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Breakdown: The Buffalo Bills' schedule has an obvious ebb and flow through mid-November. They open with the Miami Dolphins at home and then face three straight playoff teams. The Bills then face non-playoff teams in Weeks 8 through 10.

If the Bills can hang tough through the first stretch and put together some momentum heading into Thanksgiving, then they might be an outside factor down the stretch.

Word leaked out early the Bills will continue their Toronto series against the Chicago Bears on Nov. 7 in the Rogers Centre. The first two games in Toronto were against divisional opponents in December. The earlier date should stimulate disappointing ticket sales because the Bills won't be playing out the string, but probably not early enough to open the retractable roof.

Complaint department: The Bills' schedule is rather dull. There's not much noteworthy about it aside from the Toronto date. The Bills have no prime-time games. Every kickoff has been scheduled for 1 p.m.

Quick turnaround: Because Buffalo is closer to the Midwest than the Northeast and the division's cross-divisional matchups are against the AFC North and NFC North, the Bills have an agreeable itinerary ahead.

Even if you factor in the home game they've exported to Canada, their roundtrip travel will be about 9,300 miles. That's by far the shortest distance in the division. They will travel over 1,400 roundtrip miles only three times, whereas the Dolphins' quickest out-and-back will be roughly 1,800 miles. Six Dolphins trips are at least 2,100 miles.

Bills Regular Season Schedule (All times Eastern)
Week 1: Sunday, Sep. 12, Miami, 1:00 PM
Week 2: Sunday, Sep. 19, at Green Bay, 1:00 PM
Week 3: Sunday, Sep. 26, at New England, 1:00 PM
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 3, NY Jets, 1:00 PM
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 10, Jacksonville, 1:00 PM
Week 6: BYE
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 24, at Baltimore, 1:00 PM
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 31, at Kansas City, 1:00 PM
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 7, Chicago, 1:00 PM
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 14, Detroit, 1:00 PM
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 21, at Cincinnati, 1:00 PM
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 28, Pittsburgh, 1:00 PM
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 5, at Minnesota, 1:00 PM
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 12, Cleveland, 1:00 PM
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 19, at Miami, 1:00 PM
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 26, New England, 1:00 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 2, at NY Jets, 1:00 PM

Breakdown: Norv Turner’s Chargers start very poorly and finish strong. It always seems to happen.

Last year, the Chargers started 2-3, but won the final 11 games of the regular season, an NFL high. The Chargers don’t start clicking until the early season is a memory.

This year, like every year, the Chargers want to change that trend. They will have a good opportunity. San Diego’s first six games are not a murderers’ row of opponents. San Diego plays only one 2009 playoff team (Arizona at home in Week 4) in the first six games before hosting New England in Week 7. If the Chargers can’t start fast this year, something is definitely wrong.

Complaint department: The Chargers have a pretty workable schedule. If there are any sticking points it’s that they finish the season with two road games against key AFC competition. The Chargers play at Cincinnati in a Sunday night game in Week 16 and end the season at Denver. Still, the Chargers will go into the two-game stretch with home games against Oakland, Kansas City and San Francisco (on a Thursday night) in Weeks 13-15.

More Monday Night Magic in Week 1? For the third time since 2006, the Chargers will play on the back end of a "Monday Night Football" doubleheader in Week 1. For the third straight time, San Diego will open the season on the road against a division foe. The Chargers play at Kansas City in Week 1. They played at Oakland in "Monday Night Football" games in 2006 and 2009. The Chargers likely won’t complain about not getting a home game to start the season. They won both of the games in Oakland.

Chargers Regular Season Schedule (All times Eastern)
Week 1: Monday, Sep. 13, at Kansas City, 10:15 PM
Week 2: Sunday, Sep. 19, Jacksonville, 4:15 PM
Week 3: Sunday, Sep. 26, at Seattle, 4:15 PM
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 3, Arizona, 4:15 PM
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 10, at Oakland, 4:15 PM
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 17, at St. Louis, 1:00 PM
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 24, New England, 4:15 PM
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 31, Tennessee, 4:05 PM
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 7, at Houston, 1:00 PM
Week 10: BYE
Week 11: Monday, Nov. 22, Denver, 8:30 PM
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 28, at Indianapolis, 8:20 PM
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 5, Oakland, 4:05 PM
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 12, Kansas City, 4:15 PM
Week 15: Thursday, Dec. 16, San Francisco, 8:20 PM
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 26, at Cincinnati, 8:20 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 2, at Denver, 4:15 PM

Breakdown: The New England Patriots have the AFC East's most difficult schedule based on records from last season. Their schedule ranks as the sixth-toughest in the NFL, with opponents going 136-120 last year. The other three AFC East squads have an average schedule, tied for 16th with opponents posting aggregate .500 records.

Where the schedule looks most arduous appears to be coming out of their Week 5 bye.

The Patriots will have a rematch with the Baltimore Ravens, who annihilated them in the playoffs, and then have games at the San Diego Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, at Cleveland Browns, at Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, at Detroit Lions and New York Jets.

Even the two games that seem cushy really aren't. The Browns will be coming off their bye week, and Eric Mangini has had a couple of dramatic successes against the Patriots since leaving Bill Belichick's staff. The Patriots will visit the Lions on Thanksgiving, meaning a short preparation week.

All told, the Patriots will face a playoff team eight times, and six of those games will take place in Gillette Stadium. The only two playoff teams they'll face on the road are the Jets and Chargers.

The Patriots have four games scheduled for primetime, one fewer than the Jets. The Patriots will play on Monday night twice and Sunday night at least twice.

Complaint department: The Patriots are looking at a frosty finish to the regular season. Players and fans should bundle up.

Two of their last three home games will be played at night. The other one is the afternoon finale against the Miami Dolphins. The Patriots' two December road games will be at the Chicago Bears and at the Buffalo Bills.

"Seventh" divisional game: The annual Patriots-Colts game will take place in Week 11 in Gillette Stadium. Mostly because of the weighted schedule, where division champs within the conference meet each other the following year, it will be the eighth straight meeting, the longest current streak between non-divisional opponents.

The Colts lost six in a row from 2001 through 2004, but have won five of the past six games. Each of the past four games, including the playoffs, has been decided by four points or fewer.

Patriots Regular Season Schedule (All times Eastern)
Week 1: Sunday, Sep. 12, Cincinnati, 1:00 PM
Week 2: Sunday, Sep. 19, at NY Jets, 4:15 PM
Week 3: Sunday, Sep. 26, Buffalo, 1:00 PM
Week 4: Monday, Oct. 4, at Miami, 8:30 PM
Week 5: BYE
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 17, Baltimore, 1:00 PM
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 24, at San Diego, 4:15 PM
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 31, Minnesota, 4:15 PM
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 7, at Cleveland, 1:00 PM
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 14, at Pittsburgh, 8:20 PM
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 21, Indianapolis, 4:15 PM
Week 12: Thursday, Nov. 25, at Detroit, 12:30 PM
Week 13: Monday, Dec. 6, NY Jets, 8:30 PM
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 12, at Chicago, 1:00 PM
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 19, Green Bay, 8:20 PM
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 26, at Buffalo, 1:00 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 2, Miami, 1:00 PM

Breakdown: The defending AFC North champions have quite a road ahead of them. Coming off 10 wins and a first-place finish in 2009, the Cincinnati Bengals have the fourth-toughest schedule in the NFL.

It will be interesting to see how Cincinnati handles its success. The Bengals haven't had back-to-back winning seasons in 28 years and will try to accomplish that feat against one of the league's toughest slates.

The Bengals sputtered at the end of the last season, which doesn't bode well for momentum. But with a very good defense and expected improvements made in the passing game, Cincinnati looks to contend for a playoff spot once again.

Complaint department: If last year was any indication, the Bengals could end the season against four likely playoff contenders in the final five weeks of the season.

Starting in Week 13, Cincinnati will play the defending champion New Orleans Saints. The Bengals also will play the Pittsburgh Steelers (Week 14), San Diego Chargers (Week 16) and Baltimore Ravens (Week 17). Last year Cincinnati faded down the stretch but probably can't afford to do the same this season if it wants to qualify for the postseason.

Thanksgiving with the Jets: After losing to the New York Jets in back-to-back weeks, which included the wild-card round, the Bengals will get another crack at last year's nemesis in Week 12. The matchup will be a Thanksgiving prime-time game on NFL Network Nov. 25.

The Jets were dominant in both meetings last season. If Cincinnati wants to prove New York doesn't have its number, the Bengals will get their chance on national television.

Bengals Regular Season Schedule (All times Eastern)
Week 1: Sunday, Sep. 12, at New England, 1:00 PM
Week 2: Sunday, Sep. 19, Baltimore, 1:00 PM
Week 3: Sunday, Sep. 26, at Carolina, 1:00 PM
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 3, at Cleveland, 1:00 PM
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 10, Tampa Bay, 1:00 PM
Week 6: BYE
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 24, at Atlanta, 1:00 PM
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 31, Miami, 1:00 PM
Week 9: Monday, Nov. 8, Pittsburgh, 8:30 PM
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 14, at Indianapolis, 1:00 PM
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 21, Buffalo, 1:00 PM
Week 12: Thursday, Nov. 25, at NY Jets, 8:20 PM
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 5, New Orleans, 1:00 PM
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 12, at Pittsburgh, 1:00 PM
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 19, Cleveland, 1:00 PM
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 26, San Diego, 8:20 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 2, at Baltimore, 1:00 PM

Breakdown: It the Raiders are going to break out of their seven-season abyss (they have lost at least 11 games in each season since 2003, an NFL record), they will do so by being fresh.

The Raiders don’t travel long distances for the much of the first 10 weeks of the season. After playing at Tennessee in Week 1, the Raiders don’t cross the country until Week 11 when they play at Pittsburgh. Oakland’s trips during the 10-week stretch (which includes the team’s bye week) are to Arizona, San Francisco and Denver.

Five of Oakland’s first nine games are at home. If the Raiders are going to improve, they must take advantage of the early portion of the season.

Complaint department: Oakland’s schedule gets tougher when it plays the Steelers. Oakland then plays Miami, San Diego, Jacksonville, Denver, Indianapolis and Kansas City. If the Raiders want to be in the AFC playoff race, they will have to handle their conference competition.

No prime time: Oakland is the only team in the AFC West not to have a prime-time game scheduled. Oakland has hosted a "Monday Night Football" game in three of the past four seasons. This year, Oakland doesn’t have a Sunday night or a Monday night game scheduled.

Raiders Regular Season Schedule (All times Eastern)
Week 1: Sunday, Sep. 12, at Tennessee, 1:00 PM
Week 2: Sunday, Sep. 19, St. Louis, 4:05 PM
Week 3: Sunday, Sep. 26, at Arizona, 4:15 PM
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 3, Houston, 4:05 PM
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 10, San Diego, 4:15 PM
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 17, at San Francisco, 4:05 PM
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 24, at Denver, 4:15 PM
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 31, Seattle, 4:15 PM
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 7, Kansas City, 4:15 PM
Week 10: BYE
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 21, at Pittsburgh, 1:00 PM
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 28, Miami, 4:05 PM
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 5, at San Diego, 4:05 PM
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 12, at Jacksonville, 1:00 PM
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 19, Denver, 4:15 PM
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 26, Indianapolis, 4:05 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 2, at Kansas City, 1:00 PM

Breakdown: Based on their offseason moves, the Baltimore Ravens are making a push for the Super Bowl. The Ravens feel this could be their year after falling short to the AFC champion Indianapolis Colts last season in the divisional round.

Baltimore boasts the No. 12-rated strength of schedule in the NFL, which isn't too daunting coming off a playoff appearance in 2009. There are some tough stretches, but overall the Ravens have enough talent to handle their schedule.

The Ravens were awarded four prime-time games, which was second most in the AFC North to the Pittsburgh Steelers (five).

Complaint department: Baltimore usually feels like it gets the short end on a lot of things, and the Ravens have a legitimate complaint with the opening month of the schedule. The Ravens play three of their first four games on the road. Baltimore's stretch will consist of playing at the New York Jets, at the Cincinnati Bengals, home against the Cleveland Browns, and at the Pittsburgh Steelers.

All three road games are against teams with winning records last year. So that is not an easy slate, especially if Steelers star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is back on the field in Week 4 against Baltimore.

Ravens vs. Rex: The Ravens will know where they stand right away when they open the season to play the Jets. Both teams are early Super Bowl contenders in the AFC and it should be a very interesting matchup on "Monday Night Football" Sept. 13.

Of course, former longtime Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan is now the head coach of the Jets. Both teams have similar personalities. So expect a lot of trash talk leading up to this game.

Ravens Regular Season Schedule (All times Eastern)
Week 1: Monday, Sep. 13, at NY Jets, 7:00 PM
Week 2: Sunday, Sep. 19, at Cincinnati, 1:00 PM
Week 3: Sunday, Sep. 26, Cleveland, 1:00 PM
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 3, at Pittsburgh, 1:00 PM
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 10, Denver, 1:00 PM
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 17, at New England, 1:00 PM
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 24, Buffalo, 1:00 PM
Week 8: BYE
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 7, Miami, 1:00 PM
Week 10: Thursday, Nov. 11, at Atlanta, 8:20 PM
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 21, at Carolina, 1:00 PM
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 28, Tampa Bay, 1:00 PM
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 5, Pittsburgh, 8:20 PM
Week 14: Monday, Dec. 13, at Houston, 8:30 PM
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 19, New Orleans, 1:00 PM
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 26, at Cleveland, 1:00 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 2, Cincinnati, 1:00 PM

Breakdown: Who’s good from one year to the next varies greatly, of course. But four Jacksonville games in 2010 that look like they should be winnable -- at Buffalo, at Kansas City, against Cleveland and against Oakland -- are nicely spread throughout the Jaguars’ schedule. The four games against the NFC East and the rematches against AFC South foes are also reasonably spread out. They draw the revamping Eagles early and the Bills before Buffalo freezes up. The bye week is right in the middle of things and outside of a trip to San Diego and that game against the Eagles, I don’t see anything that looks like an especially difficult back-to-back. On first look, I like the way things space out for the Jaguars.

Complaint department: They’ve got another tough closing stretch with four of six on the road. The final three weeks feature trips to the two teams expected to be atop the AFC South -- Jacksonville finishes at Indy, against Washington and at Houston. They are the sort of games you want at year’s end if you’re ascending.

Go West: Last year the Jaguars lost 41-0 in Seattle and 20-3 at San Francisco. Can Jack Del Rio get his team better prepared to go coast to coast? We’ll find out early, because a Week 2 trip to San Diego should be a tougher matchup than either of those games in 2009 looked to be. After that, Jacksonville doesn’t travel more than one time zone.

Jaguars Regular Season Schedule (All times Eastern)
Week 1: Sunday, Sep. 12, Denver, 1:00 PM
Week 2: Sunday, Sep. 19, at San Diego, 4:15 PM
Week 3: Sunday, Sep. 26, Philadelphia, 4:05 PM
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 3, Indianapolis, 4:05 PM
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 10, at Buffalo, 1:00 PM
Week 6: Monday, Oct. 18, Tennessee, 8:30 PM
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 24, at Kansas City, 1:00 PM
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 31, at Dallas, 1:00 PM
Week 9: BYE
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 14, Houston, 1:00 PM
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 21, Cleveland, 1:00 PM
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 28, at NY Giants, 1:00 PM
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 5, at Tennessee, 1:00 PM
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 12, Oakland, 1:00 PM
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 19, at Indianapolis, 1:00 PM
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 26, Washington, 1:00 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 2, at Houston, 1:00 PM

Breakdown: As much as we like to speculate how the division standings are going to shake out after we see a few games in September, it would be wise not to write off the Miami Dolphins if they stumble out of the blocks in 2010.

Their schedule would seem to be quite forgiving in November and December and should allow them to make up ground in the standings -- or pull away if they're able to get off to a quick start.

In Weeks 12 through 16, the Dolphins will play the Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions, teams with a combined 27-53 record last year. The Jets are the lone team in that group with a winning record last year, and the Dolphins defeated them twice.

That said, the Dolphins face a grueling start. Of their seven opponents in Weeks 2 through 9, six of them went to the playoffs last year. The only one that didn't won the Super Bowl two seasons ago.

The Dolphins also will be without nose tackle Jason Ferguson through that stretch. He will serve an eight-game suspension for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Complaint department: By virtue of their geographical separation from the rest of the division, the Dolphins will log the most roundtrip miles. Their odometers will roll up 21,200 miles -- more than twice the Buffalo Bills (9,310 miles, including their "home game" in Toronto) and New York Jets (9,996 miles).

4 on the floor: Dolphins owner Stephen Ross expressed his desire to play more 4 p.m. games at Sun Life Stadium to make the oppressive South Florida weather more tolerable for fans. The Dolphins were granted zero 4 p.m. kickoffs at home this year.

But the Dolphins will host back-to-back games under the lights against the New York Jets on Sunday night in Week 3 (Jason Taylor's first game there in a different uniform) and the New England Patriots on Monday night in Week 4.

Dolphins Regular Season Schedule (All times Eastern)
Week 1: Sunday, Sep. 12, at Buffalo, 1:00 PM
Week 2: Sunday, Sep. 19, at Minnesota, 1:00 PM
Week 3: Sunday, Sep. 26, NY Jets, 8:20 PM
Week 4: Monday, Oct. 4, New England, 8:30 PM
Week 5: BYE
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 17, at Green Bay, 1:00 PM
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 24, Pittsburgh, 1:00 PM
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 31, at Cincinnati, 1:00 PM
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 7, at Baltimore, 1:00 PM
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 14, Tennessee, 1:00 PM
Week 11: Thursday, Nov. 18, Chicago, 8:20 PM
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 28, at Oakland, 4:05 PM
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 5, Cleveland, 1:00 PM
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 12, at NY Jets, 4:15 PM
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 19, Buffalo, 1:00 PM
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 26, Detroit, 1:00 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 2, at New England, 1:00 PM

Breakdown: The last time we saw the Chiefs they played their best game of 2009 with a convincing win at Denver, knocking the Broncos out of the playoff race in Week 17. Running back Jamaal Charles ran for 259 yards and he looked like the NFL’s next great running back.

The Chiefs looked as if they could be ready for prime time. They better be, because the Kansas City Chiefs will be in the national spotlight in Week 1.

In a bit of a surprise, the Chiefs will host four-time defending AFC West champion San Diego in the back end of a "Monday Night Football" doubleheader on Sept 13 on ESPN. The Chiefs have added high-profile coordinators Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel and running back Thomas Jones to pair with Charles. They will get a special debut as the country gets a look at refurbished Arrowhead Stadium.

Complaint department: Three times, Kansas City plays back-to-back road games. It does so in Weeks 5-6 (at Indianapolis and Houston), Weeks 9-10 (at Oakland and Denver) and Weeks 14-15 (at San Diego and St. Louis). If the Chiefs, who have won a total of 10 games the past three seasons, are going to improve, they will have to handle these stretches.

Nothing too tough: The Chiefs have a fairly manageable schedule. They play just four games against teams which made the playoffs last season.

Chiefs Regular Season Schedule (All times Eastern)
Week 1: Monday, Sep. 13, San Diego, 10:15 PM
Week 2: Sunday, Sep. 19, at Cleveland, 1:00 PM
Week 3: Sunday, Sep. 26, San Francisco, 1:00 PM
Week 4: BYE
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 10, at Indianapolis, 1:00 PM
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 17, at Houston, 1:00 PM
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 24, Jacksonville, 1:00 PM
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 31, Buffalo, 1:00 PM
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 7, at Oakland, 4:15 PM
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 14, at Denver, 4:05 PM
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 21, Arizona, 1:00 PM
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 28, at Seattle, 4:05 PM
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 5, Denver, 1:00 PM
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 12, at San Diego, 4:15 PM
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 19, at St. Louis, 1:00 PM
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 26, Tennessee, 1:00 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 2, Oakland, 1:00 PM

Breakdown: In what probably still ranks as the marquee game of the season, the Colts will travel to New England to face the Patriots on Nov. 21. That game is a late Sunday afternoon matchup for CBS, but it hardly marks a drop in the Colts’ prime-time presence. They’ll host the Giants, Texans and Chargers in prime time while playing at night at Washington and Tennessee. A Dec. 26 game at Oakland probably won’t qualify as the favorite on the schedule, but the road slate looks pretty kind overall -- Indianapolis plays two in a row on the road only once, and those games at Denver and at Jacksonville come early (Sept. 26 and Oct. 3.).

Complaint department: Bill Polian, Jim Caldwell and Peyton Manning won’t likely be giving thanks for the gauntlet set up around Thanksgiving. The Colts will be at New England, vs. San Diego, vs. Dallas and that looks like the toughest three-game stretch on the Colts’ calendar.

Physical competition: The NFC East almost always ranks as one of the NFL’s most physical divisions, and those physical games can be especially tough on the road late in the season when frosty weather can make a hard hit linger. But the Colts road games against those foes come relatively early -- at Washington Oct. 17 and at Philly Nov. 7. Only that Patriots game comes in a cold-weather venue in a cold month.

Colts Regular Season Schedule (All times Eastern)
Week 1: Sunday, Sep. 12, at Houston, 1:00 PM
Week 2: Sunday, Sep. 19, NY Giants, 8:20 PM
Week 3: Sunday, Sep. 26, at Denver, 4:15 PM
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 3, at Jacksonville, 4:05 PM
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 10, Kansas City, 1:00 PM
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 17, at Washington, 8:20 PM
Week 7: BYE
Week 8: Monday, Nov. 1, Houston, 8:30 PM
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 7, at Philadelphia, 4:15 PM
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 14, Cincinnati, 1:00 PM
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 21, at New England, 4:15 PM
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 28, San Diego, 8:20 PM
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 5, Dallas, 4:15 PM
Week 14: Thursday, Dec. 9, at Tennessee, 8:20 PM
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 19, Jacksonville, 1:00 PM
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 26, at Oakland, 4:05 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 2, Tennessee, 1:00 PM

Breakdown: With their impressive finish last season, a charismatic coach, a hotshot quarterback, a series of high-profile offseason moves and their upcoming feature role on HBO's "Hard Knocks," it can be argued the New York Jets present the best storylines heading into 2010.

No time will be wasted. The Jets will open their season with a tantalizing matchup against head coach Rex Ryan's old team, the Baltimore Ravens, on "Monday Night Football." The game also will be the Jets' first in their new stadium.

From there, the Jets will make a quick spin through the division, playing the New England Patriots (also at home, giving the Jets back-to-back homes games to start a season for the first time since 1960), Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills in Weeks 2 through 4.

Those are the four games new receiver Santonio Holmes will miss while serving a four-game suspension for violating the league's substance-abuse policy.

Holmes will get to play his old team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, in Week 15. Newly signed pass-rusher Jason Taylor will return to Miami in Week 3, and former Cleveland Browns receiver Braylon Edwards will see his old mates in Week 10.

Complaint department: The Jets must endure a difficult first two months. Their first seven opponents have a combined 63-49 record. Four of them are playoff teams, and the only ones with losing records are the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills, who went 3-1 against the Jets last year.

Their remaining opponents are 65-79, including a breather in Weeks 9 and 10 against the Detroit Lions and Browns.

Ready for prime time: The Jets will play at least five games in prime time, a franchise record. Only the first 12 games have set kickoff times. The final four are subject to the NFL's flex schedule.

The Jets already are scheduled for three Monday night games on ESPN, one Sunday night game on NBC and one Thursday night game on the NFL Network.

Jets Regular Season Schedule (All times Eastern)
Week 1: Monday, Sep. 13, Baltimore, 7:00 PM
Week 2: Sunday, Sep. 19, New England, 4:15 PM
Week 3: Sunday, Sep. 26, at Miami, 8:20 PM
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 3, at Buffalo, 1:00 PM
Week 5: Monday, Oct. 11, Minnesota, 8:30 PM
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 17, at Denver, 4:05 PM
Week 7: BYE
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 31, Green Bay, 1:00 PM
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 7, at Detroit, 1:00 PM
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 14, at Cleveland, 1:00 PM
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 21, Houston, 1:00 PM
Week 12: Thursday, Nov. 25, Cincinnati, 8:20 PM
Week 13: Monday, Dec. 6, at New England, 8:30 PM
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 12, Miami, 4:15 PM
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 19, at Pittsburgh, 4:15 PM
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 26, at Chicago, 1:00 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 2, Buffalo, 1:00 PM

Breakdown: The Cleveland Browns ended last season as arguably the hottest team in AFC North, winning four in a row to finish the year 5-11. With new leadership led by team president Mike Holmgren, optimism is back within the organization.

The Browns' strength of schedule is tied for No. 10 in the NFL, which is surprising considering their record. But the other three teams in the division -- the Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers -- all finished with winning records.

To have a chance to be competitive, Cleveland will have to make a steep climb out of the AFC North basement. That is not an easy task.

Complaint department: The Browns will have a tough go at it starting in mid-November when the team plays four of five games on the road. Cleveland will play at the Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati in a five-week span from Nov. 21 to Dec. 19.

This is not a good sign for Cleveland. If the team happens to surprise and remain in the playoff hunt around Thanksgiving, an immense road slate like this could put an end to postseason dreams quickly.

"We have a challenging stretch towards the end of the year with four of five games on the road, and I expect our team to show the same resiliency as they did at the end of last season," Browns coach Eric Mangini said in a statement.

The streak is over: Cleveland hosted an astounding 11 consecutive season openers until that streak was broken this year. The Browns will travel to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sept. 12 to kick off the 2010 season.

Perhaps the Browns needed to avoid Cleveland in Week 1. The team was 1-10 in its previous 11 season-openers at home, including five losses in a row.

Browns Regular Season Schedule (All times Eastern)
Week 1: Sunday, Sep. 12, at Tampa Bay, 1:00 PM
Week 2: Sunday, Sep. 19, Kansas City, 1:00 PM
Week 3: Sunday, Sep. 26, at Baltimore, 1:00 PM
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 3, Cincinnati, 1:00 PM
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 10, Atlanta, 1:00 PM
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 17, at Pittsburgh, 1:00 PM
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 24, at New Orleans, 1:00 PM
Week 8: BYE
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 7, New England, 1:00 PM
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 14, NY Jets, 1:00 PM
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 21, at Jacksonville, 1:00 PM
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 28, Carolina, 1:00 PM
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 5, at Miami, 1:00 PM
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 12, at Buffalo, 1:00 PM
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 19, at Cincinnati, 1:00 PM
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 26, Baltimore, 1:00 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 2, Pittsburgh, 1:00 PM

Breakdown: An analysis of the Denver Broncos’ schedule has to start with the latter part of the season. The Broncos have collapsed the past two seasons under two different coaches. In 2008, Denver blew a three-game lead in the division in the final three weeks under Mike Shanahan. Last season, Denver lost its final four games, ruining a 6-0 start under Josh McDaniels.

The Broncos have to find a way to finish strong. Denver plays four games against teams that made the playoffs in 2009 in the second half of the season, including two games against four-time defending AFC West champion San Diego. The Broncos, who play in San Diego on ESPN’s "Monday Night Football" on Nov. 22, host the Chargers in Week 17.

If Denver is going to end its recent trend of poor play in the late part of the season, it will do it on the strength of playing the final two games against Houston and San Diego at home.

Complaint department: Denver opens December play with three straight road games, Kansas City in Week 13, Arizona in Week 14 and Oakland in Week 15. At least the Broncos won’t have to travel too far in any of those road games in the most pivotal month of the season. Still, playing three straight roadies is always a tall task.

Take advantage of the England trip: The Broncos play a road game at London against San Francisco on Oct. 31. The surrounding schedule is friendly. The Broncos host Oakland at home the week before traveling to England. Denver gets a bye in Week 9 before hosting Kansas City on Nov. 14. Teams that play in Europe often have a rough stretch but this appears pretty manageable.

Broncos Regular Season Schedule (All times Eastern)

Week 1: Sunday, Sep. 12, at Jacksonville, 1:00 PM

Week 2: Sunday, Sep. 19, Seattle, 4:05 PM

Week 3: Sunday, Sep. 26, Indianapolis, 4:15 PM

Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 3, at Tennessee, 1:00 PM

Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 10, at Baltimore, 1:00 PM

Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 17, NY Jets, 4:05 PM

Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 24, Oakland, 4:15 PM

Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 31, at San Francisco, 1:00 PM

Week 9: BYE

Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 14, Kansas City, 4:05 PM

Week 11: Monday, Nov. 22, at San Diego, 8:30 PM

Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 28, St. Louis, 4:15 PM

Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 5, at Kansas City, 1:00 PM

Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 12, at Arizona, 4:15 PM

Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 19, at Oakland, 4:15 PM

Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 26, Houston, 4:05 PM

Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 2, San Diego, 4:15 PM

Breakdown: The Houston Texans lost out on their bid to be the training camp team HBO visited with for Hard Knocks. They also didn’t get a Thanksgiving game as they hoped. But three prime time games for a team that finally broke through the .500 barrier last season means the Texans will get some quality exposure. They’ll be at Indianapolis for a Monday night game, at Philadelphia for a Thursday night game and host Baltimore for a Monday night game. The games against the Eagles and Ravens come back to back in early December. If the Texans are a contender, they’ll have a sufficient chance to make a national impression.

Complaint department: The start is a pretty big challenge, with three of the Texans’ four games against the NFC East in the first five weeks. The first five presents a potential quarterback gauntlet for Houston’s defense, which can’t start slow against Peyton Manning, Donovan McNabb, Tony Romo and Eli Manning.

Rested, but ready? After opening the season with the Colts at home, the Texans come off their bye week at the end of October for the rematch at Lucas Oil Stadium on Nov. 1. Eight games into their schedule, the Texans will be finished playing the team they are trying to knock out of the top spot in the AFC South.

Texans Regular Season Schedule (All times Eastern)
Week 1: Sunday, Sep. 12, Indianapolis, 1:00 PM
Week 2: Sunday, Sep. 19, at Washington, 4:15 PM
Week 3: Sunday, Sep. 26, Dallas, 1:00 PM
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 3, at Oakland, 4:05 PM
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 10, NY Giants, 1:00 PM
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 17, Kansas City, 1:00 PM
Week 7: BYE
Week 8: Monday, Nov. 1, at Indianapolis, 8:30 PM
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 7, San Diego, 1:00 PM
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 14, at Jacksonville, 1:00 PM
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 21, at NY Jets, 1:00 PM
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 28, Tennessee, 1:00 PM
Week 13: Thursday, Dec. 2, at Philadelphia, 8:20 PM
Week 14: Monday, Dec. 13, Baltimore, 8:30 PM
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 19, at Tennessee, 1:00 PM
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 26, at Denver, 4:05 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 2, Jacksonville, 1:00 PM

Breakdown: Pittsburgh and the AFC North will match up against the NFC South and AFC East this year, which will provide an interesting slate of games. The AFC East, led by the New York Jets and New England Patriots, is expected to be one of the most balanced divisions in the conference, along with the AFC North.

Complaint department: Pittsburgh's strength of schedule is rated No. 21. So there aren't an overwhelming amount of brutal games on the team's schedule. But the toughest stretch this season will begin on Halloween.

The Steelers play an unusual trio of three consecutive primetime games. It starts Oct. 31 on the road against the defending champion New Orleans Saints. Pittsburgh then faces the Cincinnati Bengals on "Monday Night Football" Nov. 8, followed by a Sunday night game against the Patriots on Nov. 14.

No Big Ben: If things go as expected, the NFL will suspend Steelers starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger two to four games for violating the league's personal conduct policy. Although no criminal charges were filed, Roethlisberger faced two accusations of sexual assault in the past two years, and that was enough to catch commissioner Roger Goodell's attention.

The Atlanta Falcons and Tennessee Titans could be the biggest beneficiaries, because they probably won't face Roethlisberger in the first two weeks. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Baltimore Ravens also could see Pittsburgh's backup quarterback if the suspension reaches four games.

Steelers Regular Season Schedule (All times Eastern)
Week 1: Sunday, Sep. 12, Atlanta, 1:00 PM
Week 2: Sunday, Sep. 19, at Tennessee, 1:00 PM
Week 3: Sunday, Sep. 26, at Tampa Bay, 1:00 PM
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 3, Baltimore, 1:00 PM
Week 5: BYE
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 17, Cleveland, 1:00 PM
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 24, at Miami, 1:00 PM
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 31, at New Orleans, 8:20 PM
Week 9: Monday, Nov. 8, at Cincinnati, 8:30 PM
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 14, New England, 8:20 PM
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 21, Oakland, 1:00 PM
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 28, at Buffalo, 1:00 PM
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 5, at Baltimore, 8:20 PM
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 12, Cincinnati, 1:00 PM
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 19, NY Jets, 4:15 PM
Week 16: Thursday, Dec. 23, Carolina, 8:20 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 2, at Cleveland, 1:00 PM