Football
Jim Caple, ESPN Senior Writer 16y

Caple: Great Dates for the NFL in 2008

• Photo gallery: NFL's most road-worthy games

1. Sept. 14: San Francisco at Seattle | Buy tickets

Here's the dirty secret about Seattle: The city averages less rainfall per year than Boston, New York and most every major city east of the Mississippi. Late summer/early fall is a particularly great time to visit.

The 49ers haven't been a great opponent lately, but what makes this weekend worthwhile is the ability to combine it with the Washington-Oklahoma game the previous day. (Buy Huskies-Sooners tickets)

Husky Stadium is one of the best settings in college sports, and with Oklahoma City businessman/evildoer Clay Bennett stealing the Sonics, there should be some additional emotion.

However many games you take in, be sure to find time for Brouwer's, a Fremont pub with a spectacular selection of Belgian beers and Scotches.

2. Sept. 21: Cincinnati at N.Y. Giants | Buy tickets

This game provides a chance to catch the Super Bowl champs against the improving Bengals (and, boy, did they have room to improve). More than that, it's the same weekend as the last scheduled baseball game at Yankee Stadium. (Buy Yankees tickets)

Given that the Yankees have reached the playoffs 13 years in a row, there's a good chance The House That Ruth Built will host another game or two (at least until A-Rod goes 0-for-12 in the first round). But take advantage of this opportunity to say good-bye to one of the most important sports site in America – and the former home of the Giants.

And for a great meal, check out Alma, a Brooklyn restaurant offering delicious and affordable tapas, along with a panoramic view of the city.

3. Oct. 20: Denver at New England | Buy tickets

There is no better time to visit New England than during the fall when the trees are in full color. Unless, of course, the best football team of the past decade also is in town for a "Monday Night Football" game. And we don't mean the Broncos.

Just be sure to clear all your vacation photos with Bill Belichick. And if the colors are past their peak, check out the colors at the Impressionists wing at the Museum of Fine Arts or, better yet, the Green Monster and the Red Sox if they're still playing.

4. Oct. 26: San Diego vs. New Orleans in London

New Orleans is more than 4,000 miles from London, but this is officially a home game for the Saints – and one time you would prefer to see the Saints play outside their home city.

Like last year's Miami-N.Y. Giants game, this tilt offers the rare chance to visit one of the world's absolutely greatest cities … without giving up Sunday football. And we mean the real kind of football, not the wimpy one where they wear shorts and don't use their hands and fall down and cry for their mommies if they are so much as bumped by an opponent.

And you must have a pint at The George, a pub so historic Dickens mentions it in "Little Dorritt."

5. Nov. 2: New England at Indianapolis | Buy tickets

Granted, Indianapolis usually doesn't rank among the world's most desirable cities to spend a weekend, but you can make an exception with a game so big fans are probably already tailgating.

And as an added bonus, up the road a piece in South Bend, Notre Dame hosts Pitt the day before (buy tickets) and you never know, the Patriots ex-offensive genius, Charlie Weis, may actually win (or at least the Irish may score a touchdown). Or you head an hour south and check out Bloomington, one of the best college towns around (and "Sink the Biz" at Nick's English Hut).

6. Nov. 16: Dallas at Washington | Buy tickets

The Smithsonian Institution has 19 museums, plus a zoo, and contains 135 million items in its vast collection, including such historic pieces as the Wright brothers first plane, the original star-spangled banner that inspired Francis Scott Key, the command module from Apollo 11 and Seinfeld's "puffy' shirt. The most fascinating site in our nation's capitol, however, is FedEx Field when Washington hosts the Cowboys in one of the sport's greatest rivalries.

7. Dec. 7: Miami vs. Buffalo at Toronto | Buy tickets

Any opportunity to visit Toronto, one of our favorite cities, is worth taking, no matter the quality of the teams playing there. Then drive down to Buffalo to pay your respects with a beef on weck, or stop by the Anchor Bar, the home of Buffalo wings.

8. Dec. 14: San Francisco at Miami | Buy tickets

OK, the Dolphins are awful. And the 49ers aren't good. So why is this game on our list? Two words: South Beach. And compared to what the weather will be in your city that weekend, you don't even need to feel guilty if you take a pass on the game and just hang on the beach listening to the game on the radio (or, better yet, without your radio).

9. Dec. 21: Buffalo at Denver | Buy tickets

It might not be a great game, it might not be a bad game. Who knows this far in advance? No matter what, you'll be able to go into the mountains before or after and ski or just sit in the lodge with a (wink, wink) hot cocoa. And while you're in Denver, hunt down a beer called Second Hand Smoke. A unique, delicious ale, it's like drinking barbecued ribs – and that's meant as a compliment.

10. Dec. 28: Detroit at Green Bay | Buy tickets

As we said last year, the best place to watch an NFL game is Green Bay. And the best time to watch a game in Green Bay is mid-winter when the snow is falling, the wind is howling, you can't feel your feet, your cheesehead is frozen solid, your beer has whitecaps … and you can't believe how lucky you are to have a ticket. Plus, Brett Favre will probably have come out of retirement by this game.

Jim Caple, a k a Road Warrior, is a senior writer for ESPN.com. His Web site, jimcaple.net, has more installments of 24 College Avenue. In addition to his book "The Devil Wears Pinstripes," his book with Steve Buckley titled "The Best Boston Sports Arguments: The 100 Most Controversial, Debatable Questions for Die-Hard Boston Fans" is on sale.

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