<P> For the first time since NBC gained the rights to Sunday Night Football, a tentative full - season schedule was unveiled, including games in the last seven weeks of the season . Those games could be replaced under flexible scheduling if the need arose . The same rules under which CBS and Fox protect games for their own packages still apply . </P> <P> Three of the games in the last seven weeks of the season were eventually replaced with more compelling matches . This resulted in the situation--twice--of having a team playing on consecutive Sunday nights . New England had consecutive Sunday nighters: the November 18 New England at Buffalo game was moved to prime time and was followed on November 25 by the already - scheduled Philadelphia at New England game . Likewise, the Washington Redskins played a scheduled game at the New York Giants on December 16, and their December 23 game in Minnesota was moved to prime time . For the last week of the season, the Tennessee Titans--Indianapolis Colts game was moved, switching places with the Kansas City Chiefs--New York Jets game that was originally scheduled in the Sunday night slot; the Titans needed a win to secure the final AFC playoff spot . </P> <P> In addition, the annual preseason Hall of Fame Game telecast was shifted to NFL Network, in anticipation of NBC airing the China Bowl contest from Beijing; however, the China Bowl was canceled . </P> <P> 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 . </P>

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