Keeping track of the latest 2022 NFL schedule leaks

NFL schedule leaks happen every year ahead of the official NFL schedule release, and we’re keeping track of every single one.

It’s that time of the year, when football is about to go back into quasi-hibernation as teams drift between the frenzy of the offseason and prepping for training camp.

For fans it can feel like being stuck in limbo, but the NFL is dropping the curtain on the first act of this new season by quite literally mapping out how the rest of it will go. The NFL schedule release is the unofficial end of the and the beginning of a new year. Matchups are locked in, the National TV schedule is set, and fans know when and where they will be able to watch their team battle for a Super Bowl. From gamblers licking their chops at what bets can be made during the season to fantasy footballers receiving a major piece of their strategic puzzle, the NFL schedule release is way more interesting than it has any business being.

But it’s the dropping of the curtain on all the chaos we’ve endured thus far in the new year and the table setting for the journey that lies ahead.

NFL Schedule release: Tracking all of the NFL schedule leaks

Note: This post will update once the latest leak trickles through. Any leaks that are verified will be noted as such, as will leaks that end up being debunked. 

NFL Thanksgiving schedule

This year it’s the Giants and Bills getting in on the early slate action. Meanwhile, the Vikings and Patriots have been slotted into the ‘Free Space’ primetime game.

12:30 pm ET: Detroit Lions vs. Buffalo Bills (FOX)
4:30 pm ET: Dallas Cowboys vs. TBA (CBS)
8:20 pm ET: New England Patriots vs. Minnesota Vikings (NBC)

NFL Christmas games 2022

NFL schedule release: Week 1 games leak early

The Rams will open the season on Thursday night against Buffalo 

As is tradition, the Super Bowl champions will proverbially cut the ribbon on a new season in the first game of the year. Last year saw the Buccaneers open against the Dallas Cowboys, but this year sees a potential Super Bowl preview — or a glimpse of what could have been in Super Bowl 56 — when the Los Angeles Rams open the season against the Buffalo Bills.

Russell Wilson is returning to Seattle on Monday Night Football

The league wasted no time in scheduling the first revenge game stemming from this offseason’s trade frenzy. Perhaps the biggest name moved was Russell Wilson, who will open the 2022 season in Seattle but will be on the opposing sideline for the first time in his career.

It also marks the first Monday Night Football broadcast with Joe Buck and Troy Aikman in the booth.

Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes will meet on Sunday Night Football

For perhaps the final time — unless they meet in the Super Bowl again — Brady and Mahomes will meet up in primetime. There was no way NBC wasn’t going to get what is a Top 5 game of the entire season in the Bucs-Chiefs, and we won’t have to wait long to see the fireworks.

Mike McCarthy will return to Green Bay in Week 10 

We thought it might happen last year in the playoffs, which would have been perfect, but Mike McCarthy will make his return to Lambeau Field in November. If you’re trying to do the math, this game won’t line up with the Thanksgiving Day schedule, although how awesome would a Cowboys-Packers game be that day?

Running list of NFL schedule leaks ahead of NFL schedule release

Week 1

Thursday, Sept. 8

Buffalo Bills at Rams, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)

Sunday, Sept. 11

Saints at Falcons 1 p.m. ET
Browns at Panthers 1 p.m. ET
Colts at Texans 1 p.m. ET
Eagles at Lions, 1 p.m. ET
Giants at Titans, 1 p.m. ET
Jaguars at Commanders 1 p.m. ET
49ers at Bears 1 p.m. ET
Steelers at Bengals 1 p.m. ET
Patriots at Dolphins 1 p.m. ET
Ravens at Jets 1 p.m. ET
Chiefs at Cardinals
Raiders at Chargers
Packers at Vikings
Giants at Titans
Buccaneers at Cowboys, 8:20 pm ET

Monday, Sept. 12

Broncos at Seahawks, 8:15 pm ET

Week 2

Thursday, Sept. 15

Chargers at Chiefs, 8:20 p.m. ET (Amazon Prime)

Sunday, Sept. 18

Panthers at Giants, 1 p.m. ET
Jets at Browns, 1 p.m. ET
Lions at Commanders, 1 p.m. ET
Dolphins at Ravens, 1 p.m. ET
Buccaneers at Saints, 1 p.m. ET
Patriots at Steelers, 1 p.m. ET
Colts at Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET
Seahawks at 49ers
Falcons at Rams
Texans at Broncos
Cardinals at Raiders
Bengals at Cowboys
Bears at Packers, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)

Monday, Sept. 19

Titans at Bills, 7:15 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Vikings at Eagles, 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC)

Week 3

Thursday, Sept. 22

Patriots at Dolphins, 8:20 pm ET (Amazon Prime)

Week 4

Sunday, Oct. 2

Vikings at Saints in London, 9:30 a.m. ET (NFL Network)
Patriots at Packers, 4:25 p.m. ET
Chiefs at Buccaneers, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)

Week 5 

Sunday, Oct. 9

Giants at Packers in London, 9:30 a.m. ET (NFL Network)

Week 6

Thursday, Oct. 13

Commanders at Bears, 8:20 p.m. ET (Amazon Prime)

Sunday, Oct. 16

Jets at Packers, 1 p.m. ET
Bengals at Saints, 1 p.m. ET

Week 7

Bears at Patriots, 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Week 8

Broncos at Jaguars in London, 9:30 a.m. ET (ESPN+)

Week 10

Sunday, Nov. 13

Seahawks at Buccaneers in Munich, 9:30 a.m. ET (NFL Network)
Chargers vs. 49ers
Cowboys at Packers, 4:25 p.m. ET (Fox)

Week 11

Thursday, Nov. 17

Titans at Packers, 8:20 p.m. ET (Amazon Prime)

Monday, Nov. 21

49ers at Cardinals in Mexico City, 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Week 12 
Thursday, Nov. 24 (Thanksgiving)

Buffalo Bills at Lions, 12:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
TBA at Cowboys, 4:30 p.m. ET (Fox)
Vikings at Patriots, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)

Week 15
Monday, Dec. 19

Rams at Packers, 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Week 16

Saturday, Dec. 24 (Christmas Eve)

Saints at Browns, 1 p.m. ET

Bills at Bears, 1 p.m. ET
Eagles at Cowboys, 4:25 p.m. ET

Sunday, Dec. 25 (Christmas)

Packers at Dolphins, 1 p.m. ET (Fox)
Broncos at Rams, 4:30 p.m. ET (CBS and Nickelodeon)
Buccaneers at Cardinals, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)

Week 17

Sunday, Jan. 1

Vikings at Packers, 4:25 p.m. ET

Monday, Jan. 2

Bills at Bengals, 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Week 18

Sunday, Jan. 8

Lions at Packers