Ranking the 10 best games of the NFL 2022 season

The NFL has released its 2022 schedule, so we had a look through it to identify the 10 best games. The best spread betting odds for the upcoming NFL season can be found here, it’s going to be a doozy!

Week 1: Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Rams

The defending Super bowl champions open against the favorites for the upcoming season. After helping the Rams to win it all in 2021, linebacker Von Miller signed a six-year, $120 million contract with Buffalo adding more talent to an already talented defensive unit. The Bills have unfinished business after dramatically losing in the divisional round to the Chiefs and will look to make an early statement. The Rams brought back most of the team that dominated the NFC during the playoffs. Watching Aaron Donald attempt to contain star quarterback Josh Allen will be mouthwatering.

Week 1: Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks

Coming out of the gate in week 1 is a big one, new Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson makes his return to Seattle to battle the franchise he led to eight playoff appearances and a Super Bowl victory. This matchup feels like guaranteed drama. Wilson landing on a talented roster in Denver should allow him more control in a pass-first offense that expects to contend. The Seahawks moving on from Wilson backs up Seattle’s belief they can contend without a franchise quarterback. This week 1 game is the first chance for both sides to show their championship credentials and who will be proven right. Seattle is a tough opening away matchup for anyone.

Week 1: Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders squeaked into the playoffs in 2021 by beating the Chargers on the final gameweek with a late overtime field goal that stunned the talented LA team. To get a rematch in week 1? This has revenge and excitement written all over it. Both sides have dramatically improved their teams during this offseason. Las Vegas traded for Davante Adams, signed Chandler Jones while making several other moves to improve defensive depth. The Chargers brought in Khalil Mack and JC Jackson to improve a defense that badly let them down when it mattered most. Las Vegas edged out the Chargers in 2021, are they still ahead of Los Angeles in the AFC West race? This matchup will be a signpost of where these teams are heading.

Week 3: Green Bay Packers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs start off the year with one of the most challenging home schedules in franchise history. Their home opener? Against MVP Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Though the Bucs and Packers didn’t play each other in 2021, this will be a rematch of the 2020 NFC Championship game won by Tampa Bay before they went on to win Super Bowl LV (against their opponents in week 4). This game might well be the last time Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers, two HOF quarterbacks, face each other and the fifth overall meeting between the two.

Week 4: Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The most successful quarterback of all time meets the face of the modern NFL for the fifth time. Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes have split their previous four meetings and this will be the first time they matchup since the Buccaneers crushed the Chiefs 31-9 in Super Bowl LV. Head coach of the Chiefs Andy Reid said in Kansas’s release video, “I can’t wait for that one,” and neither can we. A matchup between two Super Bowl contenders and the league’s most recognizable athletes.

Week 5: Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens

This game screams fun! Two division rivals looking to make their mark in a highly competitive AFC. Joe Burrow brings a certain swagger to every contest, as he should with the offensive talent that the Bengals have brought back. After the significant work Cincy did this offseason to upgrade Burrows offensive line protection and the Ravens adding plenty of defensive versatility during the draft to create different looks, this game has all the hallmarks of a chess match. One with real division rivalry that has real animosity. Lamar Jackson vs Joe Burrow, two of the most talented 25-year old quarterbacks in the NFL squaring off? What’s not to love?

Week 6: Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs

After providing the most exciting game of the 2021 season in the AFC divisional playoffs the Bills return to Kansas City for a rematch of one of the best games of the last decade. The two favorites for the AFC is arguably a preview of a conference title game. With Kansas City in the middle of a brutal stretch of their schedule this game will underline whether or not the Chiefs are still the top dogs in the AFC and act as a pointer to how good the Bills can be in 2022. A rivalry continues, Allen vs Mahomes.

Week 13: Kansas City Chiefs at Cincinnati Bengals

Since the Patrick Mahomes-era it is rare that the Chiefs are the team seeking revenge against another team. However that is the case against the new-look Bengals. Last season they were swept by the Bengals, losing first in Cincinnati during the regular season and again in the AFC Championship game at home in an overtime loss. The hype of the Burrows-Mahomes matchup is real and these two powerhouse offenses delivered on excitement last year. I don’t expect this game to be any different.

Week 16: Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys

This Christmas Eve matchup feels like it will have a lot riding on it. The Eagles have had a solid offseason adding a few talented pieces to an already skilled squad. One of the biggest questions for the Eagles will be can Jalen Hurts be the quarterback for the future for Philly. The Eagles have the second-easiest schedule in the NFL, according to projected win totals and will be looking to topple their division rivals Dallas after they lost a number of key players this offseason. For America’s team they have something to prove. Dominating their division last season they were primed for a big playoff run. In the end they got found out by the physical 49ers. If things go south for the Cowboys against the resurgent Eagles could we see the Cowboys move on from coach Mike McCarthy? This will be a festive treat.

Week 17: Buffalo Bills at Cincinnati Bengals; Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Chargers

The New Year’s slate of games features two absolute crackers that hopefully will feature four teams looking to prepare for a deep playoff run. On New Year’s Day the two talented Los Angeles teams face off against each other for SoF Stadiumi bragging rights. The Chargers look much improved this year after a successful offseason and the Rams have brought back most of the key pieces that made them a force in the NFC. Chargers head coach Brandon Staley was Rams Sean McVay’s defensive coordinator before taking over the Bolts and the one area the Chargers really needed to improve upon was their defense. Justin Herbert’s ascent to greatness will be measured against Matthew Stafford and the reigning champions’ ferocious defense.

On Monday night we get the fixture that didn’t happen during the 2021 playoffs, two of the most talented AFC teams face-off against each other. Burrow vs Allen, Diggs, vs Chase, the Bill’s excellent pass rush vs Bengals defensive flexibility. These franchises should be two heavyweights in their conference this year and their late season matchup could well be a tune-up for the battles to come.