2012 NFL Schedule: Most Compelling Sunday Night Showdowns

Sunday Night Football is loaded with compelling matchups for the 2012 NFL season. 

I mean, LOADED.

What's better than a Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants showdown to kick off NBC's prime-time football? Not much.

After perusing the full Sunday night schedule, these are easily the most intriguing battles we'll witness in 2012. 

(Stayed away from divisional matchups)

 

Sept. 9: Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos 

Peyton Manning against Ben Roethlisberger. Denver's new-look offense against the vaunted Steelers defense. A chance at revenge for Pittsburgh after they were bounced by the Broncos in the playoffs last season.

This game has it all.

We'll get to see the vast difference between the the 2011 Broncos offense and the 2012 Broncos offense. Will James Harrison get to Peyton? How about Troy Polamalu? Will he reel in another interception in crunch time with all of America watching? 

Can Peyton really make the Broncos a legitimate playoff contender? 

I'll be interested in the Steelers offensive line and if they can protect Big Ben against Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil, who relentlessly come flying off the edge. 

A great showdown at the beginning of the season with tons of storylines. 

 

Sept. 16: Detroit Lions at San Francisco 49ers

Love the offense vs. defense showdowns? This game's for you. Stafford and Co. venture to the Bay Area to take on Patrick Willis, Aldon Smith and Justin Smith in an old-school, smashmouth battle for NFC supremacy. 

We know what happened between Jim Harbaugh and Jim Schwartz last year, but that's a small and insignificant storyline in this one. 

Is there a more awe-inspiring player in the league today than Calvin Johnson? Not for me. Watching the 49ers defense is quite jaw-dropping too. 

Detroit would love to get their revenge on San Fran's home turf. 

 

Sept. 23: New England Patriots at Baltimore Ravens 

Rematches always make for fantastic television—especially if we're talking about a rematch of the previous year's AFC championship game. 

After the devastating missed field goal by Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff led to the Patriots' advancement to the Super Bowl, Baltimore get its shot at revenge inside the Ravens Nest.

Ray Lewis is licking his chops, and Brady wants to stick it to the Ravens once again.  

A classic AFC clash between two evenly-matched teams that seemingly always produce a thriller.

 

Oct. 14: Green Bay Packers at Houston Texans 

The NFL's dream matchup between two high-powered offenses and terrorizing defensive lines. Matt Schaub and Aaron Rodgers go toe-to-toe in Houston as two of the league's most prolific gun-slingers.

Clay Matthews leads the charge for the Packers, while Connor Barwin, Brooks Reed and J.J. Watt look to make Rodgers' life miserable.

We could be in for a shootout, but don't be surprised if this game yields a well-balanced amount of big plays on offense and defense.

The epitome of must-watch football.

 

Follow @ChrisTrapasso

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1149730-2012-nfl-schedule-most-compelling-sunday-night-showdowns

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