10 GAMES TO WATCH
The schedule is bursting with contests featuring bad blood, beefs and epic individual showdowns. Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr picks his top matchups
1. BRONCOS AT SEAHAWKS Sept. 12
The first Monday-night game of the season will have revenge as its theme. Russell Wilson (near right), after 10 years as the Seahawks’ quarterback, returns to Seattle and the scene of his messy divorce from coach Pete Carroll ( far right).
2. PACKERS AT BUCCANEERS Sept. 25
I am not a fan of describing games as QB vs. QB. But we’re really and truly running out of chances to see Tom Brady play against other elite quarterbacks—and four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers certainly fits that bill.
3. CHIEFS AT BUCCANEERS Oct. 2
The last time we saw these teams on the same field, Patrick Mahomes was frantically trying to evade the Buccaneers’ pass rush in Super Bowl LV. The Chiefs’ rebuilt offensive line is a direct response to how bad it looked in Kansas City’s 31–9 loss.
4. COMMANDERS AT EAGLES Nov. 14
I would not be looking forward to this game if I were new Washington QB Carson Wentz. Not only will fans ride the former Eagle mercilessly, but Philly should be much better on defense in 2022.
5. COWBOYS AT PACKERS Nov. 13
You know Rodgers would love to drop 40 points on his former boss, Dallas coach Mike Mccarthy, and then pile on with some passive-aggressive references to their past in the postgame presser.
6. RAMS AT CHARGERS Jan. 1
It will be stunning if both of these teams aren’t in contention late in the season. They last faced each other in 2018, which predates the opening of the stadium they now share. This one could be a meaningful and offensively explosive turf war.
7. BROWNS AT PANTHERS Sept. 11
Want to see announcers twist themselves into pretzels reaching for euphemisms? The Deshaun Watson story will be front and center when Baker Mayfield takes on the team that traded him after giving Watson the biggest guaranteed contract in history.
8. SAINTS AT CARDINALS Oct. 20
Arizona is in prime time Thursday night the week that wide receiver Deandre Hopkins ( left) returns from a suspension for performance-enhancing drugs, against a Saints team that could make this a legitimate shootout.
9. BILLS AT LIONS Nov. 24
Dan Campbell’s crew is improving, so this is going to be a relevant, feisty Thanksgiving game featuring Detroit— which is something we haven’t seen for a half decade.
10. BENGALS AT PATRIOTS Dec. 24
I’m placing this one here strictly for the football nerds in the room. I always like to watch quarterbacks face Bill Belichick for the first time. Joe Burrow probably won’t consider it an early Christmas gift.