Ten games to mark on calendar

The NFL unveiled its 256-game regular-season schedule Thursday. Here are 10 non-Broncos games that should be appointment viewing:

1. Tampa Bay at New Orleans (Sept. 13, 2:25 p.m.)

Tom Brady vs. Drew Brees in the season opener is the top Week 1 matchup and Green BayMinnesota is a close second. Brady and Brees have a combined 1,088 touchdown passes in the regular season.

2. New England at Seattle (Sept. 20, 6:20 p.m.)

The first of three West Coast games for the Patriots is their first trip to Seattle in eight years. If full stadiums are prohibited, that will only help new quarterback Jarrett Stidham.

3. Kansas City at Baltimore (Sept. 28, 6:15 p.m.)

These teams were on a collision course in the playoffs last year until Tennessee upset the Ravens in the AFC Divisional Round. The Ravens’ rebuilt defensive line, led by Calais Campbell and Derek Wolfe, will have to chase Patrick Mahomes.

4. San Francisco at New England (Oct. 25, 2:25 p.m.)

At the same time the Broncos are hosting Kansas City, the 49ers and Patriots meet in Foxborough. It will be quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s first game against New England.

5. San Francisco at New Orleans (Nov. 15, 2:25 p.m.)

When the teams met last November at the Superdome, they combined for 94 points (48-46 overtime win by the 49ers) and 981 yards offense. Sign us up.

6. Kansas City at Tampa Bay (Nov. 29, 2:25 p.m.)

Mahomes vs. Brady has served up terrific football the last two years, including the Patriots’ overtime win in the January 2019 AFC title game. Can Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski keep up with Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce?

7. Dallas at Cincinnati (Dec. 13, 11 a.m.)

We have to put top overall pick Joe Burrow somewhere on this list, right? The Bengals have stocked up on defense to complement Burrow.

8. Minnesota at New Orleans (Dec. 25, 2:30 p.m.)

The NBA has tried to take over Christmas Day/Night with five games. It will have to move over midafternoon for a rematch of last year’s NFC Wild Card Round game (won by the Vikings in overtime).

9. Buffalo at New England (Dec. 28, TBA)

Could this game be the official changing of the AFC East guard? The Bills added receiver Stefon Diggs and have a lights-out defense. Who knows what the Patriots could look like by this point.

10. Seattle at San Francisco (Jan. 3, 2:25 p.m.)

The two NFC West rivals meet in Week 17 again. Last year, the 49ers won at Seattle to win the division and home-field advantage; the Seahawks had to hit the road. The division could be at stake again.