Top 10 must-watch NFL games of 2022: From Super Bowl rematches to epic returns
- Paul Higham
- 13 May 2022
After the new 2022 scheduled was released, Planet Sport picks out the top 10 must-see games coming up in the new NFL season.
The new 2022 NFL season has thrown up all kinds of enticing clashes, as it always does.
We've got a Super Bowl rematch, some re-runs of epic playoff contests and some stellar head-to-heads. Big name stars are also returning to their former teams, which always creates a special atmosphere.
Plenty of eyes will be on Tom Brady again, if this is finally to be his last season, while the likes of Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen are all must-see QBs.
Even though we've still got some time to go before the start of the season, here Planet Sport picks out the top 10 games to watch to get you excited for the new season.
Washington Commanders @ Philadelphia Eagles - Week 10: Monday Night Football
New Commanders QB Carson Wentz was sent packing from Philly under a bigger cloud than the Fresh Prince, and now after also being turned loose by the Colts he has a major point to prove.
Wentz plays his former Eagles team twice but his return to Philly comes in November, and on Monday Night Football!
This Philly crowd can be brutal, they've booed their own players, they've even booed Santa Claus. Wentz is in for one tough night.
Los Angeles Rams @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Week Nine
One of a few playoff rematches and if it's anything like the first then it'll be a cracker.
We thought this was Tom Brady's final game when the Rams won in January, with Matthew Stafford's last-second drive cancelling out an epic Brady comeback.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Week 15
Joe Burrow has had so many Tom Brady comparisons, it's only right we get to see the two of them in the same game so late in the season, when it really counts.
'Joe Cool' Burrow is the most Brady-like of the hot young breed of QBs with a more cerebral approach and that aura that seems to lift an entire franchise.
He also got to the Super Bowl in his second year, just like Brady, although the GOAT managed to win a ring. This could well be the only meeting between these to, so sit back and enjoy.
Dallas Cowboys @ Green Bay Packers - Week 10
It's not often the head coach gets all the headlines, but Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy spent 13 seasons in charge of Green Bay, winning one Super Bowl from nine playoff appearances.
With 125 wins he's second only behind Packers legend Curly Lambeau and he'd like nothing more than to get one more Lambeau Field victory, but this time as the opposition.
Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks - Week 18
These NFC West battles are always bone-crunching affairs, but there's just a little bit extra meat on the bone this time around.
The Rams are the defending champs, it's the final game of the regular season and Bobby Wagner, the long-time defensive star for the Seahawks returns to Seattle.
Wagner was released the same night Russell Wilson was traded after a decade of service and being a founder member of their Legion of Boom defence.
He was not pleased, to say the least, and will be fired up for this one which could have plenty of playoff implications.
Kansas City Chiefs @ Cincinnati Bengals - Week 13
In the Bengals, Chiefs and Bills we look to have three AFC side destined to fight it out in the playoffs for years to come, and here we have a repeat of last year's epic AFC Championship game.
The Ohio kid has taken the @Bengals to the Super Bowl. 🙌 @JoeyB pic.twitter.com/SznYQfXfjq
— NFL (@NFL) January 30, 2022
After their incredible win over the Bills, the Chiefs looked nailed-on for the Super Bowl only for the Bengals and Joe Burrow to march into Arrowhead and pick up the shock win.
Cincy also won a in Week 17 classic to help them get into the playoffs, so Mahomes will want to snap that two-game losing streak. Strap in for this one!
Green Bay Packers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Week Three
What's not to like about Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady doing battle - two of the modern-day greats going at it for what could be the final time.
It's not in a primetime slot but it's a primetime match-up between the Goat and the back-to-back MVP.
A repeat of the 2021 NFC Championship game and possible preview of another playoff meeting - it doesn't take much selling this one.
Kansas City Chiefs @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Week Four: Sunday Night Football
For the first time ever we'll have a Super Bowl rematch being played in the same stadium since the Buccaneers won the big game on home soil at Raymond James Stadium.
Tom Brady is playing in his 23rd season while Patrick Mahomes has to make adjustments to some major receiver changes for the first time in his career.
The Chiefs will want to banish memories of Super Bowl LV as they were battered by an all-powerful Bucs defence, and Mahomes will want to level his head-to-head with Brady as he's 3-2 down.
Denver Broncos @ Seattle Seahawks - Week One: Monday Night Football
Absolutely no messing about from the schedulers as they put one of the biggest returns in NFL history on the very first Monday Night Football.
It means Russell Wilson will play his first game for the Broncos on the same field he spent a decade at, winning a Super Bowl and more games than any other QB in history in their first 10 NFL seasons.
What's more, Wilson is just the fifth QB to play against a team he's won 100 games or more with in NFL history - as players like him simply don't end up getting traded.
This return will be fascinating.
Buffalo Bills @ Kansas City Chiefs - Week Six
Somehow, a rematch of the greatest play-off game we've ever seen isn't a primetime game, but it could still be epic if it gets anywhere near what we witnessed in January.
Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen went toe-to-toe and produced an absolutely pulsating Divisional Round game which had the most dramatic crescendo of a finish at Arrowhead.
There's nothing quite like NFL Playoff drama.
— NFL UK (@NFLUK) April 12, 2022
Relive the incredible ending to the @Chiefs epic OT win in full... pic.twitter.com/GbRxvELxkc
The two combined for 25 points in the final two minutes of the game, with this the first playoff contest to have three go-ahead touchdowns in the last two minutes.
Each team won the game, or thought they had, until eventually Mahomes led a last-second drive for a field goal to force overtime, when the toss of a coin sadly decided this one.
The Chiefs got the ball, scored the TD and ended the contest. These two look likely opponents for years to come, and we're desperate to see them go at it in Week Six.
