// BEGIN editorial data
var i = 0;
var spt_SNFschedule = new Array();
spt_SNFschedule.ID = "spt_SNFschedule";
spt_SNFschedule.ID_WB = 25916889;
spt_SNFschedule.sPubDate = "12/22/2008 11:36:51 PM GMT";
spt_SNFschedule.navsectionID = "3032874"
spt_SNFschedule.appFmt = 2;
spt_SNFschedule.itemsPerPage = 1;
spt_SNFschedule.appWidth = 624;
spt_SNFschedule.appHeader = "2008 Sunday Night Football schedule";
spt_SNFschedule.appNavStyle = 3;
spt_SNFschedule.bDhtml = 0;
spt_SNFschedule.appLayout = 3;
spt_SNFschedule.copyWidth = 500;
spt_SNFschedule.copyMargin = 9;
spt_SNFschedule[i++] = new Array("","Kickoff 2008","THURSDAY, SEPT. 4 - NFL KICKOFF 2008
Washington Redskins at New York Giants (Giants Stadium, E. Rutherford, N.J.)
Eli Manning and the Super Bowl champion Giants host their fierce division rival the Redskins in the debut for first year head coach Jim Zorn. Manning led the Giants to a 17-14 victory over the previously undefeated Patriots and was named Super Bowl XLII MVP.
Madden: \"I like the idea of having the first game of the season opening up on a Thursday as a stand alone game. Now we have a real opening weekend with the World Champion New York Giants coming back home after the Super Bowl to start the season. That's pretty darn exciting.\"
Collinsworth: \"I still think the most interesting rivalries in football are in the NFC East. What a baptism by fire for Jim Zorn. Giants Stadium will be rocking.\"
","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Jervay%2C%20John/NFL/SNF/080729_1wk.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Mel Evans", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "357", "278", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_SNFschedule[i++] = new Array("","Week 1","SUNDAY, SEPT. 7- WEEK 1
Chicago Bears at Indianapolis Colts (Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Ind.)
The Sunday Night Football schedule kicks off with a rematch from Super Bowl XLI as Peyton Manning and the Colts make their debut in their new stadium. Manning was the MVP of the Super Bowl versus the Bears.
Madden: \"The Bears are always good on defense playing against the Indianapolis Colts and Peyton Manning. This game was the Super Bowl just two years ago.\"
Collinsworth: \"The Bears can apply the type of pressure that can really bother Peyton Manning.\"
","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Jervay%2C%20John/NFL/SNF/080729_2wk.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Jeff Roberson", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "236", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_SNFschedule[i++] = new Array("","Week 2","SUNDAY, SEPT. 14 - WEEK 2
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns (Cleveland Browns Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio)
The Cleveland Browns make only their second appearance on the league's premier primetime package in the last 13 years (2003 was last time since 1995) when they take on AFC North rival Steelers. Both teams finished with 10-6 records last season with the Steelers edging out the Browns for the division title by beating them twice.
Madden: \"The Steelers have a tough schedule this year, maybe the toughest schedule. The Browns have a very good offense and this is the year they can make that playoff move.\"
Collinsworth: \"A lot of people are picking Cleveland as the team to beat in the AFC North. They got better in the offseason and look like one of the up and coming franchises in the NFL. Having played in the division with these two teams, I know how intense Pittsburgh-Cleveland is.\"
","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Jervay%2C%20John/NFL/SNF/080729_3wk.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Keith Srakocic", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "226", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_SNFschedule[i++] = new Array("","Week 3","SUNDAY, SEPT. 21 - WEEK 3
Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers (Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wis.)
In what should be a fan favorite, two of the NFL's most popular and historic franchises clash with Aaron Rodgers taking over at quarterback for the retired Brett Favre. He'll face Tony Romo, coming off his second straight Pro Bowl appearance. The teams had identical 13-3 marks last season. In Week 13, the Cowboys defeated the Packers 37-27.
Madden: \"Dallas-Green Bay. That's just football. What is Green Bay going to be without Brett Favre? Aaron Rodgers was a first round draft choice and now the world is going to find out about him.\"
Collinsworth: \"When Rodgers came in against the Cowboys last year he gave them a big lift. Stylistically he may be a better fit for this offense than Brett Favre. The Packers have one of the most impressive young rosters in the league.\"
","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Jervay%2C%20John/NFL/SNF/080729_real3wk.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Mike Thomas", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "268", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_SNFschedule[i++] = new Array("","Week 4","SUNDAY, SEPT. 28 - WEEK 4
Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears (Soldier Field, Chicago, Ill.)
After missing the playoffs last season, both of these traditional NFC powerhouses look to establish themselves early in the season.
Madden: \"I think the Eagles are going to be back and be a playoff team this year. Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago: This just sounds like a hitting game.\"
Collinsworth: \"Even though Philly has not won a Super Bowl, year in and year out they are one of the most consistently good teams. This is an important year for Donovan McNabb.\"
","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Jervay%2C%20John/NFL/SNF/080729_4wk.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Rusty Kennedy", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "244", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_SNFschedule[i++] = new Array("","Week 5","SUNDAY OCT. 5 - WEEK 5
Pittsburgh Steelers at Jacksonville Jaguars (Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Fla.)
David Garrard leads the Jags against Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers in a rematch of last year's Wild Card game in which the Jags squandered an 18-point fourth quarter lead but kicked a late field goal to survive with a 31-29 victory.
Madden: \"Another hitting game. Jacksonville came into Pittsburgh and beat the Steelers with David Garrard making a big fourth down run. The Steelers still have that taste in their mouth.\"
Collinsworth: \"The Jaguars are one of my favorite teams to watch play. They have two tremendous backs and I'm a big fan of David Garrard.\"","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Jervay%2C%20John/NFL/SNF/080729_5wk.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Gene J. Puskar", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "277", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_SNFschedule[i++] = new Array("","Week 6","SUNDAY, OCT. 12 - WEEK 6
New England Patriots at San Diego Chargers (Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, Calif.)
The Patriots, led by QB Tom Brady, became the first NFL team to finish the regular season undefeated since the 1972 Miami Dolphins. The Patriots have eliminated the Chargers the last two years in the playoffs, including 21-12 in last year's AFC Championship Game, so San Diego will be thirsting for revenge. Last season, Tom Brady set the NFL single season record by throwing 50 touchdown passes, while his favorite target Randy Moss set the record by a receiver with 23.
Madden: \"The Chargers thought they should have gotten the Patriots last year.\"
Collinsworth: \"These are maybe the best two teams in football. You can't deny what the Patriots did last year and if not for their injuries, the Chargers may very well have been world champions.\"
","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Jervay%2C%20John/NFL/SNF/080729_6wk.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Winslow Townson", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "243", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_SNFschedule[i++] = new Array("","Week 7","SUNDAY, OCT. 19 - WEEK 7
Seattle Seahawks at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla.)
The NFL's premier primetime package returns to Tampa for the fist time since 2003 when the NFC South Division champs host Matt Hasselbeck and the four-time defending NFC West Division champion Seahawks.
Collinsworth: \"Mike Holmgren is looking for that grand farewell. Seattle's defense is as fast and talented as any.\"
","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Jervay%2C%20John/NFL/SNF/080729_7wk.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Elaine Thompson", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "267", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_SNFschedule[i++] = new Array("","Week 8","SUNDAY, OCT. 26 – WEEK 8
NO GAME (Note: World Series Game 4)
","","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
spt_SNFschedule[i++] = new Array("","Week 9","SUNDAY, NOV. 2 - WEEK 9
New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts (Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Ind.)
In one of the NFL's most anticipated games every year, two future Hall-of-Fame quarterbacks square off as Tom Brady and the Patriots travel to Indianapolis to take on Peyton Manning and the Colts. The Pats defeated the Colts 24-20 in Week 9 last season in the highest rated game of the regular season, earning a 20.1.
Madden: \"In the last five years, this has been the top game of the year. You are talking about the two top quarterbacks in football, two great coaches and two good organizations. This is just 'The Game.'\"
Collinsworth: \"Each year this is the most anticipated game on the NFL schedule and as long as Brady and Manning are around, always will be.\"
","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Jervay%2C%20John/NFL/SNF/080729_9wk.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Tom Strattman", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "241", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_SNFschedule[i++] = new Array("","Week 10","SUNDAY, NOV. 9 - WEEK 10
New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles (Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pa.)
Two bitter NFC East rivals meet in the always hostile environment in Philly. Last season the Giants defeated the Eagles twice, including jump-starting their season by sacking Eagles QB Donovan McNabb 12 times in a September victory.
Madden: \"The NFC East is always fun. Old-time football.\"
Collinsworth: \"Of all the rivalries in the NFC East, this is the most intense. It feels like Yankees-Red Sox.\"","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Jervay%2C%20John/NFL/SNF/080729_10wk.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Tim Roske", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "219", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_SNFschedule[i++] = new Array("","Week 11","SUNDAY, NOV. 16 - WEEK 11
Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins (FedEx Field, Landover, Md.)
Sports Illustrated has called it the top rivalry in the NFL and \"one of the greatest in sports.\" Last season the teams split their two games, each winning on their home field.
Madden: \"Back-to-back NFC East rivalry games. Big games in the regular season, those to me are always the best.\"
Collinsworth: \"The Cowboys are a team that has a lot going for it and will play with a chip on their shoulder because of last year's disappointment.\"
","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Jervay%2C%20John/NFL/SNF/080729_11wk.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Haraz N. Ghanbari", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "259", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_SNFschedule[i++] = new Array("","Week 12","SUNDAY, NOV. 23 - WEEK 12
Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers (Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, Calif.)
Another AFC playoff rematch pits two of the league's marquee stars, LaDanian Tomlinson and Peyton Manning, on two of the NFL's most powerful offenses. The Chargers beat the Colts twice last season – 23-21 in Week 10 of the regular season and then 28-24 in the AFC Divisional playoffs.
Madden: \"Is San Diego going to step up to be in the mix with New England and Indianapolis?\"
Collinsworth: \"If there's one team that has Manning's number it's San Diego. They're sort of his achilles heel.\"","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Jervay%2C%20John/NFL/SNF/080729_12wk.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Darron Cummings", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "200", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_SNFschedule[i++] = new Array("","Week 13","SUNDAY, NOV. 30 - WEEK 13
Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings (Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minn.)
Another division rivalry game as dynamic second-year running back Adrian Peterson squares off against Bears stalwart LB Brian Urlacher. Last season in just his eighth game as a pro, Peterson set the NFL's single game rushing record with 296 against the Chargers.
Madden: \"Adrian Peterson after one year is one of the top backs in football. If they can get some passing to go with his running he is going to have a bigger year this year than he did last year.\"
Collinsworth: \"Peterson is one of the great talents in the game and the most exciting player to watch.\"","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Jervay%2C%20John/NFL/SNF/080729_13wk.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Jim Mone", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "239", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_SNFschedule[i++] = new Array("","Week 14","SUNDAY, Dec. 7- WEEK 14
Washington Redskins at Baltimore Ravens (M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Md.)
","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Jervay%2C%20John/NFL/Season%20Slide%20show/Week%20eight/081026_fLACCO.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Rob Carr", "AP", "341", "278", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_SNFschedule[i++] = new Array("","Week 15","SUNDAY, DEC. 14 - WEEK 15
New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys (Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas)
Another bitter NFC East game as Tony Romo and the Cowboys seek to avenge last season's playoff loss to the Giants.
Madden: \"Giants at Dallas, that sounds like a championship game. Two great young quarterbacks, Eli Manning and Tony Romo. It has all those things that sound awfully good.\"
Collinsworth: \"It's hard to imagine this rivalry getting even more intense but after last year, it is. There is no one in Dallas who believed the Giants were going to walk into Dallas and beat the Cowboys last year.\"
","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Jervay%2C%20John/NFL/SNF/080729_15wk.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "David J. Phillip", "ASSOCIATED PRESS", "358", "253", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_SNFschedule[i++] = new Array("","Week 16","SUNDAY, Dec. 21- WEEK 16
Carolina Panthers at New York Giants (Giants Stadium, E. Rutherford, N.J.)","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/Personal/Jervay%2C%20John/NFL/SNF/Giants/eli-manning.vlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Amy Sancetta", "AP", "358", "248", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
spt_SNFschedule[i++] = new Array("","Week 17","SUNDAY, Dec. 28- WEEK 17
Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers (Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, Calif.)","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/NBCSports/Sections/NFL/AllMadden/photos/LT_83136764.hlarge.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Doug Benc", "Getty Images", "273", "364", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
// END editorial data