The Most Must-See Games This NFL Season

With the supernova potential packed into the kickoff of another NFL slate, each team sets its sights on a postseason berth—buoyed by varying degrees of optimism and realism. But there are a few contests on the schedule that will match the wide anticipation and harsh scrutiny befitting a playoff game.

Culminating in an unpredictable Week 17, at which point certain games could mean everything or nothing to the participants (particularly bitter division matchups like the Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals and San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos), the regular season offers several juicy clashes along the way.

And the NFL, in its infinite wisdom, has scheduled five of these six barn burners (listed in chronological order) on primetime TV for a national audience.

Week 1: Tennessee Titans at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Cam Newton and Carson Palmer are the only Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks to enjoy notable NFL success since 1986 winner Vinny Testaverde. And yet, two struggling franchises have hitched their futures to the most recent Heisman recipients. 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Jameis Winston No. 1 this year, and the Tennessee Titans selected Marcus Mariota second overall. While this Week 1 matchup isn't quite Oregon Ducks at Florida State Seminoles, it will serve as a rare rookie-on-rookie showcase as they debut.

Both have been named the starting quarterback, with Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt leaking news of Mariota's role accidentally on purpose at a July press conference, via The Tennessean. Bucs coach Lovie Smith expressed total confidence in his new QB:

"

Lovie Smith: "All this talk about Jameis needing a mentor... Jameis doesn't need a mentor. He's ready to take the reigns and go with it."

— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) July 31, 2015"

You may have to indulge your masochistic side by watching two of the league's worst teams lock horns—they each finished 2-14 last season—but there's nothing more satisfying than making a snap judgment about a highly drafted rookie based on his first game.

This season-opening clash of neophytes on Sept. 13 will be the afternoon game on CBS.

Week 2: Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Revenge could come swiftly for the Green Bay Packers with this Sunday-night rematch of January's NFC Championship Game against the Seattle Seahawks. Winning quarterback Russell Wilson overcame four interceptions and completed a game-ending 35-yard touchdown to Jermaine Kearse in overtime, ousting Green Bay in a 28-22 thriller.

The Packers led 16-0 at halftime and certainly feel they let a Super Bowl appearance slip away after Seattle committed five turnovers, three more than the Pack. While neither quarterback impressed during that meeting, the Packers will need to come up with a game plan to contain Marshawn Lynch, who rumbled for 157 yards and a score on 25 carries in the last meeting.

Oh, and now the Seahawks have superlative tight end Jimmy Graham. The Packers will hope a raucous home crowd can disrupt the visitors this time, as the tundra at Lambeau Field will not be frozen over by Week 2.

Week 6: New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

You might have heard that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady had a little trouble with some deflated footballs and a four-game suspension from the league.

NFL.com compiled a timeline of the events, with reports surfacing that the NFL was investigating deflated game balls shortly after the Pats trounced the Indianapolis Colts 45-7 in the AFC Championship Game on Jan. 18. Then the Ted Wells report, released May 6, claimed "it is more probable than not that" Patriots staff deliberately deflated game balls and Brady was "at least generally aware of the inappropriate activities." 

While the legal wrangling may have ruined Brady's summer, U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman threw a penalty flag at commissioner Roger Goodell and called back the suspension, ruling on Sept. 3 that the commish tried to conjure "his own brand of industrial justice," per ProFootballTalk. The league promptly announced it would appeal.

With Brady back under center, he can prime himself for an AFC title grudge match against Andrew Luck and the Colts on NBC's Sunday Night Football in Week 6. The Colts are still smarting from that throttling in January, and Brady will have a target on his back in Indy. The Colts are eager to prove they're not just also-rans in a stout AFC.

Week 9: Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The Dallas Cowboys got up to their usual antics this summer, with America's Team's star wide receiver Dez Bryant trading blows with a teammate during training camp. Aside from the fact that the Cowboys posted a video of the fight to their official Twitter account, this same incident could have happened to any Cowboys wideout in the past 25 years and gotten a similar reaction:

"

Dez Bryant - Tyler Patmon Fight Full Video & Reaction MUST WATCH: http://t.co/egrkA9lI0R pic.twitter.com/oTWsb5zk1X

— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) August 3, 2015"

The Cowboys routinely invite conflict to the team, whether it be friction between owner and coach or signing embattled defensive lineman Greg Hardy.

There will be plenty of drama on Sunday night in Week 9 when Dallas' NFC East rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles, come to town. Pro Bowl running back DeMarco Murray bolted for Philly during the offseason, and he returns to his former home field after rushing for 1,845 yards and 13 TDs last year, not to mention 57 receptions.

This meeting could determine the division leader, and it will spotlight the state of Dallas' backfield, with a committee of Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden and Lance Dunbar attempting to replace Murray's potent production.

Week 10: Buffalo Bills at New York Jets

Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

With both teams playing on a short week, the Buffalo Bills visit the New York Jets on Thursday night to start Week 10. The most compelling storyline comes on the sideline for this one, with head coach Rex Ryan donning Bills blue and returning to Northern New Jersey where he coached the Jets for six seasons.

Though Ryan has toned down his bravado from the Chris Christie-esque furor seen in previous years, he surely burns to win this road game in the Jets' house. After consecutive appearances in the AFC Championship Game, Ryan's team struggled to generate offense for four straight years, and he departed unceremoniously after last season's 4-12 campaign.

As Ryan promised during a January press conference, per The Associated Press via Fox Sports, "We're going to build a bully." The Bills boast a stacked defense up front that includes Mario Williams, but Ryan still has a question mark at the quarterback position, so expect plenty of handoffs to trade-acquisition running back LeSean McCoy this season.

The Jets quarterback situation is similarly in flux, in large part due to Geno Smith's broken jaw (courtesy of a teammate's punch) thrusting ex-Bill Ryan Fitzpatrick to the fore. Regardless of which QB head coach Todd Bowles puts under center in Week 10, there will be a long target to throw to in Brandon Marshall. Perhaps more importantly, All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis has returned to the Jets, and he'll want to show Rex what he missed.

Both teams are sporting a new look, and they're each eager for New York State bragging rights in the AFC East.

Week 12: New England Patriots at Denver Broncos

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

Tom Brady and Peyton Manning have treated football fans to a master class in quarterbacking over the last 15 years, but Brady's team has prevailed 11 times in their 16 meetings, most recently a 43-21 New England Patriots victory on Nov. 2 last season. It is possible that Week 12 could bring the final installment in the must-see rivalry.

Manning weighed retirement at the start of the offseason, but the 39-year-old future Hall of Famer will return under center for the Denver Broncos this year. After he endured four neck surgeries that cost him the entire 2011 season, he's continued his statistical prowess in Denver, but he covets a chance to win another Super Bowl.

As noted by USA Today's Lindsay H. Jones, the Broncos will rest Manning periodically during training camp to help keep him fresh. He will also have a new coach to work with and an altered offense.

Formerly the offensive coordinator while John Elway was quarterback, Gary Kubiak has returned and taken the reins as head coach. Now, the Broncos' offensive focus may very well be on the ground instead of through the air—and not just because talented tight end Julius Thomas left for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Now the general manager and executive VP of football operations, Elway seeks to replicate the formula that brought him and Kubiak consecutive Super Bowls in the 1997 and '98 seasons, just prior to his retirement at age 38.

As Elway told The Denver Post's Nicki Jhabvala: "Late in my career, that was my best friend, the running game. And I think that running game will be Peyton’s best friend, also." That quote must be music to the ears of running backs C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman.