Sept. 7, 4:15 p.m.: Dallas at Cleveland
The Browns, whether they're ready or not, have been anointed The Next Big Thing in the NFL. We'll find out if they deserve it right away, as the absolutely stacked Cowboys come to Cleveland Browns Stadium in Week One.

Erik Bell broke down this matchup earlier this month.

Sept. 8, 7 p.m.: Minnesota at Green Bay
This one's too obvious. I bet you knew, after reading the intro, this puppy'd be on this list. It doesn't even matter if Favre is a Packer, Viking, or neither; I'm eagerly anticipating the ovation and reaction the Packers get without No. 4 as the starter. (Yes, I'm still asserting and believing he won't be the team's starter. And by asserting and believing, I mean hoping and praying.)

Aside from the Favre angle, the Vikings are another preseason league darling and seem poised, if quarterback Tarvaris Jackson can play well, to overtake the Pack in the NFC North.

Sept. 14, 8:30 p..m.: Pittsburgh at Cleveland
Again, see Erik's breakdown; all I'll say is that if the Browns want to break through against their rivals, this is the time.

Sept. 21, 4:15 p.m.: Jacksonville at Indianapolis
Speaking of teams looking to break through, the Jags want to win the AFC South, and Wednesday's guest, Chris Harris from Big Cat Country, thinks it's doable. This is a confidence game for Jacksonville: If they go into Indy, a notoriously difficult place to play, and win, the division could go through Northeast Florida.

Sept. 21, 8:30 p.m.: Dallas at Green Bay
Revenge for that Thursday nighter, anyone?

Oct. 5, 1 p.m.: Seattle at New York Giants
Long a skeptic of the Seahawks, I predicted earlier this summer that they'd go to the Super Bowl. (Then I predicted the Packers are going to the Super Bowl. Oops.)

What better time to prove me right -- or wrong -- than against the defending Super Bowl champions?

Oct. 12, 8:15 p.m.: New England at San Diego
The Chargers insist this is their year, that the record and outcome will finally catch up to all that talent.

Here's a pretty good chance for the Bolts to prove they're for real, right? They get the defending AFC champs at home on a Sunday night (well, evening in the West), when their crowd will be rocking.

Monday, Oct. 27: Indianapolis at Tennessee
Speaking of skepticism, how the heck did the Titans end up in the playoffs last season? (Well, besides the Cleveland curse, of course.)

Vince Young is presumably better, and Tennessee, like the Jags, wants to knock the Colts down a peg.

Speaking of the Colts, their schedule is bruuuuuuuuuuutal, with road games at Minnesota, Green Bay, Tennessee, Pittsburgh, San Diego, Cleveland and Jacksonville. Whew!

Nov. 2, 8:15 p.m.: New England at Indianapolis
And the home games the Colts do get, they're on short rest against the best in the AFC.

Someone at the NFL hates Tony Dungy's faith.

Nov. 23, 4:15 p.m.: Oakland at Denver
Troubled wide receiver Javon Walker goes back to Denver, where he spent a couple very odd seasons.

Nov. 24: 8:30 p.m.: Green Bay at New Orleans
For obvious reasons, yes; but I also like the Saints, on the strength of an on-paper-improved defense, to jump back to the top of the NFC. This should be a dandy.

Dec. 7, 1 p.m.: Jacksonville at Chicago
I have no idea what to expect of Chicago, but this will be another test for the Jags. Even if the Bears stink, they still proved they can compete to the end after last year's ass-whipping of Green Bay.

Plus, Jacksonville in Chicago in December? Yuck.

Dec. 22, 8:30 p.m.: Chicago at Green Bay
The Bears, as mentioned above, beat Green Bay twice last year; something tells me the Packers will want to return the favor.

Dec. 28, 4:15 p.m.: Washington at San Francisco
Will the Redskins again be fighting to the last minute for a playoff berth?