It feels like a long time since Super Bowl LVI, when the Rams beat the Bengals in a dramatic and nail-biting stand-off - not least because this year's off-season has seen some major changes on and off the field of play.
There's been a significant and to-some controversial change in overtime rules agreed post-Super Bowl while several teams are starting the season with massive line-up changes having swapped established team-members for draft picks in the hope of shaking up their teams with some fresh blood.
This includes the Seattle Seahawks who swapped QB Russell Wilson with the Denver Broncos for 5 picks in this year's draft.
Meanwhile arguably the biggest name signing was Deshaun Watson who is settling in Cleveland having signed a five-year $230 million contract with the Browns.
Elsewhere, Tom Brady managed just 40 days at home with his feet up before he rejoined the Buccaneers for the 2022 season while Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers is also now booked in for another three years with the Packers.
What with all that and three UK NFL games including the Packers' first ever trip across the pond, the stage is set for an exciting season, and luckily for UK-based fans there are more ways to watch the NFL than ever.
When does the NFL 2022 season start?
The official start of the NFL 2022 season is this Thursday, September 8, although for UK-based fans that will be in the early hours of Friday, September 9.
The first game of the season will see the Los Angeles Rams take on the Buffalo Bills with both teams looking to kick .off their season with strong wins.
Matthew Stafford and the reigning Super Bowl champions are hosting Josh Allen and the Bills at the SoFi Stadium in a game that starts at 1.20am UK time.
Which games are on this week?
Thursday's Rams versus Bills head to head is just an appetiser before the long-awaired return to intense Sunday night football fun this weekend, which will see 13 games to follow as the season hits its stride - nine starting at 6pm and four at 9.25pm UK time.
These include: Detroit Lions v Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears v San Francisco 49ers, Cincinnati Bengals v Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins v New England Patriots, Carolina Panthers v Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans v Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons v New Orleans Saints, New York Jets v Baltimore Ravens and Washington Commanders v Jacksonville Jaguars.
The late games are Minnesota Vikings v Green Bay Packers, Tennessee Titans v New York Giants, Los Angeles Chargers v Las Vegas Raiders and Arizona Cardinals v Kansas City Chiefs.
How to watch NFL in the UK
With NFL growing ever more popular in the UK there are lots of different ways to keep up with the games, depending on how immersed into the coverage you'd like to be.
Sky Sports is arguably the main TV home of NFLin the UK and shows all Monday, Thursday and Sunday night action including two full games on a Sunday night. They also make a series of complementary shows including their much-loved RedZone, Good Morning Football and Total Access offering news, reaction and coverage on all the teams in the League.
To watch Sky Sports NFL, which broadcasts 24 hours a day on Sky channel 407, you need access to Sky's sports packages. There are currently a range of deals to do that available here. Meanwhile Virgin Media customers can subscribe and watch throw channel 507.
If you don't want or need full TV bundles, or perhaps aren't interested in the Premier League, F1 and other additional sports Sky provides, there is a simpler and more cost-effective way to get all the action of the NFL, using the NFL Game Pass. You can watch games live and on demand, keep up with all breaking NFL news and even download shows and highlights to watch at home or on the go on devices from as small as your phone to your big screen smart TV.
There are three levels of subscription to the Pass, the cheapest of which is actually free and gives you access to highlights and roundups of the game. The most expensive works out at £12.50 a month and includes all 270+ regular season games, play-offs, Super Bowl and all the additional programming made by the NFL. It's also available with a seven day free trial perfect for viewing the first games of the season.
But all is not lost for terrestrial viewers either, with both ITV and Channel 5 offering regular NFL coverage include plenty of highlights of the season's must-see moments.
Former NFL players Jason Bell and Osi Umenyiora join sports journalist Laura Woods weekly for ITV's NFL show, which is shown late on Friday on ITV1 and repeated on ITV4 over the weekend. It's also available on demand through ITV Player.
The show is part of a three-year deal between the broadcaster and NFL which will also see ITV air Super Bowl LVII on February 12 2023 and two of this year's three NFL London games - the Tottenham Stadium-hosted New York Giants versus Green Bay Packers game on October 9 and the Jacksonville Jaguars versus the Denver Broncos live from Wembley Stadium on October 30.
Meanwhile Channel 5 is live with Monday Night Football at 1am each week while Cori Yarckin hosts NFL EndZone every Sunday morning at 10.30am.
How to watch NFL from outside of the UK and abroad
Whether you've signed up to the NFL Pass or Sky and are travelling outside the UK or you just want to login to catch the week's highlights on ITV Player there is a simple and totally legal way to do this using a VPN.
Services such as NordVPN and ExpressVPN allow you to dial in and watch your TV services even while out of the country. VPNs also allow you to keep your web history completely private, keep your online data safe and secure, or stream movies and sports fixtures that aren't available in your current location.
Both companies offer several months' free when you sign up to a subscription. See NordVPN here and Express VPN here
