The Dallas Cowboys will kick off the season this year with a trip to the Meadowlands, where they will play the Giants in the season opener on Wednesday, September 5 (NBC, 8:30 PM ET), as per a league announcement. If nothing else, this saves the Cowboys a late-season trip to New York.
A trip to the Meadowlands was Coach Garrett's first order of business when he took over the Cowboys in November 2010. At the time, he said:
"Let’s get to work. The Giants are going to be at the Meadowlands at 4:15 on Sunday. They’re an awfully good football team in all areas – we’ve got to get ready for them."
The Cowboys won that game 33-20. It's time to get to work again. Circle your calendars, block the date, decline any and all invitations from friends and family. For the guys, turn your home into a castle of bachelorhood, for the ladies, well, do what you do.
Fill the fridge with beer, stock up on wings, chips, and dip. Ban American Idol from your TV screens.
It's on, snitches!
Here's the official NFL press release:
The Super Bowl champion New York Giants will host the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium in the 2012 season-opening NFL Kickoff game on Wednesday, September 5 (NBC, 8:30 PM ET), the NFL announced today.
NBC will televise the game at 8:30 PM ET and NFL Kickoff 2012 at 7:30 PM ET.
Continuing a tradition that started in 2004, the previous year’s Super Bowl winner hosts the NFL Kickoff game to open the following season.
| DATE | SITE | RESULT (HOME TEAM IN CAPS) | RECAP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept. 9, 2004 | Gillette Stadium | NEW ENGLAND 27, Indianapolis 24 | New England quarterback Tom Brady passes for 335 yards and three touchdowns as the defending Super Bowl champions defeat the Colts. |
| Sept. 8, 2005 | Gillette Stadium | NEW ENGLAND 30, Oakland 20 | New England quarterback Tom Brady leads the offense by throwing for 306 yards and two touchdowns while running back Corey Dillon adds two scores for the defending Super Bowl champions. |
| Sept. 7, 2006 | Heinz Field | PITTSBURGH 28, Miami 17 | Pittsburgh quarterback Charlie Batch passes for three touchdowns and running back Willie Parker adds 115 yards as the defending Super Bowl champions defeat Miami. |
| Sept. 6, 2007 | RCA Dome | INDIANAPOLIS 41, New Orleans 10 | The Super Bowl champion Colts rack up 452 yards of offense as quarterback Peyton Manning passes for 288 yards and three TDs. |
| Sept. 4, 2008 | Giants Stadium | NY GIANTS 16, Washington 7 | Quarterback Eli Manning scores a touchdown and the Giants’ defense allows just 209 total yards as the defending Super Bowl champions defeat division-rival Washington. |
| Sept. 10, 2009 | Heinz Field | PITTSBURGH 13, Tennessee 10 (OT) | Pittsburgh’s Jeff Reed kicks a 33-yard game-winning field goal in overtime as the defending Super Bowl champions defeat Tennessee. |
| Sept. 9, 2010 | Louisiana Superdome | NEW ORLEANS 14, Minnesota 9 | New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees throws for 237 yards and a touchdown to lead the Saints past the Vikings in a rematch of the 2009 NFC Championship Game. |
| Sept. 8, 2011 | Lambeau Field | GREEN BAY 42, New Orleans 34 | Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns and the Packers’ defense makes a goal-line stand on the game’s final play as the defending Super Bowl champions defeat the Saints. |