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Now that the NFL schedules are released, I am able to plan my ultimate fantasy road trip for this coming fall. See ya when I see ya...
Week 1: Minnesota @ Green Bay: With all due respect to the defending champs who kick off the season in New York…er New Jersey, I have to see for myself about this Brett Favre retirement as the Pack hosts the Vikes on Monday night. Seeing Adrian Peterson and the NFC North champs up close is not a bad reason either.
Week 2: Pittsburgh @ Cleveland: Sunday Night football is the spot where the Browns make the first of their five national television appearances—pretty hefty for a team that has not made the playoffs since Bill Belichick couldn’t coach. The NFL needs Derrick Anderson to be the real deal almost as much as the Browns.
Week 3: Jacksonville @ Indianapolis: The Jags have opened up the wallet for Jack Del Rio and David Garrard. If the duo is to take the franchise to the Promised Land, they must first win the AFC South, which means overtaking the Indianapolis Colts and Mount Manning first.
Week 4: Washington @ Dallas: In a slow week, you can’t go wrong with a little Cowboys and Indians—am I still allowed to say that? It’s not Tom Landry versus Joe Gibbs, but there is enough hate between the franchises to make it worth the trip. The downside? Either Daniel Snider or Jerry Jones must win…
Week 5: Indianapolis @ Houston: Another franchise in the AFC South that must measure themselves against Manning and the Colts. After going 8-8, many see the Texans as a sleeper for the 2008 season. It will be fun to see if Super Mario Williams and Amobi Okoye can make Manning’s life difficult for one day.
Week 6: New England @ San Diego: AFC Championship Game re-do/preview anyone? The Pats have been the best “team” in the NFL throughout the Tom Brady Era, while the Super Chargers could have the most talented roster in the NFL and almost knocked off the Pats last season. If LT plays, this one will be much better.
Week 7: New York Jets @ Oakland: Not a stellar week…so I’ll fly out to the left coast to watch my J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets, take on the Oakland Raiders and redeem themselves from Heidi Bowl. This will be their second game following their bye—so Eric Mangenius should have Gang Green well on their way.
Week 8: New York Giants @ Pittsburgh: Peyton’s Little Brother versus Big Ben…who is the top quarterback from the Class of 2004? Each has a ring as they square off head-to-head. Well not head-to-head, although I am sure Roethlisberger would prefer to see Manning chasing him, rather than Osi Umenyiora and company.
Week 9: New England @ Indianapolis: It’s becoming cliché…but Tom Brady versus Peyton Manning puts fannies in the seats. Two Hall of Fame quarterbacks—what else could you want? How about a pair of HOF wide outs in Randy Moss and Marvin Harrison—Mr. Spectacular versus Mr. Consistent—is that enough for you?
Week 10: New York Giants @ Philadelphia: These teams flat out don’t like each other—and with the Giants being the defending champs you can expect the animosity and trash talk to crank up another level—and that’s just in the stands! I wanna see McNabb versus Strahan…Shockey versus Dawkins. Bring it on!
Week 11: New York Jets @ New England: The NFL has deemed the Jets worthy of a second national TV game…so who am I to argue? With second year defenders Darrelle Revis and David Harris on their way to their first Pro Bowl appearances, the Jets will shock the world as they pull off the upset (psst…it’s a fantasy trip).
Week 12: Oakland @ Denver: Indianapolis @ San Diego is too easy…I wanna see the two young guns of the West go at it, in a rivalry that dates back to the old AFL days. Will we see a glimpse of the greatness to come or could Champ Bailey, DeAngelo Hall and Nnamdi Asomugha have big days…
Week 13: Tennessee @ Detroit: Turkey Day in Motown! Vince Young running on the Turf against a porous Lions defense, while the duo of Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson test the Titans pass defense. Who knows…they both could be in the playoff race. Pass the turducken please…
Week 14: Dallas @ Pittsburgh: Each franchise has won five Super Bowls, including Dallas over Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XXX and Pittsburgh over Dallas in Super Bowls X & XIII. The Cowboys represent the glitz and the glamour, while the Steelers are forever blue collar. The race to six is on…
Week 15: New York Giants @ Dallas: Back in Big D for another NFC East clash. Tony Romo won both regular season battles in 2007, but we know who won the Big One. Expect big days and bigger back page headlines from TO and J-Shock in what should be an offensive showdown despite a plethora of sack artists.
Week 16: Green Bay @ Chicago: There are not many matchups worth watching at this point of the season, but this Norris Division battle is certainly one of them. The ghosts of Dick Butkus and Ray Nitschke wouldn’t allow anything less. Packers/Bears is football…even without Brett Favre or maybe…
Week 17: Cleveland @ Pittsburgh: Staying with the bread and butter of December football, we go with another division rivalry. Dallas at Philadelphia was tempting, so was Miami at New York (a fella can dream can’t he?), but the AFC North rivalry wins out as Brady Quinn (“Oh My”) leads the Browns to victory.
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