Countdown to Kickoff: Less than 25 days until the first game of the 2022-2023 NFL season

(Editor's Note: With less than 25 days now until the first game of the National Football League preseason, it is now time to begin the countdown to kickoff of the 2022-2023 NFL season. As of Saturday, July 9th, 2022, at 8 p.m. Eastern Time, each day for the next 26 days, I will write a story featuring each matchup for that week’s scheduled NFL games. The goal of writing these stories is to try to determine who is going to win each game of the 2022-2023 NFL preseason, regular season and postseason based on previous matchups each team has played against each other. Each day, each story I write, the hypothetical standings will be updated to reflect what may actually happen in the 2022-2023 NFL season. I may also offer my predictions on who will win each game.)

By: Evan Troxel

Based on last year's won-lost-tie records for each team, the Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills matchup will be (or is supposed to be) the most competitive game of NFL preseason Week 1 while the Atlanta Falcons at Detroit Lions game will be the least competitive game. If reverse psychology is in play, the Colts-Bills game will be the least competitive and the Falcons-Lions game will be the most competitive. So that is why they these teams received their team logos on the picture of this story.

The Miami Dolphins at Tampa Bay Buccaneers game is supposed to be the second-most competitive game, the Green Bay Packers at the San Francisco 49ers game should be the third-most competitive game and the Tennessee Titans at Baltimore Ravens game could be the fourth-most competitive game. Based on the combined preseason and regular season records, these three games are supposed to be the second-most competitive games of NFL preseason Week 1.

Hall of Fame Game, August 4th, 2022 (8 p.m. Eastern Time/5 p.m. Pacific Time, Televised on NBC): Jacksonville Jaguars at Las Vegas Raiders

In my previous story, I predicted that the Las Vegas Raiders will defeat the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Hall of Fame Game. So heading into NFL Preseason Week 1, I predict that the Raiders will be 1-0 while the Jaguars will be 0-1.

Based on the specific type of game (in this case, the Hall of Fame game), the Raiders should be expected to win as they have won every time they have played in the Hall of Fame game while the Jaguars have lost ever time they have appeared in the Hall of Fame game.

If you think that the last time the Raiders were the designated home team against the Jaguars matters the most more than the fact that this is the Hall of Fame game, then the Jaguars have a good shot to win because they won the last time these two teams played in Oakland of all places.

The Jaguars lost the first, fourth and fifth times they played the Raiders in Oakland. So if that trend continues, Las Vegas has a good shot to win this game if you think the Raiders winning every third game matters when the Raiders are the designated home team.

The Raiders will also be playing the Jaguars for the first time ever at a place that is not their home stadium and also this will be the first time ever they are playing the Jaguars knowing that they have already lost against the Jaguars at any stadium other than their home stadium.

The Raiders already were a lot more stable as a team last year than the Jaguars were before the first game of the 2021-2022 NFL season even started. The Jaguars lost all of their games except the first one on September 13th, 2020, vs. the Indianapolis Colts in the 2020-2021 regular season.

The next time the Colts would come to Jacksonville, the Jaguars won again 26-11 in Week 18 of the regular season on Sunday, January 9th, 2022, and the loss made the Colts so mad or angry (or both) that they decided to send quarterback Carson Wentz to the now-named Washington Commanders in the offseason.

In a twist of events last year, Jon Gruden was forced to resign as head coach of the Raiders before even Urban Meyer got fired as head coach of the Jaguars.

Gruden went 3-2 in the 2021-2022 regular season.

The Raiders also made the postseason last year with interim head coach Rich Bisaccia taking over the team after the first five games in the regular season were already played.

Bisaccia went 7-5 in the regular season. The Raiders lost at the Cincinnati Bengals 26-19 in the Wild Card playoffs in a game that featured controversy on one play that ultimately hurt Las Vegas and a difference in the final score.

Meanwhile, Urban Meyer went 2-11 for Jacksonville before Darrell Bevell took over as head coach and went 1-3.

Now the Jaguars have Doug Pederson as the head coach in Jacksonville while the Raiders have Josh McDaniels as the head coach in Las Vegas.

In the preseason last year, the Jaguars finished 1-2 while the Raiders finished 2-1.

In the regular season last year, Jacksonville finished 3-14 while Las Vegas finished 10-7.

Preseason Week 1 (Thursday, August 11th through Sunday, August 14th)

New York Giants at New England Patriots (Thursday, August 11th, 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time, NFL Network)

The last preseason game between these two teams was in New York last year in which New England won 22-20. The Giants won 31-29 in 2019 at New England in the preseason. The last preseason win by the home team was September 1st, 2016, in which New York won.

The Giants are 7-3 against the Patriots in their last 10 preseason matchups.

2011: Win at New England

2012: Win vs. New England

2013: Loss at New England

2014: Win vs. New England

2015: Win at New England

2016: Win vs. New England

2017 Win at New England

2018: Loss vs. New England

2019: Win at New England

2020: Game at New York

2021: Loss vs. New England

The New England Patriots lead the all-time regular and postseason series 7-6. The Patriots have won the past two games. The Giants won three straight games before that in the regular season or the postseason. Two of those three wins were in Super Bowls XLII and XLVI.

Based on what happened in the regular season last year, the Patriots finished 10-7 while the Giants finished 4-13. I am predicting that the New England Patriots will win this game.

Current Prediction (as of August 11th, 2022): New England Patriots

Tennessee Titans at Baltimore Ravens (Thursday, August 11th, 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time)

These franchises have never met before in the preseason. However, the last time an NFL team from Baltimore took on a team that is the current Tennessee Titans franchise was when the Baltimore Colts won 15-0 at the Houston Oilers on Thursday, August 4th, 1983.

The Baltimore Colts also won 14-7 at the Houston Oilers on Sunday, August 14th, 1977.

So this will be the first time ever a team from Baltimore will be hosting a game against the Tennessee Titans franchise in the preseason.

The regular season and postseason series is tied at 13. Baltimore won at Tennessee in the January 2021 playoffs 20-13, but Tennessee won the last regular season game at Baltimore in overtime 30-24 on November 22nd, 2020.

Prediction to win: Baltimore Ravens

Current Prediction (as of August 11th, 2022): Baltimore Ravens

Atlanta Falcons at Detroit Lions (Friday, August 12th, 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time, NFL Network)

The last time these teams played each other in the preseason, the Lions won 27-26 in Detroit on Saturday, August 15th, 2009.

The Falcons were 7-10 in the regular season last year while Detroit finished 3-13-1.

Detroit has a 25-14 advantage in the regular season and postseason series. The Falcons have won the last game at each team’s stadium and they have won two of the last three games. Atlanta is also on a three-game winning streak at Detroit.

Prediction to win: Atlanta Falcons

Current Prediction (as of August 11th, 2022): Detroit Lions

Cleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars (Friday, August 12th, 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time)

Last year these two teams played for the first time ever in the preseason and Cleveland won 23-13 in Jacksonville.

It almost feels like both teams have reversed their roles. Last year Jacksonville was trying to figure everything out with their then new head coach Urban Meyer and their then new quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Jacksonville has everything under control now with Super Bowl LII champion Doug Pederson as the new head coach while Cleveland has no idea if DeShaun Watson will actually be allowed to play at all this NFL season or if they will learn at the last minute before the season starts that he is possibly suspended from playing in the NFL (perhaps for life). I think Cleveland trading quarterback Baker Mayfield away to the Carolina Panthers could have been an extremely stupid decision in hindsight (at least for this season especially if Watson is not allowed to play).

But it seems obvious that Baker Mayfield wanted to not be a backup quarterback so it is probably likely that he demanded a trade to a team where he could start.

Jacksonville is 12-6 against Cleveland all-time in the regular season and the playoffs. Cleveland has two straight wins over Jacksonville (one in the preseason and one in the regular season). The Browns can have three straight wins against Jacksonville (regardless of the season) for the first time in franchise history with a victory on August 12th.

Both teams have won five games against each other in Jacksonville for any type of game (including the preseason).

Prediction to win: Jacksonville Jaguars

Current Prediction (as of August 11th, 2022): Cleveland Browns

Arizona Cardinals vs. Cincinnati Bengals (Friday, August 12th, 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time)

There has never been a preseason matchup between these two teams in Cincinnati before.

In preseason play: Cincinnati defeated Arizona 19-13 on Sunday, August 24th, 2014. On Saturday, August 10th, 1996, Arizona defeated Cincinnati in Arizona 13-10. On Saturday, August 27th, 1977, Cincinnati defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 33-9.

Both teams have won six games against each other in the regular season all time. Arizona has won the last two regular season games and four out of the last five regular season games.

The Bengals have never lost three straight games against the Cardinals.

So the Bengals has won eight games against the Cardinals while the Cardinals have won seven games against the Bengals in their franchises history.

Prediction to win: Cincinnati Bengals

Current Prediction (as of August 11th, 2022): Cincinnati Bengals

New York Jets vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Friday, August 12th, 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time)

Last regular season, the last time these teams played against each other was on December 5th, 2021, and the Philadelphia Eagles won 33-18. The Eagles are 12-0 all-time against the New York Jets in the regular season.

The last time these teams played in the preseason was in New York on Friday, August 27th of last year and the final score was a tie at 31 all. The Jets should have lost this game, but Kenny Yeboah caught a 49 yard pass from James Morgan on the final timed down of regulation. Josh Adams ran it in for the two-point conversion to seal the tie.

Philadelphia lost the last time a winner was decided at New York in which the Jets won 6-0 on Thursday, August 29th, 2019.

The last preseason game in Philadelphia was on Thursday, August 30th, 2018, and the Eagles won 10-9.

Prediction to win: Philadelphia Eagles

Current Prediction (as of August 11th, 2022): Philadelphia Eagles

Green Bay at San Francisco 49ers (Friday, August 12th, 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time, NFL Network)

The 49ers won the last matchup 13-10 in the Divisional Round of the playoffs in Green Bay. The Packers have won the last two times in the regular season at San Francisco.

The last preseason game these teams played against each other, the Packers won 21-10 at San Francisco on Friday, August 26th, 2016.

The Packers lead the all-time regular season and postseason series 38-33-1.

Prediction to win: Green Bay Packers

Current Prediction (as of August 11th, 2022): San Francisco 49ers

Kansas City Chiefs at Chicago Bears (Saturday, August 13th, 1 p.m. Eastern Time, NFL Network)

The Bears lead the all-time regular season and postseason series 7-6. The last ten regular season games have resulted in the other team winning every other time.

Kansas City has a two-game winning streak at Chicago in the regular season. The last regular season game in Chicago, the Chiefs won on December 22nd, 2019, 26-3.

The Bears won 27-20 the last preseason game these two teams played against each other on Saturday, August 25th, 2018, in Chicago.

Prediction to win: Kansas City Chiefs

Current Prediction (as of August 11th, 2022): Chicago Bears

Carolina Panthers at Washington Commanders (Saturday, August 13th, 1 p.m. Eastern Time)

The Commanders lead the all-time regular season and postseason series 10-7. Washington won the last regular season game 27-21 at Carolina on November 21st, 2021.

Carolina won 20-13 at Washington on December 27th, 2020.

The last game these teams played each other in the preseason, Washington lost 47-3 in Carolina on Saturday, August 23rd, 2008.

Carolina won 28-10 at Carolina on August 13th, 2005.

The Panthers won 23-20 at Washington in overtime on Saturday, August 14th, 2004.

Prediction to win: Carolina Panthers

Current Prediction (as of August 11th, 2022): Carolina Panthers

Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills (Saturday, August 13th, 4 p.m. Eastern Time, NFL Network)

Indianapolis won the last game at Buffalo 41-15 on November 21st, 2021.The Colts also won the last game in Indianapolis 37-5 on October 21st, 2018.

The Bills won the last playoff game in Buffalo between these two teams 27-24 on January 9th, 2021, in which it was Colts quarterback Phillip Rivers last NFL game.

The last preseason game between these teams resulted in Indianapolis losing 24-16 at Buffalo on Thursday, August 8th, 2019. These teams were supposed to face each other in Buffalo on Saturday, August 29th, 2020, but that didn’t happen because the preseason got canceled.

The Bills lead the all-time regular and postseason series 38-33-1.

Prediction to win: Indianapolis Colts

Current Prediction (as of August 11th, 2022): Buffalo Bills

Seattle Seahawks at Pittsburgh Steelers (Saturday, August 13th, 7 p.m. Eastern Time, NFL Network)

This series is tied up at ten apiece all-time in the regular season and in the playoffs. Pittsburgh won 23-20 in overtime on Sunday Night Football in Pittsburgh on October 17th, 2021.

The Seahawks and Steelers have never faced each other in a preseason game.

Seattle’s last victory in Pittsburgh was a 28-26 win on September 15th, 2019.

Prediction to win: Pittsburgh Steelers

Current Prediction (as of August 11th, 2022): Pittsburgh Steelers

Miami Dolphins at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Saturday, August 13th, 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time)

The Buccaneers lead the all-time regular season and postseason series 7-5. The Dolphins won four of the first five regular season games, but have only won one of the last seven regular season games.

Miami’s last win in the regular season against Tampa Bay was a 25-23 triumph in Miami on November 15th, 2009. The last time the Dolphins won a regular season game in Tampa Bay was on October 30th, 1988, by a score of 17-14.

The Buccaneers are on a three-game winning streak against the Dolphins in the regular season.

In the last preseason matchup, Miami lost at Tampa Bay 16-14 on Friday, August 16th, 2019. The Buccaneers won 26-24 at the Dolphins on Thursday, August 9th, 2018. Tampa Bay won 22-17 at Miami on Thursday, September 3rd, 2015.

Miami’s last win in the preseason at Tampa Bay was a 20-14 win on Saturday, August 16th, 2014.

Tampa Bay won 17-16 at Miami on Saturday, August 24th, 2013. The Buccaneers won 20-7 on Friday, August 10th, 2012, at Miami.

The Buccaneers won 17-13 in Tampa Bay against Miami on Saturday, August 27th, 2011.

The Dolphins last win against Tampa Bay in Miami in the preseason was a 10-7 victory on Saturday, August 14th, 2010.

So it is obvious Miami is hungry for a win again in Tampa Bay.

I really want to pick Miami to win this game, but Tom Brady will probably treat this first preseason game like it is the Super Bowl more than the actual Super Bowl (if he even plays at all in this preseason game). If Tom Brady doesn’t play, I like Miami’s chances to win.

Prediction to win: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Current Prediction (as of August 11th, 2022): Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints at Houston Texans (Saturday, August 13th, 8 p.m. Eastern Time)

The Saints lead the regular season and postseason series three games to two. The home team is undefeated in the regular season series so far.

Houston lost 13-0 at New Orleans in the last preseason game these two teams played against each other on Saturday, August 26th, 2017.

New Orleans lost 16-9 on Saturday, August 20th, 2016, the last time the game was in Houston in the preseason.

Houston won at New Orleans 27-13 on Sunday, August 30th, 2015. New Orleans won 31-23 at Houston on Sunday, August 25th, 2013.

The Texans lost 34-27 at New Orleans on Saturday, August 25th, 2012.

The Saints lost 27-14 at Houston on Saturday, August 20th, 2011.

The Saints won 38-20 in New Orleans on Saturday, August 21st, 2010.

New Orleans won 38-14 at Houston on Saturday, August 22nd, 2009. The Texans won 31-27 at New Orleans on Saturday, August 16th, 2008.

Houston won 13-10 at New Orleans on August 10th, 2002, in the Texans first game in franchise history.

The home team has won all but five of the games these teams have played against each other in the preseason.

Predictions to win: New Orleans Saints

Current Prediction (as of August 11th, 2022): Houston Texans

Dallas Cowboys at Denver Broncos (Saturday, August 13th, 9 p.m. Eastern Time, NFL Network)

The Broncos have a 9-5 advantage all-time in the regular season and the postseason. Denver has won seven straight regular season games against Dallas.

Denver won 27-3 at Dallas the last time these two teams played against each other in the preseason on Thursday, August 28th, 2014.

Denver lost 24-23 at Dallas on Thursday, August 11th, 2011.

The last time a preseason game against the Cowboys was in Denver, the Broncos won 23-13 on Saturday, August 16th, 2008.

Prediction to win: Denver Broncos

Current Prediction (as of August 11th, 2022): Denver Broncos

Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Chargers (Saturday, August 13th, 10 p.m. Eastern Time)

The Rams lead the all-time regular season and postseason series 7-5.

The last time these teams met, the Chargers lost 35-23 at the Rams on September 23rd, 2018. The Rams lost at the Chargers on November 23rd, 2014, 27-24. The home team has won the last eight regular season home games.

The last time in the regular season the Rams won at the Chargers was on October 12th, 1975, 13-10.

The Chargers defeated the Rams last year 13-6 on Saturday, August 14th last year with the Rams being the designated home team.

The Chargers would have been the home team against the Rams on Saturday, August 22nd, 2020, but the game was canceled.

The Chargers defeated the Rams 21-19 with the Rams being the home team on Saturday, August 26th, 2017.

San Diego lost to the Rams in St. Louis 7-6 on Saturday, August 16th, 2008. The Chargers defeated the Rams 30-13 in St. Louis on Saturday, August 18th, 2007.

The last time the Rams were at the Chargers in the preseason was on Sunday, August 21st, 2005, and San Diego won 36-21.

San Diego defeated the Rams 31-10 in St. Louis on Saturday, August 22nd, 2002.

The Rams lost at San Diego 13-10 in overtime on Saturday, August 25th, 2001.

San Diego lost at St. Louis 24-21 on Saturday, August 28th, 1999.

The Chargers won big in San Diego 41-27 over the Rams on Saturday, August 15th, 1998.

The Rams won in St. Louis 37-34 on Friday, August 23rd, 1996 over San Diego.

San Diego won 17-9 at the Chargers on Friday, August 25th, 1995.

The Los Angeles Rams lost 24-6 at San Diego on Thursday, August 25th, 1994.

San Diego won 23-17 at the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday, August 14th, 1993.

The Rams lost 30-19 at San Diego on Thursday, August 27th, 1992.

San Diego lost at the Rams 24-3 on Monday, August 12th, 1991.

The Chargers won 30-27 at Los Angeles on Saturday, August 18th, 1990.

San Diego lost 27-6 at Los Angeles on Saturday, August 13th, 1988.

The Los Angeles Rams last won a game at San Diego in the preseason 31-24 on Friday, August 26th, 1988.

Prediction to win: Los Angeles Rams

Current Prediction (as of August 11th, 2022): Los Angeles Chargers

Minnesota Vikings at Las Vegas Raiders (Sunday, August 14th, 4:25 p.m. Eastern Time, NFL Network)

The Vikings have won the last two times in the regular season. Their last win at the Raiders was on November 15th, 2015, in Oakland.

Oakland lost 20-12 at Minnesota on Saturday, August 22nd, 2015, the last time these two teams played in the preseason. Oakland also lost 10-6 at Minnesota on Friday, August 8th, 2014.

Oakland won 16-13 at Minnesota on Monday, August 14th, 2006.

Minnesota won 21-6 at Oakland on Friday, August 22nd, 2003. That was the last time the Raiders hosted a preseason game against the Vikings.

The Raiders own a 10-6 series lead all-time in the regular season and postseason.

Prediction to win: Las Vegas Raiders

Current Prediction (as of August 11th, 2022): Minnesota Vikings

This story will be updated in the near future to tell a better story and overall picture about each matchup and to provide any additional information about the game such as where it will be televised on or where you can listen to the game on the radio or online at.