NFL Kicks Off 2008 Season

NFL Kicks Off Its 2008 Season

The National Football League roars back into action this Thursday night in the first game of NFL Kickoff 2008 Weekend.

In an NFC East Division battle of 2007 playoff teams, the Super Bowl XLII champion New York Giants host Washington at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Washingtom and the Giants teams played two memorable games last season. In Week 3, the Giants began their NFL record 10 consecutive road victories streak with a goal-line stand in Washington. In Week 15, Washington quarterback Todd Collins -- his first start in 10 years -- produced five scoring drives for the Washington win.

NFL 2008 Kickoff Weekend

"We feel ready. It's time to put what we've been practicing to work." – RB Willie Parker, Pittsburgh Steelers.

"We're ready to roll," says Jacksonville Jaguars QB DAVID GARRARD. "Everybody is excited. It's time to stop just practicing and playing for fun and start playing for real."

Everybody is ready for the unique unpredictability of the NFL.

Last year, almost half the games (47 percent) were decided by one score (eight points or less). Seventeen percent were decided by a scoring play in the final two minutes or overtime. And for the 12th consecutive year, at least five teams made the playoffs after missing out the year before.

"I'm prepared and ready to go." – QB Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons.

All the anticipation that started with the NFL Combine last February, heightened with the NFL Draft in April, and peaked with the opening of training camps in July comes to realization this weekend.

"We're definitely ready." – QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers.

As the 2008 NFL season kicks off, it comes packed with changes, quests and questions

Can the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants Repeat?

It's tough. It's happened only eight times since the first Super Bowl in 1967. But tough tasks don't seem to faze the Giants. Last year, they set an NFL season record by winning an improbable 10 consecutive road games (not counting the neutral-site Super Bowl).

In three of their four playoff games, they defeated teams they had lost to during the season. "When the regular season starts, it goes to another level," says Giants Center Shaun O'Hara. "It's a new challenge, and we're looking forward to it."

LT Goes for the Record

You can't see his eyes behind that sunglass shield he wears, but you can't miss him with the ball in his hands. San Diego Chargers RB LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON, the NFL's leading rusher the past two years, can break his tie this season with Pro Football Hall of Famer ERIC DICKERSON for most 1,200-yard rushing seasons (7) to begin a career.

"He is the most decisive runner I have ever seen," says Atlanta Falcons RB MICHAEL TURNER.

Other records can be topped

Kansas City's TONY GONZALEZ can become the all-time leader in tight-end receiving yards with another 179
Indianapolis QB PEYTON MANNING needs 32 completions to become the eighth player in history with 3,500 passes completed
Chicago kick & punt returner DEVIN HESTER (with 11) needs three combined kick-return touchdowns for first place all-time in the category
The CHICAGO BEARS, with seven wins, can become the first team in history with 700 victories.

New Coaches & Players in New Places

There are four new head coaches in 2008 – all "rookies" in their first job as the head man – JOHN HARBAUGH in Baltimore, MIKE SMITH in Atlanta, TONY SPARANO in Miami and JIM ZORN in Washington.

Harbaugh, Sparano and Zorn made the unusual jump from non-coordinator positions to the head role. "There really isn't one formula to becoming a head coach," says Zorn.

And there are a lot of well-known players with new teams.

BRETT FAVRE is with the New York Jets, CHAD PENNINGTON with the Miami Dolphins, JEREMY SHOCKEY with the New Orleans Saints, JASON TAYLOR with Washington, ISAAC BRUCE with the 49ers, ALGE CRUMPLER with the Titans, DE ANGELO HALL with the Raiders, JULIUS JONES with the Seahawks, ASANTE SAMUEL with the Eagles and ZACH THOMAS with the Cowboys.

In the air

Last year, seven quarterbacks threw for 4,000 yards, the most such QBs in a season. That quick-strike trend should continue in '08. Even such historically rush-first teams as the Pittsburgh Steelers are getting into the air act, with QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER throwing for 32 TDs last year, the most ever for a Steelers quarterback.

"We're kind of keeping up with the league," says Roethlisberger. "The NFL is always evolving and offenses are always changing. Right now, the offenses around the league – in terms of who wins – are pass-dominant."

Spread it out

More and more teams, it seems, are using versions of the college "spread offense" that creates points. In the spread, the offense lines up almost exclusively in the shotgun with either one or no running backs and four or five receivers. Players shift and go in motion prior to the snap on almost every play.

It can create havoc with the defense. The New England Patriots used portions of the spread last year in averaging a league-leading 411.3 yards per game.

The Hybrid

Meanwhile, the defense is scheming too. A bunch of teams are using the "hybrid defense" to confuse the offense. In the hybrid, a defense mixes a 4-3 and 3-4 defensive alignment on any down and in any game.

Defensive coaches feel they make an opponent prepare for every possible look and then dictate what works best for them. But "pulling it off isn't easy," says NFL.com senior analyst PAT KIRWAN. "If it were, everyone would be doing it."

New Rules in place for NFL 2008

There are three main ones:

Teams will now be permitted to have one defensive player on the field with a radio in his helmet to receive signals, as has the offense since 1994. "It's an effective tool, having the ability to get the call in in real time," says Indianapolis Colts LB GARY BRACKETT
There will be no more forceout rule. Now, a player must have both feet inbounds for a completed catch
And clubs now will have the option to defer the opportunity to kick or receive the kickoff to the second half.

The "International" NFL

The NFL again will play a regular-season overseas game in the United Kingdom (the first in a three-year program in the U.K.) when the New Orleans Saints meet the San Diego Chargers at London's Wembley Stadium on October 26. Last year's game (Dolphins-Giants) was a sellout, as this year is expected to be.

Closer to home, the Buffalo Bills will host the Miami Dolphins on December 7 in Toronto – the first of five annual regular-season games the Bills will play in Canada's largest city.

NFC NORTH and AFC WEST WRAP UP KICKOFF WEEKEND ON MNF

Kickoff Weekend 2008 concludes in doubleheader fashion this Monday night as four young and promising quarterbacks square off.

The NFC North will be featured in the first game as TARVARIS JACKSON and his Minnesota Vikings will face AARON RODGERS and his Green Bay Packers (ESPN, 7:00 ET) in one of the NFL’s most storied rivalries. Jackson enters his third NFL season with an 8-6 (.571) record as a starter and aims for his first win against the Packers. Rodgers, who was a first-round selection in 2005, will make his first career start for the NFC North-defending champions at Lambeau Field.

Round two on Monday consists of two former first-round picks quarterbacks JAY CUTLER of the Denver Broncos and JA MARCUS RUSSELL of the Oakland Raiders taking center stage at the McAfee Coliseum in Oakland (ESPN, 10:15 PM ET) in an AFC West clash. Cutler, who was selected No. 11 overall in 2006, started all 16 games last year while tossing 20 touchdown passes and recording a 63.6 completion percentage. Russell welcomes his second season after completing his first training camp as the Raiders’ full-time starter.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR – NFL KICKOFF 2008 WEEKEND

SUPER STARTERS: There are never any guarantees in the NFL, but there are trends. And they start as early as Kickoff Weekend. History indicates that the best way for a team to start its drive towards a possible Super Bowl championship is to win in Week 1.

The 42 Super Bowl winners have a 34-7-1 record in the Kickoff Weekend games of their title seasons. However, as the Super Bowl XLII champion New York Giants proved, a loss on Kickoff Weekend can still lead to a championship season.

Since 1978, when the NFL went to the 16-game schedule, and excluding the abbreviated season of 1982, teams that are victorious on Kickoff Weekend are more than twice as likely to reach the playoffs than losers of an opening game:

Of the 426 teams which won openers, 225 went to the playoffs (130 won division titles).
Of the 426 teams which lost openers…99 went to the playoffs (55 won division titles).

In 2007, nine of the 12 playoff teams – Dallas, Green Bay, Indianapolis, New England, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Seattle, Tennessee and Washington – were victorious on Kickoff Weekend.

"Season openers," says Washington tight end CHRIS COOLEY, "set a standard for your team."

KICKOFF WINNERS

The season kicks off on Thursday night when the Super Bowl XLII champion NEW YORK GIANTS host WASHINGTON. The contest will feature two of the NFL’s most successful teams in season openers. The Giants rank second in history with 46 Kickoff Weekend victories and Washington tie for sixth with 37 wins.

The teams with the most wins on Kickoff Weekend:

Chicago (49), Green Bay (48), New York Giants (46), Detroit (42), St. Louis (38), Pittsburgh (37), Washington (37)

STREAKING INTO HISTORY

The NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS became the first team in NFL history with a perfect 16-0 regular-season record last year. Dating back to the last three weeks of 2006, New England has won 19 consecutive regular-season games, the longest streak in league annals.

The Patriots, who also have the second-longest such streak in history (18 games, 2003-04), will seek to reach 20 in a row on Sunday when they host Kansas City.

Following are the teams with the longest regular-season winning streaks in NFL history:

New England 2006-07 19 (Active); New England 2003-04 18; Chicago Bears 1933-34 17; Chicago Bears 1941-42 16; Miami Dolphins 1971-73 16; Miami Dolphins 1983-84 16; Pittsburgh Steelers 2004-05 16

MVP QBs

Last season, New England quarterback TOM BRADY was named the Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player after setting an NFL record with 50 touchdown passes. Brady, who led New England to Super Bowl XLII, hopes to continue the success of MVP quarterbacks this Sunday. The past 10 QBs to be named the NFL MVP have posted a passer rating of at least 88.5 on Kickoff Weekend the following season.

Young Quarterbacks Take Center Stage as NFL 2008 Season Kicks Off

All eyes will be on two former first-round draft picks – JASON CAMPBELL and ELI MANNING – this Thursday night when the 2008 NFL season kicks off with Campbell and Washington visiting Manning and the Super Bowl XLII champion New York Giants.

Campbell, who was drafted 25th overall by Washington in 2005, is entering his fourth NFL season. Last year, he passed for a career-high 2,700 yards and 12 touchdowns as Washington went 9-7 and clinched a playoff berth.

Manning, who was the No. 1 overall selection in the 2004 NFL Draft, threw for 3,336 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2007 and guided the Giants to victory in Super Bowl XLII while earning MVP honors.

Quarterbacks throughout the league find themselves in the spotlight as the NFL begins the new season, all hoping to lead their teams to a berth in Super Bowl XLIII on February 1 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida.

Team-by-team look at the NFC’s starting quarterbacks on Kickoff Weekend

ARIZONA: Two-time NFL MVP (1999, 2001) KURT WARNER will lead the Cardinals on Kickoff Weekend. The 11-year veteran enters his fourth season with Arizona and owns the third highest career passer rating in NFL history with a 93.2 mark. Last year, the three-time Pro Bowl selection played in 14 games (11 starts) and passed for 3,417 yards with 27 touchdowns while posting an 89.8 rating. Warner threw for 21 touchdowns in last season’s final eight games, the most in the NFL over that span (TOM BRADY, 20).

ATLANTA: Rookie quarterback MATT RYAN, the No. 3 overall selection in the 2008 NFL Draft, used an impressive training camp to seize the starting job. Ryan posted a 25-7 record (.781) as a starter at Boston College and led the Eagles to three Bowl games. The 2007 ACC Player of the Year set numerous school season passing records, including yards (4,507) and touchdowns (31).

CAROLINA: After missing most of the 2007 season with an injury, JAKE DELHOMME returns to start on Kickoff Weekend for a franchise-record fifth consecutive year. The 10-year veteran is the club’s all-time leader in starts (63), attempts (1,934), completions (1,156), passing yards (13,955) and touchdowns (97). Delhomme, who guided the Panthers to Super Bowl XXXVIII and earned a Pro Bowl berth that year, is the only quarterback in team history to pass for 3,000 yards in three consecutive seasons (2003-05).

CHICAGO: The Bears will turn to KYLE ORTON as the team attempts to return to the postseason after an appearance in Super Bowl XLI in 2006. Entering his fourth season, Orton has posted a 12-6 (.667) record as a starter. In 2005, the former Purdue star guided Chicago to 10 wins, the most by a rookie drafted in the fourth round or later since the common draft was instituted in 1967. He also set franchise rookie records with 190 completions, 368 attempts and 1,869 yards while leading the club to a division title.

DALLAS: All-Star TONY ROMO, who enters his sixth season, guided the Cowboys to a club record-tying 13 wins last year and led the NFC with a 97.4 passer rating, the third highest mark in franchise history behind Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterbacks ROGER STAUBACH (104.8 in 1971) and TROY AIKMAN (99.0 in 1993). The former Eastern Illinois star established team season records for touchdowns passes (36), passing yards (4,211), completions (335) and 300-yard games (7) en route to his second consecutive Pro Bowl berth.

DETROIT: JON KITNA threw for 4,068 yards last year, his second with the Lions, becoming the first quarterback in club history with back-to-back 4,000-yard seasons. Kitna, who passed for a career-high 4,208 yards in 2006, ranks fourth in the NFL with 8,276 yards over the past two seasons. The 12-year veteran has thrown for 200 yards in 28 of his 32 starts with Detroit, the most 200-yard games in the NFL during that span.

GREEN BAY: Former first-round draft pick AARON RODGERS, who was selected No. 24 overall in 2005, will make his first career start on Kickoff Weekend at home against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night. Last year, in a game against Dallas, Rodgers was called upon in relief duty and passed for a career-high 201 yards and one touchdown. In college, Rodgers posted a 17-5 (.773) record as a starter at California and threw for 5,469 yards and 43 touchdowns.

MINNESOTA: Third-year quarterback TARVARIS JACKSON posted an 8-4 (.667) record as a starter last year and guided the Vikings to seven wins in his final 10 starts. A second-round selection (No. 64) in the 2006 NFL Draft from Alabama State, Jackson became only the third quarterback in team history to start a game as a rookie, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer FRAN TARKENTON (1961) and TOMMY KRAMER (1977). Last year, Jackson led NFC quarterbacks with three rushing touchdowns and passed for nine scores, including three TDs of at least 60 yards.

NEW ORLEANS: Eight-year veteran DREW BREES had an NFL-record 440 completions last year, and set season team marks with 4,423 passing yards, a 67.5 completion percentage, 652 attempts, 28 touchdowns and 11 games with 250 passing yards. In his first two years with the Saints, Brees has posted the only two 4,000-yard seasons in franchise history and his 8,841 yards during that span are the most in the NFL. In 2006, the All-Star quarterback guided New Orleans to the NFC Championship Game and was a co-winner of the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.

NEW YORK GIANTS: The defending Super Bowl champions will once again be led by ELI MANNING, who guided the team to an NFL-record 10 road victories (including playoffs) last year. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft passed for 3,336 yards and 23 touchdowns last year, joining PHIL SIMMS as the only players in club history with 3,000 yards and 20 touchdowns in three consecutive seasons. Manning also joined Simms as the only quarterbacks in team annals to be named Super Bowl MVP. Entering his fifth season, Manning has started 61 consecutive games for the Giants, including the playoffs.

PHILADELPHIA: Veteran quarterback DONOVAN MC NABB, who enters his 10th season, looks to return the Eagles to the playoffs. In his career, the former Syracuse star has posted a 73-39 (.652) record and has led Philadelphia to a Super Bowl and four NFC Championship Games. McNabb’s 73 victories and seven playoff wins are the most by a quarterback in Eagles history. The five-time All-Star passed for 3,324 yards and 19 touchdowns last year in 14 starts.

ST. LOUIS: The Rams will once again turn to eight-year veteran MARC BULGER to lead the way. In his career, Bulger has passed for 18,625 yards, 106 touchdowns and posted an 88.1 passer rating, the second-best mark in Rams history. The two-time All Star, who won MVP honors at the 2004 Pro Bowl, has passed for at least 3,800 yards three times in his career, including 4,301 yards in 2006.

SAN FRANCISCO: Veteran quarterback J.T. O’SULLIVAN will make his first NFL start on Kickoff Weekend for the 49ers. The former star at UC Davis was drafted in the sixth round by the New Orleans Saints in 2002. O’Sullivan, who was the NFL Europa 2007 Offensive Co-MVP with the Frankfurt Galaxy, spent last season with Detroit, playing in four games under offensive coordinator MIKE MARTZ, who also joined San Francisco this year.

SEATTLE: Three-time All-Star MATT HASSELBECK aims to lead the Seahawks to their fifth consecutive division title and sixth playoff berth in a row. Entering his eighth season with Seattle, Hasselbeck is the highest-rated passer in team history with an 86.3 rating and his 15 300-yard passing games are the most by a Seahawk. Last year, the former Boston College standout earned a trip to the Pro Bowl by setting team marks in attempts (562), completions (352) and passing yards (3,966).

TAMPA BAY: In his first season with the Buccaneers in 2007, JEFF GARCIA guided the team to a division title and earned a Pro Bowl berth. The 10-year veteran hopes to lead Tampa Bay back to the playoffs this year as the Buccaneers aim to become the first team to play in a Super Bowl in its home stadium. Last season, Garcia ranked third in the NFC with a 94.6 passer rating and was second in the NFL with a 1.2 interception percentage.

WASHINGTON: JASON CAMPBELL enters his fourth NFL season and is the team’s starter on Kickoff Weekend for the second consecutive year. The club’s first-round selection in the 2005 draft (No. 25) completed 250 of 417 passes (60.0 percent) for a career-high 2,700 yards and 12 touchdowns last year as Washington went 9-7 and clinched a playoff berth.

Team-by-team look at the AFC’s starting quarterbacks on Kickoff Weekend

BALTIMORE: JOE FLACCO, the second quarterback taken at No. 18 in the 2008 NFL Draft, will lead the Ravens as the starting QB on Kickoff Weekend. The 23-year-old is the second quarterback drafted in the first round in Ravens history (KYLE BOLLER, 2003). The University of Delaware product joins former Ravens quarterback STEVE MC NAIR as the only two NCAA Division I-FCS (formerly I-AA) quarterbacks in history to be selected in the first round.

BUFFALO: TRENT EDWARDS approaches his second year as an NFL quarterback after posting a 5-4 (.556) record last season and becoming the first Bills’ rookie quarterback since JOE FERGUSON in 1973 to have five or more wins as a starter. The former Stanford signal-caller, a third-round pick in 2007, will depend on running back MARSHAWN LYNCH and top pass-catching option wide receiver LEE EVANS.

CINCINNATI: In four seasons as the Bengals’ starting quarterback, CARSON PALMER is 3-1 (.750) on Kickoff Weekend. Palmer, who tossed a career and franchise-high 4,131 passing yards last year, can reach 4,000 passing yards for the third consecutive season in ’08. The 6-5 quarterback will look to once again spread the ball around to receivers CHAD JOHNSON and T.J. HOUSHMANDZADEH, who aim for a third consecutive season with 1,000 receiving yards each.

CLEVELAND: All-Star DEREK ANDERSON heads into his fourth NFL season aiming to bring back-to-back double-digit win seasons to Cleveland for the first time since 1988. Optimism is high in Cleveland as Anderson seeks to keep momentum going after recording career highs in completions (298), passing yards (3,787) touchdowns (29) and passer rating (82.5) last year.

DENVER: JAY CUTLER enters his second season as a full-time starter. In 2007, the 25-year-old Cutler ranked 10th in the NFL in passing yards (3,497) and tied for 10th in completions (297). Since being named the starter in Week 13 of 2006, Cutler ranks 10th in the league for most passing yards (4,498).

HOUSTON: Expectations in Houston are heating up, and quarterback MATT SCHAUB will play a huge role as the squad challenges for its first playoff-bid in franchise history. The 6-5, 234-pound QB enters his second season as a starter. Hampered by injuries in 2007, Schaub looks to improve his 87.2 passer rating from last year while utilizing All-Star wide receiver ANDRE JOHNSON and promising tight end OWEN DANIELS.

INDIANAPOLIS: Slowed by a knee injury this preseason, PEYTON MANNING expects to make his 161st consecutive regular-season start (the longest streak in NFL history by a quarterback to start his career) and improve his 8-1 (.889) record on Kickoff Weekend. Manning needs 4,000 yards to become the first quarterback in NFL history with nine 4,000-yard seasons (he is the only quarterback to accomplish the feat in eight seasons).

JACKSONVILLE: DAVID GARRARD enters his second season as the Jaguars’ starting quarterback with a 19-11 (.633) career record. The elusive Garrard set career highs in completions (208), attempts (325), passing yards (2,509) and touchdowns (18) in 2007 and finished with the second-lowest interception percentage (0.92) in a season in NFL history with 300-plus attempts (STEVE DE BERG in 1990; 0.90).

KANSAS CITY: The Chiefs have committed to building through the NFL Draft, and that begins with 2006 third-round pick BRODIE CROYLE. Inserted as the starting quarterback for the last six games in ’07, Croyle will be surrounded this season by All-Star tight end TONY GONZALEZ and wide receiver DWAYNE BOWE, who is focused on being a potent scoring weapon on offense for years to come.

MIAMI: Signed by the Dolphins in August, CHAD PENNINGTON will join new head coach TONY SPARANO in the start of a new era in Miami. The savvy veteran quarterback spent eight seasons with the New York Jets (the Dolphins’ opponent in Week 1) and ranks first among NFL QBs (min. 1,500 attempts) with a career 65.61 completion percentage.

NEW ENGLAND: TOM BRADY produced a record-breaking season in 2007, but still aims to improve. Brady’s top two receiving weapons RANDY MOSS and WES WELKER return after totaling 210 receptions for 2,668 yards and 31 touchdowns. Brady, the Patriots’ all-time winningest quarterback, has a 100-27 (.787) record (including postseason) which serves as the best win percentage of any NFL quarterback in the Super Bowl era with at least 40 starts.

NEW YORK JETS: BRETT FAVRE embarks on his 18th NFL season by suiting up for the Jets on Kickoff Weekend with his 253 consecutive-start streak intact. He is the NFL’s all-time leader in completions (5,377), attempts (8,758) passing yards (61,655), touchdowns (442) and consecutive starts (253). The three-time MVP will continue to fire his patented fastballs, but at different receivers as LAVERANUES COLES and JERRICHO COTCHERY step in.

OAKLAND: The JA MARCUS RUSSELL era is set to begin in Raider nation. The development of the former No. 1 overall pick will be aided by an assortment of running backs – MICHAEL BUSH, JASON FARGAS and rookie DARREN MC FADDEN. Russell’s big arm will target in on newly-acquired receiver JAVON WALKER and wide receiver RONALD CURRY, who has led the team in receptions for the past two seasons.

PITTSBURGH: Quarterback BEN ROETHLISBERGER is aiming for his third divisional title in five years. Roethlisberger has a 39-16 (.709) regular-season record and was named to his first Pro Bowl after shattering the Steelers’ single-season record for passing touchdowns (32) and passer rating (104.1) last season.

SAN DIEGO: After finishing one win shy of reaching Super Bowl XLII, quarterback PHILIP RIVERS targets a third consecutive AFC West title. Rivers has a 25-7 (.781) record as starter and is tied for second with PEYTON MANNING (25) for most wins by an NFL quarterback since 2006 (TOM BRADY, 28).

TENNESSEE: At 24 years and 233 days old, VINCE YOUNG became the youngest quarterback ever to start a playoff game in franchise history and has aspirations of reaching the postseason again in ’08. The 2006 Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year is entering his third season and has posted a 17-11 (.607) career record as a starter. Young will be directed by MIKE HEIMERDINGER, who is returning as the Titans’ offensive coordinator.