NFL’s ‘22 schedule filled with enticing matchups
From Russell Wilson playing his first game as a Bronco in Seattle to Doug Pederson vs. Carson Wentz, the NFL schedule is filled with spicy matchups from the outset. Too bad we have to wait four months for it all to begin.
And it should begin with a bang.
The Seahawks prospered like never before with Wilson as their quarterback for the last decade, including a Super Bowl title and another they should have had if not for some, uh, curious play calls in the 2015 game. They rewarded Wilson’s desire to go elsewhere with a monster trade this offseason and he landed in Denver.
Now, thanks to the NFL’s desire to play off such storylines, the opening Monday night game of the 2022 season sends Wilson and his new team back to his old stomping grounds.
Want more? In Week 1 alone, there’s the kickoff game on Thursday night, Sept. 8, with the Super Bowl champion Rams hosting the current favorite to win it all, the Bills. There’s Jacksonville, with recently hired coach Doug Pederson, at Washington and new QB Carson Wentz. In 2017, Wentz seemed headed for league MVP honors working under Pederson for the Eagles. Wentz was injured late in the schedule and Nick Foles took over. Pederson and Foles beat New England and Tom Brady for the title.
WEEK 2
Amazon Prime Video debuts as the Thursday night outlet for the NFL with Kansas City hosting the Chargers. The AFC West figures to be the best division, and each team could make a statement here.
WEEK 3
Packers at Buccaneers. Aaron Rodgers vs. Brady. Need we say more?
WEEK 4
Chiefs at Buccaneers. Patrick Mahomes vs. Brady.
WEEK 6
When the Bills travel to Arrowhead Stadium, they or the Chiefs could make an early statement about AFC supremacy.
WEEK 7
The Dolphins will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the NFL’s only perfect season when they entertain the Steelers on Sunday night.
WEEK 8
Wentz again. His return to Indy, where he spent one fruitless season, as the Commanders take on the Colts.
WEEK 10
The only reason we can figure out that this is a Thursday nighter is the prospect of Matt Corral of Carolina and Desmond Ridder of Atlanta being the starting QBs as rookies. Non-contenders in prime time in November?
WEEK 11
San Francisco vs. Arizona on Monday night, mainly because it’s at the iconic Azteca in Mexico City.
WEEK 12
Except for the playoffs, what’s better than a Thanksgiving football feast? Sure, we recognize the Lions being perennial doormats, but the tradition of them hosting the early game shouldn’t be minimized. Not that we’re saying they will test Buffalo.
The Giants at Dallas is the late-afternoon game, not particularly attractive unless New York has a turnaround season.
WEEK 13
Will Deshaun Watson be available when Cleveland visits Houston? His status for 2022, even after the megatrade that brought him to the Browns from the Texans, remains fuzzy with those civil suits for sexual misconduct pending.
Plus, the Chiefs visit the defending AFC champion Bengals in a rematch of the 2021 conference title game.
WEEK 14
The Ravens at the Steelers. Only because it is our favorite NFL rivalry, as intense and physical as it gets.
WEEK 15
The Rams have the “pleasure” of playing a Monday night game at Lambeau Field. Bundle up, men.
WEEK 16
Amazon Prime Video gets Jaguars at Jets.
More appropriate is a Christmas Eve prime-timer in which the Steelers host the Raiders and commemorate the Immaculate Reception that occurred 50 years ago. Hey Franco, great catch and run.
WEEK 17
Happy New Year.
Enjoy these two: The SoFi Showdown as the Rams “visit” the Chargers in the spectacular stadium they share, and a Monday nighter between the Bills and host Bengals that figures to have significant implications in the standings.
WEEK 18
Sixteen divisional games, with playoff berths almost certainly on the line.