The 2008 Football Fly-In Pass

Hockey and basketball have gone into winter hibernation, baseball is offering few thrills outside of A-Rod’s latest misstep, and the world is preparing for this summer’s Olympic Games. That can mean only one thing – only two more months until the start of the NFL season. There are some true gems on this season’s NFL schedule, and what better way to enjoy the game than to pick up tickets through your favorite broker and fly in for the game aboard your private jet. Not only will an executive jet allow you to avoid the constant delays and hassles inherent with commercial airlines, but you will probably save enough time to hit some of the local hotspots before or after the game. Without further adieu, here is our list of the games each week that you should fly in to see. We call it our “2008 Football Fly-In Pass.”

Week 1; September 8, 2008; Minnesota at Green Bay. Sure Adrian Peterson is worth the price of admission, and if you must visit Green Bay, what better time than September, before the built-in field heaters actually have to be turned on. But the true reason to be in Green Bay the first week of the season is to witness Brett Favre’s jersey retirement ceremony. Although it may seem that the fans and management in Green Bay are simply looking to honor their newly-retired hero as soon as possible, we think the jersey ceremony was scheduled as a “no backsies” ceremony, so as to prevent the spectre of Favre returning from further damaging the prospects of an already shaky Aaron Rodgers. Also, we’d love to see the reactions from the sideline as the locals start chanting “One more year!” after Rodgers throws his first pick. Or, we just might see Favre wearing a Vikings jersey as he jogs over to midfield at halftime to retire his jersey, right before he throws a couple td passes (or picks) to ice the game. Good times.

Week 2, September 14, 2008; New England at New York Jets. From a competitive aspect this game ranks slightly above the United States Marines versus the Iraqi Republican Guard. However, unless Favre’s Retirementgate is still dragging on in week 2, you can expect Senator Arlen Specter and the bevy of New York media to revive “Spygate” for at least the first few weeks of the season as we head into this fall’s political elections. One can only imagine the wrath that Belichik and the Patriots will unleash on the team that brought the entire Spygate debacle to light last year. Our final score prediction – New England 148, New York 3.

Week 3; September 21, 2008; Jacksonville at Indianapolis. This figures to be an early season showdown between the traditional power Indianapolis and Peyton Manning and the upstarts in Jacksonville with a blue collar attitude. Unless Marvin Harrison keeps storing his handguns in the buckets at his carwash. If he keeps that up, Peyton and his receivers not-named-Marvin may get tuned.

Week 4; September 28, 2008; Denver at Kansas City. Yes, the traditional AFC West powers Denver and Kansas City have each fallen on hard times in recent seasons. However, this game marks the first stop on our NFL Barbeque Tour. Kansas City is known for its barbeque, and we certainly suggest you schedule some time to pick up some burnt ends and short ribs at Arthur Bryant’s – even if it means you have to miss the first half of the game.

Week 5; October 5; Cincinnati at Dallas. Perhaps the most interesting subplot in this game will be weather Ocho Cinco has made a big enough pain-in-the-ass out of himself by this time to force Marvin Lewis and the Bengals deal him to a likely suitor such as Dallas. Also, Dallas makes its appearance as the second stop on our NFL Barbeque Tour. Try the prime rib at Kreuz Market.

Week 6; October 12; Chicago at Atlanta. The Falcons’ first round draft pick, Matt Ryan, should be starting by Week 6, if not living in the Mayor’s Mansion in Atlanta. In Chicago, Atlanta gets to play against perhaps the only other team in the league with a quarterback situation worse than their own. Also, this is the third stop on the BBQ Tour. We recommend the ribs at Fat Matt’s Rib Shack.

Week 7; October 19; Seattle at Tampa Bay. Each of these teams has a legitimate chance to either win their division, or finish under .500. This week 7 matchup should give some indication which direction these teams are heading. Also, you are unlikely to find two more tightly wound men in such close proximity as you will in Jon Gruden and Mike Holmgren, unless of course, you are having breakfast with Bill Belichik and Arlen Specter.

Week 8; October 26; San Diego at New Orleans. There was an intense debate in San Diego about whether general manager A.J. Smith should have let Drew Brees leave in favor of the young and unproven Philip Rivers. Well, that was before the Saints fell back to the bottom of the league and Rivers nearly got the Chargers to the Super Bowl with one leg. Don’t forget, this game is actually played in London, England. What better excuse to jet over to the continent for a weekend jaunt around London capped by some good old American Football (is there any other kind of fooball?).

Week 9; November 2; New England at Indianapolis. You just know these two teams will be in the AFC mix at the end of the year and this midterm exam should prove a good opportunity to evaluate the prospects of each. You also have Tony Dungy’s Yoda to Bill Belichik’s Darth Vader comparisons to make all week leading up to the game. Good to have this game it is.

Week 10; November 9; New York Giants at Philadelphia. Perhaps it says more about the Giants’ schedule than the relative value of watching the Super Bowl champs play that we had to wait until week 10 to mix them in our tour. Hopefully for Giant fans, Eli Manning hasn’t yet awoken from his playoff performance of last year. While in Philly, aside from visiting the non-existent Charles Barkley statue, stop by Pat’s and Gino’s and try a cheesesteak from each in an attempt to settle the age-old argument of Pat’s vs. Gino’s.

Week 11; November 16; San Diego at Pittsburgh. Can the Steel Curtain shutdown the Chargers’ LaDainian Tomlinson? I wouldn’t bet on it, but you’ll be glad you have your own jet to get the heck out of Pittsburgh as soon as the game ends.

Week 12; November 23; Indianapolis at San Diego. This should showcase the remaining big matchup in the AFC amongst teams that you will likely see play in January. Also, the surf and fish tacos are always worth a flight to San Diego.

Week 13; November 27; Seattle at Dallas. Spend Thanksgiving the same way you always do, except instead of having the game on in the background while your uncle details the removal of his appendix, fly unc out to Dallas and sit him on the fifty yard line where he can regale Cowboy fans with his latest trip to the urologist.

Week 14; December 7; Cleveland at Tennessee. Both of these teams have made noises over the past couple years that their youth may be ready to climb to the next level. We should know by week 14 if they are contenders or pretenders. Stop four on the BBQ Tour and we recommend you stop by Tex’s World Famous Bar B.Q.

Week 15; December 14; Denver at Carolina. We don’t know if Carolina will still be relevant to the playoff picture by week 15, but they have to be a strong favorite to challenge Kansas City and St. Louis for the title of BBQ Champion. Hit up the pig at Bill Spoon’s Barbeque.

Week 16; December 21; San Francisco at St. Louis. Mike Martz makes his triumphant return to St. Louis. By this point in the season he may have actually led the coup that takes control of the 49ers away from Mike Nolan. Stop by Roper’s Ribs and see what makes St. Louis barbeque worth waiting for.

Week 17, December 28; Dallas at Philadelphia. By the last game of the season, aside from the few teams still trying to lock up a playoff spot, the only people fired up about a game are the guys vying for their fantasy league championship. However, both Philadelphia and Dallas figure to be jockying for position or a spot in the playoffs. If Dallas doesn’t leave Philadelphia with a playoff position secured, Wade Phillips may ask you for a ride home on your jet.

After 17 weeks of game-hopping, you’ll be in prime shape to fly in to Tampa for the Super Bowl in January, 2009, and you’ll probably have a pretty good idea of where to find the nation’s best barbeque.

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