2022 NFL Power Rankings Week 1

1. Buffalo Bills

Notes: It was the Super Bowl Champs against the Super Bowl favorites to open the 2022 regular season. The Los Angeles Rams fell flat, but the Buffalo Bills soared. MVP favorite Josh Allen had a record-breaking night for the Bills, as he opened the season nearly perfect. A couple of interceptions, that weren’t completely on him, soiled an otherwise spectacular night that saw Allen find Stefon Diggs, Gabriel Davis and Isaiah McKenzie for scores. Allen also put on a show as a ball carrier, taking ten carries for 56 yards and a rushing touchdown. The Bills’ defense, led by former Ram Von Miller, who recorded two of Buffalo’s seven sacks, was as sublime as its offense, picking Matt Stafford off thrice and limiting the Rams to just 52 rushing yards. Buffalo is riding high, as it takes on Tennessee this weekend.

2. Kansas City Chiefs

Notes (Week 1): Patrick Mahomes was nearly perfect against the Cardinals, 30-of-39 for 360 yards and five touchdowns. He found four different receivers for scores, including a recharged Clyde Edwards-Helaire twice. Helaire also led the team on the ground with seven carries for 42 yards, while Travis Kelce led through the air with 121 receiving yards and a score. Andy Reid continues to lead a winner.

Notes (Week 2): Mahomes struggled a little bit against a tougher Chargers’ defense. He faced a stronger rush than he did against the Cardinals in Week 1 and was sacked for the first time this season. He made a couple of mistakes, but they were overturned via a penalty and review. Still, he found Justin Watson and Jerrick McKinnon for touchdowns and gritted out a win against a strong opponent. Clyde Edwards-Helaire was once again a force through the air and on the ground, and Chris Jones could not be contained, finding Justin Herbert for two sacks.

3. Philadelphia Eagles

Notes: Jalen Hurts came out strong against Detroit. He found receiver AJ Brown ten times for 155 yards, and finished the day 18-of-32 for 243 yards and no turnovers. Hurts was a force on the ground, carrying the ball 17 times for 90 yards and one of the four rushing scores the Eagles put on the Lions. Miles Sanders led Pilly with 13 carries for 96 yards and a score, while Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott also found paydirt. Detroit mounted a fierce comeback but James Bradberry, Marcus Epps and the Philly defense held on. The Eagles are going to be tough in ’22.

4. Miami Dolphins

Notes: Tyreek Hill makes Tua Tagovailoa a better quarterback. He reeled in eight of his 12 targets for 94 yards, while Jalen Waddle added 69 yards and a touchdown on four receptions. I was interested to see how the busy backfield would shake out in Miami, and it seems Chase Edmonds is going to be the lead back, for what he provides as both a runner and receiver. Raheem Mostert also factored in heavily to the Dolphins’ offensive gameplan, to a lesser extent, but it felt reminiscent of the old school Dolphins (early to mid-2000s), where a strong running game was complimented by a strong defense. On the defensive side of the ball, Miami was brilliant, as Brandon Jones and Melvin Ingram stole the show. Jones, who finished the day with a team-high 11 total tackles, also recorded a strip sack on Mac Jones in the first quarter that Ingram took into the endzone for a momentum shifting score. Mike McDaniel took down future HOFer Bill Belichick in his first game as a head coach, and he has me excited about the direction of this team—even as a Brian Flores stan.

5. Minnesota Vikings

Notes: I do not care for Kirk Cousins, which has slightly more to do with his frustrating mediocrity than his playing golf with Donald Trump. Cousins’ mediocrity, however, can be covered when you give him a clean pocket (he was sacked just once), a strong run game (Dalvin Cook took 20 carries for 90 yards and Alexander Mattison added another 36 yards on eight carries), and Justin Jefferson (who torched the Packers secondary for 184 yards and two touchdowns on nine receptions). Furthermore, Cousins almost looked elite, when his defense sacked Aaron Rodgers four times (Jordan Hicks led the team with 14 total tackles and a sack), forced him into mistakes (including an interception by Harrison Smith), and kept him under 200 yards (Rodgers finished 22-of-34 for 195 yards and no scores). Kevin O’Connell looks like he is running the Vikings’ ship right so far.

6. Baltimore Ravens

Notes: The Ravens got a softball against the Jets in Week 1. They went up against their former QB Joe Flacco, and essentially the same Jets team that has existed for the last decade plus. Lamar Jackson completed a little more than 50 percent of his passes for 213 yards and three touchdowns and an interception. It was a mediocre day for Jackson, who carried the ball for just 17 yards on six carries. I honestly did not love what I saw from a team I believe could compete for a title this season. This was once the most run-heavy team in football, but they managed just 63 total rushing yards against the JETS! Jackson did manage to find Devin Duvernay for two scores and Rashod Bateman for one. The defense also looked strong once again, recording three sacks and a Marcus Williams interception. But, something must change offensively, or the Ravens might find themselves fall behind quickly in a highly competitive AFC North.

7. Los Angeles Chargers

Notes (Week 1): The Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Chargers entered 2022 with high expectations, and the Chargers did not disappoint in their home opener. LA’s defense was a force, as it bullied Derek Carr into three interceptions and two fumbles. Ex-Raider Khalil Mack led the assault on his former teammate, sacking Carr three times and forcing a fumble, while Joey Bosa forced the other and added another sack and a half. The Chargers had no trouble on offense as QB Justin Herbert found nine receivers for multiple receptions—three of them for touchdowns. Austin Ekeler was quiet in a busy backfield, but was reliable as a receiver, reeling in all four of his targets. Things looked excellent for this LA team.

Notes (Week 2): I would love to see even more of Austin Ekeler as both a runner and receiver, and I believe we would if not for his injury history. Justin Herbert was all grit in Week 2, staying in to give the Chargers a chance against the Chiefs, even after suffering an apparent rib injury late in the fourth. The Chiefs capitalized on the Chargers’ mistakes, but Herbert kept his team in the game through its bitter end, finding Josh Palmer for a crucial touchdown with 1:15 left. It was a tough loss to a strong opponent on the road, and LA should find a way to bounce back—if Herbert is good to go.

8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Notes: Leonard Fournette silenced his critics in Week 1, carrying the ball 21 times for 127 yards, but his quarterback did not look nearly as crisp. Tom Brady was just 18-of-27 for 212 yards with a touchdown and a pick. He seemed to be happy to have Julio Jones, who was active on offense with three receptions and two carries for a total of 86 yards on the night. Devin White had himself a day, with eight total tackles and two sacks and the Bucs’ defense broke Dak Prescott, who will likely miss two months. It seemed to be business as usual for Brady’s coworkers, but the man himself looks conflicted. I believe this will be Brady’s final season in the NFL, not because he wants it to be, but because I believe his life outside of the game is beginning to suffer as a result of his dedication to it. He married a woman who was willing to put her celebrity career on hold for his football dreams, but she is ready to reenter the workforce and expects Brady to be there for her and his family. If Brady can get his affairs in order, the sky is the limit for the Buccaneers again this season, but if he can’t, his final season as a quarterback in the NFL may be forgettable.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers

Notes: Not many people expected the Steelers to come out and slap the Cincinnati Bengals in the face as much as they did Sunday. Pittsburgh’s defense forced Joe Burrow into four interceptions and two fumbles, which resulted in five total turnovers from the reining AFC Championship QB. Minkah Fitzpatrick, Alex Highsmith and TJ Watt were outstanding in the opener, but Watt might miss a big chunk of the season, after leaving Cincinnati with an injury. Defense is Pittsburgh’s bread and butter, so we will see how it fills the gap left by Watt.

10. Las Vegas Raiders

Notes: Not the 2022 debut Vegas was looking for, as it watched QB Derek Carr hit the ground six times, lose the football twice and throw three interceptions. Some good news is that the connection between Carr and Davante Adams looked as strong as ever and Darren Waller was healthy enough to record some stats. On defense, the Maxx Crosby, Chandler Jones duo produced exactly zero sacks, and the team’s lack of pressure on Justin Herbert allowed him to thrive. If the Raiders can keep Carr clean and if Crosby and Jones start living up to the hype, Vegas will be fine. If not, Josh McDaniels may have another exceedingly short tenure as a head coach.

11. Cincinnati Bengals

12. New Orleans Saints

13. Cleveland Browns

14. Detroit Lions

Notes: We know exactly who Jared Goff is at this point. He found Amon Ra St. Brown and DJ Chark for scores, but otherwise had a fairly mediocre day. DeAndre Swift and Jamaal Williams are the strength of the Motor City, Swift had 144 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, while Williams added another two scores on 11 carries.

15. Atlanta Falcons

16. Carolina Panthers

17. Chicago Bears

Notes: Justin Fields looked like a new man in the Bears new offense. He was moving well, and for only completing eight passes, he certainly made his presence felt. David Montgomery was outshined by both Fields and Khalil Herbert in the run game, but Montgomery was active in the pass game, reeling in three of his team-high four targets. Something Chicago must focus on this season is mending its relationship with LB Roquan Smith. He is pivotal to the success of this defense and the future of this team.

18. Washington Commanders

19. Seattle Seahawks

20. Denver Broncos

21. New York Giants

22. Indianapolis Colts

23. Houston Texans

24. Jacksonville Jaguars

25. Tennessee Titans

26. Arizona Cardinals

Notes: James Connor had ten carries and a touchdown, but for as incredibly strong as he is, his best work comes in goal to go situations. He needs an every-down compliment, and if Alexander Mattison is available, the Cardinals should broker a deal. Kyler Murray made a lot of noise this offseason but did not outshine Patrick Mahomes on Sunday. Without DeAndre Hopkins, Murray’s favorite target was… Greg Dortch? He did manage to find Marquise Brown and Zach Ertz for touchdowns, but Murray’s overall performance felt underwhelming. As for Arizona’s defense, it was downright awful. Mahomes had his way with Arizona’s secondary and received virtually no pressure from its line. Everything needs to turn around fast for the Cardinals, or Kliff Kingsbury may find himself on the hot seat early.

27. San Francisco 49ers

Notes: There were some positives with the Niners on Sunday, but they were washed away by the rain. The jury remains out on Trey Lance, but he and Deebo carried the ball well against the Bears. I will put blame for the mistakes on the rain, but Week 2 needs to be a lot cleaner if San Francisco wants to tally its first victory.

28. Los Angeles Rams

Notes: That was about as close to a nightmare as can get for it a team coming off a Super Bowl victory. Stafford tossed three interceptions, Cam Akers had three carries for no yards, Allen Robinson had two targets the entire night and Jalen Ramsey allowed a perfect (158.3) passer rating. Aaron Donald and Bobby Wagner were quiet too, with a sack apiece. I’m starting the Rams low and giving them room to turn it around… if they can.

29. Green Bay Packers

Notes: I do not think people understand that these Power Rankings are based on how teams do during the season. The Packers did not perform well in Week 1, and that is why they are just above the Jets in these rankings, OK? Now that we have that settled, the Packers looked awful. These were the results of Green Bay’s possessions on Sunday; punt, punt, downs, punt, interception, end of half, fumble, TD, punt, downs, end of game. Aaron Rodgers does not look like the reining MVP.

30. New York Jets

Notes: Did you know that Joe Flacco, at 37, attempted 59 passes on Sunday? I heard the Mike White chants from the crowd, and I do not disagree, Flacco has no business throwing near 60 passes in a nine point effort. For reference, Joe Burrow was second in the League with 53 attempted passes—and his team went to overtime.

31. New England Patriots

Notes: The Patriots look like hot garbage. Maybe Mac Jones is hurt, or maybe Checkdown Mac is just not the heir to Brady that Belichick hoped he would be. Anyway, the Patriots had no answer for the Dolphins—on offense or defense.

32. Dallas Cowboys

Notes: Not only did the Cowboys get embarrassed in Prime Time, but they only put up three points and lost starting QB Dak Prescott for at least a quarter of the season.