Dust off your calendar, double check your date book and cancel any Thanksgiving travel plans because the 2008 NFL schedule is out. That Turkey Day memo is pertinent to all Eagles fans since the Birds will be hosting the Cardinals on November 27th for what will be the Eagles’ fifth Thanksgiving game in franchise history.

Other 2008 schedule highlights include the Eagles’ first season opener at home since 2004, a week 2 Monday night visit to Texas Stadium, six prime-time nationally-televised games and a finale that features 3 out of four games against division rivals. Needless to say, the last stretch of the 2008 season will carry heavy playoff implications for all teams in the NFC East.

The thirteen opponents the Eagles will face in the upcoming season have a combined 2007 record of 101-107. The fact that it is a sub .500 record will hardly make it an easy 2008 campaign for the Birds. Since the Redskins, Cowboys and Giants all made the playoffs last season, the Birds play six games against playoff teams in their own division, along with another two contests against post-season teams in the Steelers and Seahawks.

Their bye week lands smack dab in the middle of the season in week 7, after a trip to San Francisco. The Eagles’ Division worst 8-8 record gives them the benefit of playing against other division bottom feeders, such as Atlanta and Chicago. The entire NFC East will compete against the AFC North and NFC West, and tough games can be expected from emerging powerhouses Cleveland and Arizona .

All in all, it’s a tough but fair 2008 schedule that is fine-tuned for maximum viewership. If the Eagles are able to make the playoffs next season, they will surely have earned it.