(SportsLine.com Two-a-Days: NFL division previews begin Aug. 29)

The big screen is fine-tuned. The belly is trimmed up because you know 17 Sundays and Mondays sitting in front of the television -- never mind the Saturdays spent scouting the college talent -- are bound to give you that John Madden figure.

Can anyone ever say no to pizza, wings and beer on an NFL Sunday?

Kurt Warner's Rams make three appearances in Pete Prisco's top 10 games to watch.(AP)

Isn't this an NFL fans ideal Sunday: Get up, read the paper, have a big pregame meal, finalize fantasy teams, watch pregame shows, exercise the flicker thumb, order pizza for lunch, spend seven hours flicking from game to game thanks to a satellite dish, call for Chinese takeout, settle in for the night game, hope your fantasy back didn't get injured, see the big play 2,000 times in one day and then, tired from all the anxiety, collapse into bed wondering where the day went?

Did somebody say something about taking out the trash?

So to help prepare you for the 17-week season, we thought it right to offer up 10 games that should be must-see. Of course, in this era where teams come from nowhere to win Super Bowls, where the luck of the Patriots proves anything is possible, this list might look silly by season's end.

Hopefully by then, you'll still be able to look down and see your toes. Just remember, extra sauce on the pie, not extra cheese.

Every little bit helps, and 17 weeks is a long, long time.

The games

• Pittsburgh at New England, Sept. 9 -- In the first Monday night game, the Steelers have to face their demons. The Steelers were clearly the best team in the AFC last season, but choked away a chance at the Super Bowl when their special teams let them down in an AFC Championship loss to the Patriots. Steelers coach Bill Cowher has not let his players forget the sting of that loss. The Patriots went on to upset the Rams in the Super Bowl and now head into the season trying to repeat. They aren't being given much of shot. The skeptics say they fluked into winning it all. They also say quarterback Tom Brady could put his name next to the Starland Vocal Band -- the kings of the one-hit wonders. The Patriots will debut their new stadium for a national-TV audience against the Steelers. For a Week 1 game, this has a lot of subplots. By midnight of Sept. 9, we'll know if those demons inside the Steelers heads have been exorcised. Or are the Patriots for real?

• St. Louis at San Francisco, Oct. 6 -- The Rams have beaten the 49ers six consecutive times after losing to the 49ers an amazing 17 in a row. The Rams won the division last season because they swept the 49ers, and their domination is a big reason why they are picked to win it again. Until the 49ers can beat the Rams, they are a team that is going to get questioned. In recent years, the 49ers have been unable to match up with the Rams receivers. To help improve in that area, the 49ers used a first-round pick on cornerback Mike Rumph. He is expected to be the nickel back, which means instead of getting caught with a safety matched up on the Rams' slot receivers, the 49ers will likely move starting corner Jason Webster inside in those situations, with Rumph outside. The key to beating the Rams, though, is always pressuring Kurt Warner. The 49ers have some young pass rushers up front, and if those guys elevate their games, the streak might come to an end. And there could be a passing of the torch in the NFC West.

• Carolina at Dallas, Oct. 13 -- Why this game? The Cowboys and the lowly Panthers? Well, assuming Dallas running back Emmitt Smith averaged 87.5 yards a game -- his career mark -- this will be the game Smith passes Walter Payton and becomes the all-time leading rusher. Smith needs 540 yards to put his name atop the record books. He might get it sooner, or he might need another week, but the Panthers are on pace to be the opposition when history is made. The Cowboys might hope it's sooner. Then they could get Troy Hambrick on the field quicker, something that actually could make the Cowboys a better team. Hambrick is stronger and quicker than Smith. Until then, Smith will get the carries to break the record -- Jerry Jones wants it that way.

• San Francisco at Oakland, Nov. 3 -- Aside from the fact these two organizations really don't like each other, both should be good. The 49ers are viewed as the cheese and wine team in the Bay Area, and the Raiders are the choice of the crazies. A Harley rider fits in far more going to the Oakland Coliseum than he would at a 49ers game. The Raiders play a mean, nasty game, and the 49ers have always been perceived as a soft, offensive-minded team. At this late stage of the season, both should be in the thick of their division races, which will give this one even more luster. Just a word of warning for 49ers fans attending the game: It might not be too good an idea to break out that vintage wine during a tailgate party wearing that Jeff Garcia jersey.

• New England at Buffalo, Nov. 3 -- Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe gets to face his old team for the first time. Although this won't have the same impact as when Bledsoe returns to Foxboro for the first time as an opposing quarterback (the Bills play at New England on Dec. 8), the first time is always special. The Patriots cut Bledsoe loose in a trade after it was decided Brady would be their quarterback. The Bills, in desperate need for quarterback help, were glad to scoop him up. They are raving about Bledsoe in Buffalo, and provided the Bills can stay healthy, he just might make them a playoff contender. Pats coach Bill Belichick is the master at planning defensive strategy, and you can bet he will come up with something interesting against his former player. Bledsoe wasn't exactly thrilled with the way he was treated at the end, forced to watch the Super Bowl as a spectator after years of good service, so he will be a little pumped.

• Washington at Jacksonville, Nov. 10 -- This is the first regular-season game for Redskins coach Steve Spurrier in Florida. The game will be played 90 miles from where he made his coaching name at the University of Florida. His family lives just south of Jacksonville. Not only that, but the Jacksonville job is one Spurrier always had an eye on, even if he says otherwise. He used to tell beat writers at Florida what he thought about the Jaguars offense. And then when word got out he was interested in the NFL, Jags owner Wayne Weaver didn't even give him a sniff. On that very same day, Weaver went public with his news coach Tom Coughlin would be getting a one-year contract extension to help quell the Spurrier-to-Jacksonville talk. Many in Jacksonville think Weaver made a major PR blunder. The Jaguars needed a grocery chain to buy all remaining tickets from any home game to assure there would be sellouts. That is a big commitment, but this is at least one game in which the store can concentrate its money elsewhere. Spurrier is adored in north Florida, and the Redskins have a loyal following. Spurrier isn't one to forget, and he knows Weaver wanted no part of him. It's not nice to get on Steve's bad side, you know.

• St. Louis at Washington, Nov. 24 -- The scoreboard should move up quicker than the stock market dropped. If you have a passing fancy, this one's for you. The game might take four hours to play, but if the score ends up 45-41, will anyone care? Spurrier and Rams coach Mike Martz are the NFL outcasts, two coaches who'd rather throw the ball 30 times and bring some excitement the game than watch a running back plod along to get 100 yards. They are a lot alike, too. Both have huge egos -- or so they say -- and both don't care who they offend with the way they play football. Run up the score? Oh well. There's one big difference, though. Martz has Kurt Warner. Spurrier has Danny Wuerffel. That's like trotting out a lounge singer to square off against Sinatra.

• St. Louis at Philadelphia, Dec. 1 -- This rematch of the last season's NFC Championship Game will go a long way in determining whether the Eagles have done enough improving to get past the Rams. It might also decide home-field in the NFC. The Eagles have the physical defense that is needed to match up with the Rams. They also added some young, speedy secondary people to help combat the Rams' spread offense. This game, unlike the title game that was played inside, will be battled in some likely cold, windy conditions. There are those who say the Rams can't win in those conditions. So this will also be a proving ground of sorts for them. It doesn't come at a very good time for them, though. It is the middle game of a three-game road swing, following what should be that shootout with Spurrier's Redskins and before an in-state game with the Chiefs. But don't even say sandwich game. Both these teams know how big this one will be. You can bet they are eyeing it even now.

• Green Bay at San Francisco, Dec. 15 -- The Packers knocked the 49ers out of the playoffs last year, after which 49ers receiver Terrell Owens complained he wasn't involved in the offense enough. He was right. Owens will provide a tough matchup for the Packers corners -- if he gets the ball. It's always good to see two outstanding quarterbacks play in what should be decent conditions this late in the season. Brett Favre against Jeff Garcia should be a treat. The Packers and 49ers have had some good games the past 10 seasons, and this one should follow that trend. It also might dictate NFC playoff seeding.

• Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay, Dec. 23 -- Two of the league's nastiest defenses will get together in a Monday night game that should have major playoff implications. Last season, the Steelers went into Tampa Bay and dominated the Bucs. That led to Pittsburgh safety Lee Flowers going off in a locker-room tirade, saying the Bucs has disrespected the Steelers and that they were nothing more than "paper champions." Flowers, a loud, brash player who packs quite a thump, likely won't back down from his rips, but the Bucs likely aren't going to forget, either. If hard-hitting defensive football is your thing, this one is for you. And it's always good for doll sales near Christmas when the cameras catch Chucky Gruden wincing as if he needs a laxative a 1,000 times a game.

(SportsLine.com Two-a-Days: NFL division previews begin Aug. 29)