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7. New Orleans Saints at Dallas Cowboys

This game is dripping with storylines. If Bill Parcells takes the Saints' interim coaching gig, he'll come back to the last city in which he roamed the sidelines -- the place where his coaching career ended on a botched snap. The man Parcells would replace -- the embattled Sean Payton -- has been linked to the Cowboys as a potential replacement for head coach Jason Garrett. Payton, of course, was instrumental in Tony Romo's development when he was an assistant in Dallas under Parcells. The quarterback on the other side of the field, of course, is Drew Brees.

It's also worth noting that the past two times these clubs hooked up, fans got some seriously exciting games: the Roy Williams Thanksgiving debacle of 2010, and the Cowboys ending New Orleans' undefeated dream in 2009.

6. San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints

Brees and the Saints are scheduled to host the 49ers in a rematch of the most scintillating playoff game of last season. San Francisco comes to the Big Easy with a little more offensive firepower in Mario Manningham, Randy Moss and Brandon Jacobs. Along with the league's most talented front seven, the 49ers could be game to get past the Saints again.

What makes this matchup really cool is seeing whether or not that defense can slow the Saints' offense on the Superdome turf. New Orleans averaged 41 points per game at home last year. Patrick Willis and the Niners' defense only allowed 17 points per game on the road. Strength on strength. Good football.

NFL.com news: Top 12 games to look forward to in 2012 campaign

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