2012 NFL Network Thursday Night Schedule Preview and Analysis

The NFL Network is starting something new in 2012 where we NFL fans are treated to Thursday night football almost every week this season. For me, Thursday night football is one of my favorite parts of the season, so having a game every week is really exciting. Here is a quick preview of each game this season:

Week 2: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers

This is going to be an awesome game early in the season. I can’t wait to see how the Bears improve their team in the draft, but we know (or hope, at least) that the Bears will have a full complement of offensive weapons for this game. Jay Cutler presumably will be healthy, and Matt Forte could be back with the team as the revamped Bears offense heads on the road for a matchup against last year’s best regular season team, featuring MVP Aaron Rodgers.

Week 3: New York Giants at Carolina Panthers

This might not be an evenly matched game, but I am very intrigued by it. Cam Newton, the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year going up against Eli Manning and the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants. That Giants pass rush is going to be getting after the youngster, and to me, this is a really interesting matchup. The Panthers are home, and being that it’s only three weeks into the season, the house is going to be rockin’.

Week 4: Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens

AFC North games can be kind of boring if you’re not a fan of the team, and especially frustrating for fantasy football owners. However, the Browns have played moderately well in a couple of prime games that I’ve seen, and they should have Trent Richardson this time around. This could be one of the better young running back matchups of the 2012 season when Richardson (we think) heads to Baltimore for the first time in his career.

Week 5: Arizona Cardinals at St. Louis Rams

This is the first ‘dud’ game to me. I don’t really see much intrigue here, but you know that Larry Fitzgerald fantasy owners are going to be licking their chops for a prime time matchup against the Rams’ secondary. However, Jeff Fisher’s crew features a decent couple of young pass rushers in Robert Quinn and Chris Long, and now they’ve added Cortland Finnegan to the back end of that secondary. If the Rams add an intriguing wide receiver, this could wind up being a meaningful early season game.

Week 6: Pittsburgh Steelers at Tennessee Titans

The Titans are always a solid defensive team, and I think if they struggle early in the season, this game could be one of Jake Locker’s first starts of the year. The Titans aren’t really a compelling team to me right now, but if the Steelers get off to a slow start, this could be a must-win game for them.

Week 7: Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers

Now we’re talking. I think the Seahawks have some really funny looking new uniforms, but they have something worth buying into as a franchise. I really hope Marshawn Lynch returns even better than last year, and that these guys can make something happen. I’m really interested to see how Matt Flynn adjusts, and how that Seattle defense can improve. Not to mention, the 49ers are going to be defending their home field in a divisional matchup that could be really entertaining.

Week 8: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings

There will be some really fun players on both sides to watch in this one. I like Christian Ponder and Adrian Peterson for Minnesota, and you really can’t get enough of watching Jared Allen rush the quarterback. He’s one of the best to ever play the game at his position, in my opinion. On the other side, the Bucs will feature a new look team with some important free agent acquisitions, but their defense needs to be shored up ASAP.

Week 9: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers

The Chiefs could be a really interesting team this year with another easy looking schedule. If the Chargers are reeling early on again, this could be a very important game for them as well. These two teams have the potential to have very explosive offenses, but the Chiefs’ defense is one of the most underrated in football in my opinion.

Week 10: Indianapolis Colts vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

If for no other reason, this game will be watchable because of Andrew Luck, provided he is healthy. I don’t think we’ll have any playoff indications for these two very young teams.

Week 11: Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills

If Ryan Tannehill goes to the Dolphins, he might be in for a long day against that new look Buffalo pass rush. With the Bills moving to a 4-3 defense and adding Mario Williams and Mark Anderson to their young group that already includes Marcel Dareus and Kyle Williams…Could be a long day, like I said.

Week 13: New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons

This matchup could have serious playoff and division title implications. The Saints might finally be smelling some normalcy at this point, and Matt Ryan and the Falcons defend their home field as well as anybody in the league. There will be lots of points scored in this game, for sure.

Week 14: Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders

Every year, it seems like the Broncos and Raiders split, and both teams win on the road. This year, though, there’s a new sheriff in town for the Denver Broncos, and at this point, the Raiders might have nothing else to play for except pride. If they can surprise some people and come out even better than they were last year, this could be a very interesting game. Might be a nice warm weather game for the Broncos late in the season.

Week 15: Cincinnati Bengals at Philadelphia Eagles

Finally we get some interleague action on the NFL Network with the Bengals taking on the Eagles, both teams that I think could be very, very good in 2012. This might be one of NFL Network’s better games for 2012.