NFL Schedule Release Party: Best of '09

"I don't care who we gotta play. I really don't. If we're going to be World Champions, we gotta beat them all in some form or fashion, anyway... I embrace tough schedules. Hopefully, we'll always have a tough schedule because I think if we're able to see our way through it like we were this past year, it strengthens you for January football."

- Mike Tomlin, Steelers head coach

After the draft, the NFL schedule release party is the biggest event of the offseason -- at least to hear the NFL sell it to us. For football-starved fans, it doesn't take much, so if NFL Network devotes two hours to scrutinizing the just-released 2009 schedule, well, I'm all for it. In fact, here's a look at some potentially big matchups, at least from the perspective of April.

Week 1: Tennessee vs. Steelers. We've known about this for a few weeks, but the Titans and Steelers will open the season on Thursday night. Last year, they combined to win 25 regular season games, and Tennessee took it to Pittsburgh in their Week 16 get-together. Unfortunately, the Ravens -- and, more likely, Myron Cope -- prevented a AFC Championship rematch.

Other games to watch: Chicago vs. Green Bay. The Rex Grossman era officially ends.

Week 2: New England vs. New York Jets. Tom Brady will be a week into his return, and he'll face a shiny, new Jets defense, courtesy of Rex Ryan. And if it resembles anything close to the defenses Ryan put on the field in Baltimore, it could go a long way in neutralizing the Patriots' offensive firepower.

Other games to watch: Carolina vs. Atlanta. This could be the beginning of the power shift in the NFC South.

New York Giants vs. Dallas. It'll be the home opener in Jerry's new stadium, and lord help us all if the Cowboys lose.

Week 3: Indianapolis vs. Arizona. There's a chance these two offenses combine to score 100 points.

Week 4: Dallas vs. Denver. This game would have been more intriguing had Cutler hung around, but it'll be interesting to see how Josh McDaniels' offense is working without his top choice (Matt Cassel) or the team's Pro Bowl quarterback (Cutler).

Other games to watch: San Diego vs. Pittsburgh. It'll be the Chargers' third trip to the Steel City in 10 months. The difference: Shawne Merriman should be fully healthy. (And maybe LaDainian Tomlinson, too, although that may be asking too much.)

Week 7: Arizona vs. New York Giants. These two teams met in Week 12 last year, and the Giants won 37-29. Arizona has an abysmal record on the East Coast, but it'll be October (and relatively warm), so maybe they'll at least get off the bus. (See '08 Week 16 Patriots game for counterexample.)

Week 9: Dallas vs. Eagles. The Cowboys were embarrassed in Philly in Week 17, and the loss kept them out of the playoffs.

Other games to watch: Houston vs. Indianapolis. The Texans always play the Colts tough, and with Rosenchoppa now in Minnesota, maybe they'll have something to show for it this time around.

Week 10: Denver vs. Washington. Ten weeks into the season and both teams could already be out of the playoff race. Or they could just as easily be in the mix. Depending on how Cutler's season unfolds in Chicago, and Jason Campbell performs early for the Skins, we could be hearing a lot about both quarterbacks during this game. Dan Snyder was very interested in acquiring Cutler, only to lose out o the Bears, allegedly because of Kyle Orton. (Translation: two first-round picks and a third-rounder were too good to turn down, Kyle Orton or not.)

Other games to watch: New England vs. Indianapolis. Maybe this game has lost some luster, or maybe both teams will already have eight or nine wins by this point. Either way, it's on national television and we'll all watch. Because, really, you can never get enough Brady and Manning. At least that's what Peter King and John Madden tell me.

Week 11: Cleveland vs. Detroit. This could be a turning point in the Run to 0-16. There's the very real possibility that the Lions could be defending their title 11 weeks into 2009. Actually, I don't think it'll come to that; Jim Schwartz is a smart, young coach, and he's the best thing to happen to Detroit since William Clay Ford woke up long enough to fire Matt Millen.

Other games to watch: Philadelphia vs. Chicago. For the first time since, well, the Eagles drafted Donovan McNabb, we won't have to hear about how he might end up with the hometown Bears. Unless, of course, Cutler is stinking up the place.

Week 12: Green Bay vs. Detroit. The Lions still host a Thanksgiving Day game and here's to hoping they win. Just so we don't have to spend a week talking about why the Lions shouldn't host a Thanksgiving Day game. Look, it's all they have (at least for now); let them be.

Other games to watch: Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore. The Steelers were 3-0 against the Ravens last year. This time, hopefully, the officials won't gift them the W on a late fourth-quarter drive.

Week 13: New York Jets vs. Buffalo. It's international football! In ... Canada? Oh, so it's just another Bills home game. Got it.

Week 15: Indianapolis vs. Jacksonville. The Jags were a huge disappointment last year, and if they're able to find some receivers for David Garrard (minimum requirements: able to go two weeks without getting busted on a drug-related charge), and shore up the offensive line, they could be right back in the AFC South mix. This contest could have division title implications, or it could be that Jack Del Rio has already started cleaning out his off.

Other games to watch: New York Giants vs. Washington. Another get-together that could go either way: the 'Skins would be battling for a postseason berth, or Jim Zorn might be out of work in two weeks, with the full-on "Here comes Cowher' speculation to follow.

Week 16: Minnesota vs. Chicago. If the Vikings aren't playing for January, Brad Childress is probably gone (along with Tarvaris Jackson). And if the Bears make the playoffs, it'll be the first time for Cutler. (Jake Plummer laughs hysterically.)