2012 NFL Schedule: Biggest Matchups We Are Excited to See

At long last, the 2012 NFL regular season schedule is available for all to see.

Halle-frickin'-lujah!

This year's slate is as jam-packed with must-see-TV tilts as any in recent memory, but before you go clogging up your DVR with your favorite games (with five months to spare), be sure to save room for these three epic clashes.

Denver Broncos at New England Patriots

You know what was weird last season? Watching the Indianapolis Colts host Tom Brady and the New England Patriots on national television while Peyton Manning was standing on the sideline in a polo shirt and a baseball cap.

You won't see that this time around, if only because 1) Peyton no longer plays for the Colts and 2) the Pats will be the ones welcoming Indy to their house in 2012.

Luckily, we will all be treated to another Manning-Brady matchup in a late afternoon game on Sunday of Week 5.

Rivalry aside, this game will give the Broncos a golden opportunity to measure themselves against one of the NFL's elite teams as they look to rise back into Super Bowl contention.

Especially considering how the most recent meeting between these two franchises went—a 45-10 trouncing by the Pats, in which Tom Brady upstaged Tim Tebow with a playoff-record-tying six touchdown passes.

San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints

The NFC divisional round game between the 49ers and the Saints was a much more entertaining affair than Pats-Broncos and should be fun to watch this time around—even though Sean Payton won't be allowed on the sidelines and the stakes won't be quite as high, given that it's a regular season matchup.

Still, it will once again be strength against strength, as Drew Brees (presumably with a hefty new contract) attempts to maneuver New Orleans' explosive offense over, around and through San Francisco's suffocating defense, now with the added advantage of playing on the artificial turf at the Superdome.

With this scrum scheduled for Week 12, the result may well have a lasting impact on the NFC playoff picture.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens

Familiarity breeds contempt, and two opponents can't get much more familiar in the NFL than the Steelers and the Ravens. These two teams have combined to win eight of 10 AFC North titles since the division was "born" in 2002, duking it out with defensive grudge matches on the gridiron.

Nowadays, the Steelers and the Ravens are more alike than ever, with their success predicated on smash-mouth defense and a vertical passing game on offense.

At least, that was the case until Bruce Arians was forced out of Pittsburgh, leaving Ben Roethlisberger to butt heads with new offensive coordinator Todd Haley.

In any case, the best of the AFC North will meet twice in a three-week span this season, with the second meeting coming at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore to kick off the stretch run in December.

Don't be surprised if more than a few heads—errr, helmets—are left rolling on the turf by the end of it.

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