Thursday Night Football Week 1

The 2022 NFL season is finally here!

The defending Superbowl champion Los Angeles Rams will host the Buffalo Bills tonight in a matchup of two of the Superbowl favorites entering this season.

The Rams' offseason was filled with speculation as both head coach Sean McVay and star defensive tackle Aaron Donald faced retirement rumors. Quarterback Matthew Stafford reportedly also had surgery on his elbow.

Assuming there are no other issues, the Rams return one of the best offenses in football-- and may have even upgraded the unit. Running back Cam Akers is now healthy after missing most of the regular season in 2021, and free agent signee Allen Robinson is on a mission to regain his No. 1 receiver form. With Cooper Kupp on the other side, he'll get plenty of opportunities to contribute to a lethal passing attack.

Of course, this game presents one of the biggest challenges of the season. The Bills have possibly their best defense in the NFL and added former Rams' pass-rusher Von Miller in the offseason.

Buffalo is a popular pick as a preseason Superbowl winner because of its balance. Offensively, quarterback Josh Allen is a legitimate MVP candidate, receiver Stefon Diggs is one of the best in the league, and Gabriel Davis seems poised for a breakout season as WR2.

Finding more consistency at running back could go a long way toward getting the Bills to the Superbowl.

The mission starts for both teams tonight at 8 ET/7 CT on NBC.