| Here are 10 intriguing matchups to circle on your calendar when the 2009 NFL schedule is released at 7 p.m. ET today:   1. Patriots at Colts (Nov. 15)If you just stopped at the matchup of the league's two best quarterbacks, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, this would be a must-see game. But there also is the twist of the frequency with which these non-divisional teams see each other during regular season. This marks their seventh successive regular-season game. Minus the injured Brady, the Patriots lost last season's game, 18-15, at Lucas Oil Stadium. The teams also met three times in the postseason in the last seven years.   2. Steelers at Ravens (Nov. 29)This AFC North rivalry is intense enough to always make a game between these teams mandatory viewing. Added spice: The first game of the season series will be the teams' first encounter since the Steelers beat the Ravens in the AFC Championship Game at Pittsburgh. Will Baltimore's vaunted defense look any weaker after the defections to the New York Jets by coordinator Rex Ryan, inside linebacker Bart Scott, safety Jim Leonhard and end Marques Douglas?   3. Panthers at Cardinals (Nov. 1)This is the rematch of a 2008 divisional-round playoff game at Carolina. The Cardinals scored a stunning, 33-13 victory that suddenly legitimized their postseason run and provided the momentum that carried them all the way to the Super Bowl. For the Panthers, and especially for quarterback Jake Delhomme (who threw five interceptions and lost a fumble against Arizona), it's a chance for redemption.  4. Patriots at Broncos (Oct. 11)It's a first-time match between teacher, Patriots coach Bill Belichick, and student, former Pats offensive coordinator and new Broncos coach Josh McDaniels. Here's the bad news for McDaniels: The two previous students who have faced Belichick, former New England defensive coordinators Eric Mangini and Romeo Crennel, combined for a 2-5 record against him while coaching the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns, respectively. Here's the worse news: Each lost his first game against Belichick.   5. Bears at Packers (Sept. 13)The primary attraction is seeing Jay Cutler's debut as the Bears' quarterback. But this also will be the first opportunity to see how two of the better quarterbacks in the NFC North, Cutler and Aaron Rodgers, stack up against each other. The Bears made the massive trade investment in Cutler to win a game like this. The Packers picked Rodgers over the legendary Brett Favre last year because they expect him to deliver under the prime-time spotlight they will be shining on him in this game.   6. Bills at Patriots (Sept. 14)Call this prime-time divisional throwback showdown, the first half of a Monday Night Football double-header, the "Curiosity Bowl." How will Tom Brady look in his first regular-season game since suffering a knee injury in the '08 season-opener that knocked him out for the rest of the year? Who will get the better of the receiving matchup between the Patriots' Randy Moss and Terrell Owens, who will be making his debut with the Bills?  7. Broncos at Chiefs (Dec. 6)The big question looming before Denver and Kansas City's first meeting this coming season is how much of an advantage will Josh McDaniels have going against the quarterback he molded into a star last season, Matt Cassel. Look for McDaniels to spend a good deal of the week before the game discussing Cassel's tendencies and vulnerabilities with new Broncos defensive coordinator Mike Nolan.  8. Titans at Steelers (Sept. 10)The Steelers haven't forgotten the fact the Titans stomped on "Terrible Towels" in the waning minutes of Tennessee's 31-14 trouncing of Pittsburgh when they met in Week 16 last year. The Steelers were never able to get revenge in the playoffs, because the Titans were one and done after a 13-10, divisional-round loss to Baltimore.  9. Broncos at Eagles (Dec. 27)Brian Dawkins, one of the most beloved players in Eagles history, returns to Philadelphia. And the hard-hitting safety is going to have a chance to put some licks on his former teammates. The crowd reaction will be interesting, to say the least. Expect Dawkins to hear his share of cheers from folks who were not at all happy that the Eagles let him get away. One of them is the former Lincoln Financial Field employee whom the Eagles fired because of his online criticism of the team for losing Dawkins, who plans to give the man his allotted two tickets for the game.  10. Panthers at Giants (Dec. 27)It will be a battle of NFC heavyweights from a year ago. The Giants don't have Plaxico Burress, but they still figure to be strong in enough areas -- especially on defense -- to remain a viable contender. The Panthers have the offensive and defensive muscle to turn this into a close, competitive game that has a very good chance of influencing both teams' postseason fortunes. | Let the debate begin Is it more beneficial to play a difficult schedule, where your team is tested throughout the regular season and may enter the playoffs with injuries? Or would you prefer a softer slate, where your team isn't banged up and can enter the postseason healthy, but may not have been challenged?Check out what former NFL general managers Charley Casserly and Carl Peterson had to say. » What type of schedule is ideal? Strength of schedule Pencil in Chicago and Minnesota to challenge for supremacy in the NFC this season, and likewise for Pittsburgh and Baltimore in the AFC. And while you're at it, cross off Miami, New England, Carolina and Atlanta. All hopeless cases?Not so fast, writes Bucky Brooks. However, that opinion reflects flawed judgment, based on a recent study of playoff teams. » Brooks: Take with a grain of salt From fantasy land The NFL released its schedule on Tuesday (in case you were buried under a cyber rock), and everybody is going 16-0, and your fantasy team is going to rule. But what can we really learn about the upcoming fantasy season because of the schedule?Eh, not much, writes Adam Rank. Ask yourself, when you opened the schedule last year, did you look at the Panthers schedule and think that DeAngelo Williams was a must-add for Week 5? » Hit the ground running AFL's 50th The 2009 NFL season marks the 50th anniversary for the eight teams that played in the American Football League.The NFL will highlight the 50th anniversary of those teams during "Legacy Games" throughout the 2009 season. During one home and one road game, former AFL teams will meet head-to-head while wearing their chosen historic uniforms. What original AFL teams will wear: » Buffalo Bills: 1965 AFL championship season: White helmet featuring a simple red buffalo. » Denver Broncos: Brown and yellow uniform; brown helmet. » Kansas City Chiefs: Red and white uniform; red helmet featuring an outline of the state of Texas. » New England Patriots: White helmet featuring the original Patriots logo. » New York Jets: Gold and navy uniforms; navy helmet. » Oakland Raiders: White (away) jersey featuring silver numbers outlined in black; silver helmet with original Raiders logo. » San Diego Chargers: White pants with yellow bolt down the legs. » Tennessee Titans: Blue and white jersey with red accents; blue helmet with derrick logo. » 50th anniversary of AFL |
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