It also looks like the NFL wants fans watch it play out on prime-time television.
The defending champions were well aware that— as winners of Super Bowl XLVI— they would be featured on a lot of night games against top-tier teams. Sticking to a proven format, the 2012 schedule maker didn't disappoint the viewing public and has the Giants playing three of them in the first four weeks.
They all won't be your typical 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Sunday games on the Giants' schedule in 2012. They will be playing night games on a Wednesday— the NFL opener (Sept. 5) against the Dallas Cowboys— on a Thursday (Sept. 20 at Carolina), Sunday (Sept. 30 at Philadelphia and later in the season against the Packers) and on Monday night (Dec. 13 vs. the Redskins).
That's a longer prime-time run than either "Hellcats" or "S#*! My Dad Says" could boast. And no, neither of those shows had anything to do with the Jets or Rex Ryan.
Besides the nighttime match-ups, the Giants play six games down the stretch against four 2011 playoff teams— including the Packers and Saints— and two divisional games against the Eagles and Redskins.
