Most Intriguing Matchups Of The 2022 NFL Schedule

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With the release of the 2022 NFL schedule, 2022 begins to sharpen into focus. These are the must-watch games during the season.

When the NFL releases the schedule, the separation between speculation and facts widens. For the next three months, you will hear analysts and teams begin to piece together realistic paths to the Super Bowl. In contrast, many teams look to cobble together a respectable campaign, in the hopes of just making the playoffs. Instead of guessing, those travel plans become concrete. Let the official start of the 2022 NFL season really begin.

Bengals at Buccaneers

In a showdown that highlights the greatest quarterback of all-time and Tom Brady. Seriously, Joe Burrow gets this chance to go throw-for-throw with the legend. This offseason, the Bengals upgraded the offensive line, strengthening their glaring weakness. In adding Ted Karras, Alex Cappa, and La’el Collins, Cincinnati hopes to give Burrow time and a clean pocket to operate. At the same time, Brady sees Eli Apple. Apple, known league-wide for giving up big plays, will have to cover either Chris Godwin or Mike Evans. In all honesty, he can jam Evans, who will outmuscle him. In the same regard, he cannot deal with Chris Godwin’s route specificity. Apple will clutch and grab, as evidenced by his twenty-two career pass interference penalties. Six of which occurred last season. Brady and Burrow should post video game numbers. In the NFL, you need to grab the torch, as it will never be handed.

Cowboys at Packers

For thirteen seasons, Mike McCarthy strolled the sidelines as Green Bay’s head coach. While he managed to bring a Super Bowl to Wisconsin, he left under tense circumstances. First, he frequently butted heads with Aaron Rodgers over playcalling. Next, he displayed an uncanny ability to falter in the playoffs. Whether he kept subpar defensive coordinators too long or not, the onus of collapse fell squarely on McCarthy’s shoulders. In blunt terms, both McCarthy and Rodgers want this showcase to embarrass the other. Meanwhile, on the field, the matchups of the Cowboys’ offense lining up against the Packers’ defense will be a sight. CeeDee Lamb, facing off against Jaire Alexander is worth the price of admission alone. At 31.2 points per game in 2021, the Cowboys will look to win a shootout. In contrast, Green Bay surrendered thirty points only five times last season.

Bills at Rams

Entering his fifth season, Josh Allen must build upon the progress gained during the course of his career. The defending Super Bowl champions provide that opportunity. Allen’s favorite target, Stefon Diggs will see plenty of Jalen Ramsey. As a result, Allen will need to rely on Gabriel Davis and Jamison Crowder. With Aaron Donald bearing down from the inside and Leonard Floyd from the outside, Allen must rely on quicker patterns. Granted, he will uncork a deep ball or two. However, a slot like Crowder, paired with the Singletary/Cook run game, will attempt to batter and fatigue that defensive front. On the other side, Von Miller gives that defense the missing piece: a pass rusher that opens up single blocking for everyone else, especially second-year end Gregory Rousseau. Rousseau, fresh off a four-sack rookie campaign, the former Miami product should fare far better with help on the other side.

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Patriots at Raiders

Bill Belichick brings the Patriots to Vegas, facing two of his former assistant coaches. While Josh McDaniels does own a victory over New England, a 20-17 victory in 2009, times quickly change. Granted, Derek Carr is far more talented than Kyle Orton ever dreamed of being, Belichick thrives on taking away what teams do best. As a result, Hunter Renfrow may disappear in that game. Meanwhile, defensive coordinator Patrick Graham will scheme against an offense, featuring two mammoth tackles and a precision passer in Mac Jones. Graham coached under Belichick for six seasons. He credits the Patriots’ coach for teaching him much of what he knows. Unfortunately, he didn’t teach Graham everything he knows. Basically, the physical Patriots offensive line will meet the Raiders’ defensive front. Less of a shootout, more of a close-quarters fistfight. Either way, Josh McDaniels gets another crack at his mentor.

Commanders at Colts

Desperate for a quarterback, the Commanders traded for Carson Wentz. In exchange, the Colts received a second and third-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft. If you hear Jim Irsay tell it, Wentz needed to leave. While sitting at 9-6, with the playoffs firmly in sight, Wentz fumbled the bag. Indy dropped their last two with Wentz throwing two total touchdowns. The same issues that led to his trade from Philadelphia surfaced in Indianapolis. Being aloof and cold does not make for a team leader. Yet, teams keep falling for the Wentz banana in the tailpipe. The Commanders needed to place their offense in a talented quarterback’s hands. Now, Carson Wentz does possess the physical attributes to make this work. However, how will he fare, traveling back to the place where the owner publicly panned his entire tenure as a Colt?

Outlook

The NFL Schedule, much like each individual season itself contains a bit of uncertainty. Variables such as strength of schedule will dominate the headlines. With fans and media uproar about difficulty, teams ignore the furor. Regardless of loud objections, the team will play the entire seventeen games. With a championship at stake, the next nine months of the NFL season begin with the schedule release and ends in Glendale, Arizona.