NFL 2012 Week 1 Primetime and Thanksgiving Predictions

On Tuesday at the NFL Owners Meetings, the NFL announced that the season opening game Wednesday September 5th will feature the Giants hosting the Dallas Cowboys. Usually, the season opening game is slated for a Thursday night slot, but due to the Democratic National Convention, the NFL decided to move the game to Wednesday. It was a bit of a surprise that the league didn't go with the Packers visiting the Giants, but I guess they figured they would wait until later in the season to feature that matchup, and look for FOX to get that game sometime in early November. With that matchup set up, there is speculation that the league would release some of the other primetime games for Week 1. The NFL used to do this all the time at the league meetings in March, and they would also throw in a one or two other featured games for Sunday's slate of Week 1 games and the Thanksgiving games too. They haven't done that the past few years, but there is a sense that the NFL might do that once again. With the way that the NFL has dominated the headlines so far this offseason, why not take the opportunity to release a few games this week? We know that the full schedule won't be released until the middle of April, but it is always fun to speculate and make some predictions for the Week 1 primetime games and the Thanksgiving games as well.

NFL Season Opener (Wednesday Night Football)

Dallas at Giants 8:00pm-NBC

Sunday Night Football Opener ( September 9th)

Pittsburgh at Denver 8:00pm-NBC

Monday Night Football Doubleheader Game 1 (September 10th)

Houston at New England 7:00pm-ESPN

Monday Night Football Doubleheader Game 2 (September 10th)

Seattle at San Francisco 10:00pm-ESPN

Thanksgiving Games

Early game: Houston at Detroit 12:30pm-CBS

Late game: Washington at Dallas 4:00pm-FOX

Night game: Green Bay at Chicago 8:00pm-NBC

Analysis:

-It was surprising that the NFL didn't go with the Packers at Giants for the season opener on NBC, but putting Dallas in that spot instead of Green Bay is still a good choice.

-Rumors have been swirling that the Steelers will open at Denver on SNF, and you have to think that the NFL wants to give Peyton Manning's return to the NFL a big showcase on opening weekend. Throw in the rematch with the Steelers from last year's playoff game, and this seems like a great fit.

-The Patriots seem to fit well in that early MNF opener, and why not pair them with a playoff team from 2011 like the Texans. That seems like a very attractive opener for ESPN.

-The doubleheader usually goes to the AFC West, but this year I think the NFL and ESPN give the 49ers and the NFC West a shot at that late window.

-The Lions only have two options for their Thanksgiving game this year: Indy and Houston. CBS should be happy to get the up and coming Texans against the rising Lions in a matchup of two playoff teams from 2011.

-How about Robert Griffin III coming back to Texas to take on the Cowboys on Thanksgiving in the late game on FOX? Washington and Dallas makes perfect sense here.

-As for Thanksgiving night on NBC, Bears and Packers would be a great setting that night. Two good teams and a classic rivalry on Thanksgiving should be one hell of a game to finish off turkey day.