2013 NFL Schedule: Intriguing Matchups That Must Be Contested in Prime Time

The official 2013 NFL schedule has yet to be released, so football fans everywhere continue to speculate how the league will ultimately set things up. Every team knows who its opponents will be, but the order and times of the games remain a mystery.

One of the first things that fans will look at when the official schedule is released is when their team will be playing during prime time.  

Sunday Night Football and Monday Night Football generally receive the most desirable tilts, while Thursday Night Football gets some decent games as well. There will be no shortage of opportunities to see great matchups on the national stage.

Here are three top-flight games that absolutely must take place during prime time at some point in 2013. (The second team listed is the home team.)

Denver Broncos vs. New England Patriots

One of the biggest storylines during the NFL offseason is wide receiver Wes Welker's decision to leave the New England Patriots in favor of the Denver Broncos. Welker achieved unprecedented success as a slot receiver in the Pats offense, but he apparently saw greener pastures in Denver.

Welker will return to New England at some point this season, and he will most likely be booed. Even though Danny Amendola was brought aboard to fill his role, there seems to be a feeling that Welker betrayed the Pats.

In addition to the Welker situation, the Broncos and Patriots are arguably the two best teams in the AFC. Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady is easily the greatest quarterback rivalry of this generation, and there figures to be plenty of offensive fireworks in this game.

Green Bay Packers vs. San Francisco 49ers

The NFC is stacked heading into the 2013 season, but many fans would agree that the San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers are the teams to beat. The Seattle Seahawks and Atlanta Falcons are definitely in the conversation as well, but they are a step below.

Not surprisingly, the Niners and Packers have developed a bit of a rivalry in recent years. They often went at it in the 1990s as two of the best teams in the NFL, but San Fran's downturn halted that. The 49ers outlasted the Packers in a shootout in the playoffs last season, winning 45-31.

The 49ers are known more for their defense, but the emergence of quarterback Colin Kaepernick has made them a dynamic offensive squad as well. The Packers are the best offensive team in football thanks to quarterback Aaron Rodgers and a deep receiving corps.

Denver Broncos vs. Indianapolis Colts

Peyton Manning was part of the Colts organization for 14 years, but they made the difficult decision to release him following the 2011 season. He missed that entire year due to a neck injury, and the Colts ended up with the No. 1 overall selection.

They picked quarterback Andrew Luck, and things worked out fantastically. Indy went 11-5 and reached the playoffs in his rookie season. Manning settled in as a Bronco as well, leading his team to home-field advantage in the playoffs and a 13-3 record.

Unlike with Welker visiting New England, there is no way Manning gets booed in Indianapolis. Colts fans still love him unconditionally, and he is sure to get a standing ovation. The game itself should be one of the best: Denver is a veteran-laden group with Super Bowl aspirations, while Indy is a young team on the rise.

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