5 can't miss games on the 2015 NFL schedule

The NFL released the schedule for the 2015 season Tuesday night. 

Some of the best games of the season will focus on storied divisional matchups, while others feature the unexpected virtue of revenge.

Here are the five best games of the season, along with many honorable mentions. 

Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots
Thursday, Sept. 10

The defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots will host the Pittsburgh Steelers, where they will see their fourth title banner in franchise history ascend at Gillette Stadium. Ben Roethlisberger tied for the league lead with 4,952 passing yards, while Tom Brady enters the 2015 campaign as the reigning Super Bowl MVP. 

Although the Steelers will be without Le'Veon Bell, the game features arguably the league's best wide receiver in Pittsburgh's Antonio Brown and the unequivocal premier tight end in New England's Rob Gronkowski. With the contest likely to be a shootout, the NFL picked an excellent game to open the season. 

Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers
Sunday, Sept. 20

A rematch of 2014's classic NFC Championship Game, the Green Bay Packers will host the Seattle Seahawks for the first time since the defending NFC Champions selected Russell Wilson. 

Aaron Rodgers is coming off the second MVP campaign of his career but must be eager to avenge a stunning loss to the Seahawks. The Packers-Seahawks burgeoning rivalry emerged as one of the NFL's best over the past three seasons, and features one of the league's best offenses against the NFL's best defense. 

The game features two of the league's best power runners in Green Bay's Eddie Lacy and Seattle's Marshawn Lynch. With "Fail Mary" fresh in the minds of the Lambeau faithful, Packers-Seahawks is a must-watch game for any NFL fan.

Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans
Thursday, Oct. 8

This AFC South divisional game could alternately be titled "Steve Smith Blood N' Guts Memorial Game" in honor of a player angrily facing off against their former club. This year's award winner, Andre Johnson, signed with the Colts after being the face of the Texans' franchise through their infancy to the current day.

Johnson reportedly balked at a lesser role in the Texans' offense and will have a chance to show his former franchise what a mistake they made. Texans fans get to see reigning Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt chase down Andrew Luck, and Indianapolis' T.Y. Hilton and Houston's DeAndre Hopkins are two receivers not named Andre Johnson that could make their mark on national TV. 

Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys
Sunday, Nov. 8

Dallas failed to retain the NFL's rushing champion, DeMarco Murray, and he fled to Philadelphia, ostensibly to replace LeSean McCoy. Philadelphia was 9-3 entering the final stretch of the 2014 season, but a three-game collapse allowed Dallas to usurp its rival for the divisional title. 

Tony Romo's most memorable performances - for better or for worse - have come in prime time during a nationally televised matchup, and the Cowboys-Eagles game will get the Sunday Night Football treatment. If history is a strong indicator of future results, expect a game that will directly impact the NFC playoff race.

New England Patriots at Denver Broncos
Sunday, Nov. 29 

Denver will host New England in what may be the final matchup between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. Brady and Manning have been their generation's defining talents, and the prime-time Thanksgiving weekend slot may be the perfect time for America to say its farewell. 

The Broncos switched to a 3-4 defense with Von Miller as their centerpiece and he will be hungry to get after Brady and Co. For those counting, Brady defeated Manning 11-of-16 times in their careers. 

Honorable mentions:

Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers
Thursday, Oct. 1

Although the Ravens-Steelers rivalry lost some of its lustre over the past few seasons, both teams are poised to make deep playoff runs. Le'Veon Bell will be back from suspension, and expect a run-heavy, defensive ball game. 

Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers
Thursday, Nov. 26

The final game of the Thanksgiving triumvirate will feature the NFL's oldest rivalry, and Brett Favre's jersey will reportedly be retired. Chicago begins the season with a new coaching regime and will have to devise an excellent game plan to stop Aaron Rodgers at Lambeau Field.

New York Jets at Buffalo Bills
Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016

Rex Ryan will get to coach the Bills against his former club in a game that could determine AFC East playoff seeding. Bad blood is already brewing between the clubs, and may be flexed if both teams are in contention.