The 2022 NFL regular season schedule is loaded with several enticing matchups that die-hard fans simply cannot miss.
The expansion to a 17th regular season game simply means more highly-anticipated AFC team vs. NFC team showdowns that we would otherwise only get once every four years.
With the 2022 regular season schedule out, here is a look at the best duels that you cannot miss.
Baltimore Ravens vs. Buffalo Bills (Week 4)
Lamar Jackson is unquestionably the best rushing quarterback in the game. Josh Allen is by far the best dual-threat quarterback in football right now. Something will have to give here.
After a disappointing 8-9 season derailed by injuries, the Ravens expect to return to Super Bowl contention in 2022. Along with the Bills, Baltimore is a prime betting favorite to win the AFC in multiple sportsbooks. Although they haven’t launched yet, the hope is that Maryland sports betting apps will go live at some point in 2022 — perhaps in time for the start of the NFL season.
If it launches, FanDuel Maryland will likely be one of the top sportsbooks available in the state. FanDuel lists the Bills as the Super Bowl 57 favorites (+650), and the Ravens come in at +2000 to win it all..
Buffalo added Von Miller and Kaiir Elam to a defense that finished first in both scoring and in yards last year. The Ravens added Marcus Williams and Kyle Hamilton to a deep secondary that already has Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters and Chuck Clark.
Both Jackson and Allen will have their work cut out for them in this one. The Week 4 tilt could very well have serious implications on home field advantage for the postseason.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Week 4)
This showdown is only on the schedule thanks to the NFL’s 17-game expansion. It’s very likely that this will be the final showdown between Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes. What more do you need to say?
Brady is 3-2 against Mahomes. That includes victories in the 2018 AFC Championship Game and in Super Bowl 55. The Bucs destroyed the defending champs 31-9 in the big game, which prompted Kansas City to begin a massive retooling of their offensive line.
Can Mahomes even the series against the GOAT, or will Brady all but clinch a winning record against the new face of the NFL? Only time will tell.
Green Bay Packers vs. Dallas Cowboys (Week 10)
Mike McCarthy, who coached the Packers from 2006 to 2018, will make his highly-anticipated return to Lambeau Field for a late afternoon showdown.
The Packers fired McCarthy late in the 2018 campaign as the franchise headed towards a second straight losing season. After spending one season away from football, McCarthy was hired as the Cowboys’ new head coach in 2020.
Aaron Rodgers vs. Dak Prescott is always can’t-miss theater (see their 2016 NFC Divisional Round and Week 5, 2017 showdowns). And like last year, both teams will be vying for the first-round bye and home advantage.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Cincinnati Bengals (Week 15)
This will most likely be the lone showdown between Tom Brady and young phenom Joe Burrow.
The Bucs and Bengals boast arguably the league’s two best receiving cores. This matchup will feature Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, Russell Gage, Rob Gronkoski (should he come out of retirement), Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd.
Not only will Burrow vs. Brady be highly entertaining, but at this point in the season, both teams will likely be in tight races for the first-round bye in their respective conferences.
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Rams (Week 12)
The last time the Chiefs and Rams met? The fireworks went off.
Their Week 11, 2018 Monday night game was so epic that the contest even has its own Wikipedia page. The Rams barely squeaked out a thrilling 54-51 win, with Jared Goff and Patrick Mahomes combining for 891 passing yards and 10 touchdown passes.
The Rams and Chiefs will square off again, this time at Arrowhead. Since their last meeting, both teams have won a pair of conference championships and one Super Bowl. The defending champion Rams are now led by Matthew Stafford, who delivered the franchise a title in year one with his new team.
Once again, both the Rams and Chiefs figure to be in contention for the Super Bowl heading into 2022. And who knows? Maybe the two clubs will square off in the grand stage come Feb. 12.