2012 NFL Schedule: Thoughts on the AFC North

The NFL officially released the full regular season schedule for 2012 on Tuesday evening, and it opens with a big weekend for the AFC North.

The Cleveland Browns have their 13th Week 1 home opener in 14 seasons, playing host to the Philadelphia Eagles on September 9.

That Sunday night, the Pittsburgh Steelers travel to the Denver Broncos in a nationally-televised contest against Peyton Manning's new team.

Of note is safety Ryan Clark, who suffers from sickle cell trait and won't be able to take the field. Ryan Mundy will take his place, but the team isn't likely to repeat the same mistake they made in the playoffs against the Tim Tebow-led Broncos because they are clearly aware of Manning's ability to make big throws.

Another interesting fact about the Steelers' schedule: they don't play a divisional opponent until the Bengals on Sunday, October 21 before facing the Ravens, Browns and Ravens again in consecutive weeks in November, before closing out their season at home, hosting the Bengals in Week 16 and the Browns in Week 17.

The Steelers have five prime time games this year: the opener against the Broncos on September 9; at the Tennessee Titans on Thursday night October 11; Monday, November 12 at home against the Kansas City Chiefs; and Sunday, November 18 hosting the Ravens.

Not only do the Ravens open their season against the Bengals, they close it against them as well, and depending on how the playoff picture shapes up, it could prove to be another nationally televised contest.

The Ravens have a total of four nationally-televised games—three of which occur in the first four weeks of the season.

After Week 1 against the Bengals, they host the New England Patriots in the Week 3 Sunday night game and then host the Browns the Thursday of Week 4. Their last national game is the aforementioned Week 11 contest against the Steelers.

The Bengals have three prime time games: Week 1 at the Ravens, Week 7 versus the Steelers and Week 15 at the Philadelphia Eagles. That Week 15 game starts up a tough final stretch for Cincy; they'll take on the Steelers and Ravens in the final two weeks of the season.

The Thursday night Week 4 contest at the Baltimore Ravens is the only chance the Browns have to be seen in prime time on the national stage.

The Browns have one of the most difficult schedules in the league this year, but their tough opponents come in spurts, giving them a chance to build momentum before facing some of 2011's winningest teams.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have the earliest bye week of any AFC North team, in Week 4. The Browns have theirs in Week 10, the Bengals and Ravens are off on Week 8.

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