Monday Night Football Schedule 2012: Underrated Games You Must Watch

Monday Night Football has become a huge part of the fabric of our society. The NFL takes over the worst day of the week (for a lot of people), giving them some respite from the world of work. The 2012 schedule is as deep as any in recent years, with a lot of potential postseason matchups. 

Some of them may not look as drool-inducing as the others, but there are still tons of reasons to pay attention to the games. 

With the release of the schedule, here are some of the under-the-radar matchups that you need to make a point to see. 

Week 2: Denver Broncos at Atlanta Falcons

The NFL is going to milk the Peyton Manning cow for all it's worth. He is getting the spotlight in the first Sunday night game against Pittsburgh, then the next week the Broncos take on Atlanta in the Georgia Dome. 

Manning is going right back into the heart of SEC country, where he made his name as a college star at Tennessee. 

Standing on the opposite side of the field will be Matt Ryan, who was thought to be the next great quarterback of this new generation when he was drafted in 2007. It has been a slow climb, but he is still developing and as the team around him gets better, he will reach his full promise. 

This has the potential to be a classic quarterback battle between two possible playoff teams. 

Week 8: San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals

On paper, this game doesn't look that appealing. The 49ers have one of the most dominant defenses in the NFL, while the Cardinals boast a fragile quarterback and an inconsistent offensive line. 

However, the Cardinals have the potential to be a better team than you might think. If Kevin Kolb can stay healthy, this offense will explode. Larry Fitzgerald is still the best wide receiver in the NFL and can make the most difficult catches look simple. 

On defense, Patrick Peterson is a superstar already and figures to get better with a year of experience under his belt. 

Plus, if Randy Moss comes back and gives the 49ers anything, imagine the game of one-upmanship he will be playing with Fitzgerald. 

Week 13: New York Giants at Washington Redskins

Lost in the midst of all that celebrating the team did in February, the New York Giants were on the brink of being eliminated from the playoff race last year because they were swept by the woeful Redskins. 

Now, the Redskins are most likely going to bring in Robert Griffin III to play quarterback, they upgraded their receiving corps in the offseason, and their defense has never gotten the credit it deserves. 

The Giants should be great this year. You look at the talent on both sides of the ball and it is hard not to imagine them being a dominant team. But for whatever reason, they always seem to play down to their opponents, at least in the regular season. 

WEEK	MATCHUP
Week 1	Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens
Week 1	San Diego Chargers @ Oakland Raiders
Week 2	Denver Broncos @ Atlanta Falcons
Week 3	Green Bay Packers @ Seattle Seahawks
Week 4	Chicago Bears @ Dallas Cowboys
Week 5	Houston Texans @ New York Jets
Week 6	Denver Broncos @ San Diego Chargers
Week 7	Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears
Week 8	San Francisco 49ers @ Arizona Cardinals
Week 9	Philadelphia Eagles @ New Orleans Saints
Week 10	Kansas City Chiefs @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 11	Chicago Bears @ San Francisco 49ers
Week 12	Carolina Panthers @ Philadelphia Eagles
Week 13	New York Giants @ Washington Redskins
Week 14	Houston Texans @ New England Patriots
Week 15	New York Jets @ Tennessee Titans
Week 16	Atlanta Falcons @ Detroit Lions

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