NFL Season Game Watch Preview

So you want to see an NFL game.  How many people do you know who want to go to an NFL game?  Do you know someone who has season tickets?  Did you try to get tickets when they went on sale to the “public”?  A lot of people are in the same situation and don’t have tickets.  This is the time of year when you should start planning when you want to go to the game(s) and when prices are actually pretty constant and manageable.  Obviously tickets prices can drop as teams play poorly or they can rise as teams get hot.  It really depends on what you want and who you want to see.

Over the next month I am going to preview each conference.  I will look at the games to see, the bargains, and the surprises.  I had the “pleasure” of going to the Steelers/Dolphins Monday Night game last year.  Hey sometimes the weather just doesn’t cooperate.  But that is the game I wanted to see in August last year and I probably would pick it again tomorrow.  So today I want to discuss the “Big” games of the year.  Most of them are obvious, but maybe I will surprise you.

• Cowboys at Steelers- Sunday Dec. 7th 4:15 PM FOX -  If you haven’t figured it out both fan bases hate each other.  Teams that played against each other during 3 Superbowls and have a combined 10 Superbowl Championships very rarely play against each other.  There are only a handful of games that could be the “Game of the Year.”  This one is on the top of my list.
• Patriots at Chargers - Sunday Oct 12th 8:15 PM NBC - AFC Championship Preview?  You never know but this one should be fun.  Both teams have a good chance at being undefeated at this point so the hype will be up.  The play should match the hype.  If you are in sunny San Diego remember the game starts at 5:15 PM pacific time so you can celebrate at the bar later.
• Chargers at Steelers- Sunday Nov. 16th 4:15 PM CBS - Ok so the AFC is packed with good teams and interesting match-ups.  I feel that this is the most unpredictable game of the season.  Both teams have great defenses and great offenses.  Thank goodness the game is before the High School Championships.  So the field won’t be a mess like it was after Thanksgiving last year.
• Colts at Steelers - Sunday Nov. 9th 4:15 PM CBS - Vanderjagt probably kept the Colts from winning back to back Superbowls.  If Manning wants 2 in 3 years he better not take Pittsburgh lightly.  The Steelers have a brutal schedule although a lot of the tough games are at home.  Hopefully a few Colts fans can brave the trip through Ohio to see this game.
• Colts at Chargers - Sunday Nov. 23rd 8:15 PM NBC - If you don’t like the color blue you should probably not watch this game.  This is a big season for Philip Rivers and winning this game is a must.  No excuses here big night game at home, just played in Pittsburgh, a big home win here gives you the confidence in the playoffs.  I also think the Colts will be ready to play after torching Houston.  In other words - Big Game.
• 49ers at Cowboys - Sunday Nov. 23rd 1:00 PM FOX - Ok so I am nostalgic for the 90’s.  But in the 00’s I am big on Mike Martz offenses.  I think the Cowboys will win this game, but there should be a lot of scoring on the way.  I would love to see TO score and then celebrate on the Star at mid-field.  If this does not happen, TO missed out on a great opportunity.
• Bears at Colts - Sunday Sep. 7th 8:15 PM NBC- Lucas Oil Stadium opens its lid, I mean doors for the first regular season game.  This is also a rematch from the Superbowl 2 years ago.  Should be fun if you are a Colts fan, because the Bears are a mess.  Everyone in Indianapolis should thank Rex for playing in the Opener and Superbowl.
• Patriots at Colts- Sunday Nov 2nd8:15 PM NBC - The Pats come into The Oil Can with at most 2 losses, more likely Zero.  We have at least 6 could be previews of AFC championship games this season.  The fact that most of these teams and match-ups I am picking will be seen in the playoffs is amazing.  I am calling a Colt win here and now, new building means new results against Brady and Co.
• Steelers at Eagles - Sunday Sep. 21st 4:15 PM CBS - The once every 4 years cross-state rivalry heats up in week 3.  That means Westbrook and McNabb should be healthy and the crowd will be nasty.  The good news for the Steelers is the weather should be nice.
• Steelers at Patriots - Sunday Nov. 30th4:15 PM CBS - If you haven’t noticed there is a lot of Colts/Chargers/Pats/Steelers games here.  Well thanks to the strength of schedule the Pats and the Chargers drew the Steelers/Colts, the Steelers and the Colts drew the Pats/Chargers.  Last time I checked the Jaguars and Titans made the playoffs last year too.  The Jags have the Bills/Broncos and the Titans have the Chiefs/Jets as their strength games.  If the Jaguars don’t make the playoffs this year somebody isn’t doing their job down in Jacksonville.  Oh, the Steelers/Pats game will be excellent, it always is.
• Redskins at Cowboys /Cowboys at Redskins - Sunday Sep. 28th 4:15 FOX - Sunday Nov. 16th 8:15 PM NBC - Readers choice!  First let me be clear, every NFC East team can make the playoffs.  All 4 organizations always compete, and after Dan Snyder learned his “you can’t buy a championship” lesson, they all draft well.  When I cover the conference in more detail later we can get into the details.  I love rivalry games and this one is one of the best.  If you can make it to one of these games let me know how much fun you had!
• Cowboys at Giants - Sunday Nov. 2nd 4:15 PM FOX - The NFC Favorites visit the Superbowl Champs.  I think Dallas will want to avenge their playoff loss twice this season.  But then again they beat the Giants twice last year and still lost in the playoffs.  Well here is round one of two (or three).
• Cowboys at Packers/Colts at Packers- Sunday Sep. 21st 8:15 PM NBC/ Sunday Oct. 19th 4:15 PM CBS - Ok another choice for you.  So my main question is: are the games with or without Brett Favre?  I am a little sick of the whole thing myself.  But are the games as good without him?  Last year against Dallas he went out hurt and ARoge wasn’t terrible in relief.  Well I guess the game was over at that point.  Anyway, if you are in Wisconsin you probably want to see one of these games and I don’t blame you!
• Saints at Bucs- Sunday Nov. 30th 1:00 PM Fox - I guarantee this game has playoff/division implications.  I like the Saints in a rebound year and the Bucs are building things back up after making the playoffs last year.  If you have never been to Raymond James Stadium, take a trip with your friends/family to Tampa for Thanksgiving.  The stadium has a touch of Disney World and watching the guns in the pirate ship go off is actually pretty cool.