Giants Open Title Defense as NFL Kicks Off Thursday

NEW YORK - The New York Giants raise their Super Bowl banner Thursday night against the Washington Redskins, opening an NFL season heavy with story lines: Brett Favre in green and white, Tom Brady's quest for a perfect encore and a rookie class already starring.

The Giants' February upset of the previously unbeaten New England Patriots — sealed by David Tyree's helmet catch — ranks among the greatest Super Bowl stunners. Their encore begins without retired defensive end Michael Strahan.

The offseason belonged to Favre, whose tearful March retirement became a summer-long saga ending with his trade from Green Bay to the New York Jets. At 38, he takes over a team that won four games last year.

"I'm here to win games, not to be a sideshow," Favre said. His debut comes Sept. 7 at Miami — against the Dolphins and new football czar Bill Parcells, who signed the quarterback the Packers drafted to replace Favre's heir. (That heir, Aaron Rodgers, starts Monday night for Green Bay.)

The Patriots return nearly intact from their 18-1 season; the Colts and Chargers loom in the AFC; and the Cowboys, with Pacman Jones and Tank Johnson on the roster, are the NFC favorites in many previews.

Thursday's kickoff concert and ceremony at the new Giants Stadium was trimmed this week out of deference to the hurricane threat on the Gulf Coast.

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Associated Press writers contributed to this report.

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