Reunions and revenge games highlight opening week action across the NFL

The 2022 NFL season is here, and things look much different than last year across the league.

The offseason had a lot of movement because of blockbuster trades and free-agent acquisitions. The Kansas City Chiefs traded Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins, the Green Bay Packers shipped Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders and the Seattle Seahawks moved Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos. Those are only a few of the familiar faces in new places heading into Week 1.

Reunions and revenge games will be plentiful this season. Week 1's action features all kinds of past relationships — ones that ended on good terms, harsh breakups and college connections are some of the subplots this weekend.

Here are some NFL reunion games to watch this week, with some backstory to get you up to speed.

Mayfield and the Panthers face the Browns in what could be seen as a revenge game for the Carolina signal-caller. Cleveland traded its 2018 No. 1 overall pick to Carolina for a 2024 conditional draft pick in July, nearly four months after acquiring Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans. Mayfield played four seasons for the Browns, helping the team win their first playoff game in 26 years in the 2020 wild-card round against the Pittsburgh Steelers. A torn labrum suffered in Week 2 of the 2021 season hampered Mayfield and he finished 27th in QBR that year.

While the Browns were in the running for Watson in March, Mayfield requested a trade from the team, saying it was «in the best interests of both sides» to move on. He posted a message on social media thanking the Cleveland fans «who truly embraced who I am and the mentality that aligned so well with this city's hard working people.» The Browns initially denied Mayfield's trade request before