2 prime time games highlight Cardinals’ schedule

Believe it or not, the Cardinals will be a high-profile team — nationally! — in the upcoming season.

The schedule released Tuesday has the Cardinals hosting the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night, Nov. 10 and playing again on national TV on Thanksgiving night, Nov. 27, at the Philadelphia Eagles.

View team-by-team 2008 NFL schedules

“I think it’s a sign of respect for the progress we’ve made,” coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “I know it’s a sign of respect for the number of quality players we have. We’re excited about that.”

Teams already knew who they would be playing; the schedule simply laid out the dates.

So the Cardinals knew they would be playing five games in the East. They seemed to catch a break when two of those — though back to back — were set for September, when the weather figures to be mild.

They will play at Washington on Sept. 21 and at the New York Jets on Sept. 28.

“I think we’re lucky that way,” Whisenhunt said.

The Thanksgiving night game in Philadelphia and a Dec. 21 game at New England, the Super Bowl runner-up, would seem to be the games most likely to feature cold or inclement weather.

Because the games at the Redskins and Jets are back to back, Whisenhunt is considering having the Cardinals stay in the East for the days in between.

“It’s something we’re definitely considering.”

At the same time, this means the Cardinals will be facing road tests early, as three of their first four games are outside Arizona.

“One of our focuses is to be a better road team,” Whisenhunt said. “Obviously, we’re going to be tested on that early.

“It’s not going to be easy. But I think it’s going to be a challenge this team will be up for.”

The flip side is that four of their final six games will be at home.

“If we’re in a position we hope to be in — that’s making a push for the playoffs or a push for the division — that’s exciting.”

Like last season, the Cardinals open the season at San Francisco. But unlike last season, when this game took place on Monday night, the Cardinals will play on Sunday (at 1:15 p.m. Sept. 7).

The Thanksgiving game means the Cardinals will have a short week; they’ll host the world champion New York Giants on Sunday, Nov. 23, before heading for Philadelphia.

Whisenhunt said he did something similar in his final season as an assistant coach in Pittsburgh.

“I already have a schedule in place.”

EXTRA POINTS: Defensive tackle Gabe Watson suffered a fractured kneecap last week while running on a treadmill and underwent surgery. While his availability for the start of training camp is in question, the Cardinals seem optimistic he’ll be ready to go for the start of the season.

ARIZONA CARDINALS 2008 SCHEDULE

Preseason

Thu., Aug. 7 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS%, Univ. of Phoenix Stadium 5 PM

Sat., Aug.16 at Kansas City Chiefs , Arrowhead Stadium 7 PM

Wk 3 (Aug. 21-25) at Oakland Raiders, McAfee Coliseum TBD

Fri., Aug. 29 DENVER BRONCOS , Univ. of Phoenix Stadium 7 PM

Regular Season

Sun., Sep. 7 at San Francisco 49ers, Candlestick Park 1:15 PM 

Sun., Sep. 14 MIAMI DOLPHINS , Univ. of Phoenix Stadium 1:15 PM

Sun., Sep. 21 at Washington Redskins, FedEx Field 10 AM

Sun., Sep. 28 at New York Jets , Giants Stadium 10 AM

Sun., Oct. 5 BUFFALO BILLS , Univ. of Phoenix Stadium 1:15 PM

Sun., Oct. 12 DALLAS COWBOYS, Univ. of Phoenix Stadium 1:15 PM

Sun., Oct. 19 BYE

Sun., Oct. 26 at Carolina Panthers, Bank of America Stadium 10 AM

Sun., Nov. 2 at St. Louis Rams , Edward Jones Dome 11 AM

Mon., Nov. 10 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS #, Univ. of Phoenix Stadium 6:30 PM

Sun., Nov. 16 at Seattle Seahawks * , Qwest Field 2:05 PM

Sun., Nov. 23 NEW YORK GIANTS * , Univ. of Phoenix Stadium 2:15 PM

Thu., Nov. 27 at Philadelphia Eagles &, Lincoln Financial Field 6:15 PM

Sun., Dec. 7 ST. LOUIS RAMS * , Univ. of Phoenix Stadium 2:15 PM

Sun., Dec. 14 MINNESOTA VIKINGS *, Univ. of Phoenix Stadium 2:05 PM

Sun., Dec. 21 at New England Patriots *, Gillette Stadium 11 AM

Sun., Dec. 28 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS * , Univ. of Phoenix Stadium 2:15 PM

% Thursday night on ESPN

# Monday night on ESPN

& Thanksgiving night on NFL Network

* Subject to flexible scheduling decisions, which allows the NFL to move some games to Sunday night