NFL Kickoff 2022: Rams begin Super Bowl defense vs. former player Von Miller and Bills

The Los Angeles Rams will become the second team in a row to begin their Super Bowl title defense in the first game of the 2022 NFL regular season at the same venue where they were crowned, as SoFi Stadium will host NFL Kickoff when the Vince Lombardi Trophy holders host one of the heavy favorites to succeed them on the throne, the Buffalo Bills.

The Bills, with Josh Allen as their star quarterback, crashed out of the Divisional Round of the AFC playoffs last season in an unforgettable overtime loss to Patrick Mahomes' Kansas City Chiefs and, to take the next step, acquired the services of star outside linebacker Von Miller during free agency.

Von Miller makes Bills debut against his former team

Miller will be the big story in this opener, as he was traded midway through last season from the Denver Broncos to the Rams, who he helped win Super Bowl LVI against the Cincinnati Bengals, and his first game with Buffalo will be against his former teammates.

The Rams have much of their core from last year back, as they will have quarterback Matthew Stafford, Super Bowl LVI MVP wide receiver Cooper Kupp, plus Miller's close friend, defensive tackle Aaron Donald.

When and where is the NFL Kickoff?

The game will take place next Thursday, Sept. 8 at 8:20 p.m. ET and will be broadcast in the United States on NBC.

This game, in addition to all the precedents mentioned above, will also mark the first time that the first game of an NFL regular season will be held in the city of Los Angeles, since before the league returned to the second most populated city in the United States, a single Kickoff game was not held.

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