This year, as the defending Super Bowl champs, the Los Angeles Rams get the distinct honor of playing on the NFL’s Opening Night. They get the stage all to themselves as the entire football world watches them (in envy) unfurl a new title banner. In essence, L.A. gets to throw a raucous late summer party that carries over from last February to September 8.
And the NFL should have the Buffalo Bills, of all teams, crash that party and continue the tradition. It almost makes too much sense.
A defending Super Bowl champ with stars galore like Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp should begin its title defense against a Terminator/possible future MVP QB, Josh Allen:
Been screaming it since day after Super Bowl. Bills at Rams is juiciest NFL season opener. https://t.co/gFFmS2zXrr
— Adam Schein (@AdamSchein) May 10, 2022
I don’t know about you, but, for example, the rebuilding Seattle Seahawks aren’t the best idea for a banner ceremony. It doesn’t matter that they’re a division rival — whatever that could possibly mean when casual fans can’t name more than a handful of players on their roster. A game like that is a national television blowout waiting to happen. We should strive to have at least one good Thursday night game this year, you know?
Beyond the star power, now would also be an excellent time to seed an interconference rivalry. At the risk of stating the obvious: Pro football is a heck of a lot better when the two teams playing don’t like each other. The quality of play, the intrigue, rockets up when there’s a healthy distaste. When that opponent is potentially standing in your way for a repeat (or first championship in over a decade): You can’t help but play a little harder, with a little more venom.
Sean McVay’s Rams and Sean McDermott’s Bills have played in just one game against each other. For two of the NFL’s heavyweights this season, that is a travesty someone should remedy. Not to mention that said game was an instant classic:
With Matthew Stafford — a bona fide top-10 quarterback — in the fold there is no excuse not to turn this back-and-forth into something we’ll talk about for years.
Picture this plausible scenario with me:
- The Bills go into SoFi Stadium on Opening Night.
- They spoil the Rams’ party and leave L.A. with a tough road win.
- Both squads stay neck and neck at the top of the AFC and NFC, respectively, for the next four months. All the while, they are watching each other cook at the top of the standings.
- The Rams and Bills play again, but this time in February in the You Know What.
- Goosebumps!
It would be downright irresponsible for the NFL powers to void this teasing road map. Let’s have some foresight and let’s get the Rams and Bills hating each other right away, everyone.
Here are other potential matchups for the Rams on Opening Night, based on their 2022 home opponents. Note: The Broncos are already off the board for Christmas!
