5 games that will decide the Los Angeles Rams’ 2022 season

Last year was every bit a dream season for the Rams.

After going all-in for a Super Bowl with additions of Von Miller and Odell Beckham Jr., among others, it would’ve been easy for L.A. to fall short of their lofty goals. Instead, they knocked off the division-rival Cardinals, Tom Brady and the Buccaneers, and the division-rival 49ers all before slamming the door shut on the Bengals in Super Bowl 56.

Sean McVay: A Super Bowl champion.

Matthew Stafford (???): A Super Bowl champion.

Of course, the Rams bring back largely the same roster as last year. McVay and Co. will assuredly be on the hunt for a repeat. By replacing Beckham Jr. and Miller with Allen Robinson and Bobby Wagner, it would be foolish to doubt the possibility. Still, as the defending champs, everyone’s going to be gunning for the Rams more than ever.

Let’s run through some of the games that will likely come to decide plenty about the Rams’ championship defense.

Week 1: vs. Bills, Sunday Night Football

Oh my goodness. What a game to kick off the 2022 season.

The Rams as the defending Super Bowl champs. The Bills as the potentially very-likely-soon-to-be Super Bowl champs. Star quarterbacks. Great coaches. Awesome playmakers on both sides of the ball. It has everything.

I include this inter-conference game because I think it’ll be an excellent way for the Rams to get a decent taste of a team they’ll maybe have to beat to get a second straight Super Bowl. Are we sure we can’t skip to February?

Week 3: at Cardinals

Technically, every division game is vital to an NFL team. But call it a hunch: I think Rams-Cardinals matchups will have a lot more venom to them this year.

Look for Arizona to get a decent haymaker on the Rams after they eliminated them from the playoffs last year. Depending on the outcome, the fallout from this one could snowball for L.A. into cruise control over the rest of the year.

Week 12: at Chiefs

It is a tragedy that we have not yet seen these Rams and Chiefs play in a Super Bowl against each other. After perhaps the greatest regular-season game ever, this tilt will undoubtedly have plenty of fireworks. You know: That whole who gets the ball last kind of thing.

Another potential Super Bowl 57 litmus test is not out of the question.

Week 15: at Packers, Monday Night Football

It’s fitting that the Rams and Packers won’t see each other until the holidays roll around. While L.A. didn’t need it last year, if they want home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, they’re probably going to have beat Aaron Rodgers in Lambeau Field under the lights first.

A tall task and a thrilling one for us viewers at home!

Week 16: vs. Broncos, Christmas Day

Another potential Super Bowl preview against Russell Wilson and Denver? Oh, right, the Rams play the AFC West this year. That makes sense.

What a gift, and what a battle near the very end of the season. Holiday or not: The Broncos will definitely not take it easy on the team they want to rip the title from.