FOXBORO - The NFL released its schedule of "marquee" opening weekend games today at the owners' meetings in Palm Beach, Fla., and to some surprise, the New England Patriots won't be a part of it.

Apparently, a 16-0 regular season and a fourth Super Bowl berth since 2001 weren't enough to convince the schedule makers to put the Patriots into the national spotlight for anything other than "Spygate."

Already known was the fact that the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants were going to open the season on Thursday, Sept. 4, at Giants Stadium against the Washington Redskins. The game will kick off at 7 p.m. on NBC so it won't conflict with the Republican National Convention's closing night, including the acceptance speech of its presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain.

The Week 1 Sunday night prime-time contest will feature a rematch of of Super Bowl XLI, with the Chicago Bears at the Indianapolis Colts at 8:15 p.m. (also on NBC). It will mark the Colts' first game in their new home, Lucas Oil Stadium.

The first Monday night of the 2008 season will feature a doubleheader for the third consecutive season. In two matchups of division rivals on Sept. 8, the Brett Favre-less Green Bay Packers will play host to the Minnesota Vikings at 7 p.m., followed by the Denver Broncos at the Oakland Raiders at 10:15 p.m. Both games will be televised on ESPN. Hard to believe that the Patriots wouldn't have been better national draws than the Bears, Packers, Vikings, Broncos or the really pathetic Raiders. Maybe the wounds of "Spygate" go a lot deeper than many people think.

-MARK FARINELLA, Sun Chronicle staff