ESPN can’t help but be envious of NBC. The quality of the Sunday games always are better than Monday night; Seattle and Denver are scheduled for only one ESPN game compared to three on NBC

The lack of the flex option also leaves ESPN in the danger zone. Last year, it got stuck with 0-8 Tampa Bay vs. Miami in November, and 4-11 Atlanta at San Francisco for its season finale.

Still, ESPN has to be pleased with its 2014 schedule. The quality seems to be better than in recent years.

Best games: Philadelphia at Indianapolis in week 2; New England visits Kansas City in week 4. Seattle travels to Washington in week 5 when the Redskins still should be relevant. Carolina at Philadelphia in week 10 could be intriguing.

The NFL also will subject Mike Tirico and Jon Gruden to our lovely December weather in the upper Midwest: Atlanta at Green Bay in week 14 and New Orleans at Chicago in week 15. I’m cold already.

Potential clunkers: ESPN has only one shot at Peyton Manning; its season finale when Denver travels to Cincinnati in week 16. You never know what you’re going to get with the Bengals. Miami at Jets on Dec. 1 has potential roadkill written all over it. Houston at Steelers on Oct. 20 could be decidedly underwhelming.