6 NFL contenders to watch this season

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The world's most spectacular sports league kicks off its 2022 season Thursday night when the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams host the hard-charging Buffalo Bills. Here's a look at some of the most interesting contenders in what looks like a very balanced NFL title chase, starting with Thursday's night's opponents:

Buffalo Bills: Every NFL fan seems to have two favourite teams this year: the one they've always rooted for, and the Bills. Buffalo stole everyone's heart last January by nearly knocking off Kansas City in the most thrilling game of the playoffs. The Bills scored a touchdown with just 13 seconds left to take the lead, only to lose 42-36 in overtime — another heartbreaking loss for the franchise that's also endured Wide Right, the Music City Miracle and four straight Super Bowl defeats. But things feel different now. The Bills have a superhero quarterback in Josh Allen, an elite defence (bolstered by the signing of star pass rusher Von Miller) and one of the last real home-crowd advantages in sports — thanks to the Labatt-swilling, table-smashing Bills Mafia. Add it all up and you get a scenario that many seasoned Buffalo fans never thought they'd see again in their lifetime: the Bills are the betting favourites to win the Super Bowl.

Los Angeles Rams: The dreaded championship hangover is a concern for a team that saw Miller leave for the Bills and nearly lost both its best defensive player (Aaron Donald) and its brilliant head coach (Sean McVay) to retirement before they decided to return. Also, quarterback Matthew Stafford is dealing with a sore elbow. But