NFL Schedule 2022: 5 bold predictions for the upcoming season
The 2022 NFL schedule is officially out and fans all over are getting excited about the games to come. Every team begins the season at 0-0 and that means a fresh start and new hope for all 32 teams.
But let's talk about some bold predictions. The "schedule game," as some may call it, involves going through each and every game to look for upsets and predict how it will all play out. An early look at the 2022 slate provides us with plenty of fun guesses and predictions.
Here are five bold predictions following the 2022 NFL schedule release:
#1 - Carson Wentz will fail to get his revenge in Week 1
Carson Wentz is getting yet another opportunity to salvage his name, this time with the Washington Commanders. The NFL had drama in mind by pitting his new team against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1.
Fans will remember that it was the Jaguars who shocked Wentz and the Indianapolis Colts last year in Week 18 preventing the Colts from reaching the postseason. The collapse is what led the team to ship Wentz to Washington in the first place.
But the Jaguars no longer have Urban Meyer and Trevor Lawrence is entering a new era with Doug Pederson as head coach. Wentz was awful against the Jaguars the last time around and it's fair to say they had his number. Expect a Jacksonville win in Week 1 that will have Commanders fans feeling lost with Wentz under center.
#2 - The AFC West will be decided in prime-time
Week 18 of the 2021 NFL season saw the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders compete for AFC playoff spots on the final Sunday night of the season. The Raiders kicked a field goal in overtime, breaking the tied score that would have sent both teams into the playoffs. That field goal achieved little for the Raiders, other than the pleasure of eliminating their rivals from contention.
The Chargers will square off against the Denver Broncos in Week 18 this season, while the Raiders take on the Kansas City Chiefs.
Let's expect another Sunday night showdown to win the division this season. The AFC West is stacked and is arguably the NFL's toughest division. Week 18 features a scenario where the league flexes a game into that final primetime slot. It seems obvious that one of these two matchups will get the call, given how tight the division should be all year.