In the offseason, everyone thought the Chiefs were done for.
The general sentiment was about how “a retooling Kansas City’s reign would end” because the rest of the bumbling AFC West spent so much money to gear up against them.
About that.
As the Chiefs and a better-than-ever Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce now sit in a comfortable 8-2 position as the top seed of the AFC: Don’t tell us skepticism of their continued prowess didn’t happen. We remember! Many intelligent football analysts, writers, and experts, who we all respect (which, cough cough, also features us) — bought into the hype of the Chiefs’ imminent demise, despite their ongoing rostering of the best player in football.
All this is to say we shouldn’t be surprised that the Chiefs sit at the top of the NFL once more. While everyone else loaded up to finally take them off their mantel, Kansas City took a patient step back to retool on defense and fill the void of Tyreek Hill’s absence, all because it thought — “Wait, we have Patrick Mahomes. This shouldn’t be hard. Duh!” It’s challenging to think of another team with an easier job of reloading in recent memory.
The only real question we should have about the rest of the 2022 season is: Who challenges the Chiefs? Who stops Mahomes, if anyone, from getting his second Super Bowl ring at age 27 (a great pace!)? We have a few ideas, but some of these contenders coming for the Big Red Machine better start stepping their game up before January.
Because Mahomes and the Chiefs look like a powerhouse. Again. And they’re already playing at a January level while their peers lag way behind.
Let’s break down the Week 12 edition of For The Win’s power rankings for the 2022 NFL season — including Mahomes’ titanic Chiefs — and perhaps come to a consensus about who has the best shot of unseating pro football’s red and gold king.
32
Houston Texans
Last week’s rank: 31
All that’s left to say about the Texans is that any/all Bryce Young photoshops in a No. 9 jersey look pretty, pretty slick. You have that kind of a gifted quarterback potentially waiting in the wings, Houston. Don’t screw it up with a meaningless win or two now, and definitely don’t screw it up in April.
31
Denver Broncos
Last week’s rank: 29
Russell Wilson signed a preseason extension that pays him an average of $49 million per year. As of Week 11, he is responsible for 67 percent of the Las Vegas Raiders’ wins. Realistically, the Broncos can’t detach themselves from his contract until 2025, and they will ship their first and second-round draft picks to the Seahawks next spring. That’s … wow.
30
Carolina Panthers
Last week’s rank: 27
Carolina’s defense has given up fewer than 230 total yards in two of its last three games and remains a lone bright spot in a lost season. The Panthers have a lot of rebuilding to do, but an above-average D should help expedite the process. You know, as long as they pull off the “right QB, right head coach” combination in a single offseason.
29
Chicago Bears
Last week’s rank: 26
The Bears need to get some perspective. Justin Fields is a superhero, but even superheroes have vulnerabilities. Asking Fields to do everything — even after he’s clearly hurt — is not how you protect perhaps the most talented player in franchise history. And now Fields will likely miss some time (or not?). On the plus side, his absence will help clear tanking efforts and build out a currently hollow roster. Just make sure Fields makes it to 2023 in one piece to enjoy the fruits of that more-talented labor.
28
Las Vegas Raiders
Last week’s rank: 32
Give Josh McDaniels and Friends some credit. While they can’t beat anyone worth writing home about, Russell Wilson’s Broncos are always there waiting. Mark Davis must be thrilled that Las Vegas can at least sweep what is easily pro football’s most disappointing team, the Broncos. You know, because Denver’s futility distracts from the Raiders’ glaring shortcomings.
27
Cleveland Browns
Last week’s rank: 30
Deshaun Watson will soon return after serving an 11-game suspension following more than 20 accusations of sexual misconduct and what the NFL described as a pattern of “predatory behavior.” Even if he returns to his 2020 form, it won’t matter, considering how bad the Browns’ defense is.
How do you just lose track of Stefon Diggs like this?
Stefon Diggs wide open again. Allen found him this time. Per @NextGenStats, Diggs was 8.6 yards away from the nearest defender, the furthest distance from the nearest defender on a pass TD thrown to the end zone for the Bills this season. pic.twitter.com/MSOhBKuAWF
— Alaina Getzenberg (@agetzenberg) November 20, 2022
26
Indianapolis Colts
Last week’s rank: 28
Jeff Saturday isn’t reinventing the Colts, but he does have them playing hard. Indianapolis has the talent to be an average NFL team. The problem is they’ve rarely been able to be much more than that in the post-Andrew Luck era. Losses like Sunday’s, as painful as it may have been, push this team closer to the high draft pick it can use on a franchise quarterback next spring. Or they can just trade for Derek Carr. Either or.
25
Los Angeles Rams
Last week’s rank: 25
Twenty points … against the Saints … in 2022??? Stick a fork in the Rams. Their Super Bowl defense is over. There will be no surprise run. They are done. The question is whether Les “I Care Nothing About Draft Picks” Snead can ever get L.A. back to the Big Game after this big-time Super Bowl hangover campaign.
24
Arizona Cardinals
Last week’s rank: 20
The Cardinals are 4-7 and beyond caring about this lost season. It’s time for this experiment’s logical conclusion: 2023 Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Kliff Kingsbury.
23
Green Bay Packers
Last week’s rank: 18
The Packers might have finally unlocked the Human Touchdown Machine, a.k.a. Christian Watson, but it’s probably too little, too late. Joe Barry’s defense can’t stop the run or pass, Aaron Rodgers has no consistent play outside of rare jump balls and dimes to Watson, and it’s starting to look like a mediocre Green Bay should turn to Jordan Love and cut its losses in a clunker of a season.
22
Pittsburgh Steelers
Last week’s rank: 21
The good news: Week 11 was arguably Kenny Pickett’s finest performance as a pro quarterback. The bad news: The Steelers still lost, and the rookie ranks dead last — even behind Zach Wilson — in both passer rating and touchdown rate. Still, any meaningful growth Pickett puts together in a lost 2022 season can help build this team back up for 2023.
21
Atlanta Falcons
Last week’s rank: 24
Kyle Pitts’ horrible sophomore campaign ended Sunday, thanks to a torn MCL. That means Drake London will have to step into his role as the open downfield receiver Marcus Mariota ignores.
20
New Orleans Saints
Last week’s rank: 23
Well, Chris Olave looks good, at least. The Saints are stuck in salary cap purgatory and have no first-round pick next spring, so that might be the most positive thing we can say about New Orleans for a while.
19
Jacksonville Jaguars
Last week’s rank: 19
A bye was precisely what the Jaguars ordered as they get set for a crucial stretch run in Trevor Lawrence’s development. Let’s be clear. At 3-7, the only thing that matters for Jacksonville is making sure Lawrence continues to make strides while seeing live action. We’ve seen enough to know that some measure of progress may likely continue for the former top pick after working through a midseason rough patch.
18
Detroit Lions
Last week’s rank: 22
Detroit has won three straight since bottoming out at 1-6, which is great for morale but not ideal when you’re a franchise looking to draft Jared Goff’s replacement at quarterback.
17
New York Jets
Last week’s rank: 16
It’s time, folks. We’ve reached the point in Zach Wilson’s career where it’s fair to wonder: “Where would the Jets be if they drafted Justin Fields?” This is a very talented New York roster — undoubtedly capable of contending for the AFC — being held back by a young quarterback who doesn’t even resemble a competent backup. Maybe a solid humbling would do Wilson some good, but … that should already be happening with his atrocious performance every week. Is there any light at the end of this green tunnel?
16
Washington Commanders
Last week’s rank: 17
Taylor Heinicke is QB1 until he plays his way out of the job. That might not happen, even if efficiently carving up the Texans after a rough start wasn’t exactly impressive. The Commanders have rebounded from a 1-4 start to win five of their last six and elbow their way into the playoff race. Heinicke’s steady play has been a part of that ascent.
15
New England Patriots
Last week’s rank: 15
Bill Belichick made Zach Wilson look bad in Week 11, though the Jets’ QB didn’t need much help. New England’s defense is capable of carrying it to the postseason. The offense is a different story, thanks to a beat-up offensive line and the raging uncertainty enveloping Mac Jones’ development. If Jones can make modest improvements from 2021, the Patriots can win a playoff game. He hasn’t so far, which makes the Pats much tougher to take seriously.
14
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Last week’s rank: 14
Tom Brady winning an awful conference after his team’s plodding start? That’s ludicrous! Why would anyone even suggest such a ridiculous notion? Hey. Wait a minute …
13
Los Angeles Chargers
Last week’s rank: 12
The Chargers are capable of competing with the Chiefs, which would be a lot more impressive if they hadn’t lost both games to their division rival this fall. Los Angeles’ 5-5 record is built on a flimsy resume that features wins over the Falcons, Raiders, Broncos, and Browns, all by five points or fewer. If things don’t change, L.A. is in real danger of wasting a prime season of Justin Herbert’s cost-effective rookie contract.
12
New York Giants
Last week’s rank: 8
For the second time in the last three weeks, the limitations of Daniel Jones came back to haunt the Giants. This time around, he had the numbers, but a few costly trademark “Danny Dimes” turnovers let the surging Lions take control. What should be more worrisome for New York is how Wink Martindale’s defense got gashed in the run game (160 yards, 4.3 yards per carry). Stout defensive play is supposed to be this iteration of Big Blue’s calling card, and if that unit isn’t humming, this is a mediocre football team.
11
Seattle Seahawks
Last week’s rank: 9
With seven games to go in Seattle’s season, Geno Smith has probably done enough to cement himself as the Seahawks’ new long-term starter. But if he wants to really make Pete Carroll and Co. commit to him, taking Seattle to the playoffs and making some noise would do wonders. This balanced team is capable of such a feat, and the onus — whether fair or not — will be on Smith to get them there.
10
Minnesota Vikings
Last week’s rank: 3
Welp. A week after one of the biggest wins in franchise history, the Vikings couldn’t have laid a bigger egg against the Cowboys. A relentless pass rush made Kirk Cousins irrelevant, and one of the league’s worst defenses couldn’t hang against an angry Dallas squad. It’s hard to imagine the Vikings playing worse, and they suddenly resemble a purple paper tiger again.
9
San Francisco 49ers
Last week’s rank: 11
Don’t look now, but last year’s NFC runner-ups have convincingly won three straight games and become the conference’s No. 3 seed after taking pole position in the NFC West. We still have doubts Jimmy Garoppolo can actually take this loaded squad to the summit, but it’s clear a scorching hot San Fran isn’t done pushing for Super Bowl contention.
8
Cincinnati Bengals
Last week’s rank: 13
Joe Burrow keeps cooking. That’s great, but his protection has been even more encouraging; he’s only been sacked three times in his last two games. He’s still getting hit way too often, but a recombobulated offensive line may be figuring things out. That, coupled with Ja’Marr Chase’s return from injury, could make Cincinnati a real problem in the postseason.
7
Tennessee Titans
Last week’s rank: 10
It looks like the Bill Belichick coaching tree actually does have one delicious Honeycrisp: Mike Vrabel. The Titans aren’t a flashy team with a bevy of explosive playmakers or a star quarterback. But they make few self-inflicted mistakes, can get after the QB with just four pass rushers, and flat-out wear you down with the bruising Derrick Henry. None of this is new for the Vrabel era. If Ryan Tannehill can give Tennesee even a modicum of a vertical threat in the passing game, it’s a legitimate AFC threat.
6
Baltimore Ravens
Last week’s rank: 6
Baltimore struggled in Charlotte, finding the end zone only once against a good but not great Panthers’ defense. Lamar Jackson’s lack of viable targets remains a valid concern, but the Ravens’ defense is potent enough to paper over at least some of the problems that it creates. Sunday marked the 10th straight game this season in which Baltimore has forced at least one turnover.
5
Dallas Cowboys
Last week’s rank: 7
One week after shooting themselves in the foot in seemingly every possible way against the Packers, Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys left no doubt in a 40-3 beatdown of the Vikings. Dallas tore apart Minnesota so convincingly CBS actually cut away from the carnage. The hated Giants are next, and it would behoove the Cowboys not to have an emotional letdown.
4
Buffalo Bills
Last week’s rank: 5
The Bills are in a delicate place right now. They’re ravaged by injuries. They don’t have many go-to offensive options outside of Stefon Diggs. And, suddenly, they’re in the most competitive division in football. But if Josh Allen can just let go of his hero-ball instincts trying to compensate, everything will likely be OK in Buffalo.
3
Philadelphia Eagles
Last week’s rank: 2
Nick Sirianni might be ecstatic that he avenged his former mentor’s job, and yes, a win is a win. But it’s hard to feel great about the Eagles as a contender after the lowly Colts bullied them most of Sunday afternoon. Despite loading up with veteran beef like Ndamukong Suh, this team can’t stop the run for their lives. It’s also not clear Jalen Hurts has the answer to the all-world Cover 2 defensive shell (not that many QBs do). Philly might have more cracks in the armor than we initially believed.
2
Miami Dolphins
Last week’s rank: 4
Miami had a bye in Week 11 while the Bills struggled with the Browns (albeit under bizarre circumstances on a neutral field) and the Patriots and Jets strung together high-quality Rutgers-Iowa cosplay. The Dolphins have to feel a little better about their division title chances after that weekend.
1
Kansas City Chiefs
Last week’s rank: 1
What else can you say about Patrick Mahomes? Even when it looks like you have him, Travis Kelce, and the Chiefs down for the count — like Justin Herbert and the Chargers did on Sunday night — Touchdown Pat comes back roaring to steal victory from the jaws of defeat. The best player in the game is at the arguable peak of his powers right now. We don’t envy anyone standing in his way as he tries to storm toward his second career Super Bowl victory.
