Must see TV

By Adam Schefter （Special to NFL.com）

(April 13, 2005) -- Asked to pick six standout games is like being asked to pick six places in the world you'd like to visit. But here are six that stand out. Start getting the space on the couch ready:

Sept. 8 (Thursday night): Oakland at New England -- Brilliant marketing by the league. Everybody gets to see Randy Moss' first game as a Raider. Everybody gets to see the Patriots' first game in their title defense. And everybody gets to see the Patriots against a team that could have thwarted this dynasty before it began with the Tuck Rule game. You wonder, if the Patriots don't win that game, they have, at the very least, one fewer Super Bowl title. I've already got space reserved on my couch for that one.

Sept. 25: Giants at San Diego -- The Giants will have an emotional home opener against Arizona on Sept. 11, the first time games have been played on this date. But then, to cap that: a Sunday nighter on ESPN. How loudly do you think Eli Manning is going to be booed in San Diego? Before last year's draft, he openly stated he wanted nothing to do with San Diego, and now he has to go there. The Chargers fans are going to brutalize him. Only thing better would be if Philip Rivers got to square off against Eli in that game.

Nov. 7 (Monday night): Indianapolis at New England -- Indianapolis goes back to New England, its own house of horrors. At some point, if they ever want to make their Super Bowl push, the Colts are going to have to win in New England. They've gotten blown out of the playoffs there the past two years. And they look psyched out when they play there, like they know they're going to lose. After the first series of last year's playoff game, you could see the Colts had virtually no shot.

Nov. 13: Green Bay at Atlanta -- The Falcons host three Monday night games this season, proving what a darling they are for the league right now. They host the Eagles, Jets and Saints. But the most attractive home game on the schedule is against the Packers. It's a rematch of their Saturday night wild-card playoff game from a few years ago, but more important, it could be the final time we get to see Brett Favre go against Michael Vick. How do you miss a matchup like that?

Dec. 11: Kansas City at Dallas -- This game could have big playoff implications. But even more, it could be a big sendoff game. Dick Vermeil has stated that this season could be his last season. This also could be Bill Parcells' last season in Dallas. So this could be the last time that Vermeil and Parcells go head to head, two of the league's coaching dinosaurs and legends.

Dec. 18: Pittsburgh at Minnesota -- A rematch of Super Bowl IX, Pittsburgh takes a late-season trip to the Metrodome for a game that could have huge playoff implications for both teams. The Steelers have a great defense, the Vikings have added five new defensive starters this offseason, and that's before they've used the 7th and 18th overall picks in the upcoming draft. We actually could see a defensive battle in this game.

（Adam Schefter's commentaries can be seen on Tuesday night's NFL Total Access show on NFL Network. Schefter's around-the-league in????ation reports air Mondays and Fridays. ）