2012 NFL Schedule to be released Tuesday 4/17/12 @ 7PM
Lots of great games to look forward to, no matter how they arrange it. My guess is that the Denver game goes to NBC in November — replaces the decade-long Pats-Colts sweeps game.
One thing that might be fun to see would be Indy at NE to open. I like the idea of the Colts-Pats rivalry getting a fresh start as Luck debuts in Foxboro. Though my best guess is Mario & The Bills at Bill & the Pats will be schedulers' choice.
Is opening day for once going to be an epic game on primetime (SF, Den, Bal, etc) or a non-primetime/primetime game vs. a weak opponent? (2011-Dolphins, 2010-Bengals, 2009-Bills, 2008-Chiefs, 2007-Jets)
I would be very surprised if the week one game is a 'big' game (e.g., vs the Ravens, Broncos, 49ers or Jets). In the past few years other than the initial Thursday night game featuring the defending champs there are rarely compelling matchups in any of the other week one games. The reason is simple: at that point fan interest is extremely high, as football fans get to see real games for the first time in seven months.
The NFL doesn't need an epic matchup to draw viewers in at that point. Every fan base has high hopes for the upcoming season and nobody has lost interest. What they do is a smart business move, and save what appears to be better games for later on in the season, especially during the ratings sweeps period (late October to late November).
I'm with Uncle Rico thinking the week one game may be against the Colts. It might not be a bad way to start the season, sort of the way college football powerhouses start the year off against an overmatched opponent before getting into their conference schedules. On the other hand it might not be a bad idea to save that game for later in the season, after the team had some film to study of Luck and all the new Colts too.
If not Indy my guess is Buffalo. The recent trend is to try and start with a division opponent. You know that won't be the Jets, and the Pats opened against Miami last year; that leaves the Bills as a logical guess.
I don't think they'll start Peyton on the road with a tough game and waste a match up like this week one. I think Denver gets the Sunday night game at home vs the Raiders. Classic match up, at home and their defense should allow Manning to put up some numbers.
Since the NFL went to two week one Monday night games in 2006 the second one usually involves AFC West teams; I'm thinking perhaps MNF rather than SNF.
Week One MNF game two:
2011: Oakland at Denver
2010: San Diego at Kansas City
2009: San Diego at Oakland
2008: Denver at Oakland
2007: Arizona at San Francisco
2006: San Diego at Oakland
Week One SNF:
2011: Dallas at Jets
2010: Dallas at Washington
2009: Chicago at Green Bay
2008: Chicago at Indy
2007: Giants at Dallas
2006: Indy at Giants
