants on Thursday, Sept. 4 (NBC, 7 p.m. ET). The Chicago Bears visit the Indianapolis Colts on Sept. 7 (NBC, 8:15 p.m. ET) in a rematch of Super Bowl XLI.
ESPN's coverage begins with a "Monday Night Football" doubleheader Sept. 8. The Minnesota Vikings visit the Green Bay Packers in the first game at 7 p.m. ET. The Oakland Raiders then host the Denver Broncos in the second game at 10:15 p.m. ET.
Last year, the schedule was to be released on April 5, but it didn't come out until six days later. A similar timeline would put this year's release in the middle of next week.
Dolphins play at Houston for the 3rd consecutive year in 2008. The last two years, these games have been tightly contested contests with odd ending final scores. In 2006, Miami lost 15-17, and in 2007, they lost 19-22.
Dolphins host the Baltimore Ravens for the second consecutive year. The Ravens proved to be the Dolphins only victory last year. The game ended in overtime on a 64 yard touchdown reception by Camirrio from Lemon.
Dolphins play all 4 teams from both the AFC and NFC West. Luckily for Miami, they have avoided any long distance road trips to the far west coast considering the four teams that are the greatest distance from Miami are on the schedule. Miami plays home to Seattle, Oakland, San Diego and San Francisco.
The Dolphins thus have the luxury of traveling to the four closest teams from the 2 Western Divisions. They travel to Arizona, St Louis, Denver, and Kansas City. Still not easy places to play, but players prefer shorter flights, and these cities are significantly closer than the Western divisions other teams.
The schedule Gods did not smile on the New England Patriots 2008 campaign however. 2008 will be a bit trickier to go undefeated compared to the 2007 slate. The Patsies in fact may indeed do the most flying next year having to go coast to coast 4 separate occasions.
New England must travel to Oakland, Seattle, San Francisco, and San Diego. Throw in a road game at Indianapolis. Out of conference homes games are not cupcakes with Pittsburgh, Denver, Arizona, KC and St Louis.
Patriots may get to the Superbowl yet again next year, but they will not go undefeated. Considering they are recovering from the worst loss in the history of football (I simply cannot think of one single other scenario where a loss would feel worse can you?) they may be glad to not carry the burden of undefeated season all season like this year. Hopefully I will not have to watch Zach Thomas next year in a Patriot uniform.
Then again, this could be the kind of loss that which they never recover, the kind that rattles the confidence of Brady and coaches for years to come.
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