2012 NFL Schedule: Looking Ahead to the 5 Most Intruiging Games in 2012
The 2012 NFL schedule has been released, and it's now time to jump back into the NFL.
2012 has brought us a lot in football, including playoff drama, Eli Manning's second championship, a huge free agent signing and draft drama. Adding on to that will be the 2012 regular season, chock full of great games.
You want the best teams in football in prime time? The NFL's got you covered.
Great matchups are scheduled in 2012, and the NFL took advantage of that by scheduling great prime time games and adding Thursday Night Football from Weeks 2-15, plus a Wednesday night game to open the season between the Giants and Cowboys.
Here are five games to look forward to in 2012.
5. San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints, Nov. 25, 4:15 PM ET
Two words describe this matchup perfectly: playoffs and bounty.
New Orleans' bounty program has landed the Saints in a heap of trouble, especially with the audio recording of Gregg Williams, the Saints defensive coordinator, talking about how and where to hurt the 49ers.
San Francisco survived New Orleans during the playoffs, but they lost to the Giants in the NFC Championship. The 49ers are looking to take their game one step further this year, while Joe Vitt, who's taking over at coach for the suspended Sean Payton, will try to lead New Orleans back to the top.
A pair of great teams with a new-found hatred for each other? What more can you ask for? If the November showdown is half as good as the 36-32 Niner playoff win, fans are in luck.
When football's back, everyone's going to have this date marked on their calendar.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos, Sept. 9, 8:20 PM ET
Remember last season, when the Broncos couldn't get enough Tebow? Now, they can't get enough Manning.
Denver landed the top prize in the free agent market when they signed Peyton Manning, and now they are featured in multiple prime time contests. The Broncos kick off the season against the team whose season they ended last year, the Steelers.
In another great playoff battle, Denver took down Pittsburgh 29-23 in overtime. Denver won the overtime coin toss, and on the first OT play from scrimmage, Tebow hit Demaryius Thomas for an 80-yard touchdown to end the game.
Tebow is gone, however, and Manning is in charge.
The new Bronco quarterback hasn't played since Jan. 8, 2011, but when he makes his debut in the new Denver orange, every set of eyes watching the game will be focused on the four-time MVP.
Pittsburgh wants to exact revenge badly, so Manning's test won't be easy. But it'll definitely be a great game, and it'll kick off the 2012 season in a great way.
3. Green Bay Packers at Houston Texans, Oct. 14, 8:20 PM ET
You may not be thinking this, but what I see in this game is a possible February preview.
Houston made the second round of the playoffs with their backup quarterback, and even a mediocre offensive performance would've gotten the Texans to the AFC Championship. Green Bay beat Pittsburgh in Super Bowl 45, and they went 15-1 in 2011.
With Matt Schaub back, the Texans are truly dangerous. With Aaron Rodgers, the Packers are still dangerous.
Both teams will have played games, and both will likely be fighting for the division title. This Sunday Night Football clash will have a lot on the line, from a mark in the win column to bragging rights to the possible upper hand in February.
I can assure you this will be a great game, definitely worth watching. Houston has some challenges on its schedule, but no test is bigger than this one. Are the Texans a legit Super Bowl contender?
We'll find out on the night of Oct. 14, 2012.
2. San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers, Sept. 9, 4:15 PM ET
See this picture, folks? This was the last time Green Bay played San Francisco.
Boy, have things changed.
The season will open in a great way when San Francisco takes on Green Bay. One of the two top playoff seeds last year will start the year on the wrong foot, and both are eager to avoid that fate.
San Francisco added Brandon Jacobs, Mario Manningham and Randy Moss to the squad that came so close to capturing the NFC Championship. Green Bay won Super Bowl 45 and has won 21 of their last 23 games.
If Alex Smith comes into this year as an improved quarterback, the 49ers defense stays intact and plays like it did in 2011, and San Francisco wins games (like this one) early, the 49ers will be dangerous.
As for the Packers, I can pretty much guarantee Aaron Rodgers will have a great season. If the rest of the team holds up around Rodgers, watch out for the Packers.
I expect this to be a preview of the NFC Championship, with a lot on the line. Expect a great game with excitement and drama that only one other game in 2011 can beat.
1. Denver Broncos at New England Patriots, Oct. 7, 4:15 PM ET
Denver may have ended Pittsburgh's 2011 season, but they couldn't end New England's.
Tim Tebow and the Broncos were dominated 45-10 by the Patriots, getting just about nothing done while Tom Brady tied a playoff record with six touchdown passes. But now, Denver has Peyton Manning.
Whenever Peyton faces off with Brady, you're going to get a duel that comes down to the last second. Brady rolled over Peyton twice during the playoffs early in his career, but recently, Manning has exacted revenge.
The quarterbacks have faced off 15 times, and Brady is 9-6. Manning is looking to start fresh and beat Brady in his fifth game as a Bronco, but that's easier said than done.
Brady shredded the Denver defense in two games last year, with New England averaging 43 points per game. If Denver can stop Brady, Manning will have room to score and give Denver a chance to win.
New England may have dominated Tebow, but Manning will make the challenge a whole lot harder. If you call yourself a football fan, you have to tune into this game.
Because it's the best in 2012.
2012 has brought us a lot in football, including playoff drama, Eli Manning's second championship, a huge free agent signing and draft drama. Adding on to that will be the 2012 regular season, chock full of great games.
You want the best teams in football in prime time? The NFL's got you covered.
Great matchups are scheduled in 2012, and the NFL took advantage of that by scheduling great prime time games and adding Thursday Night Football from Weeks 2-15, plus a Wednesday night game to open the season between the Giants and Cowboys.
Here are five games to look forward to in 2012.
5. San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints, Nov. 25, 4:15 PM ET
Two words describe this matchup perfectly: playoffs and bounty.
New Orleans' bounty program has landed the Saints in a heap of trouble, especially with the audio recording of Gregg Williams, the Saints defensive coordinator, talking about how and where to hurt the 49ers.
San Francisco survived New Orleans during the playoffs, but they lost to the Giants in the NFC Championship. The 49ers are looking to take their game one step further this year, while Joe Vitt, who's taking over at coach for the suspended Sean Payton, will try to lead New Orleans back to the top.
A pair of great teams with a new-found hatred for each other? What more can you ask for? If the November showdown is half as good as the 36-32 Niner playoff win, fans are in luck.
When football's back, everyone's going to have this date marked on their calendar.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos, Sept. 9, 8:20 PM ET
Remember last season, when the Broncos couldn't get enough Tebow? Now, they can't get enough Manning.
Denver landed the top prize in the free agent market when they signed Peyton Manning, and now they are featured in multiple prime time contests. The Broncos kick off the season against the team whose season they ended last year, the Steelers.
In another great playoff battle, Denver took down Pittsburgh 29-23 in overtime. Denver won the overtime coin toss, and on the first OT play from scrimmage, Tebow hit Demaryius Thomas for an 80-yard touchdown to end the game.
Tebow is gone, however, and Manning is in charge.
The new Bronco quarterback hasn't played since Jan. 8, 2011, but when he makes his debut in the new Denver orange, every set of eyes watching the game will be focused on the four-time MVP.
Pittsburgh wants to exact revenge badly, so Manning's test won't be easy. But it'll definitely be a great game, and it'll kick off the 2012 season in a great way.
3. Green Bay Packers at Houston Texans, Oct. 14, 8:20 PM ET
You may not be thinking this, but what I see in this game is a possible February preview.
Houston made the second round of the playoffs with their backup quarterback, and even a mediocre offensive performance would've gotten the Texans to the AFC Championship. Green Bay beat Pittsburgh in Super Bowl 45, and they went 15-1 in 2011.
With Matt Schaub back, the Texans are truly dangerous. With Aaron Rodgers, the Packers are still dangerous.
Both teams will have played games, and both will likely be fighting for the division title. This Sunday Night Football clash will have a lot on the line, from a mark in the win column to bragging rights to the possible upper hand in February.
I can assure you this will be a great game, definitely worth watching. Houston has some challenges on its schedule, but no test is bigger than this one. Are the Texans a legit Super Bowl contender?
We'll find out on the night of Oct. 14, 2012.
2. San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers, Sept. 9, 4:15 PM ET
See this picture, folks? This was the last time Green Bay played San Francisco.
Boy, have things changed.
The season will open in a great way when San Francisco takes on Green Bay. One of the two top playoff seeds last year will start the year on the wrong foot, and both are eager to avoid that fate.
San Francisco added Brandon Jacobs, Mario Manningham and Randy Moss to the squad that came so close to capturing the NFC Championship. Green Bay won Super Bowl 45 and has won 21 of their last 23 games.
If Alex Smith comes into this year as an improved quarterback, the 49ers defense stays intact and plays like it did in 2011, and San Francisco wins games (like this one) early, the 49ers will be dangerous.
As for the Packers, I can pretty much guarantee Aaron Rodgers will have a great season. If the rest of the team holds up around Rodgers, watch out for the Packers.
I expect this to be a preview of the NFC Championship, with a lot on the line. Expect a great game with excitement and drama that only one other game in 2011 can beat.
1. Denver Broncos at New England Patriots, Oct. 7, 4:15 PM ET
Denver may have ended Pittsburgh's 2011 season, but they couldn't end New England's.
Tim Tebow and the Broncos were dominated 45-10 by the Patriots, getting just about nothing done while Tom Brady tied a playoff record with six touchdown passes. But now, Denver has Peyton Manning.
Whenever Peyton faces off with Brady, you're going to get a duel that comes down to the last second. Brady rolled over Peyton twice during the playoffs early in his career, but recently, Manning has exacted revenge.
The quarterbacks have faced off 15 times, and Brady is 9-6. Manning is looking to start fresh and beat Brady in his fifth game as a Bronco, but that's easier said than done.
Brady shredded the Denver defense in two games last year, with New England averaging 43 points per game. If Denver can stop Brady, Manning will have room to score and give Denver a chance to win.
New England may have dominated Tebow, but Manning will make the challenge a whole lot harder. If you call yourself a football fan, you have to tune into this game.
Because it's the best in 2012.
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