NFL Schedule Release: Top primetime games of 2015

Jan 18, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks receiver Jermaine Kearse (15) is defended by Green Bay Packers cornerback Tramon Williams (38) on a 35-yard touchdown reception in overtime in the NFC Championship at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks defeated the Packers 28-22 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

After looking over the NFL schedule release, the primetime matchups in 2015 are nowhere close to appealing. I mean, Giants at Dolphins on Monday Night Football? Titans at Jaguars on TNF? The NFL should really rethink its requirement that every team must have at least one primetime game. (With that said, that Tennessee-Jacksonville game will become much more enticing if the Titans take Marcus Mariota.)

Despite the NFL’s incompetency in schedule-making, there are several intriguing games, at least on paper. Anytime Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are in the same venue, it’s worth watching. Not surprisingly, over half of these games involve either the Packers or the Broncos. We’d all have liked to have seen more games in primetime featuring either the Patriots or Seahawks against good teams, but again, the league has to work through some strict primetime requirements.

We’ve seen some incredible Monday night games in recent years, including that Week 16 Candlestick going-out game where NaVarro Bowman returned a Matt Ryan interception for a touchdown, sealing the win for the 49ers. This year’s Monday night matchups don’t appear to be as enticing, but remember, Atlanta was a four-win team in 2013 and we watched one of the best games of that season.

In addition to previewing the primetime matchups, I’ll give my prediction for every game. In December, we can revisit this to see how wrong I was.

Next: 2014 one-point game rematch