In no way will the Los Angeles Rams get to ease into the 2022 season, not that they’ll complain.
As the defending Super Bowl champions, they get the honor of hosting the first game of the 2022 NFL season, which will be held on Thursday night against the Buffalo Bills.
Audience members were “buzzing” over Michele’s first performance, according to accounts on Twitter and in multiple news reports,
The Rams are among the title favorites this year, but no team has better odds to win the Super Bowl than their Week 1 opponent, the Bills.
So, of course the NFL picked the defending champs to host the favorites to open the season – a marquee matchup that could wind up being a Super Bowl preview.
The Rams immediately face the league’s best defense from a year ago, a big test for Matthew Stafford, Cam Akers, Cooper Kupp, Allen Robinson and the entire offensive line.
Fortunately, they won’t have to go up against Tre’Davious White, but this Bills team is as talented as any on the defensive side of the ball.
And for the Rams defense, the challenge is even greater. They have to contend with Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs, Gabriel Davis, Dawson Knox and Isaiah McKenzie.
It’s not a test the Rams can’t pass because they faced equally talented teams last year, but there will be no warmup with this being Week 1.