Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season is finally here, and Week 1 is typically a time when you can expect the unexpected, at least in a couple of games. Some of the best teams in the league could already be on “upset” alert, even though everybody’s starting off with a clean slate as the season opens up.
Which teams and their fans are going to be highly disappointed after Week 1? Obviously, nothing is guaranteed, but this is the NFL and although some teams that get “upset” in Week 1 will be playing in January while others won’t, most teams are as healthy now as they will be throughout the course of the season. The first week of the NFL season might be some cellar-dwelling teams’ best chance at beating one of the top teams in the league.
In the 2021 season, we saw the Green Bay Packers get absolutely obliterated by the New Orleans Saints and Jameis Winston. The Pittsburgh Steelers went into Buffalo and got a 23-16 win over the Bills. The Raiders somewhat surprisingly took down the Ravens in overtime on Monday Night Football.
So which NFL teams are on upset alert in Week 1?
NFL Week 1 Schedule: 5 teams on upset alert
1. Green Bay Packers (vs. Vikings)
Well, the Green Bay Packers were upset last year in Week 1. It could certainly happen again this year. The Packers have had a pretty noteworthy offseason in 2022, headlined of course by the trade sending Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders for draft picks. Replacing Adams will be a committee approach and Green Bay is going to be relying on Aaron Rodgers more than ever after his back-to-back MVP campaigns.
They put their money where their mouth is in that regard, giving Rodgers the highest annual value contract in NFL history at over $50 million per season. In Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season, the Packers will travel to Minneapolis to take on the Vikings who have taken on a lot of change themselves. The Vikings have a new GM, a new head coach, and a new-look defense.
Although the cast of characters offensively is mostly the same, Kevin O’Connell is coming over from the Los Angeles Rams, bringing his scheme and championship experience from last season to a Vikings franchise that is desperate for any sort of hope that they could reach that same mountaintop.
Ultimately, would I bet on the Packers losing? With Aaron Rodgers and their defense, absolutely not. With that being said, that’s why you would consider this an upset, right? The Vikings have the weapons offensively to win a shootout against the Packers, and I would argue that Minnesota’s offensive weapons are much, much better overall. That could give them a shot at a huge upset over Rodgers and the Packers.
NFL teams on upset alert in Week 1: Indianapolis Colts (vs. Texans)
Let me just apologize to Indianapolis Colts fans right now — I am so skeptical of this team in 2022. I don’t love the Matt Ryan trade. Losing Matt Eberflus could loom larger than many are able to see in the present moment. The Colts have a solid overall roster and I’m intrigued by the potential of their pass rush and defensive front seven as a whole.
With all of that being said, I do think the Colts are on a bit of upset alert in Week 1 of the 2022 season against the Houston Texans. They are playing in Houston, which hasn’t really mattered in this matchup (heavily favoring the Colts) historically, but it could come into play this season. Houston’s fan base should be very excited about what’s being built and as of Week 1, all of the young players on this roster don’t care that this team is rebuilding.
I think Houston’s young core will step up in Week 1 and give fans a glimpse of what is to come. They could be my favorite upset candidate of the week.
NFL teams on upset alert in Week 1: Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Steelers)
The reigning AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals are on upset alert in Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season. That is going to seem like bucket of cold water, especially considering the Pittsburgh Steelers are in transition at the quarterback position and the offensive line is a huge question mark going into the season. Even with all of that considered, I don’t think you can really count out a Mike Tomlin-coached team.
The Steelers seem extremely confident in Mitchell Trubisky, who had a strong preseason for them. Is their confidence misplaced or misguided? Is Trubisky really going to be better just because he’s no longer under the Matt Nagy umbrella in Chicago? We’ll see how he looks after a year with Josh Allen, Ken Dorsey, and Brian Daboll in Buffalo.
Ultimately, there could be a bit of a hangover for the Bengals after that huge run late last season. The Steelers are obviously no slouches defensively and Cincinnati’s going to have to hope that Trubisky hasn’t improved or else they could be in for a long day. I think the Bengals’ secondary has its work cut out for it in this game.
NFL Week 1 teams on upset alert: Philadelphia Eagles (vs. Lions)
I think everyone is eager to see how the Detroit Lions do in the 2022 season. They have been one of the best subjects on Hard Knocks in recent memory and Dan Campbell obviously had this team playing hard, even in defeat, all of last season. The Lions are transitioning from loveable losers to a team with legitimate hopes of a winning record this coming season if they can stay mostly healthy.
Although it might not be the greatest headline-grabber, this game is going to be an absolute battle in the trenches with two teams that have built impressive groups on both sides of the ball. Ultimately, the Lions are playing at home here. Their fans are going to be going absolutely nuts considering many in the national media are starting to come around to this roster and expectations are as high as they have been in a long time.
I still love the Eagles’ roster and their projection for this season as contenders in the NFC East, but I could see Detroit coming out and stealing a win in Week 1 here. They have legit talent in the trenches, in the passing game, and some wild cards in the secondary that could be the difference in this game.
NFL Week 1 teams on upset alert: Denver Broncos (vs. Seahawks)
Let’s get one thing straight about this game here — the Denver Broncos are the much better team on paper. Again, what’s the definition of an upset? The Broncos are the better team but this game could be the Super Bowl for the Seattle Seahawks this season.
Russell Wilson wanted out of Seattle. Seattle didn’t want to give him another long-term contract. If there’s any game in 2022 that Seattle fans have had circled for months, it’s this one. They want to beat Wilson, and I’m sure that sentiment is shared by the team, no matter how diplomatic they will be in the days leading up to the game.
Seattle is playing at home. They are still undefeated for the time being. They are all going to be geeked up to beat Russell Wilson. The Broncos are strong as a roster but they are also taking on a ton of change this offseason with a new coaching staff, new quarterback, new pretty much everything.
It’s not unthinkable that Seattle could go out in Week 1 and steal one from their ex-franchise quarterback. It would require a herculean effort from Geno Smith and company, to be sure. The Broncos are not only improved offensively but defensively, they are among the best in the NFL. Seattle needs to hope that all of the change in Denver will take some time to jell.