The announcement wasn’t expected this week, but when it came I greeted it with surprise and a contented sigh. Although the NFL’s kickoff game has become an event of near Super Bowl proportions, it’s not as much fun when your team is the road meat.
When the Giants welcome the Cowboys on Wednesday, September 5th, the Super Bowl champs will look to make it 9 for 9 for the home team in these games. This is only the second time a divisional game has been selected–a main reason most believed the NFL would pit the two most recent Super Bowl champs, as well as a rematch of January’s playoff game.
For many Packer fans, the thought of being featured in the opener is attractive because it shortens the offseason by a few days and puts the attention on the Pack in the days leading up to the game. But you can bet Mike McCarthy and his staff are high-fiving after hearing the news that the training camp schedule won’t be affected by an early start. The game in New York may be the only one all season where the Packers aren’t favored (maybe at Houston as well, depending when it falls on the schedule).
I’m also happy for selfish reasons. I much prefer the Packers open the season on Sunday, so “Packer Preview” that morning gets us set for the game later that day. Also, Wednesday night is my weekly poker game. I would’ve hated to miss the game to watch the Pack. Now I can play cards with the boys and root for both the Giants and Cowboys to lose.
I’ll close this one with a programming alert. I’m filling in for Dan Barreiro this Thursday on KFAN, 3pm-6:30pm. Trent Tucker will join me for a special Thursday edition of “In the Zone.” Hope you can catch part of it either on the radio or on I Heart Radio.
Thanks for the heads up. Now live in Wisconsin so will listen on I Heart Radio.
To be the best, ya gotta beat the best. I would have loved to play the G-men in the league opener and to be honest, I think we deserved to play it. I definitely feel it is a snub. Oh well, we’ll have to settle for beating Da Bears for our opener and beating the NYG later. Maybe we’ll get the chance to beat the Cowyboys in the playoffs to make it up to ol’ Jerry Jones!
People get so upset thinking they’re getting snubbed or “disrespected.” Only two teams can play in the first game and I can’t blame the NFL for going with two large markets, that’s a good business decision to pump up the season. Plus I’m much more concerned about playing in the last game, not the first.
Davey, I’ll be listening, hopefully lot’s of Packer stuff. Will this also be podcast?
Nice show today! Totally agree with that the NIT is really not a big deal; IMO, basically akin to a soap opera for basketball diehards. Talk about weakness: beating the only major confeence reg season champion to not be invited to the NCAA is a “big win”?!?! Oh, well, that’s what happens when you’re a Gopher/Viking fan!
I’m also glad that the Pack open anywhere else than the Giant’s game. After last year, and maybe 12 draftees & 4 free agents, a normal preseason will be appreciated. Thanks for your weekly respite from all sports, all Vikes, all day! Take Care!
Wow Davey,
This is becoming AgedCheese.com. Granted, there is an overkill of draft minutia out there but where is a twin cities Packer fan supposed to go for some Head Cheese draft speculation?