NFL Schedule Reaction: 5 Must-See Primetime Games For 2022 Season

Following the announcement of the 2022 NFL regular season schedule, football fans are already hard at work predicting the outcomes for each matchup. That includes the highly-anticipated primetime games sprinkled across the 18-week campaign.

The league does its best to ensure high-quality matchups in each Thursday night, Sunday night, and Monday night game. However, some games are just better than others. In fact, there are at least five games every fan needs to circle on their calendar.

5. Rams at Packers (Week 15 MNF)

In the latter half of the regular season, two NFC favorites will meet for what is sure to be a frosty Monday night matchup at Lambeau Field.

The Los Angeles Rams are the defending Super Bowl champs and have every reason to remain in contention for a second straight title. Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers are trying to rebound from another early playoff exit as they search for their first Super Bowl berth since 2011.

This matchup will have former NFC North rivals Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford going head-to-head once more. It will see friends Matt LaFleur and Sean McVay trying to out-duel one another from the sidelines. Finally, fans will hear the voice of Joe Buck calling a game at Lambeau in the thick of the playoff hunt.

It’s hard to believe four games still top this one.

4. Bills at Bengals (Week 17 MNF)

The final Monday night game of the regular season features a matchup that was possibly a coinflip away from being last year’s AFC Championship.

After falling in the AFC Divisional round, the Buffalo Bills are the betting favorite to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. But they’ll have to get past the Cincinnati Bengals, who came within three points of winning their first Super Bowl in franchise history.

Quarterbacks often set the tone for a must-watch matchup, and Bills-Bengals would be no exception. Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow will face off in a matchup that could hold serious playoff implications.

ESPN has to be excited about this matchup.

3. Chargers at Chiefs (Week 2 TNF)

Two division rivals, two elite quarterbacks, and the debut of a new broadcast. Say no more.

Amazon’s first game of its new Thursday Night Football deal pits the Los Angeles Chargers against the Kansas City Chiefs. Besides being two heated AFC West rivals, both clubs have lofty Super Bowl aspirations for the 2022 season.

While the Chiefs have largely dominated the matchup in recent years, the Chargers have won their last two games in Kansas City, thanks in large part to Justin Herbert. However, any game featuring Patrick Mahomes is worth watching. There’s also a chance this early head-to-head plays a role later on as a possible division tiebreaker.

Al Michaels and Kirk Herbstreit have to be licking their lips to call this matchup.

2. Chiefs at Buccaneers (Week 4 SNF)

Super Bowl LV was a lopsided, largely forgetful affair. But Week 4’s Sunday night thriller is going to be a game to remember.

The last time the Chiefs took on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Bucs slaughtered the defending champs 31-9. Kansas City has been sitting on that loss for over a year and is undoubtedly looking to exact its revenge in a primetime return to Raymond James Stadium.

Beyond Mahomes and the Super Bowl rematch, this could be one of Tom Brady’s final primetime performances. The 44-year-old briefly retired this offseason before announcing his comeback, but it won’t be long until he leaves the football field for good.

There isn’t much more that needs to be said, even though there’s one matchup that beats it.

1. Packers at Bills (Week 8 SNF)

The Bills have a loaded schedule full of primetime matchups, including bouts with the Rams and New England Patriots. But no game will top their Week 8 bout with the Cheeseheads.

Just before the halfway point of the season, Buffalo will host the Packers on a crisp Autumn night in Orchard Park, New York. The matchup will have everything you want in a game — two elite quarterbacks, two Super Bowl contenders, and a crowd that will live and die with every play.

Packers-Bills isn’t just a possible Super Bowl preview. It’s the matchup boasting two of the three preseason favorites to win it all, something rarely seen during the regular season.

It will also serve as a potential statement game for Allen and the Bills, who have a brutal eight-week start to their regular season.

In a season full of excellent primetime matchups, the Packers-Bills game on Halloween Eve is the best of the bunch.

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