One 49ers takeaway about each NFC West foe’s 2022 schedule
By Peter Panacy
49ers NFC West rival No. 2: Rams first-place schedule will determine if they’re Super Bowl contenders again
The Rams ended up being the team that eliminated both Arizona and San Francisco in the playoffs last season, meaning both playoff hopefuls will be putting a massive target on head coach Sean McVay’s squad this season.
Finishing first place in the NFC West last year, the three at-large games LA will receive in 2022 will come against some pretty noteworthy competition.
And those games on Los Angeles’ schedule could easily determine whether or not McVay and Co. are legitimate postseason favorites:
- Week 1 vs. Bills
- Week 5 vs. Cowboys
- Week 15 @ Packers
OK, so the Dallas Cowboys might be the “fakest” of the bunch of division winners last season, particularly in the NFC, but quarterback Dak Prescott and Co. still helm a potent offense and a revitalized defense heading into 2022.
The marquee matchups that could be both a Super Bowl preview and NFC Championship game preview, respectively are Weeks 1 and 15 against the Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers.
Buffalo might arguably be the best team going in football right now, considering what’s expected to be a top-three defense and quarterback Josh Allen playing his best game yet, while no one can count out back-to-back MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in a prime-time Monday Night Football game at a frigid Lambeau Field in December.
Wondering about a Rams Super Bowl hangover? Those three games will determine if it’s real or not.