But once that task is done, it’s about games with championship implications and playoff potential. With all the assuredness that one can have less that a week before taxes are due, MSNBC.com offers the regular-season games that cannot be missed in 2007.
Click here for complete the schedule.";
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The Saints had their eyes on this matchup last January, but their Super Bowl designs were cut short by the Bears in the NFC championship. The Saints will get a chance to exploit the Colts’ soft run defense. Yes, this group came up big in the postseason, but don’t think for a second that Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush will be scared of the Colts defense.
On the other hand, the Saints secondary is not equipped to slow down Peyton Manning unless defensive end Will Smith (10.5 sacks in 2006) can provide serious pressure. The Colts will be welcomed by a raucous home crowd that will be roaring their unconditional approval.";
spt_0411_nfl_games_to_watch[i++] = new Array("","Sept. 9: Bears at Chargers","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070104/070104_tomlinson_column_vlrg_12p.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "", "", "260", "198", "", "", "", "", "");
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The Bears had a brilliant 2006 season and were the class of the NFC. Naturally, they fired defensive coordinator Ron Rivera for his efforts, traded running back Thomas Jones and have a star linebacker in Lance Briggs who hasn’t stopped moaning about his contract since the end of the Super Bowl. Well, at least they still have Rex Grossman. Yikes.
The Chargers will be in a mood to hand out punishment and could be in a position to repeat their 14-2 season of 2006. Rivera, now the Chargers linebackers coach, should be able to help them significantly in this game. Philip Rivers will get nothing but better and Antonio Gates is the best tight end of the game. The can’t-miss matchup in this game is All-World running back LaDainian Tomlinson against middle linebacker Brian Urlacher. The smart money will be on Tomlinson and the Chargers. ";
spt_0411_nfl_games_to_watch[i++] = new Array("","Oct. 7: Falcons at Titans","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070322/070322_vick_vsml_5p.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Rusty Kennedy", "AP", "257", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
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New coach Bobby Petrino hopes to bring the Falcons more consistency on offense and turn Michael Vick into the superstar the team thought he would become when they drafted him in 2001. If Petrino can have a positive impact, the Falcons could be Super Bowl contenders.
The beauty of this game is the meeting between Vick and Vince Young and the possible avalanche of huge plays. The Titans will be improved this season, but playoffs and January dreams might be out of the picture. However, on any given day Young could turn out to be the dominant player in the league. Vick will feel pressure to perform while Young should go in with a nothing-to-lose attitude.";
spt_0411_nfl_games_to_watch[i++] = new Array("","Nov. 4: Eagles at Cowboys","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070103/070103_owens_vmed_6p.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Chris Mcgrath", "Getty Images file", "278", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
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Unlike most of the sporting nation, we are not Terrell Owens-obsessed, but this game should be big because it will have ramifications on the NFC East race. The Cowboys were beaten twice by the Eagles in 2006, and new coach Wade Phillips will win high marks if he can beat Andy Reid. That’s not going to happen unless Reid’s sons get into more trouble the week of this game.
Brian Westbrook will be the key. If Philadelphia’s versatile running back can stay healthy as he did in 2006 (1,217 rushing yards), he will cause fits for the Cowboys with his quickness and instincts. In addition to controlling Owens, the Eagles will try to get to Tony Romo and force him into errant throws.";
spt_0411_nfl_games_to_watch[i++] = new Array("","Nov. 4: Patriots at Colts","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/051120/051120_cole_belichick_vmed10p.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Winslow Townson", "AP", "248", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
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Heavyweight time here. The Patriots used to have the Colts’ number, but winning at New England during the regular season and the memorable come-from-behind win in the AFC championship game ended that run with authority. Don’t expect the Pats to just accept their fate. They signed Adalius Thomas as a free agent, and the defense should be in top form.
If there’s one regular-season game that will get Peyton Manning’s attention, it’s this one. He is still just 4-11 (postseason included) in his career against New England. Look for Bill Belichick to come up with a defensive gameplan that will force Manning into significant adjustments. New England has Tom Brady and that gives them a legitimate chance in any game.";
spt_0411_nfl_games_to_watch[i++] = new Array("","Nov. 18: Bears at Seahawks","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/061122/061122_hasselbeck_vmed_3p.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Otto Greule Jr", "Getty Images file", "289", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
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The Seahawks were the team to beat in the NFC until the Bears kicked their behinds in an early-season Sunday night game in Chicago last season. Although the Bears were not overly consistent on the offensive side, that game gave them the confidence to become the conference’s top dog. Seattle came back to Chicago in the postseason, and the Bears ruined their season with their 27-24 overtime victory.
Now the Bears have to go west and face Shaun Alexander and Matt Hasselbeck. Chicago’s only hope may be ignoring the hostile environment and playing smashmouth defense while letting record-setting Devin Hester assert himself on special teams.";
spt_0411_nfl_games_to_watch[i++] = new Array("","Dec. 3: Patriots at Ravens","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/061210/061210_ravens_vlrg_130p.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Tim Umphrey", "Getty Images", "288", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
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The Patriots will be tested severely with back-to-back games against the Ravens and Steelers. This will be a coach’s battle to remember with the offensive-minded Brian Billick trying to match wits with Bill Belichick. Billick has the knowledge and the experience to plan a win, but it all depends on Steve McNair staying healthy.
If the Ravens have to replace him at any time this season, all things could be lost since Baltimore no longer has the running of Jamal Lewis to bail them out. Do Ray Lewis and Ed Reed have enough left to get the best of Tom Brady? Adalius Thomas might have a little punishment in store for his former employer. He’s sure to get a nasty welcome from the Baltimore fans. The loser of this game could find it hard to muster up much confidence the rest of the way.";
spt_0411_nfl_games_to_watch[i++] = new Array("","Dec. 9: Steelers at Patriots","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Art/BUSINESS/061119/061119_roeth_vlrg_130p.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "Nick Laham", "Getty Images", "298", "197", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
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This is football the way it ought to be: two of the most physical teams going at it under grey skies with snow falling. The weather report is just a guess, but the Steelers are trying to rebound from their Super Bowl hangover, and the Pats want to get to The Big Game one more time. Rookie coach Mike Tomlin never will admit it, but he will shaking in his boots when he sees Bill Belichick on the other sideline.
This is the season quarterback Ben Roethlisberger makes it happen on his own. His great success in his first two years was largely due to the support he got, but as an established veteran with a keen eye for reading coverages, he must show improved third down accuracy. Big Ben would be well-advised to avoid the snowballs that well-lubricated fans may offer in his direction when the Steelers offense is on the sidelines.";
spt_0411_nfl_games_to_watch[i++] = new Array("","Dec. 9: Chargers at Titans","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/061205/061205_vinceyoung_vmed4p.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "left", "", "Jim McIsaac / Getty Images file", "259", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
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Here’s an old-fashioned American Football League shootout. We’re not trying to disparage a San Diego defense that ranked 10th overall last season, but traveling cross country and trying to stop the magical Vince Young will be a major task. Philip Rivers and LaDainian Tomlinson should be too much for the Tennessee defense in the fourth quarter, but if the Titans and Vince Young can get off to a good start and then force turnovers, an upset could happen.
";
spt_0411_nfl_games_to_watch[i++] = new Array("","Dec. 23: Ravens at Seahawks","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070101/070101_mcalister_vmed_3p.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Chris Gardner", "AP", "217", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
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The signatures of the Ravens since their Super Bowl back in 2000 have been the physical nature of their defense and an absolute fearlessness to get on the field with any opponent at any time. However, this late-season test 3,000 miles from home could cause problems.
Seattle probably will be playing for home-field advantage in the upcoming playoffs, and Mike Holmgren’s team will have to answer the bell and demonstrate its physicality. By this time in the year, the aging Ravens defense might have a hard time playing for 60 minutes.";
spt_0411_nfl_games_to_watch[i++] = new Array("","Dec. 30: Chiefs at Jets","","http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/060607/060607_edwards_vmed_3p.vmedium.jpg","","", "", "", "", "", "right", "Tim Umphrey", "Getty Images", "270", "198", "#000000", "", "", "", "");
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This has win-or-go home written all over it. The Chiefs and Jets could be playing for the last of two AFC wild-card spots and this game will be dripping with storylines.
One of them involves Chiefs coach Herman Edwards coming back to Jimmy Hoffa’s resting place to take on his former team. He knows that if the Kansas City defense can smack Chad Pennington in the mouth a couple of times early, the Chiefs’ chances of coming up with the road win improve dramatically.
But boy wonder Eric Mangini will try to confound Kansas City quarterback Damon Huard with multiple fronts and hope that his secondary gets the best of tight end Tony Gonzalez."; // END editorial data