By Steve Ginsburg

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The New York Giants will have a tough time repeating last year's shock Super Bowl triumph after enduring the retirement of Michael Strahan, a serious injury on the defensive line, and an improved NFC East.

Coach Tom Coughlin, however, has refused to concede a thing. After all, few predicted last season's pulsating 17-14 victory over the New England Patriots in the title game.

"No two seasons are ever the same, no two teams are ever the same," Coughlin said. "But we started training camp off with a theme -- 'Talk is cheap, never satisfied'.

"That has worked very well for us."

The retirement of seven-times Pro Bowl selection Strahan and news that double-Pro Bowler Osi Umenyiora will miss the whole of the 2008 regular season because of a knee injury has forced Coughlin to shuffle the line-up.

"I didn't see that one coming," defensive end Justin Tuck said of Umenyiora's injury. "Obviously, Osi is a remarkable player and that really hurts us, but it just means someone has to step up now."

The Giants and quarterback Eli Manning, the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player, open their season on Thursday at home against the Washington Redskins, playing their first game for new coach Jim Zorn.

Redskins linebacker Marcus Washington said it would be "different" playing the Giants without Strahan and four-times All-Pro tight end Jeremy Shockey, who was dealt to New Orleans during the off-season.

"As far as a tough Giants team, they are still going to come to play," he said. "It is going to be a tough game from the word go. Anytime you play in the NFC East it is always tough."

New York did not win the division last season and will probably play second fiddle to the Dallas Cowboys once again. The Eagles have improved and could be a factor in what could be the NFL's best division.

The Cowboys won the NFC East season with a 13-3 record but stumbled in the postseason. This time around they have added Adam Jones, a talented cornerback suspended by the NFL last season because of a string of off-the-field incidents.

WINLESS PRESEASON

Over in the AFC, the Patriots should make another run at the title along with Indianapolis. The Pats had a perfect season a year ago until the Giants stunned them in the Super Bowl.

The Patriots were 0-4 in the preseason but perennial All-Pro quarterback Tom Brady did not play. He was confident it would not matter when the Patriots open up against visiting Kansas City on Sunday.

"I am pretty confident that I have played a lot of football games and I think I know the situations and understand what it takes to move the team and get the ball in the end zone," he said.

"I don't think there is a lot of confidence lacking from my standpoint and with the ability of what our team has. I think we just have to go prove it."

The biggest news of the off-season was Brett Favre's decision to make a comeback just a few months after announcing his retirement. The longtime Green Bay Packers quarterback's change of mind was unwelcome news to his old club.

After an ugly back-and-forth with the Packers, the veteran was dealt to the New York Jets and promptly became a starter.

Jets starter Chad Pennington was traded to the Miami Dolphins, so it could be a little strange when New York faces the Dolphins in the season opener.

"I think everybody is happy for Chad and excited for the opportunity that he has there, but when it comes down to the game, it will be Jets vs. Dolphins, not Chad vs. the Jets or vice versa," said New York coach Eric Mangini.

(Editing by Sonia Oxley)