NFL Schedule 2012 Predictions: 5 Early Favorites to Be Games of the Year

The NFL is expected to unveil the schedule for the 2012 regular season very soon.

Exactly when the NFL will be releasing the schedule seems to be anybody's guess, though Pro Football Talk and others have noted that the schedule could be released as early as Tuesday.

What we do know is that the schedule is coming eventually. 

On the bright side, the NFL released lists of home and away opponents for all 32 teams way back in January. The folks at ESPN were kind enough to break it all down in terms of strength of schedule.

So basically, all we need to know are the dates. 

And you know what? We don't even need dates to determine that some games on the docket are going to be good ones. Here's a quick rundown of five 2012 games that are going to be amazing.

Note: For the sake of keeping things interesting, I'm not going to talk about division rivalry games. Everyone knows that Steelers vs. Ravens matchups are going to be awesome.

5. Green Bay Packers at Houston Texans

It's a darned shame Matt Schaub had to go and get hurt last season. When he was healthy, the Houston Texans looked like the deepest and most talented team in the AFC.

There will be high hopes for the Texans in 2012. If Schaub stays healthy, they should win the AFC South without any trouble, and I for one won't be surprised if they make a run at a season with 13-plus wins.

At some point in the season, the Texans are going to have a chance to make a huge statement against the Green Bay Packers, they of the 15-1 record in 2011. The Packers had a brilliant season last year, but they're going to be even better in 2012 if they get their defense squared away.

The Texans, of course, have a pretty outstanding defense of their own, even without Mario Williams and DeMeco Ryans. That defense will look to give Aaron Rodgers and Green Bay's offense a hard time.

With these two great teams going at one another, we're going to see one heck of a football game.

4. Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles didn't get things figured out until late in the season last year, and by the time they did, it was too late. But given the way things ended in 2011, the Eagles should be much, much better in 2012.

The Panthers, on the other hand, probably aren't ready to contend quite yet. They're a team on the rise, but they need more talent and they happen to play in one of the toughest divisions in football.

So why is a game between the Eagles and Panthers on this list?

One reason: Cam Newton vs. Michael Vick.

Yeah, I can't wait either.

3. New Orleans Saints at Denver Broncos

If the Saints pick up in 2012 right where they left off in 2011, it's going to be the craziest story in the NFL by far. They're not going to have Sean Payton on the sidelines and the organization has been shaken to its very roots, so it will be impressive if the Saints are the same old Saints.

Meanwhile in Denver, it will be Super Bowl or bust for the Broncos. The Super Bowl is a lot to ask of this Broncos team, but they didn't go out and sign Peyton Manning just so he could lead them to the playoffs. 

Heck, even Tim Tebow was able to do that.

A matchup between the Saints and Broncos in Denver is going to border on being surreal. These two teams owned the headlines this offseason, and the matchup is going to give us Drew Brees vs. Peyton Manning out on the field.

There will be a lot of hype surrounding this game, and I see the game living up to it.

2. Green Bay Packers at New York Giants

The Packers owned the NFL during the regular season last year, but they finally met their match when they ran into the New York Giants in the playoffs.

The Giants owned the Packers at Lambeau Field in the divisional round. They sacked Aaron Rodgers four times, and the game wasn't as close as the 37-20 final score would indicate. And that, of course, is saying something.

The Packers will get a chance to return the favor in the Giants' neck of the woods in 2012. Rodgers will come under fire once again, make no mistake about that, and Eli Manning is going to put Green Bay's secondary to the test.

If the Packers win this game, the NFC will be on high alert. It will also be on high alert if the Giants win. 

Basically, whoever wins this game will have the right to claim NFC dominance.

1. San Francisco 49ers at New England Patriots

I'm looking forward to this game like I'm looking forward to The Dark Knight Rises. I just know that it's going to be awesome.

The Patriots fell short in the Super Bowl last season, but they'll be ready to make another run at winning it all in 2012. They still have an elite offense, and nobody in the AFC East is going to be strong enough to topple them.

But if ever there was a perfect match for the Patriots, it's the San Francisco 49ers. Their defense was insanely good in 2011, and it promises to be insanely good once again in 2012. Just as important, they went out and added some much-needed upgrades to their offense when they signed Randy Moss and Mario Manningham.

Defensively, the 49ers have the pieces to match up with Tom Brady and New England's offense. And if the Patriots secondary is as leaky as it was in 2011, Alex Smith and his new toys are going to be able to have some fun.

Either way, this is a game that will not be easily won for either side. Watching it all unfold is going to be a treat.