2011 NFL Schedule: Looking Ahead at Regular Season Highlights

With the National Football League players and owners still entangled in a grueling labor battle, the release of the 2011 NFL schedule seems to be arriving with less enthusiasm than usual.

The league has already missed out on the window of excitement in free agency with the ongoing lockout of its players. Now, with the much anticipated schedule release upon us, there's a lack of luster to a typically ballyhooed event.

Nevertheless, the 2011 NFL schedule is in-place and if the labor dispute is settled in time, it will come to full fruition. Here are some of the highlights of what will hopefully be.

Packers, Saints Kickoff 2011 Season—As has been the norm since 2004, the reigning Super Bowl champions will host the first game of the following season. The Green Bay Packers will begin the defense of their 2010 championship season with a Lambeau Field home opener against the New Orleans Saints.

I would've preferred a rematch of the NFC Championship game for the Pack (vs. the Chicago Bears), but this one will showcase the past two Super Bowl champions and two high-powered passing offenses, which could result in a fan-friendly, high-scoring affair.

Ravens vs. Steelers in Week 1—My interest in an out-of-the-gates, Week 1 rivalry will be realized when the Baltimore Ravens host the Pittsburgh Steelers. This is probably the most intense rivalry in the National Football League right now. My only complaint is it's not a prime time matchup.

If the NFL was concerned about the potential of missing the first week of the season due to an ongoing lockout, you wouldn't know it by the slate of great games they scheduled this week—including the aforementioned plus the Colts at Texans, Cowboys at Jets, Falcons at Bears and Giants at Redskins.

Harbaugh vs. Harbaugh on Thanksgiving night—One of the first places I turn when a new season of NFL games is announced is Thanksgiving day. Family, food and football highlight my favorite holiday. The smell of turkey, the company of loved ones and three NFL games makes for a near perfect day as far as I'm concerned.

This year, we've got the traditional teams—the Lions host the Packers and the Dolphins play at Dallas. But an interesting night game between the Ravens and Niners pits the brothers Harbaugh (John and Jim) against one another for the first time.

First Late-Season Thursday night game, Chargers vs. Raiders—As the home stretch to the playoffs begins, Thursday night football on NFL Network adds a spark to an already heated month of games. Remember, the Raiders beat the Bolts twice last season (after losing 13 straight previously) so expect a war—with possible AFC West playoff implications—between these two rivals.

Strength of Schedule—In a perfect world, the Packers and Steelers would have the season's toughest schedule. But the NFL is far from fair or perfect. The Carolina Panthers have the league's toughest schedule in 2011. Yes, the same Carolina Panthers who are on the clock for next week's first selection in the 2011 NFL draft, are also the recipients of the most difficult road to Super Bowl XLVI. Go figure.

First year head coach Ron Rivera will have his work cut out for him, as he tries to help his new franchise rebound from a dismal 2-14 campaign. Meanwhile, on the other end of the spectrum, the Arizona Cardinals have the league's "easiest" schedule, which seems a bit more balanced in the grand scheme of things. After finishing 5-11 last season, the Cards will need all the help they can get.

On the Road Again—An NFL season is long enough without having to travel cross country to play games. Too bad for the San Francisco 49ers. The Niners will travel a total of 29,196 miles to attend their road games in 2011.

Meanwhile, the Tennessee Titans will move barely over 7,000 miles for their away schedule. Forget frequent flyer miles, home (or a quick road trip) seems like a more reasonable recipe for sweet success in the NFL.