Stock up on the snacks and get a firm grip on your remote control. You’ll want to mark your calendar to make sure you don’t miss any of this season’s potential NFL barnburners:
Sunday, Sept. 3
San Diego at Oakland
The Raiders return to the scene of their glory days to see how they fare against the Super Bowl runners-up.
Buffalo at Denver
Jim Kelly vs. John Elway, two aging quarterbacks still searching for Super Bowl success, open another season.
Houston at Jacksonville
The Jaguars may be the first expansion team favored in its opener. Jacksonville doesn’t meet expansion twin Carolina.
Miami at New England
Drew Bledsoe is supposed to be the next great quarterback and this is a good opportunity to show it.
Sunday, Oct. 1
San Diego at Pittsburgh
This rematch of the AFC championship game might help answer whether anyone in the AFC is capable of breaking through.
Sunday, Oct. 8
Green Bay at Dallas
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The Packers have lost four games in Dallas in the last two years. Will the fifth time be the charm?
Sunday, Oct. 15
Detroit at Green Bay
Barry Sanders got minus-1 yard in a playoff loss last New Year’s Eve. Is this a new year?
Sunday, Nov. 12
San Francisco at Dallas
Nothing else matters. Barring unforseen circumstances, this will be for home field in the NFC championship game for the third year in a row.
Monday, Nov. 13
Cleveland at Pittsburgh
The Browns were 0-3 against the Steelers last year. This year’s second game is only 13 days later in Cleveland.
Monday, Nov. 20
San Francisco at Miami
Steve Young vs. Dan Marino should make everybody forget Joe Montana at least for one night.