The Super Bowl champion New York Giants beat the Washington Redskins 16-7 to kick off the 2008 NFL season.

Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning scored on a 1-yard touchdown run in addition to throwing for 216 yards.

Some 12 hours before the start of the game, hard-core Big Blue fans were at large in the stadium?s parking lot, tailgating with a flat-screen TV, an array of Giants paraphernalia and plenty of snacks.

"We're not like Jets fans,? says Rocco Crincolli, of Gillette. ?We're fine, we're liable, we're good.?

The Giants lost their first two regular-season games last year before going on an improbable late-season run, which ended with an upset of previously unbeaten New England in the title game. This season, they are bent on proving to all that their big win was more than a strike of luck.