By Eric D. Williams
FOX Sports activities NFL Author
Two of one of the best quarterbacks in NFL historical past — Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers — match up in opposition to two younger superstars — Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes — poised to take over for the greybeards when (and if?) they retire.
However this contest is on the golf course, because the 4 meet in The Match golf problem on Wednesday in Las Vegas. It is old skool (Brady-Rodgers) vs. new college (Allen-Mahomes) in a 12-hole exhibition.
In honor of that occasion, let's check out the highest 10 quarterback matchups within the NFL for the approaching season. (Final week, we featured the highest 10 defenses for 2022.)
10. Week 11: Kyler Murray (Cardinals) vs. Trey Lance (Niners), Nov. 25 in Mexico Metropolis
Murray made information this offseason for his public dispute with the Cardinals over his need for a brand new contract. The 24-year-old Oklahoma product totaled 20 dashing touchdowns in his first three seasons within the NFL. Murray was within the MVP dialog by the primary half of 2021, as Arizona raced to a 7-0 document after which scuffled through the second half of the 12 months.
The Niners seem able to go along with the 22-year-old Lance, the No. 3 general choice within the 2021 NFL Draft, and commerce Jimmy Garoppolo, who led San Francisco to 2 NFC Championship Video games and a Tremendous Bowl the previous three seasons. Murray and Lance could possibly be battling it out for the foreseeable future within the NFC West. One in every of Lance’s two begins final 12 months was in opposition to Arizona, a 17-10 loss to the Cardinals in Week 5.
9. Week 5: Dak Prescott (Cowboys) vs. Matthew Stafford (Rams), Oct. 9
The defending Tremendous Bowl champs host America’s crew at SoFi Stadium for a Sunday afternoon tilt on Oct. 9. After main his new crew to a Lombardi trophy in his first season in L.A., the 34-year-old Stafford ought to be much more comfy in Sean McVay’s offense for the upcoming 12 months.
Stafford’s Rams face a Dallas squad making an attempt to rebound from a disappointing 2021 season that ended with a first-round playoff exit by the hands of the Niners. Whereas Prescott has gained plenty of video games in Dallas (53-32 as a starter), he and the Cowboys have struggled when the video games matter most (1-3 within the postseason since 2016). Prescott is 2-0 head-to-head dealing with groups led by Stafford.
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8. Week 8: Aaron Rodgers (Packers) vs. Josh Allen (Payments), Oct. 30
The 2 QBs with the strongest arms within the NFL match up when Inexperienced Bay travels to Buffalo on Oct. 30. In the one earlier assembly between the 2 California natives, Rodgers' Packers whipped Allen's Payments 22-0 again in 2018, Allen’s rookie season.
Nonetheless, the Packers are 0-6 in Buffalo, together with Rodgers' solely sport there, again in 2014.
7. Week 10: Carson Wentz (Commanders) vs. Jalen Hurts (Eagles), Nov. 14
Wentz returns to Philadelphia for the primary time since being traded. The North Dakota State product was chosen No. 2 general by the Eagles within the 2016 draft, then dealt to the Indianapolis Colts final season. Wentz spent only one 12 months in Indy, struggling down the backstretch of 2021 after which getting shipped to Washington.
Wentz won't obtain a heat welcome from Philly followers, who've now moved on to Hurts. Each gamers are athletic and might make performs with their arms and ft.
6. Week 1: Derek Carr (Raiders) vs. Justin Herbert (Chargers), Sept. 11
The Raiders and Chargers meet once more after L.A. blew a late-season contest that value it a playoff berth. Should you're a Chargers fan, you actually bear in mind when coach Brandon Staley selected to go for it on fourth down from his personal 18-yard line.
In simply two seasons, the athletic, strong-armed Herbert has ascended to grow to be one of many prime signal-callers within the sport. Carr has a brand new deal and shall be chargeable for studying a brand new offense beneath head coach and offensive guru Josh McDaniels.
The 2 QBs have cut up the season sequence 2-2 in two years.
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5. Week 4: Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs) vs. Tom Brady (Buccaneers), Oct. 2
This can be a rematch of Tremendous Bowl LV, through which the Buccaneers received one of the best of the Chiefs. Broadly thought of the inheritor obvious to Brady, Mahomes didn't have his normal magic contact in vital moments of video games final season.
Brady is 3-2 in head-to-head matchups in opposition to Mahomes, together with the Tremendous Bowl win two years in the past.
4. Week 13: Russell Wilson (Broncos) vs. Lamar Jackson (Ravens), Dec. 4
Two of essentially the most dynamic athletes taking part in the quarterback place lock heads when the Broncos journey to Baltimore to tackle the Ravens on Dec. 4. Jackson has an MVP award to his credit score. Wilson has a Tremendous Bowl ring.
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The 33-year-old Wilson is seeking to resurrect his profession in Denver after struggling by uneven play attributable to accidents in his last two seasons in Seattle. Jackson is 1-0 head-to-head in opposition to Wilson.
3. Week 13: Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs) vs. Joe Burrow (Bengals), Dec. 4
This can be a rematch of final season’s AFC Championship Recreation, through which Cincinnati’s protection surprisingly contained Kansas Metropolis’s explosive offense to safe a 27-24 victory at Arrowhead Stadium.
Burrow emerged as one of many prime younger signal-callers within the NFL final season by main the Bengals to a Tremendous Bowl. Count on Mahomes to play nicely within the rematch in Cincinnati. Burrow is 2-0 in opposition to Mahomes.
2. Week 6: Josh Allen (Payments) vs. Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs), Oct. 16
A rematch of the Chiefs' epic AFC divisional playoff win, which led to adjustments within the additional time guidelines through the postseason. Mahomes and Allen are the 2 QBs prone to take over for Rodgers and Brady because the NFL standard-bearers.
Mahomes and Allen are prototypes of what we count on to see from quarterbacks sooner or later — large, robust athletes who can prolong performs with their ft and make otherworldly throws from everywhere in the area. Mahomes is 3-1 head-to-head in opposition to Allen, together with 2-0 within the playoffs.
Rodgers, Brady to face off in Week 3 showdown on FOX
One of many highlights of the 2022 NFL schedule is the Aaron Rodgers-Tom Brady showdown in Week 3. That prompted T.J. Houshmandzadeh to ponder which QB can have a greater season.
1. Week 3: Aaron Rodgers (Packers) vs. Tom Brady (Buccaneers), Sept. 25
Brady has a 3-1 benefit within the all-time sequence, together with a 31-26 victory within the NFC Championship Recreation in 2020. Brady is 44, and Rodgers is 38, so this could possibly be the final time we see two of the best quarterbacks to ever play the sport face off in opposition to one another.
Sept. 25. Mark your calendar.
Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, masking the Los Angeles Rams for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma Information Tribune. Observe him on Twitter at @eric_d_williams.
