The 2022 NFL season is finally here.
All of the talk from the last seven months is about to be rendered moot as the NFL transitions from being played in print to being played on the gridiron.
Part of the game with words involves power rankings, which can be like the oil pressure gauge on a 1987 Monte Carlo SS: maybe it’s accurate, maybe not, but it nevertheless gets you thinking.
The Los Angeles Rams and the Buffalo Bills kickoff the 2022 season on Thursday night. Where do they compare with the rest of the league? Find out in these early Week 1 power rankings.
32. Seattle Seahawks
When Geno Smith is winning your quarterback battle, you know you’re in for a bumpy season. The watch in Seattle all year will be to see if Pete Carroll pulls a Bum Phillips and just resigns in the middle of the year.
31. Chicago Bears
The Bears are retooling their roster, and rookie coach Matt Eberflus is laying the foundation to be competitive eventually. Second-year quarterback Justin Fields will take his lumps, but the hope is they stay out of the thirties in power rankings by the end of the season.
30. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons have some offensive weapons, but the issue of signal caller is what may handicap Arthur Smith’s squad. The defense is also going through a retooling period.
29. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers are going with Baker Mayfield, and Matt Rhule is putting his faith in new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo. If the Panthers are able to get a renaissance year out of running back Christian McCaffrey, they should get out of the bottom-5.
28. New York Jets
When Joe Flacco is the solution for your quarterback problems, you’re in trouble. The Jets will be in this position until Zach Wilson can come back from his knee injury.
27. Detroit Lions
Head coach Dan Campbell has instilled an attitude with the Lions, but the talent is slowly catching up. Their spot in the power rankings could be the lowest they see all season as the Lions should steadily improve throughout the year.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars will benefit from Trevor Lawrence entering his second season under center, and Doug Pederson has to be the biggest upgrade at coach since Doug Marrone’s magical 2017 campaign. If the defense can be ferocious, Jacksonville should start getting out of the morass.
25. Houston Texans
Houston is banking it all on Davis Mills, but he may actually have a running game to complement him. Lovie Smith is now coach, but they will still play a ballhawking defense. The Texans could go anywhere in the rankings from here.
24. New York Giants
The Giants are still committed to Daniel Jones, and the hope is new coach Brian Daboll will be able to pull the Josh Allen out of him. If nothing else, there is optimism the organization is headed in the right direction for the first time in a while.
23. Cleveland Browns
With the Browns experiencing availability issues at starting quarterback, this may be the highest the team finds itself for a while unless they can catch a winning streak.
22. Denver Broncos
One way to address the quarterback problem is go get a Super Bowl winner, which is what the Broncos did. Russell Wilson will be playing for rookie coach Nathaniel Hackett, who was partially responsible for Aaron Rodgers’ continued success with the Green Bay Packers. It may take the Broncos a month to form cohesion, but they should find their way and start challenging in the AFC West.
21. Washington Commanders
Washington technically went the Broncos route by solving their quarterback problem with a Super Bowl winner, which Carson Wentz technically is. However, Washington’s defense isn’t at full strength with Chase Young out for the first month. They could be tough to face later in the year, but not in September.
20. Miami Dolphins
Tua Tagovailoa is running a system that should benefit him with new coach Mike McDaniel. Starting out, the Dolphins may take some lumps, but should be able to put it together to get out of the twenties in the power rankings.
19. Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray won’t have DeAndre Hopkins to throw to for the first six games, which takes away from their firepower. If the Cardinals are able to overcome what curtails them, Arizona should be comfortably stay out of the bottom teens.
18. New Orleans Saints
The Saints may not have Sean Payton, but they still have cohesion with much of the coaching staff still in place. Dennis Allen coached in place of Payton during some COVID absences, and Pete Carmichael is still running the offense. The Saints also have one of the best reserve quarterbacks in the NFL in Andy Dalton.
17. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens still have a playmaker at quarterback with Lamar Jackson, and they still have weapons with running back J.K. Dobbins and tight end Mark Andrews. Rookie safety Kyle Hamilton should provide some splash plays in the secondary as the Ravens rebound from missing the playoffs in 2021.
16. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have the defense, they have the running back, but their quarterback situation is reminiscent of the days of Bubby Brister and Neil O’Donnell. As soon as the Steelers can figure out how to bring stability to the quarterback situation, they should be a formidable draw.
15. Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota still has Kirk Cousins, Dalvin Cook to take the load off, and Adam Thielen to provide a consistent target in the passing game. If Kevin O’Connell can be the latest Sean McVay disciple to have success early, the Vikings should start challenging for the NFC North.
14. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers have the roster; they may not have the quarterback. Trey Lance still has to prove he can be the guy under center for San Francisco. As soon as the question is answered, given their roster, the 49ers ought to be a top-10 team the rest of the season.
13. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts still have a dangerous roster and a dynamic running back with Jonathan Taylor. As has been the case since the 2020 offseason, Indianapolis got a proven signal caller who may have one good year left. If Matt Ryan looks like his old Atlanta self, the Colts should own the AFC South.
12. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles looked at the NFC East champions and answered them in terms of impactful players on the roster. Jalen Hurts has a target in A.J. Brown, and the defense has a formidable cornerback in James Bradberry. However, there are still questions Hurts has to answer, which is why they are a tad behind their rivals.
11. Dallas Cowboys
Micah Parsons and the Cowboys’ defense have it locked down, but the offense is the dubious unit now. With instability at left tackle, quarterback Dak Prescott may be running for his life. The Cowboys could dramatically rise or fall based on the first five games of their schedule.
10. Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers were a prolonged overtime period away from going to the playoffs last season, and Justin Herbert should only get better in his third year. The Chargers have an identity and direction with coach Brandon Staley, and they should remain in the top-12 throughout the year.
9. Tennessee Titans
Losing Harold Landry was the hit that knocked Tennessee down a bit to start. Derrick Henry is starting to show wear and tear. Ryan Tannehill may have exterminated the turnover bug in training camp that has plagued him the past few seasons.
8. Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders got Derek Carr a brilliant offensive mine in Josh McDaniels and a superb target in receiver Davante Adams. Maxx Crosby is still a force for opposing passers. Las Vegas should have the tools to keep pace with Kansas City for the division.
7. New England Patriots
The offensive side lost Josh McDaniels, but the overall coaching staff still has Bill Belichick roaming the sidelines. Mac Jones entering his second year doing it the Patriot Way can only lead to better things in New England, if the questionable coaching duo of Matt Patricia and Joe Judge don’t muck things up on the offensive side of the ball.
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
As long as the Buccaneers have one of the best in the game under center, they should be a threat to be one of the NFL’s best teams. Tampa Bay still has the weapons for Tom Brady and also a stout enough defense to protect leads. New coach Todd Bowles should fare better in Tampa Bay than he did with the New York Jets from 2015-18.
5. Green Bay Packers
The Packers lost a little bit on the offensive side of the ball, but Aaron Rodgers remains the most consistent element on the team. As such, Green Bay is a constant threat. Their placement in the power rankings is immaterial as they will fluctuate throughout the top-10 as the season goes along.
4. Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals did everything they could this offseason to fortify an offensive line that was truly… well, offensive in 2021. If that unit can keep Joe Burrow upright in the new season, combine that with Burrow’s weapons and an underrated defense, and the defending AFC champs will be a formidable opponent every week.
3. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs will look different on both sides of the ball this year, with the departures of receiver Tyreek Hill (via trade) and do-it-all defensive back Tyrann Mathieu (via free agency). But there’s still Patrick Mahomes, and perhaps with a less dynamic receiver corps, but a more consistent and sustaining offense, Mahomes won’t be quite as up-and-down as he was last season.
2. Los Angeles Rams
The Rams will endeavor to become the first team since the 2003-2004 Patriots to successfully defend their Super Bowl title. Matthew Stafford now has a full season with Sean McVay, Aaron Donald is the NFL’s best player, and Cooper Kupp has firmly established himself as a WR1 in any universe. Issues at cornerback beyond Jalen Ramsey, and along the offensive line with Andrew Whitworth’s retirement, loom large, but don’t bet too contrarily against the defending champs. Thursday night’s opener against the Bills will tell us a lot.
1. Buffalo Bills
And then, there was one. The 2021 Bills lost in heartbreaking fashion to the Chiefs in the divisional round, but with the addition of Von Miller to an already promising defensive line, and Josh Allen firmly established as the offense’s alpha dog, it’s easy to see why an already great team is the trendy pick just about everywhere to hoist the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the 2022 season.
