Thursday Night Football Schedule 2012: Previewing Top Must-See Matchups

There used to be a time when Thursday Night Football was a rare occasion in the NFL, but no more.

In 2012, nearly every week of the NFL season will feature a primetime Thursday night clash. Most of this season's TNF games will be between division rivals, but not all. 

So, which can't-miss battles should you mark your calendar for?

Here we preview three must-see Thursday Night Football matchups on the slate for this fall.

Week 7: Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers

The two teams projected to battle it out for NFC West supremacy before the start of the season will renew their rivalry at Candlestick Park on Thursday, October 18. The Seahawks, who were swept by San Francisco in 2011, will be hungry to prove they can play with the Niners, who look like the favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl this winter. 

Fans will likely get an up close look at rookie quarterback Russell Wilson and the only man in the NFL capable of switching into "Beast Mode," Hawks running back Marshawn Lynch. If you're not a fan of Wilson, Lynch or the Birds then you can still take pleasure in watching one of the NFL's top defenses operate in the 49ers'. 

Week 11: Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills 

The battle between two of the NFL's best running backs in Miami's Reggie Bush and Buffalo's C.J. Spiller will be a must-see affair on Thursday, November 15. One week before you feast on Thanksgiving Day dinner, why not feast your eyes on a tremendous mid-season AFC East matchup?

Spiller and Bush are the NFL's two leading rushers through two weeks and have their teams tied atop the division this September. The Dolphins swept the Bills last season and will no doubt hear it from the crowd at Ralph Wilson Stadium, which will be hyped for some rare Thursday night primetime exposure.

Week 13: New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons

While the Saints have struggled out of the gates in 2012, starting 0-2, the Atlanta Falcons have done just the opposite, winning their first two games of the season to get out to a one-game lead in the NFC South, a division that is renowned for its parity year after year. 

In addition to the great, late November atmosphere that will be present inside the Georgia Dome, fans will get to watch two of the league's best quarterbacks go head to head in Drew Brees and Matt Ryan.

There will likely still be some animosity there as well after the Falcons took issue to Brees and the Saints attempting to break Dan Marino's record for most passing yards in a single season against them.

NFL Thursday Night Football Schedule 2012

Week	Date	Matchup	Time (ET)	Channel
2	Sept. 13	Chicago Bears vs. Green Bay Packers	8:20 p.m.	NFL Network
3	Sept. 20	New York Giants vs. Carolina Panthers	8:20 p.m.	NFL Network
4	Sept. 27	Cleveland Browns vs. Baltimore Ravens	8:20 p.m.	NFL Network
5	Oct. 4	Arizona Cardinals vs. St. Louis Rams	8:20 p.m.	NFL Network
6	Oct. 11	Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Tennessee Titans	8:20 p.m.	NFL Network
7	Oct. 18	Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers	8:20 p.m.	NFL Network
8	Oct. 25	Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Minnesota Vikings	8:20 p.m.	NFL Network
9	Nov. 1	Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Diego Chargers	8:20 p.m.	NFL Network
10	Nov. 8	Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars	8:20 p.m.	NFL Network
11	Nov. 15	Miami Dolphins vs. Buffalo Bills	8:20 p.m.	NFL Network
12	Nov. 22	New England Patriots vs. New York Jets	8:20 p.m.	NBC
13	Nov. 29	New Orleans Saints vs. Atlanta Falcons	8:20 p.m.	NFL Network
14	Dec. 6	Denver Broncos vs. Oakland Raiders	8:20 p.m.	NFL Network
15	Dec. 13	Cincinnati Bengals vs. Philadelphia Eagles	8:20 p.m.	NFL Network

*All schedule information courtesy of NFL.com.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter for more NFL take, reaction and analysis.