With 2022 NFL training camps and the preseason games in the rearview mirror, all 32 teams are going full speed ahead into the regular season. Before everything will count, it’s time to focus again on seeing how they all stack up against each other in another edition of Sporting News’ now back-to-weekly league power rankings.
Most teams came out unscathed without major injuries, while some were not so lucky. Many good teams look like they will live up to their promise, while several lesser teams look primed for a fade.
Here’s piecing together that big puzzle to update the numbers in front of every team in advance of Week 1, rating them from best to worst:
MORE: QB Rankings | RB Rankings | WR Rankings | Buy NFL tickets
NFL power rankings 2022
1. Buffalo Bills (previous ranking: 1)
The Bills’ offense lost Brian Daboll, but the big personnel boom offsets coaching concern with Gabriel Davis, Isaiah McKenzie and James Cook ready to further boost Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs. The defense has those same playoff-conquering vibes with Von Miller revving up the front seven.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (1)
The Chiefs have had some issues at running back, are sorting out receiver without Tyreek Hill and have some of their defense in transition. But Patrick Mahomes behind a strong line still gives them a high floor with Andy Reid and his returning coordinators having the experience to coach them through it. There’s no reason to bump the Chiefs down from the short list of AFC contenders.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3)
The Buccaneers’ offensive line is concerning and their receiving corps is seeing big change for Tom Brady. But they still have Brady and plenty of passing firepower and enough running balance. They also have a fully healthy defense, well timed to deliver often for promoted Todd Bowles.
4. Los Angeles Chargers (6)
The Chargers deserve all the preseason hype they are getting. Justin Herbert still hasn’t hit his ceiling after two stellar seasons and between the line and weapons, he’s loaded to push his game higher. The defense just needs to stay healthy to be destructively daunting with Khalil Mack, Joey Bosa, J.C. Jackson and Derwin James.
5. San Francisco 49ers (7)
The 49ers have only one question mark: How good can Trey Lance be in his first season starting at quarterback? But he’s more the final piece in Kyle Shanahan’s system that isn’t lacking in dangerous running and passing support. That’s before getting into Nick Bosa and the defense on the verge of dominating again.
6. Baltimore Ravens (8)
The Ravens’ defensive rebuild will see quick results with the 3-4 edge pass rush back to typical levels, backed by the league’s best playmaking secondary. Lamar Jackson and the offense is headed to take advantage of better health and improved blocking. Baltimore is worthy of returning to clear AFC North favorite status.
7. Green Bay Packers (4)
The Packers have won a lot with Aaron Rodgers the past three seasons under Matt LaFleur. They are also capable of winning bigger when he’s figuring out his new pecking order in the passing game without Davante Adams and with more inexperience and injury complicating things. The running game is in spectacular shape with Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon, and from Rashan Gary to Jaire Alexander, the defense is fully stocked with playmakers, too.
8. Los Angeles Rams (5)
The Rams are hoping to avoid a Super Bowl hangover in a tough NFC field as nothing will come easy, starting with repeating in the West. Injuries to Matthew Stafford and the running backs provide some offensive pause, while the defense minus Miller has done the best it can to fill some key holes around Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey.
9. Cincinnati Bengals (10)
The Bengals showed they have plenty of fight (literally) in a Super Bowl “rematch” with the Rams in a joint practice. The Bengals’ AFC title window remains wide open with Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and their offensive core on favorable contracts. It just will be difficult to navigate past the Ravens, Chiefs and Bills again in the end.
10. Denver Broncos (11)
The Broncos have a real passing game again with Russell Wilson throwing to a healthy Courtland Sutton and others, but their strength might remain the running game with Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon. How good the defense supports that side will depend on how much Bradley Chubb can set the tone and get required help on every level.
11. Dallas Cowboys (7)
The Cowboys took a big preseason hit by losing irreplaceable left tackle Tyron Smith. They also are hurting for wide receiver depth (literally) for Dak Prescott with Amari Cooper gone. Although they can be still be efficient for Kellen Moore again, that limits their explosiveness. The defense needs to go from turnover-reliant to more consistent for Dallas to hold off Philadelphia in the NFC East again.
12. Philadelphia Eagles (13)
Speaking of those Eagles, they really need Jalen Hurts to take the next step as a passer with game-changer A.J. Brown now in the mix to help DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert. The offensive line rocks and the defense still has familiar pop. Regardless if they take back the East from the Cowboys, the Eagles should be set for playoff return.
13, Indianapolis Colts (12)
Matt Ryan has done the job so far of stabilizing Jonathan Taylor-centric run-heavy offense, finding his short-to-intermediate comfort zone with Michael Pittman Jr., Nyheim Hines and others. The defense did lose the coaching of Matt Ebeflus, but having DeForest Buckner, Shaquille Leonard and Kenny Moore on that side are three key reasons why Indy is a solid favorite to take back the AFC South.
14. Minnesota Vikings (22)
The Vikings have the best buzz among teams with rookie head coaches. Kevin O’Connell was the right hire to maximize an attack with Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook as the featured players. The defense also has some reinforcements and will be more supportive and complementary post Mike Zimmer.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers (20)
The Steelers are headed to a QB upgrade from Ben Roethlisberger whenever they feel good about getting rookie first-round pick Kenny Pickett to get the most of their various passing game weapons and also click playing off the running of Najee Harris. Mike Tomlin doesn’t have losing seasons and there’s his baseline of strong pass defense to play off more offensive juice.
16. Tennessee Titans (17)
The Titans have blown up their passing game around Ryan Tannehill and have Malik Willis to motivate him to rebound from his playoff struggles They will hope to maintian AFC power status by getting one more big healthy rushing season from Derrick Henry and seeing more critical returns from their defensive investments.
17. Arizona Cardinals (16)
The Cardinals overachieved in the NFC West last season and remain the clear third-best team behind the 49ers and Rams. There’s a lot of pressure on Kyler Murray to back up his contract without DeAndre Hopkins for a while. The real concern is having a defense with plenty of limitations.
18. Cleveland Browns (14)
The Browns drop down more as Jacoby Brissett will now need to start the majority of the season with Deshaun Watson’s suspension raised to 11 games. The Browns have the offensive line, running game and defense to stay competitive in the AFC North, but it’s a two-team race between the Ravens and Bengals with the Steelers now headed to have the better QB change.
19. Miami Dolphins (15)
Mike McDaniel looks like he will come through on having a fun offense around Tua Tagovailoa with Hill and Jaylen Waddle being the primary playmakers. The Dolphins might still have an uphill battle for the playoffs with the West and North likely to dominate the AFC wild cards.
20. New England Patriots (18)
The Patriots and their odd play-calling ways haven’t created much positive offensive buzz around Mac Jones, save for the running backs. They have still one of the league’s most limited passing games and Bill Belichick is stuck again needing to win battles of attrition with defense and special teams playing huge factors.
21. Las Vegas Raiders (19)
The Patriots don’t have the influence of Josh McDaniels, but you can bet he will open things up around Derek Carr with Davante Adams, Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow representing three diverse targets. The backfield is also taking shape with Josh Jacobs and beyond. The Raiders will be held back, however, by having the weakest overall defense in an offensively loaded division.
22. New Orleans Saints (21)
The Saints might be caught in an identity crisis as the move on without Sean Payton. Their post-Drew Brees success has been predicated much on the running game and defense, the latter being promoted Dennis Allen’s purview. They are trying to open up things and let loose in the passing game with James Winston, with rookie Chris Olave being a sizable. Well behind the Bucs, the Saints look for now to be a little below the muddled middle.
23. Detroit Lions (24)
The Lions aren’t just looking better because of starring in “Hard Knocks” and feeling Dan Campbell’s old-school motivation. Their offense has no issue with blocking and weapons around Jared Goff and there should be natural better return on defense with Aidan Hutchinson now leading the charge..
24. New York Jets (25)
The Jets’ offensive and defensive systems are too good to think there won’t some real improvement under Mike LaFleur and Robert Saleh in time as the team continued to stockpile the required personnel. How much better they perform hinges on Zach Wilson being healthy enough to show considerable Year 2 progress.
25. Chicago Bears (28)
Eberflus will do his best to get what’s left out of a Mack-less defense in transition, but the offense isn’t such a mess around Justin Fields with a real passing and running plan for him. The system is much better vs. how he got squandered under a reluctant Matt Nagy.
26. New York Giants (26)
The Giants remain in a holding pattern as one of the league’s boom-or-bust teams. There needs to be more curbed enthusiasm in expectations for Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley and the receivers, especially with big shematic adjustments under Daboll and Mike Kafka. The defense looks like the backbone, dependent on Barkley being healthy enough to offer the right support in the complementary running game.
27. Washington Commanders (23)
The Commanders haven’t wowed anyone offensively with serious concerns about Carson Wentz and Antonio Gibson in primary roles. Defensively, still waiting for impact from a healthy Chase Young is a big blow, given their pass rush and coverage limitations.
28. Carolina Panthers (27)
Baker Mayfield cleans up quarterback a bit, but there are still questions about Matt Rhule’s archaic approach of wanting to run oft-injury Christian McCaffrey into the ground and thinking about the passing game beyond McCaffrey later. The Panthers’ defense is not good enough to cash in often on that formula.
29. Atlanta Falcons (29)
There’s not much pop for Arthur Smith run-leaning offense as Marcus Mariota will depend plenty on Kyle Pitts and rookie Drake London. A.J. Terrell and Grady Jarrett have limited help on defense. This is a true rebuilding challenge after the Matt Ryan one and ahead of the Desmond Ridder one.
30. Jacksonville Jaguars (30)
The Jaguars have done well to flush away the bad feelings from the brief Urban Meyer with Doug Pederson bringing some offensive organization around Trevor Lawrence. Don’t forget about the needed massive defensive overhaul, either, powered by rookie No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker. There might be more lumps in a do-over season but they will come out of it ready for a potential turnaround in 2023.
31. Seattle Seahawks (29)
Geno Smith has gone from questionable backup plan for Russell Wilson to needing to start over the big-armed but still disappointing Drew Lock. That puts a ton on the running game dealing with injury issues and that formula won’t work with plenty of defensive holes remaining for Pete Carroll.
32. Houston Texans (32)
The Texans have some intriguing young talent offensively but there are some more shaky feelings developing about Davis Mills. Defensively, Lovie Smith has a few pieces, but not enough to slow down much again.
The Sporting News has joined with TicketSmarter in an exclusive partnership to provide tickets for sporting events in the U.S. and Canada. Fans can go to TicketSmarter with this link and use code TSN15 to take $15 off orders of $100 or more before fees and shipping.
Hits: 0
