ProFootballCentral.com

The NFL announced the 2008 Kickoff Weekend schedule, which features four national games, on Monday. The New York Giants will host the NFL East rival Washington Redskins in the season opener Sept. 4, continuing the tradition of the Super Bowl champion hosting the Thursday night season opener. Kickoff will be 90 minutes earlier than usual because of the Republican National Convention. The Indianapolis Colts will host the Chicago Bears in Sunday night’s prime-time game, the first regular-season contest at Lucas Oil Stadium. ESPN will feature a Monday night doubleheader — the Green Bay Packers, in their first game without retired quarterback Brett Favre, will host the Minnesota Vikings in the early matchup, while the Oakland Raiders will host the Denver Broncos in the late contest. The rest of the 2008 regular-season schedule will be completed and announced in April, the NFL said.