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The entire 2022 NFL schedule was officially released on Thursday night, May 12. As usual, it's loaded with a ton of exciting matchups to look forward to during the 18-week regular season. Here are the three best games for each AFC team during the 2022 NFL season based on intrigue, as well as importance.
Best games for each AFC team during the 2022 NFL season
Buffalo Bills
#3 - Week 1 vs. Los Angeles Rams
The Buffalo Bills will feature in the opening game of the 2022 NFL season when they face off against the Los Angeles Rams, the defending Super Bowl champions. It's an exciting way to kick off the season, as both teams are expected to be Super Bowl contenders this year.
#2 - Week 17 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Josh Allen and Joe Burrow are two young quarterbacks who have each emerged among the elites in recent years. They will face off in Cincinnati in a matchup that should be crucial for the AFC playoff picture.
#1 - Week 6 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The Buffalo Bills will travel to Arrowhead Stadium in Week 6 to play the Kansas City Chiefs. The last time these two teams met was in the playoffs last year. The shootout between Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes was one of the most thrilling games in NFL history.
New England Patriots
#3 - Week 4 vs. Green Bay Packers
Second-year quarterback Mac Jones will get his first opportunity to play a game at Lambeau Field, one of the most iconic NFL stadiums. He will also face off against Aaron Rodgers, the defending NFL MVP of the last two seasons. It's a big test early in the 2022 season.
#2 - Week 3 vs. Baltimore Ravens
The New England Patriots have built a reputation under Bill Belichick as one of the most consistently dominant defensive teams in the league. They will be up to the challenge of slowing down Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens' dynamic rushing attack.
#1 - Week 13 vs. Buffalo Bills
The Patriots were slaughtered by the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs last season. They will get their first opportunity to avenge that loss in Week 13 when they host the Bills.
Miami Dolphins
#3 - Week 4 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The Miami Dolphins get their first prime-time game of the 2022 season in Week 4 on Thursday Night Football against the Cincinnati Bengals. Tua Tagovailoa and Joe Burrow will meet for the second time in the NFL after facing off in their college days in the SEC conference.
#2 - Week 14 vs. Los Angeles Chargers
The Dolphins had to make a choice in the 2020 NFL Draft when selecting a quarterback. They ultimately decided to go with Tua Tagovailoa, rather than Justin Herbert, who was later selected by the Los Angeles Chargers. The two quarterbacks will face off in Week 14.
#1 - Week 13 vs. San Francisco 49ers
The Dolphins hired Mike McDaniel to take over as their new head coach for the 2022 NFL season. Formerly, he was an assistant coach for the San Francisco 49ers, so the road game is a homecoming for McDaniel.
New York Jets
#3 - Week 1 vs. Baltimore Ravens
September 11th will always be an important date in American history, especially in New York. The New York Jets get the honor of hosting a home game on that date this year, which is always a special occasion.
#2 - Week 16 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jets will face off against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16 on Thursday Night Football. It will be the Jets' only prime-time game of the season, featuring Zach Wilson and Trevor Lawrence, the top two picks from the 2021 NFL Draft.
#1 - Week 12 vs. Chicago Bears
The Jets passed on the opportunity to select Justin Fields in the 2021 NFL Draft, opting for Zach Wilson instead. The two young quarterbacks will meet in Week 12.
Best games for each AFC team during the 2022 NFL season
Cincinnati Bengals
#3 - Week 15 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Joe Burrow has quickly emerged as one of the elite NFL quarterbacks after just two years in the NFL. He will get the first opportunity of his young career to face off against the legendary Tom Brady.
#2 - Week 17 vs. Buffalo Bills
This late-season matchup could be crucial to the playoff picture in the AFC. The Bills and Bengals are projected to be two of the top teams in the conference, so they could potentially be battling for home-field advantage.
#1 - Week 13 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The Bengals defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Conference Championship game for the 2021 season. The rematch is one of the most anticipated games of the 2022 NFL season, as Patrick Mahomes looks to get some revenge on Joe Burrow.
Cleveland Browns
#3 - Week 1 vs. Carolina Panthers
Despite the terrible performances by Sam Darnold all last season, the Carolina Panthers have shown no interest in trading for Baker Mayfield, who the Cleveland Browns are actively shopping. The Panthers also missed out on Deshaun Watson, who the Browns landed instead.
#2 - Week 4 vs. Atlanta Falcons
It appeared that Deshaun Watson wanted to be traded to the Atlanta Falcons during the 2022 NFL offseason before he changed his mind at the last minute and joined the Browns. If he is able to play, the crowd in Atlanta will likely let him hear their frustrations.
#1 - Week 13 vs. Houston Texans
As long as Deshaun Watson is able to play and is not suspended for it, the Browns' Week 13 matchup with the Houston Texans is one of the most anticipated homecoming games of the year. Watson will return to Houston for the first time since sitting out the entire 2021 NFL season.
Baltimore Ravens
#3 - Week 8 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Baltimore Ravens will face off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football in Week 8 of the 2022 season. Lamar Jackson won his only meeting against Tom Brady, so he will look to remain undefeated against the legendary quarterback.
#2 - Week 5 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The Ravens get their first divisonal game in Week 5 against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals won both of their meetings last season, so the Ravens will try to get back on track.
#1 - Week 4 vs. Buffalo Bills
The last time the Ravens played against the Buffalo Bills was in the NFL Playoffs following the 2020 NFL season. The Bills came out victorious, so the Ravens will now be looking for revenge.
Pittsburgh Steelers
#3 - Week 1 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The Pittsburgh Steelers open their season on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals, who are the defending division and conference champions from last year. It's an opportunity for the Steelers to get off to a good start in the 2022 season.
#2 - Week 7 vs. Miami Dolphins
Minkah Fitzpatrick has been one of the best defensive players in the NFL since being traded from the Miami Dolphins to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He will return to face his former team in Miami on Sunday Night Football in Week 7.
#1 - Week 16 vs. Las Vegas Raiders
The Steelers will host the Las Vegas Raiders for a special edition of Saturday Night Football in prime-time on Christmas Eve. Both teams will be looking to return to the playoffs this year after making it there last year.
Best games for each AFC team during the 2022 NFL season
Indianapolis Colts
#3 - Week 11 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich is a former assistant coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. He will get his first opportunity to face off against his old team in Week 11 of the 2022 NFL season.
#2 - Week 2 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Colts just needed to defeat the Jacksonville Jaguars in the final week of the 2021 season to punch their ticket to the NFL Playoffs. The Colts failed to do so and will get their first shot at revenge in Week 2.
#1 - Week 8 vs. Washington Commanders
The Colts traded away quarterback Carson Wentz to the Washington Commanders just one season after acquiring him. Wentz will return to Indianapolis for a Week 8 showdown.
Tennessee Titans
#3 - Week 13 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The Tennessee Titans shockingly traded young superstar wide receiver AJ Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles during the 2022 NFL Draft. They will now try to lock him down in a Week 13 matchup.
#2 - Week 9 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The Titans have played well against the Kansas City Chiefs in the regular season recently, including a dominant victory over them last year. They will try to keep that momentum going in Sunday Night Football in Week 9 in what could be another postseason preview. They last faced off in the postseason in the 2019 AFC Championship Game, where the Chiefs were victorious.
#1 - Week 12 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The Titans entered the 2021 NFL Playoffs as the top seed in the AFC bracket, but were eliminated in their first game against the Cincinnati Bengals. They will get their first chance at revenge in Week 12, when they host the Bengals again.
Jacksonville Jaguars
#3 - Week 8 vs. Denver Broncos
The Jacksonville Jaguars will be continuing their unofficial yearly tradition of playing a "home" game away from home in London. This year, they will face off against Russell Wilson and the new-look Denver Broncos.
#2 - Week 1 vs. Washington Commanders
Trevor Lawrence is one of the highest-rated quarterback prospects in NFL history. His rookie season didn't go quite as planned, but it's way too soon to give up on his potential. A strong start to the 2022 season in Week 1 against a solid Washington Commanders defense would be a crucial step in the right direction for his development.
#1 - Week 4 vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The Jaguars hired Doug Pederson to take over as their head coach ahead of the 2022 season. He is the former head coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, where he won a Super Bowl ring. He will return to Philadelphia for the first time in Week 4.
Houston Texans
#3 - Week 16 vs. Tennessee Titans
The Houston Texans are one of the teams that will get the opportunity to play Saturday football on Christmas Eve. They will face off against the Tennessee Titans in a divisional clash.
#2 - Week 3 vs. Chicago Bears
Lovie Smith is taking over as the head coach of the Texans for the 2022 NFL season. His last head coaching job was with the Chicago Bears, so he will get his first opportunity at Soldier Field as a road team.
#1 - Week 13 vs. Cleveland Browns
The Texans traded superstar quarterback Deshaun Watson to the Cleveland Browns after he sat out the entire 2021 NFL season and claimed he would refuse to ever play for the Texans again. Watson returns to Houston as an opponent for the first time in Week 13.
Best games for each AFC team during the 2022 NFL season
Kansas City Chiefs
#3 - Week 6 vs. Buffalo Bills
The Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills have featured in some epic showdowns over the last few years. They, most recently, met in the 2021 NFL Playoffs in one of the most thrilling games of all time. It appears Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen will be having many shootouts in the years to come as two of the top quarterbacks in the league.
#2 - Week 4 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The last time the Chiefs faced off against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was in a defeat during Super Bowl LV. Mahomes will get his first opportunity at some revenge over Tom Brady on Sunday Night Football in Week 4.
#1 - Week 13 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The Chiefs were seeking a third-straight AFC Conference Championship game victory before they were defeated at Arrowhead Stadium by the Cincinnati Bengals. Mahomes will look for some payback against Joe Burrow, who beat him twice last year.
Los Angeles Chargers
#3 - Week 17 vs. Los Angeles Rams
It will be a battle for the city of Los Angeles when the Chargers host the Rams for Sunday Night Football in Week 17 of 2022 NFL season. The winners will have bragging rights in their home city in a battle between two teams, who are both expected to be Super Bowl contenders this year.
#2 - Week 14 vs. Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins passed on Justin Herbert in favor of Tua Tagovailoa in the 2020 NFL Draft. Herbert will now get his first opportunity to show the Dolphins why he believes he would have been the much better pick on draft day.
#1 - Week 1 vs. Las Vegas Raiders
The Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders faced off in the final game of the 2021 season. The Raiders came away victorious and punched their ticket to the NFL Playoffs while eliminating the Chargers from contention. The Chargers will look to seek revenge in their first game of the 2022 NFL season.
Denver Broncos
#3 - Week 16 vs. Los Angeles Rams
The Seattle Seahawks moved on from Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner, two of their most legendary players, during the 2022 NFL offseason. The pair will now face off as opponents for the first time with their new teams on Christmas Day when the Los Angeles Rams host the Denver Broncos.
#2 - Week 14 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Russell Wilson requested a trade during the 2022 NFL offseason and had a big say in which team he would be traded to. He ultimately landed with the Broncos, choosing to be in the same division as Patrick Mahomes. The two will face off as new division rivals in Week 14 on Sunday Night Football.
#1 - Week 1 vs. Seattle Seahawks
The scheduling committee wasted no time lining up one of the biggest homecoming games of the 2022 NFL season. Russell Wilson will return home to take on his former team, the Seattle Seahawks, in his first game with his team on Monday Night Football in Week 1.
Las Vegas Raiders
#3 - Week 2 vs. Arizona Cardinals
Chandler Jones joined the Las Vegas Raiders to pair up with Maxx Crosby to form one of the best pass rushing duos in the NFL. Jones will face off against the Arizona Cardinals, his former team, in Week 2.
#2 - Week 14 vs. Los Angeles Rams
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey often rises to the occasion and plays his best games against the most elite wide receivers. He will get the opportunity to do so against Raiders newly acquired wide receiver Davante Adams, arguably the best of them all.
#1 - Week 15 vs. New England Patriots
The Raiders hired former New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to take over as their head coach ahead of the 2022 NFL season. McDaniels will face off against Bill Belichick for the first time with his new team in Week 15.
