The NFL released their full regular season schedule yesterday and (lockout pending) there are a number of very intriguing match ups on the docket. The first Sunday of the season is set for September 11, the 10 year anniversary of the infamous 9/11 attacks. Noticeably absent from the Week 1 schedule is a face off between the two New York teams, the Jets and Giants. The G-Men will play the Washington Redskins while the J-E-T-S start it up with the Dallas Cowboys. The blogosphere is up in arms about the lack of a Big Apple Battle. Here's why I don't fault the NFL's decision.
The attack on the World Trade Centers in NYC is the face of the darkest day in US history, but it's the attack on the Pentagon in DC that often gets forgotten and had an equally devastating affect on our country. Sports was pushed to the back burner in both cities, and sports would eventually help draw the cities (and the rest of the nation) back together. So the schedule makers were smart to match up NFC East foes from theses two cities. The Giants and Redskins represent one of the best rivalries in all of football and will attract a huge draw at Fed Ex Field in Washington. Besides, ask any Giants fan who they hate more, and the 'Skins will come up way more often than the Jets.
As for the Jets, their match up with the Cowboys isn't nearly as patriotic, but I guarantee the audience for this game will still be huge. Two of the league's more popular and passionate fan bases facing off at the new Meadowlands Stadium on Sunday Night Football = a recipe for success. The Jets and Giants will have to wait until Christmas Eve to meet up on the gridiron. A nice little pre-holiday gift.
The NFL knows what they're doing. They're in the business of making money and they do that better than any sports in the country. They've set up the matchups that will draw the most interest and I think they've done that.
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