The NFL schedule is out and much like that Christmas gift you knew you were going to get there are no surprises here.  However, patterns and storylines begin to emerge once the schedule is in place, so consider these 17 matchups, one per week, that should spice up the 2009 season.

Week One, Miami at Atlanta 2008's Cinderellas meet and right out of the gate we'll find out which one is for real.  Starting 1-0 is always nice, especially considering both teams will play '08 playoff teams in Week Two.

Week Two, New York Giants at Dallas The Cowboys unveil a new stadium against the rival Giants. In an ultra rare quirk of the schedule, this will be the first of two consecutive prime time home games for the Cowboys.  Can Dallas handle the bright lights in 2009?

Week Three, Indianapolis at Arizona Two of the NFL's best passers meet on a Sunday night in the desert.  If both Kurt Warner and Peyton Manning return to 2008 form this could be the most entertaining game of the year.

Week Four, Baltimore at New England The Ravens kept the Patriots out of the playoffs last year thanks to tiebreakers.  New England can exact revenge by getting the head-to-head tiebreaker here.  Defense should rule the day, both teams ranked in the top 10 in scoring defense in '08.

Week Five, Washington an Carolina How warm will the hot seat be?  Carolina's John Fox and Washington's Jim Zorn might both need a playoff appearance to save their jobs.  The Panthers will welcome this game after a brutal stretch to open the season.

Week Six, Arizona at Seattle Long the kings of the NFC West, the Seahawks were dethroned in 2008 by the Cards thanks in part to injuries.  Seattle will be healthier this year and with four home games in the first six weeks the Seahawks might be on the fast track back to the playoffs.

Week Seven, San Francisco at Houston The last time these two met was Week 17 of the 2005 season, a 20-17 win by the 4-12 49ers that delivered the overall number one pick in the draft to the 2-14 Texans.  Now these two up-and-comers meet again with the playoffs in mind.

Week Eight, St. Louis at Detroit Perhaps in a few years these two will be where the Niners and Texans are but for now this matchup of the two worst teams from last year gives the Lions their best chance to score a victory since December 23, 2007.

Week Nine, Carolina at New Orleans Since the creation of the NFC South the team that won the division failed to make the playoffs the following season while the team that finished in last made the postseason the next year.  The Panthers won the South in '08 while the Saints stumbled to last place.  Which direction will these two be going in the always-volatile NFC South?

Week Ten, New England at Indianapolis Patriots.  Colts.  Sunday night in November.  Enough said.  Except to say that two of the best teams of the last ten years meet one final time this decade.  Since 2003 the Pats and Colts have a filthy combined regular season record of 152-40.

Week Eleven, San Diego at Denver The Chargers blew away the Broncos in Week 17 to win the AFC West but it was the Week Two matchup in Denver that everyone remembers.  San Diego returns to the site of the infamous Ed Hoculi Game.

Week Twelve, New England at New Orleans Tom Brady should be at 100% and if he looks anything like he did in '07 while Drew Brees looks anything like he did in '08 the final score on this Monday night might be 52-49.

Week Thirteen, Denver at Kansas City In the offseason the Chiefs hired New England personnel man Scott Pioli as general manager while the Broncos tabbed Pats offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels as head coach.  Both teams will run the 3-4.  Both teams traded for a potential franchise quarterback.  Familiarity breeds contempt and the first meeting between the two re-shaped teams should set the stage for the next decade.

Week Fourteen, Philadelphia at New York Giants The Eagles embarrassed the Giants in the divisional playoffs last year, ending New York's chances at a repeat.  Philly returns to New York in a huge NFC East battle that should have major playoff implications.

Week Fifteen, Green Bay at Pittsburgh The Packers have a recent history of beating the defending champions.  Green Bay did it three years in a row from 2001 to 2003.  The schedule-makers were not kind to the Packers in December and this could be a make-or-break game in a make-or-break season.

Week Sixteen, Minnesota at Chicago Football fans will be treated to a long Christmas weekend filled with clutch meetings like San Diego-Tennessee and Panthers-Giants.  Of the four key intradivisional games in Week 16 this might be the only winner-take-all matchup.

Week Seventeen, Philadelphia at Dallas 44-6.  That was the final score when the two played in Week 17 last year.  The Eagles throttled the Cowboys and bounced them from playoff contention.  One year later Dallas gets a shot at redemption.