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You're feeling pretty OK if you're a Giants fan and you've gotten a gander at the 2008 NFL schedule.

The defending champs only face two 2007 playoff teams after November 9 (at Redskins November 30, at Dallas December 14). And they open the season with their first seven games against teams that are just OK or a little better than that - Redskins, @ St. Louis, Bengals, Seahawks, @ Cleveland, 49ers.

The tough stretch for New York comes right there, though. On October 26, the Giants are at Pittsburgh then hosting Dallas and at Philly. Two of the three are Sunday night games on NBC.

Meanwhile, if Tom Coughlin's itching to find a sign of disrespect, his team has four prime-time games. Dallas and New England each have five. Hmmmmph.

Another tidbit: the Browns have three occasions in which they have back-to-back road games.

Since nothing seems to make Wade Phillips feel more content than a terrific regular season, he's got to be feeling purty good right 'bout now.

There isn't a team on Dallas' schedule that makes you sit up and say "uh-oh" until they play at the Giants on Nov. 2 at 4:15 (that'll be a great day for NFL by the way, with the Pats and Colts on NBC after).

Before that for the 'Boys? At Browns, Eagles, at Packers, Redskins, Bengals, at Cardinals, at Rams and then the Bucs.

There are three playoff teams in there but the Redskins and Bucs were the worst teams to get there in 2007 and the Packers have Aaron Rodgers and not Brett Favre under center for them this year. On second thought, Rodgers chewed up Dallas replacing Favre at Texas Stadium last year, so that might not be a picnic.

Dallas also sets up nicely with its bye, having it come right after the Giants game. Dallas closes the season at Pittsburgh, hosting the Giants and Ravens and then at Philly.

*****

Know who got a rotten schedule in the NFC? Chicago. Not only do they open with two on the road at Indy and Carolina, but they have three in a row on the road later in the season -- the only team in the conference with three in a row OR the first two games on the road.

The Panthers, meanwhile, close with two games on the road meaning John Fox won't have to hear the boos in his final days as Carolina coach.

From Oct. 19 to Nov. 30, the Indianapolis Colts are going to be getting a faceful of it every weekend.

Check out what Indy sees after its first five games:

• Oct. 19: @ Green Bay
• Oct. 27: @ Tennessee
• Nov. 2: New England
• Nov. 9: @ Pittsburgh
• Nov. 16: Houston
• Nov. 23: @San Diego
• Nov. 30: @ Cleveland

That's five out of seven road games (all five against playoff teams from 2007) and six out of seven against playoff teams from last year. And when they get a home game during that stretch, Indy has to play New England sandwiched in between road trips to Tennessee and Pittsburgh?

That's nasty. The Colts also close the season at Jacksonville and then home against Tennessee. They, of course, open the season on NBC against Chicago on Sept. 7.