2022 NFL Marquee Game Guesses

Remember when the NFL schedule used to come out before the Draft?  It used to be in mid-April, but that ended up getting delayed a couple years ago and they've kept it that way ever since.  The current estimate is Mother's Day Weekend, and I'd be surprised if it's any earlier than that.  (Although, now that the Super Bowl's a week later, it would stand to reason that they'll announce the schedule later.)

There are, however, a few things we already know about the NFL schedule.  As Super Bowl champions, the Rams will play the opening Thursday night game, the third straight year their opener will be at home on NBC (they had the Week 1 Sunday night game in both 2020 and 2021).  We know that the Lions and Cowboys will host their traditional Thanksgiving games, and we know the "home" teams for the five international games.  What we don't know is any of their opponents.

Christmas is Sunday this year, too, so you'd figure the NFL will take its standard approach and have the majority of the schedule on Christmas Eve, with that one afternoon game on FOX and the Sunday night game on Christmas.  There's also that bowl game/New Year's Eve issue in Week 17, but I'm not going anywhere near that! 

I am, however, willing to take a shot at predicting who'll be playing in those marquee games.  We know eight home teams already.  I'm also gonna take a gander at the Thanksgiving night game and both Christmas games.

Season Opener: Cowboys at Rams-Looking at the Rams' home opponents, this actually seems like a pretty easy one.  Dallas is by far the best game on their home schedule, and it would be a nice reward for both Jerry Jones and Stan Kroenke.  Jones was instrumental in bringing the Rams back to LA, which is why the opening game at SoFi was against Dallas.  That game, however, was played in an empty stadium because of COVID.  Here's the way to make up for it.

Mexico City: Eagles at Cardinals-They could easily go with a division game here.  Especially since two of Arizona's home opponents, New Orleans and Tampa Bay, are hosting international games of their own.  And Cardinals-49ers would be both appealing and a nice throwback to the NFL's first-ever game in Mexico City, which featured the same two teams.  I have a feeling they'll put this one on a Monday night, though, and Eagles-Cardinals just seems like a Monday night matchup.

London (Wembley): Ravens at Jaguars-What makes the Jaguars' London game tricky is that they can protect one game that they definitely want to play in Jacksonville.  That could easily be the Ravens, but it seems more likely they'll protect Dallas or Las Vegas.  Which means Baltimore would be available to make the trip across the pond, where Lamar Jackson can put his talents on display for the British fans.

London (Tottenham 1): Jets at Packers-That little tidbit I just mentioned about Jacksonville helps explain why the Packers have never played in London.  But now that everybody is required to go at least once every eight years, they'll make their London debut.  They've got a good slate of games to choose from, but you know FOX will want a bunch of Packers games to be the national game at 4:30, which takes Dallas and the Rams off the table.  Scheduling the Jets for an 8:30 am Central start won't be a problem, however.

London (Tottenham 2): Panthers at Saints-This is where I think we see the international division game.  It won't be Tampa Bay since they're going to Germany, and it probably won't be Atlanta since they played in London last season (although I do have their opponent, the Jets, returning to play the Packers).  That leaves us with the Panthers.

Munich: Bengals at Buccaneers-You know the NFL wants to make a good impression on its first trip to Germany.  Which is why they're sending Tom Brady there.  The Bucs have plenty of good options, too.  They could play the Chiefs in a Super Bowl LV rematch or the defending AFC champion Bengals.  Either one would be a good choice.  One will be a national game, either in the late doubleheader window or primetime.  The other could very well take place in Munich.

Thanksgiving 1: Bills at Lions-It's Detroit's CBS year, which in the past would've meant they had to play an AFC team.  The NFL, of course, doesn't care about that anymore, but I do think we'll actually see an AFC road team in one of the Thanksgiving afternoon games.  Because they play the Bills at home this season, and Buffalo is definitely a team the NFL would likely want to showcase.

Thanksgiving 2: Buccaneers at Cowboys-FOX came thisclose to having the USMNT in the World Cup as their Cowboys Thanksgiving lead-in (although, they did get Brazil, which isn't a bad alternative).  Anyway, last year they gave them the Raiders and it was the highest-rated game of the regular season.  With the World Cup as a lead-in and knowing the USA-England game is the next day, you know they're looking at another ratings bonanza.  And, of all the teams visiting Dallas in 2022, Brady and Tampa Bay is the one that seems most likely to deliver that.

Thanksgiving 3: Chiefs at Raiders-For the Thanksgiving night game, NBC and the NFL like to do rivalries.  Amazingly, Chiefs-Raiders has never been the one they chose!  I can see that changing this year, though.  Especially since both teams made the playoffs last season.  It would also give them a chance to showcase Allegiant Stadium the year before Las Vegas hosts the Super Bowl.

Christmas 1: Vikings at Commanders-Convincing teams to host the early game on Christmas is getting easier, but it's still a bit of a challenge.  It's even harder when you consider it's late in the season, so you need to pick teams that you're pretty sure will still be relevant.  Minnesota should still be relevant.  Washington may not be.  But the idea of a Christmas game in DC just sounds really cool!

Christmas 2: Steelers at Eagles-Sunday Night Football on Christmas night should also draw monster ratings (moreso than it usually does), so you know they'll want to make sure it's a good one!  Picking Pittsburgh is one way to guarantee that.  I considered making this the afternoon game, but I think the NFL would want to have the Steelers in prime time.  Of course, Philly fans have booed Santa and thrown snowballs at him before, so giving them beer, a holiday and a night game may not be the smartest idea!

Those last three games, of course, are complete guesses.  I do feel at least somewhat confident that I got at least some of the others right.  I guess we'll find out in a couple weeks when the NFL releases the entire 2022 schedule.