It’s been a hot minute since our last article, so apologies, but that thing that pays the bills has been extremely busy. It is obviously a quieter part of the NFL year for the casual fan, but for those that are interested, the 2022 schedule has been announced with some cracking games lined up for the upcoming season. Revenge games for players, star rookies against star rookies, first time coaches returning to their coordinator locations and much much more. Week one alone has some brilliant games, which includes the opener between the defending Super Bowl champs and Buffalo Bills. Here are my top ten games of the 2022 season, in no particular order.
Week 1: Bills @ Rams
The current betting favourites and the defending champs square off in what looks like the most anticipated season opener for a long time. The Bills made some nice additions through the draft, adding CB Kaiir Elam in the first round and James Cook, Dalvin’s brother, in the second. They also added the ‘Punt God’ Matt Araiza with the 180th overall pick, solidifying them as one of the best rosters in the league. This season is as good a chance as any for the Bills, with their roster and relatively ok strength of schedule, but a lot of great teams do stand in their way – including the Rams. LA are looking to run it back in 2022 and you would be hard pressed to find any rock-solid reasons for why they wouldn’t. The champs may have lost Andrew Whitworth, Von Miller and Robert Woods, but have added Allen Robinson and Bobby Wagner to the already stacked roster. Their defence now includes Bwagz, Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Donald, not to mention some of the other solid performers like Leonard Floyd. This game will have one of the best offences going up against one of the best defences – it sure does look tempting to stay up until 4am and see this one out from start to finish. Bring on Sept 9th.
Week 1: Broncos @ Seahawks
Russell Wilson returns to where he built his life and career. The future Hall of Fame QB will be coming home to lay one on his former team in week one. The Seahawks are currently in rebuild mode but will still look to put it up to Denver in this fascinating contest. The Seahawks have one of the best home fan bases in the NFL, but it will be interesting to see the reception Russ gets for his return home. The dynamic between Russ and Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll is even more intriguing, as Russ thinks Pete Carroll is over the hill, because he left, and Pete Carroll thinks Russ is finished, because he let Russ leave. The is your classic revenge game and I can’t wait to see it. Drew Lock and Noah Fant will look to exact their revenge in the opposite direction, as they were sent as part of the deal for Wilson.
Week 2: Chargers @ Chiefs
The Chargers and Chiefs met twice in 2021 (obviously) and both games had over 54 points. Both away teams won, with the Chiefs winning a classic in Sofi Stadium. It could be argued that both teams have improved in the offseason. The Chargers have certainly got better and while the Chiefs will miss Tyreek Hill, they have added some solid pieces on both sides of the ball, through the draft and free agency. The Chargers’ defence is stacked with Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, Derwin James, JC Jackson, Kyle Van Noy and more, and the Chiefs added Juju, Valdez Scantling, with Sky Moore and George Karlaftis in the draft. This should be another cracker between these two, while also giving us an initial indication as to who may be the better team in 2022 between these two.
Week 3: Bills @ Dolphins
I really hope that Tua gets off to a fast start this year, because if he does, this game will be a belter. The Bills are guaranteed to be great in 2022, but it will be interesting to see how the Dolphins get on after their big offseason spending. The Phins adding Tyreek Hill, Raheem Mostert, Chase Edmonds, Terron Armstead, Cedrick Wilson indicates they mean serious business this season. Former 49ers OC and now head coach of Miami, Mike McDaniels is an offensive genius and is sure to get his new weapons firing from the get-go. Absolutely love the look of this divisional match-up and the Bills play the Rams and Titans in weeks one and two and could theoretically be 0-2. Could there be a new Sheriff in the AFC East by the end of week 3?
Week 3: Steelers @ Browns
This one comes with a caveat. DeShaun Watson has to be playing and Kenny Pickett has to have stolen the Steelers’ QB starting job from Mitch Trubisky. The Browns are legitimate Super Bowl contenders with Watson playing, but we just don’t know how the NFL will handle his still unsettled civil suits. Watson leading an offence of Amari Cooper, rookie David Bell, Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt is scary, but he could easily be out for at least eight games. It is very up in the air, but he will likely get some sort of ban. On the Steelers side of the ball, I think everyone wants to see the first QB taken off the board in the NFL draft tee it up against a divisional rival. Pickett is the most pro ready QB according to most scouts, so it would be interesting to see how he would get on against Myles Garrett and the Browns defence.
Week 6: Cowboys @ Eagles
Week six Sunday Night Football brings us an NFC East divisional match-up between America’s team and the Philly Scumbags. Every year we feel the Cowboys are knocking on the door but this year they will have serious competition within the division, mainly from the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles are a lot of analyst’s dark horse for the season after an impressive draft and major signing of AJ Brown. GM Howie Roseman has built around Jalen Hurts, and he looks primed to take another leap in 2022. An improved Hurts against prime Dak is a match-up I want to see every day of the week.
Week 8 in general:
- Ravens @ Bucs
- Commanders @ Colts (Wentz revenge tour)
- Packers @ Bills
- 49ers @ Rams
- Bengals @ Browns
- Cardinals @ Vikings
- Raiders @ Saints
Week 13: Dolphins @ 49ers
This is super interesting for a couple of reasons. As mentioned above, Mike McDaniels is now the head coach of Miami, and this will be his first trip back to his old stomping ground. Miami will also hopefully be cooking by week 13 and be an offensive powerhouse that everyone wants to watch. McDaniels will want to get one over on his old HC Kyle Shanahan and Shanahan will want to let McDaniels know that he is still the boss. For the 49ers, the key question is, what will the situation be with their QB room. Before any sort of practice had started this year, Jimmy G was going to be traded and Trey Lance was the unanimous week one starter. Now, there are rumblings that the Niners coaching staff are underwhelmed by Lance’s progress so far in practice. But as Allen Iverson once said, ‘We talkin about PRACTICE’. Looking forward to watching two teams who should be there or thereabouts in 2022.
Week 13: Browns @ Texans
Another week 13 match-up makes the list, but this is probably one that will only get me excited. DeShaun Watson returning to Houston will interesting. He will no doubt get a frosty reception for a number of reasons. I hope Dougie Mills and the Houston crew lay one on him and the Brahns. Up Houston.
Week 16: Colts @ Chargers
This may look like an odd one, but I think this could be a cracking game because both teams will likely be hanging around the AFC wild card spot come week sixteen. The Chargers roster makes them look like a sure thing for the playoffs in 2022, but with Mahomes and Kansas, Wilson and Denver, and Carr and LV all in their division, it could be anyone’s game for the AFC West title. For the Colts, there is a big feeling around camp that Matt Ryan is going to steer them to a good playoff run in 2022. They may go and win the division easy, but I wouldn’t count the Titans out just yet. If the Colts don’t win the division, they will definitely be around the wild card spot, making the potential for this game very exciting indeed.
I could have selected so many other games, but I was nearly at my top ten by week five! Obviously had to cut it back, so here are some of the games that barely missed the cut. Roll on September.
Honourable Mentions:
- Week 3: Packers @ Bucs – last dance for Brady & Rodgers?
- Week 4: Chiefs @ Bucs – first match-up since 2021 Super Bowl
- Week 6: Bills @ Chiefs – first match up since that ridiculous OT game last season
- Week 11: Raiders @ Broncos – Carr Vs Wilson
- Week 16: Broncos @ Rams – Wilson Vs Bobby Wagner and the LA defence
J.
0 Comments