OK, so I’m stuck in Afghanistan. But I won’t be here forever and I’m already looking forward to picking out a few choice NFL tickets as my post-deployment treat. To the delight of my son and the despair of my wife, here’s the games I’m going to try and hit come this fall, barring any extension (God Forbid) of my stay here in the vacation capital of the Middle East.
Dallas Cowboys host the New York Giants on Sunday of opening weekend in the new Cowboys billion dollar stadium. This is just about a must have NFL ticket for anyone. You’ve got the love ‘em or hate ‘em Cowboys lined up against Eli Manning and the Giants. There’s controversy, elements of change by both teams, and a brand new era in Cowboys history.
Week 4 brings us to a Monday Night game featuring the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings. The NFC North is about as wide open as it’s going to get. This will be a trend setting game that seperates the leaders from the also rans. Yes, the Chicago Bears SHOULD be better and in the mix but I can’t shake the feeling that 2009 will belong to Aaron Rodgers and Adrian Peterson. We’ll see.
Is thinking last week of the season too much? I don’t think so. I know that the NFl is impossible to predict in the long term but these games could carry significant impact of the NFL Playoff picture and the Super Bowl:
New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers – The NFC South has a history of sending last year’s cellar dweller to the playoffs. That bodes well for New Orleans.
Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills – Indianapolis without Marvin Harrison and Tony Dungy? Sorry, I’m banking on the Bills to carry this one.
Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys – I can’t see the Eagles flying. Cowboys minus T.O. equals a more united Dallas team.