10 Can't Miss Games of the 2022-23 NFL Schedule
The NFL has done an incredible job of turning itself into a year-round story. From free agency, the draft, to the non-stop rumor mill, the NFL offseason is as exciting as most other sports’ actual seasons.
Nowhere is that more apparent than when it comes to the NFL schedule release. I mean, we essentially know each team’s opponents immediately after the season ends. The only mystery is when and where each of those games is going to be played.
On May 12th, we were all glued to Twitter as beat writers slowly leaked a confirmed game here and there. And then that night, on the NFL Network, the entire schedule was announced and that was all that was talked about on sports talk radio for the next two weeks.
And you know what? I’m here for it. Because when I dug into the 2022 NFL Schedule and saw what was waiting for us, I couldn’t help but think how wild it’s going to be.
The whole season is going to be must-see television. But if you’re looking to pick and choose how best to spend your time, here are the 10 can't-miss games of the 2022 NFL Schedule.
1) Week 6 – Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs
The playoff game between these two teams was truly one of those “I remember where I was when I was watching it” types of contests. Simply put, it was probably the most incredible final two minutes of regulation football in the history of the game.
These are two elite quarterbacks in Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen at the top of their respective games. Leading teams that are the two betting favorites to make it to the Super Bowl out of the AFC. In a rematch of one of the greatest games of the last decade.
If you had to watch just one game this NFL season, this would be it.
2) Week 13 – Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders
The last time the Chargers and Raiders met, it was your garden variety last-second comeback, overtime thriller, is this really going to end in a tie so that both teams make the playoffs nail-biter. And you know what? This game might be even better.
With the addition of Davante Adams, the Raiders should only be improved, and the same can be said of the Chargers with another year under Justin Herbert’s and Brandon Staley’s belts.
Forget the Week 1 matchup between these two teams. By Week 13, both franchises should be desperate for a win in their bid for the playoffs or, potentially, the AFC West title.
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3) Week 1 – Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks
This is less about the quality of the game than the circumstances surrounding it. The Seahawks will be rolling with Drew Lock or Geno Smith and an aging roster surrounding them. The Broncos are young and hungry with a strong core and playoff aspirations. Denver is a 4.5-point favorite in Lumen Field in the season opener on Monday Night Football at DraftKings Sportsbook.
No, this game isn’t about watching the Broncos and Seahawks play. It’s about Russell Wilson. Wilson, who has wanted to run a more explosive offense for years will finally gets his chance and will want to show Seattle what it gave away.
After a weekend full of football, we’re going to end on a high note. And everyone will want to be there to see it.
4) Week 4 – Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
We only have four or five more years to watch Tom Brady dominate the NFL, so there’s no chance anyone can miss a rematch of Super Bowl LV. A game between Brady and Patrick Mahomes is always must-watch television always.
But there is additional intrigue here. Todd Bowles’ defense shut down Mahomes and the Chiefs in the Super Bowl two seasons ago, and his game plan set a blueprint for opposing defenses to finally have a chance to keep the Chiefs in check offensively. In a nationally-televised game, it will be fascinating to see whether Mahomes can flip the script.
5) Week 1 – Bills at Los Angeles Rams
Fine, it’s a layup to take the first game of the season between the defending-champion Rams and the outstanding Bills. But how can you miss this game in the slightest?
The game pretty much has everything. First and foremost, it’s the first game of the season on primetime. You’ve got the pomp and circumstance of the defending champions opening their season at SoFi Stadium, the very venue at which they won their Super Bowl. They could be playing the Jaguars and it would be one of the most anticipated games of the season.
Fortunately, they're playing the Bills who have been so close to reaching the Super Bowl the last two years that they could taste it. The Bills who are a contender yet again.
The fact that Von Miller left the Rams for the Bills is just icing on the cake. If you aren’t watching this game then, frankly, what are we even doing here?
6) Week 10 – Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers
Mike McCarthy returning to Green Bay doesn’t sound like the most exciting thing in the world, but when you factor in that Aaron Rodgers remains the Packers QB, things get a little spicy.
McCarthy had a “successful” tenure in Green Bay, winning a Super Bowl but also losing multiple playoff games. By the end of his time there, it was clear that Rodgers didn’t think much of his offensive play-calling. There’s no doubt that Rodgers would love to drop a 50-spot on his former coach to remind everyone that it was him, not McCarthy, who was primarily responsible for the Packers’ run of success.
But McCarthy surely knows how a defense can (attempt to) successfully defend Rodgers, and Dan Quinn should throw everything he has at him. So, in addition to some exciting intrigue, it should be a heck of a football game.
Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys looks on against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on January 08, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images via AFP.
7) Week 17 – Rams at Chargers
It’s always a little dicey to label a late-season contest as a must-watch game, but chances are we are on safe ground here. Both the Rams and Chargers are almost certainly going to be in contention and with an 18-week schedule and only one bye, both will likely have something to play for here.
The Rams and Chargers both have stud QBs, a scary pass-rush, and explosive offenses. A primetime game on Sunday night on New Year’s Day in the battle of Los Angeles is the perfect way to bring in 2023.
8) Week 5 – Cincinnati Bengals at Ravens
The Week 18 matchup between these two teams might be the real can’t-miss game of the year but, again, it’s a bit iffy when you consider choosing a late-season game. Instead, let’s make sure we put the Week 5 game on our calendars.
The Bengals are the defending AFC Champions and, justifiably, will feel that they are the team to beat in the AFC North. However, the Ravens were rolling last year before Lamar Jackson got injured and were the most injury-plagued team in the league last season.
After crushing the draft, the Ravens are ready to try to reassert their dominance. Thus, everyone’s eyes will and should be on the first matchup between the two AFC North rivals.
9) Week 8 – Packers at Bills
The weather won’t be frigid in Orchard Park on October 30, but it should be cold enough to make this one have a little extra juice.
We’ve extolled the virtues of Josh Allen and the Bills already, and this is the classic old guard versus new guard matchup. Rodgers has plenty of juice left, as evidenced by his back-to-back MVPs. But with the loss of Davante Adams, he’ll need to be at his best to keep the Packers offense performing at a high level.
Both teams will want to make statements here on a Sunday night game.
10) Week 6 – Rams at Bucs
Another game that needs little explanation. It’s a rematch of last year’s incredible playoff game. It has Tom Brady running it back for another year, and the Rams trying to go back-to-back.
This one surprisingly isn’t a nationally-televised game, but it should nonetheless be must-see television. Not only should it be an exciting game between two NFC powerhouses, but there should be plenty of drama all the way through.
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