Packers Won't Face Giants in NFL Kickoff Game
The NFL chose the Dallas Cowboys as the New York Giants' opponent on the Wednesday Sept. 5 season opener.
After speculation that the Green Bay Packers would be a good opponent for the New York Giants in the NFL's annual kickoff game on Sept. 5, NFL vice president of football communications, Michael Signora, tweeted that the Giants would be taking on the Dallas Cowboys on professional football's Opening Day.
NYG vs Dal in kickoff game on Wed, Sept 5. Defending SB Champ 8-0 hosting kickoff game since tradition began in 2004
— Michael Signora (@NFLfootballinfo) March 27, 2012
It made sense that the Packers would be a candidate for the nationally televised season opener as a match-up of the past two Super Bowl champions that included high-profile players like Aaron Rodgers and Eli Manning. The defending Super Bowl champion is traditionally chosen as host for the game.
Alas, the NFL chose "America's Team" instead of Green Bay.
Not that the Cowboys don't have some star power of their own. Headed by quarterback Tony Romo, they're NFC East rivals with the Giants.
By virtue of the scheduling gods, head coach Mike McCarthy won't have to prepare his team for a game that's been pushed to a Wednesday so it didn't conflict with United States President Barack Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention that's slated to occur on Thursday Sept. 6.
The Packers will play their season-opening game on either Sunday Sept. 8 or Monday Sept. 9 when the NFL has traditionally played two Monday Night Football games in Week 1.
The NFL's full regular-season schedule is typically released in mid-April.
Comments (18)
March 27, 2012 at 03:34 pm
Works for me. Although, I was looking forward to a chance for the pack to stomp them on opening night.
March 27, 2012 at 11:13 pm
Do you think this played a role? Does the NFL like it's reigning superbowl champion winning on opening night?
Yeah, as I type it I become very skeptical that it played any role at all.
March 27, 2012 at 03:53 pm
I hope this is a blessing in disguise, even if a slap in the face. I was actually thinking starting out on Wed would give us an advantage for Week Two, but McCarthy does LOVE his schedules so this should allow him to create one without many divergences.
GO PACK GO!!!
March 27, 2012 at 04:03 pm
this is outrageous, egregious, preposterous !
March 27, 2012 at 05:18 pm
Good.
GBP 4 LIFE
March 27, 2012 at 05:27 pm
These days, we always beat the Giants in regular season, anyway. The game would be meaningless. Their weird "disrupt the playoffs" karma will only be broken when we crush them in the playoffs the way they deserve.
March 27, 2012 at 06:33 pm
Just 2 games,The Pack would have lost to anyone the way they played last game
March 27, 2012 at 06:31 pm
I'm real happy .It give me a chance to get tickets.I didn't want to go on a Wednesday night.Hope to see me boy Cory out there again.
March 27, 2012 at 07:00 pm
haha.....NFL doesn't want the lucky giants to get smashed on opening night. makes sense. put the crummy cowgirls up in there. at least it'll be a game for 4 quarters.
March 27, 2012 at 08:12 pm
My thoughts exactly. They don't want a blowout on opening night. You know Aaron can't wait to hang half a hundred on those lucky bastards.
March 28, 2012 at 07:48 am
Stop it. Luck? No. They just straight up worked the Pack on both sides of the ball.
There's a lot of work to be done for this Packer team... A Lot.
It's early-but so far the roster has regressed... Neal, wells.
They're set at three positions... Qb, guard, wide receiver... Is that all it takes? If not, then upgrades are needed at every other level of offense and defense.
PackerAaron
March 28, 2012 at 08:14 am
"It’s early-but so far the roster has regressed"
See, there's this thing called the draft...
March 28, 2012 at 11:01 am
Yup. Guess I'm not as confident as you are that they'll be able to upgrade...
Safety
Outside line backer
inside linebacker
Corner
Defensive line
Tackle
Running back
All in one draft.
Oh-and get a center who can be ready to play by 13-14.
March 27, 2012 at 07:30 pm
let's have some beers and think this thang through.
March 27, 2012 at 09:23 pm
Key line: "Even if it's a slap in the face"
I live in Texas, and I'm surrounded by idiot Cowboy fans who can't tell a football from a their own rear end.
They are terrible fans. Their team is a 3 ring circus. They also happen to suck.
What a friggen slap in the face.
-------------------
Oh well, maybe you're right Fitz. Goodell didn't want the defending champs getting stomped on opening night. They'll beat the Cowboys.
March 27, 2012 at 11:16 pm
" I live in Texas"...
Shit, I had no idea things were that bad. Sorry Meat.
March 28, 2012 at 06:49 am
lol. Hopefully that is about to be fixed... 1 more year, then PhD, then college job... keep repeating..
March 28, 2012 at 10:08 am
Good for you.