For the second year in a row, the Patriots have four prime-time games on their schedule, including a Thanksgiving-night affair with the Jets.

The 2012 schedule was released on Tuesday, and the Pats, no stranger to the limelight, have multiple marquee games.

They open the season on the road against the Titans on Sunday, Sept. 9, with their home opener in Week Two against the Cardinals. New England opens its prime-time slate on Sunday night in Week Three in Baltimore against the Ravens.

In Week Five, Tom Brady gets to face Peyton Manning when the Patriots host the Broncos. Week Eight will be the Patriots’ game in London against the Rams.

On Thanksgiving night, the Patriots will be on the road against the Jets. The Pats played the Lions on Thanksgiving two years ago.

In Weeks 14 and 15, the Patriots have back-to-back prime-time games, hosting the Texans on Monday night, Dec. 10, and hosting the 49ers the following Sunday evening. They wrap up the 2012 season at home against the Dolphins.

The way we see it

Crossing over with the AFC South and NFC West gives the Patriots a pretty easy schedule, based on 2011 records. The opening stretch of three road games in four weeks will be a challenge, but three of the Patriots’ toughest out-of-division opponents have to come to Foxborough — the Texans, 49ers and Broncos. Should the season come down to the wire, the Patriots get an advantage with games against Jacksonville and Miami to conclude the season.

Here is the complete 2012 Patriots schedule:

Sunday, Sept. 9           at   Tennessee                      1:00 p.m. ET      WBZ             CBS

Sunday, Sept. 16               Arizona                            1:00 p.m. ET      WFXT            FOX

Sunday, Sept. 23       at   Baltimore                       8:20 p.m. ET     WHDH          NBC

Sunday, Sept. 30         at   Buffalo                            1:00 p.m. ET      WBZ             CBS

Sunday, Oct. 7                  Denver                            4:15 p.m. ET      WBZ             CBS

Sunday, Oct. 14           at   Seattle                            4:05 p.m. ET      WBZ             CBS

Sunday, Oct. 21                 New York Jets                  4:15 p.m. ET      WBZ             CBS

Sunday, Oct. 28           at   St. Louis (London)            1:00 p.m. ET      WBZ             CBS

Sunday, Nov. 4                  BYE WEEK

Sunday, Nov. 11                Buffalo                            1:00 p.m. ET      WBZ             CBS

Sunday, Nov. 18                Indianapolis                    1:00 p.m. ET      WBZ             CBS*

Thursday, Nov. 22     at   New York Jets                8:20 p.m. ET     WHDH          NBC

Sunday, Dec. 2            at   Miami                             1:00 p.m. ET      WBZ             CBS*

Monday, Dec. 10              Houston                         8:30 p.m. ET     WCVB           ESPN

Sunday, Dec. 16              San Francisco                 8:20 p.m. ET     WHDH          NBC*

Sunday, Dec. 23          at   Jacksonville                     1:00 p.m. ET      WBZ             CBS*

Sunday, Dec. 30                Miami                             1:00 p.m. ET      WBZ             CBS*

* - Subject to change