Giants & Redskins to Open NFL Season

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The reigning Super Bowl champions will begin the season on center stage. According to a report in Thursday's New York Daily News, the New York Giants will open the 2008 NFL season against the Washington Redskins on Thursday, September 4.

An official announcement is expected to come at the NFL owners' meeting on Monday, but a league source told the newspaper that the game was "set." The game will reportedly begin 90 minutes earlier then the usual 8:30 p.m. start time to avoid conflicting with the final night of the Republican National Convention.

According to the report, the Giants were not a lock to play in this game although the first matchup of the season traditionally involves the defending Super Bowl champions. New York had requested not to be scheduled for any weekday games at Giants Stadium during the up-coming season due to the need for offsite parking during the construction of its new stadium. However, the Giants were able to come to terms on "a one-time only exception" with the local businesses that provide the parking. Other highlight games of the NFL's first weekend also are expected to be announced on Monday.