The Season's Best Non-Divisional Game Each Week

Steelers/Ravens. Redskins/Cowboys. Patriots/Jets. Packers/Bears. We circle these classic divisional rivalry games on our calendar before the season even starts. However, the games that sometimes get overlooked are the ones that can eventually have an impact during the playoff run in December.

This season is no different—some have become instant rivalries in years past, others are frequent foes in the playoffs and other matchups are simply must-see TV! Check out the most intriguing non-divisional games, week by week.

Week 1: The Up 'N Coming Triplets Visit the Bears

The Falcons could be the next version of the Cowboys' Triplet Dynasty in the 1990s with Matt Ryan, Michael Turner and Roddy White subbing in for Troy, Emmitt and Michael. They start the season against a pesky Chicago defense.

Week 2: Championship Sunday?

Is Week 2 code for the NFC and AFC Championships? As the Chargers visit the Pats and the Eagles visit Atlanta, we could be witnessing a preview of the conference championship games. My take: Pats vs. Eagles...but we will get back to that in Week 12...

Week 3: Can They Score over a 100 Points?!

When the Texans visit New Orleans, I bet that Schaub and Brees team up for at least eight touchdowns. Colston vs. Johnson. Foster vs. Thomas/Ingram/Sproles. Even the tight ends are great with Thomas vs. Daniels. You've got a pair of potent offenses battling it out for four quarters of electrifying sans-defense football.

Week 4: The Rex Ryan Bowl

The Jets will visit Baltimore in an epic defensive struggle with Rex Ryan leading his boys against his former players. The combination of a pair of shutdown defenses spells trouble for a pair of young offenses still waiting for consistency. Expect Rex to take a win back to N.Y.

Week 5: Oh Not Again...Another Lopsided Win?

Here we go again...Aaron Rodgers is preparing for an encore performance as he heads back to Atlanta. Rodgers considers his lopsided playoff win against the Falcons last year as his best overall performance as an NFL quarterback. Can his team do it again? What do the Falcons have to say about all of this?

Week 6: Pretender Versus Contender?

Belichick or Garrett? Brady or Romo? Not even a competition, my friends. This is a classic case of legitimate contender in the Pats against an iffy, sometimes great, sometimes awful Cowboys team. Gimme the Pats.

Week 7: An Early Season Intraconference Heat Check

The Chargers are notorious for starting seasons slow, and then kicking it into high gear come October. The Jets are always fired up with ole Rex and young Sanchez. This game provides a great matchup between a pair of great AFC teams that could hook up again in the playoffs. Is this the year Rivers finally gets his team over the hump of mediocrity?

Week 8: How Many Rings You Got?

The Patriots have seen their dynasty end before their eyes, while the Steelers still have plenty left in their tank. These two teams have met in the playoffs over the last eight seasons many times, and have won or been to seven of the last 10 Super Bowls, winning five of them. This game could be a preview of this year's AFC Championship. Give me the Pats today, but the Steelers for the future.

Week 9: The ELITE Status is on the Line

I'm thinking...19-0. Excuse me, I mean 18-1. Eli Manning takes his troops into New England to prove that he is an elite quarterback. Although he gets kudos for that epic Super Bowl upset, Eli knows who the truly elite quarterback is on the field. That goes to Mr. Tom Brady. In this Super Bowl rematch, the results flip with a Pats win.

Week 10: Be Careful What You Wish for

A quick trip in Philly's mind circa last summer: Let's give Vick a shot, it's a feel-good story if nothing else. Let's pull the trigger on McNabb because we have Kevin Kolb, the future of the Eagles. Week 2 against the Packers, Kolb gets mauled (courtesy of Clay Matthews), and Vick starts an epic season.

Fast-forward eight months and Vick is in the MVP race and Kolb is hoping for a trade. Now, Kolb got his wish and is playing pitch-n-catch with Larry while Vick is teaming up with DeSean and the rest of the speed demons. It is definitely going to be a good one.

Week 11: New England Versus New England 2.0

If you cannot beat them, become them! Kansas City took this to heart as they have snagged Patriot talent from the front office, coaching staff and starting lineup. The Chiefs are significantly more formidable now than they were three years ago, but they still no chance against THE New England Patriots.

Week 12: A Super Bowl Rematch and Much More...

A Super Bowl rematch is exciting. A Super Bowl preview is even more exciting. This game has the ingredients to show up again in February, as Brady makes the short trip to Philly for a great showdown.

Week 13: Manning Who?

If Peyton Manning comes back from surgery/injury, Colts vs. Patriots might as well be dubbed ESPN Classic. Whenever these powerhouses face each other, great things happen—going for it on 4th-and-2? Being down 21-3 at halftime and still winning in the playoffs? Another goal-line stand to win the game? Are you kidding me? This is the best NFL rivalry of the decade, just ahead of Ravens vs. Steelers.

Week 14: Passing on the Torch

Indy travels to Baltimore in this winter showdown with many subplots—does Manning come back? Are the Ravens finally clicking on offense enough to support their stellar defense? This game will be remembered as the game where the Colts passed on the torch and gave up the reigns to the Ravens as the perennial AFC playoff team.

Week 15: AFC Playoff Standings Are on the Line

It is December, so we know the Chargers will be near perfect. With a veteran defense, the Ravens will be ready to play on a warm night in San Diego. This game features two great teams trying to finally make ways in the playoffs and knock off the usual suspects atop the standings.

Week 16: Empire State of Mind

New York supremacy is on the line as the Jets and Giants square off at MetLife Stadium. Enough of the trash-talking between New Yorkers, let's settle this one once for all!

Week 17: Division Games Only

Best Games and Predictions: Dallas over Giants (unless what happened in that picture happens again...) to clinch a wild-card berth, and Packers over Lions to clinch the NFC.