The 2008 schedule , released on April 15 , continued the 2007 practice of a scheduled game possibly being moved in favor of a more compelling one during Weeks 11 through 16 ( November 16 through December 21 ) , but left the slot open on the final Sunday , December 28 . The NFL Kickoff Game between the Washington Redskins and defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants that was played on September 4 started at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time instead of the normal 8:30 p.m. time in order to avoid conflict with the nomination speech that John McCain gave at the Republican National Convention that night ; the game ended at 10:01 p.m. Eastern Time , averting any conflict
Republican National Convention
2008 Republican National Convention
NBC Sunday Night Football