NFL season kicks off with rivalry game
Giants and Redskins ready
Thursday, September 4, 2008 11:59 AM PDT
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| In this Dec. 16, 2007, file photo New York Giants center Shaun O'Hara (left), quarterback Eli Manning (10) and tackle Kareem McKenzie walk off the field during a game against the Washington Redskins at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. |
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — In honor of school opening and the NFL kicking off another season, let’s start the year with a one-question pop quiz to be graded in February.
Answer before the New York Giants play the Washington Redskins on Thursday night.
Pencils ready?
Who’s going to win the Super Bowl?
Dallas? New England? Indianapolis? San Diego? Philadelphia?
Haven’t forgotten about the defending champion Giants, have you?
A lot of people don’t like the Giants’ chances of repeating after the retirement of seven-time Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Strahan; the season-ending knee injury to fellow Pro Bowl DE Osi Umenyiora; and the trade of former Pro Bowl tight end Jeremy Shockey to New Orleans.
In addition to the Giants’ personnel losses, many feel that everything aligned right for the team last season and that every club in the NFC East has improved.
The positive for the Giants is that they are playing the Redskins, a team bound to get their attention.
Not only does Tom Coughlin’s players have to be ready to adjust to the wrinkles of new Washington coach Jim Zorn, but they also have memories of their two meetings last season.
New York had to rally in the second half to win the first game in Washington, and then did little against the Redskins in a 22-10 loss here in December — the third of four straight losses at Giants Stadium to end the regular season.
‘‘It won’t be just a regular game because it is our season opener and it means so much more than the preseason,’’ Zorn said.
While the Giants will be without Strahan, Umenyiora and Shockey, the team has not changed much otherwise.
Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning will lead the same 11 players on offense who took the field against the Patriots in February in the stunning 17-14 win.
The one change this season is receiver Plaxico Burress, who is healthy and looking to build on a career-best 12 touchdown receptions.
Having Justin Tuck and Mathias Kiwanuka at the defensive ends will be the biggest change in Steve Spagnuolo’s second season as coordinator.
John Carney will replace the injured Lawrence Tynes (knee) as the placekicker for the opener.
Washington returns the vast majority of its starters from a team that went 9-7 and lost in the first round of the playoffs at Seattle.
Quarterback Jason Campbell is mastering Zorn’s West Coast offense, while Clinton Portis leads the running game.
Greg Blache has replaced Gregg Williams as the defensive coordinator, but the system is similar and possibly more player friendly.
‘‘They didn’t show all their cards in the preseason,’’ Pierce said. ‘‘They showed a little bit, but they are working on other things and probably game planning against us a little, just like we’ve been doing against them.’’
