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Yesterday, the NFL released its schedule for the 2009 season and as always it includes a bevy of intriguing games.

Right off the bat, my biggest issue is the Dallas Cowboys. Despite missing the playoffs, releasing Terrell Owens and thus, losing a decent amount of sizzle in the process, the Cowboys received six national television games. Really?

Look, I know the Cowboys are one of the league’s flagship franchises and are opening this grand new stadium. However, they didn’t make the playoffs last year. The NFL lacks originality sometimes and this is one of those cases. They are just feeding into the Cowboys’ propaganda machine. You can’t put a team on national television when they didn’t make playoffs. Here’s an idea…how about putting the defending NFC Champion Cardinals on a few more times? Nonetheless, here’s a team by team breakdown of key games and nuances to look for on the 2009 schedule.

NFC East:

Dallas- To the surprise of no one, the Cowboys will open up their new 100,000 seat stadium in prime-time when they host the Giants on Sunday Night Football in Week 2. Once again, Dallas’ postseason or lack thereof is likely to be determined from December 1 on. They start the December run at the Giants; followed by a home game against the Chargers; followed by two road games in a row versus the Saints and Redskins. They’ll conclude their regular season for the second year in a row versus Philadelphia but this in Texas Stadium.

New York- Thanks to a Bruce Springsteen concert, the Giants will open up at home against the Washington Redskins and then play three straight games on the road. Their most important stretch could prove to be Weeks 13-15 when they play three straight NFC East games.

Philadelphia- The schedule makers didn’t offer any favors to the Eagles with a span of four road games in five weeks. They’ll head to San Diego; followed by a Sunday night game at Chicago for the second year in a row; host Washington; and then face the Falcons and Giants on the road. Philly’s favorite ex-safety returns on December 27 when Brian Dawkins’ Broncos head to the Linc.

Washington- While four of its first seven are against non-playoff teams, post bye week is not a good time. The fun begins with three of four on the road including a back to back with Dallas and Philly. Meanwhile, they finish with the Giants, Cowboys and at San Diego. It’s not a difficult schedule but the close may result in a crash and burn finish.

NFC North:

Chicago- You think having Jay Cutler made a difference for Chicago’s national exposure? The Bears have five primetime games despite missing the playoffs last season.  Cutler takes Chicago from being on the nap list (teams to have on the TV if you need to complete work or take a nap) to being a somewhat watchable product. The Cutler era will begin at Green Bay in Week 1. By the way, the Bears won the “easiest schedule in the league” sweepstakes. Their opponents have a combined winning percentage of .413.

Detroit- By my calculations, the Lions will have a chance to end their ridiculous losing streak in Week 8 when they host the Rams. They will not go 0 for the season again, but they may not be far off.

Green Bay- Since the Packers will play Detroit on Thanksgiving Day this season, we’re at least in the running for a far more competitive game than the massive beat down the Titans offered up in Motown last season. Also, don’t expect to hear the phrase “frozen tundra of Lambeau Field” too many times in December. Three of Green Bay’s final four games will be on the road.

Minnesota- The first three road games for the Vikings read Cleveland, Detroit, and St. Louis. It marks a great opportunity for Tarvaris-Rosenfels to build up some momentum for the season’s second half.  On a sidenote, one of the biggest upsets of the season will be if we don’t see both Rosenfels and Jackson. That just has either complete disaster or first round playoff exit written all over it.

NFC South:

Atlanta- The Falcons enter this season with a running back who hit the infamous 370 carry mark; a quarterback and coach in their second year; a defense that suffered a few defections; and are coming off an 11 win season. That mix just wreaks of a sophomore letdown. No one is going to be overwhelmed by the Falcons in 2009. With the third hardest schedule and a rock ’em, sock ’em start (vs. Miami, vs. Carolina, at New England) ’09 may not be a party in the Dirty South.

Carolina- Jake Delhomme will get a chance to redeem himself after one of the biggest quarterback playoff meltdowns over the past 25 years against Arizona in Week 8. Panther fans beware though. Delhomme is past the 10 year mark in the league. He’s probably only going downward from here. Good luck with that.

New Orleans- This is a cop out but does it matter who is on the Saints schedule if that defense doesn’t wake up? Meanwhile, the Saints host New England in Week 12. I hope the secondary coaches get paid double for that one.

Tampa Bay- A bizarre start to the Raheem Morris era with four of five games against the NFC East. A mess at the quarterback situation is likely to make Tampa’s season a big headache.

NFC West:

Arizona- It’s a funny thing. The Cardinals only won nine games last season and thanks to Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald, enter the season as defending NFC champions. The Cards play five games against ’08 playoff teams. Other than that, it’s not a menacing schedule. The cool thing for Cards fans will be their foray into Sunday Night Football on NBC. They’ll host Peyton Manning’s Colts in Week 3.

St. Louis-  If they can’t stay healthy again, they have no chance…regardless of who is on their schedule.

San Francisco- Here’s a potential sleeper pick for a playoff spot in the NFC. They have a hard-nosed coach who got the team to play hard down the stretch last season. They own the third easiest schedule in 2009 and in a weak NFC West, scratching out nine wins isn’t an absurd concept.

Seattle- The Seahawks’ success will hinge on Matt Hasselbeck’s health. If he is around and productive then the Seahawks have a chance to cause a dust up in the division. Nonetheless, they’ll have to start out strong. After a Week 7 bye, Seattle plays four out of five games on the road.

Stay tuned for AFC analysis…