The defending Super Bowl-champion New York Giants will kick off the NFL season.

The NFL announced Monday that NBC will televise the traditional season opener on Thursday, Sept. 4, when the Giants host the Washington Redskins. The kickoff will be at 7 p.m., which is 90 minutes earlier than normal because NBC will be televising John McCain’s acceptance speech for the Republican presidential nomination later that night.

NBC’s first Sunday night game will be Sept. 7, when the Chicago Bears visit the Indianapolis Colts, who will play their first game in their new stadium, Lucas Oil Stadium.ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” will have its traditional opening double-header Sept. 8. The first game, at 7 p.m., features the Green Bay Packers beginning post-Brett Favre era when they host the Minnesota Vikings. The second game, at 10:15 p.m., has the Denver Broncos visiting the Oakland Raiders.