2008 NFL Primetime Schedule Breakdown

As you'll see in the links below, most NFL cities were pleased the job done by NFL's schedule-makers this year.

One aspect of the schedule has receiver a decent amount of attention is the number of primetime games the Cleveland Browns received in 2008. Because none are a threat to be "flexed", the Browns will definitely play a minimum of five primetime games in 2008, including three appearances on Monday Night Football.

Five years ago, that would've been a much bigger deal than it is now. The truth of the matter is that ESPN's bastardization of Monday Night Football has made Football Night in America on Sunday nights the marquee primetime game of the week. The Browns will only play in one of those, at home in Week 2 against Pittsburgh.

A quick look at the primetime schedule in 2008 reveals that 15 of the 32 NFL teams will appear on NBC's Sunday Night Football, and 11 of them made the playoffs in 2007.

(The Tennessee Titans are the only playoff team from 2007 that won't appear on Sunday night football this year. However, they do have juicy games against Jacksonville, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Indianapolis that can be "flexed" into the primetime schedule later in the season.)

Meanwhile, ESPN's broadcasts will feature 25 different teams, with Seattle being the lone playoff team from 2007 not making an appearance on the Worldwide Leader. (You're welcome, Tony Kornheiser!) Seven teams will make multiple appearances on MNF this year, five of which (Cleveland, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Denver and New Orleans) missed the playoffs in 2007.

Here's a look at who you'll be sick of seeing in primetime this year: (*-includes Thanksgiving Day games)

Dallas - 6*
Cleveland - 5
Philadelphia - 5
Pittsburgh - 5
Chicago - 5
Indianapolis - 5
New England - 5
San Diego -5
Green Bay - 4
NY Giants - 4
Minnesota - 3
Denver - 3
New Orleans - 3
Tampa Bay - 3
Washington - 3
Jacksonville - 3
Seattle - 3*
Arizona - 2
Baltimore - 2
NY Jets - 2
Oakland - 2
Tennessee - 2*
Buffalo - 1
Carolina - 1
Houston - 1
San Francisco - 1
Cincinnati - 1
Detroit - 1*

Atlanta, Kansas City, Miami and St. Louis do not have a primetime game scheduled at this time.

NFL News and Notes

Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe writes in his analysis of the New England Patriots' 2008 schedule that with the Patriots playing back-to-back games on the west coast in December, they may opt to remain on the west coast for a week.

The Buffalo Bills will play the Miami Dolphins in Toronto on December 7th.

Dave Hutchinson of The Star-Ledger writes that due to a manageable schedule and spending $140 million dollars in free agency, the New York Jets will make the playoffs in 2008. (Now that's what I call sound reasoning!)

In one stretch in the middle of the season, the Miami Dolphins will play five of six games at home. Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor is still dancing.

Three of the Pittsburgh Steelers first five games will be played in primetime.

A Thursday night game on November 20th in Pittsburgh is the only time the Cincinnati Bengals will play in primetime in 2008.

The Baltimore Ravens will be looking for depth in the 2008 draft.

Of the Indianapolis Colts' five primetime games, three will be played away from Lucas Oil Stadium.

The first month of the Jacksonville Jaguars 2008 season will feature three divisional games.

Monday Night Football returns to Nashville for the first time since 2004.

A Monday night game in Houston on December 1st will be "the most nationally significant football game this city has seen in the past decade", writes Jerome Solomon of the Houston Chronicle.

Psst, Jerome. Houston hosted Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2003.

Four of the fives games the San Diego Chargers will play in primetime during 2008 will be played in Qualcomm Stadium. Chargers linebacker Stephen Cooper will be suspended for the first four games in 2008 after testing positive for a banned substance.

The Denver Broncos will make five trips to the eastern time zone in 2008. The Broncos are expected to finalize a deal with free agent wide receiver Darrell Jackson today.

Aside from a season opener on the road against the New England Patriots, the start of the Kansas City Chiefs' 2008 schedule is quite favorable, writes Adam Teicher.

Four of the Oakland Raiders' first six games will be on the road.

The Dallas Cowboys make two trips into Pennsylvania and will host the defending Super Bowl champs in what shapes up to be a difficult final month of the 2008 season.

The New York Giants will play four of their final six games on the road in 2008. Giants quarterback Eli Manning hopes Jeremy Shockey knows that he's wanted back on the team.

Washington Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell was surprised to see that the Redskins first three NFC East games all come on the road.

The Philadelphia Eagles will play a home game on Thanksgiving for the first time since 1940. Eagles president Joe Banner wouldn't discuss cornerback Lito Sheppard's future with the team.

Even without Brett Favre, the Green Bay Packers landed four primetime games in 2008.

The early part of their schedule will be a tough test for the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings could look to add future starters at center and left tackle in the draft.

Once again, the NFL didn't consider the Detroit Lions worthy of a primetime appearance.

The Chicago Bears 7-9 season in 2007 was rewarded with five primetime games in 2008. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times thinks the Bears' schedule adds up to a 6-10 season.

Between not having to play a cold-weather road game, getting three games in primetime, and having the bye week come as late as possible, the NFL schedule-makers took care of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

David Gladow writes that aside from the annual home game against Tampa Bay, the New Orleans Saints home schedule leaves much to be desired.

Could the Carolina Panthers try to trade up to land Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan. The Panthers will host the Denver Broncos for the first time in franchise history on December 14th. Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme and wide receiver Steve Smith are filming new commercials for Bojangles this week.

Being an Atlanta Falcon is a dream come true for Jason Elam. The latest start time on the Falcons' schedule is a 4:15pm ET start when the team visits Oakland on November 2nd.

The Seattle Seahawks don't play on Monday night, but will face some of the league's best players in 2008, writes Clare Farnsworth of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

Shameless Self-Promotion Alert! I wrote an analysis of the Seattle Seahawks schedule for Seahawks.Net.

Three of the Arizona Cardinals first four games are on the road. Cardinals nose tackle Gabe Watson fell on a treadmill last week and fractured his kneecap.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee writes that if the schedule is any indication, the expectations the NFL has for the San Francisco are much lower than they were last year.

Five of the first seven games on the 2008 St. Louis Rams schedule are against teams that made the playoffs in 2007.

Central Florida running back Kevin Smith won't let where he's drafted define him as a football player.

NFL Opening Weekend Primetime Schedule

In addition to the Washington-NY Giants game on Thursday, September 4th, the NFL's primetime opening weekend looks like this:

Sunday, September 7th

Chicago at Indianapolis (NBC) at 815pm ET (first game at Lucas Oil Stadium)

Monday, September 8th

Minnesota vs. Green Bay (ESPN) at 6pm ET
Denver vs. Oakland (ESPN) at 10:15pm ET