I’m going to use these rankings as the order for my 2023 NFL Mock Draft during the early stages of the 2022 season. Follow @walterfootball.
I’ve gone from WORST to FIRST, so if you don’t see reverse numbering (via Javascript), don’t worry; the Panthers and Texans aren’t my top teams.
NFL Power Rankings updated Dec. 6, 2022
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Houston Texans (1-10-1) – Previously: 32.
I promised I would never bet the Texans again after their disgusting effort against the Redskins. I broke my promise and paid the price. I was convinced they’d win because the Cleveland game was their Super Bowl. They tried hard, but their offense allowed 14 points, while their special teams gave up another seven. I still don’t get how Cleveland got to 27 without a single offensive touchdown. What a joke.
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Los Angeles Rams (3-9) – Previously: 31.
No Matthew Stafford, no Cooper Kupp, no Aaron Donald. No problem? The Rams almost beat the Seahawks without three of their four pillars. Their offensive line looked much better with Brian Allen returning from injury. Also, where did this Brandon Powell guy come from? He nearly broke the ankles of every single Seattle defender.
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Chicago Bears (3-10) – Previously: 30.
These losses are great for the Bears, except for those who bet them and watch them squander a sure cover. They might be able to auction off the No. 2 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft to the highest bidder, as there will be plenty of teams desperate to move up for a quarterback. Go here to see my 2023 NFL Mock Draft.
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Atlanta Falcons (5-8) – Previously: 29.
Overrated NFL Team: See why the Falcons are an overrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.
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Jacksonville Jaguars (4-8) – Previously: 28.
The Jaguars’ three wins this year prior to the Baltimore game have come against two injury-ravaged teams (Colts, Chargers) and the Raiders, who were completely lifeless in the second half. Thus, it wasn’t a surprise that the Jaguars lost to the Lions. I don’t think anyone expected a blowout, but that just shows how bad Jacksonville’s defense is.
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Cleveland Browns (5-7) – Previously: 20.
The Browns look a lot worse with Deshaun Watson. Granted, Watson came into the Houston game after missing two years, but he was extremely rusty. Jacoby Brissett had been playing well all year, and it wasn’t his fault that the Browns were 4-7 heading into Houston. I’ve dropped the Browns because they’ve gotten worse with Watson, at least temporarily.
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Denver Broncos (3-9) – Previously: 27.
The Broncos bounced back nicely, even after Russell Wilson’s birthday party was a flop. Denver had a 9-3 lead with five minutes to go despite being a huge underdog against the Ravens. Baltimore needed a penalty-aided drive to get them the win.
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Green Bay Packers (5-8) – Previously: 26.
How disappointed were the Packers that Aaron Rodgers was able to play? It was a total disaster. Not only did Rodgers lead the team to a win that ruined draft positioning; the coaching staff didn’t get to have a look at “No Cookie” Jordan Love.
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New York Giants (7-4-1) – Previously: 24.
Overrated NFL Team: See why the Giants are an overrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.
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New Orleans Saints (4-9) – Previously: 23.
The Saints were gifted a win on a silver platter by a tired 49er team, but they fumbled the game away. They were also given another win on a silver platter versus the Buccaneers, but they blew a 13-point lead with five minutes to go, thanks to drops and horrible time management. The Saints can do better than Dennis Allen.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6) – Previously: 22.
The media is already gushing about the Buccaneers’ comeback victory over the Saints, but they were dominated for three-and-a-half quarters by a bad team. Beating the Saints by one is not impressive by any means.
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Carolina Panthers (4-8) – Previously: 21.
The Panthers are just one win out of the divisional lead, and they’ve already beaten the Buccaneers. They have a legitimate chance to claim the division with their stellar defense. The offense, meanwhile, looks functional with Sam Darnold, which is why they’re getting a big bump this week.
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Indianapolis Colts (4-8-1) – Previously: 18.
Underrated NFL Team: See why the Colts are an underrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.
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Arizona Cardinals (4-8) – Previously: 17.
Underrated NFL Team: See why the Cardinals are an underrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.
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San Angeles Chargers (6-6) – Previously: 15.
Overrated NFL Team: See why the Chargers are an overrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.
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Las Vegas Raiders (5-7) – Previously: 25.
The Raiders have won three in a row, as their pass rush has improved tremendously during this span. Josh Jacobs and Davante Adams have been awesome as well. Could the Raiders run the table and sneak into the playoffs at 10-7? Probably not, but it’ll be fun to watch.
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Seattle Seahawks (7-5) – Previously: 14.
The Seahawks haven’t been impressive at all in their previous three games. They were dominated the Buccaneers (albeit in a 6:30 a.m. local start), lost to the Raiders, and struggled to get past the terrible Rams. Their defense has been very weak to the run in that span.
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Washington Redskins (7-5-1) – Previously: 13.
Washington’s defense has suddenly become awesome, while the running game has improved. The Redskins also have some talented receivers. They would be a legitimate Super Bowl contender if they just had stronger quarterback play, but Taylor Heinicke continues to loft miserable floaters that are begging to be intercepted. Sadly, this is still better than what Washington was getting out of Carson Wentz.
I think this is the third week in a row I’ve had this analysis for the Redskins, but it still holds true. Heinicke gift-wrapped the Giants their only points after halftime with a lost fumble on a strip-sack, and he was almost intercepted on another one of his ugly floaters.
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Detroit Lions (5-7) – Previously: 19.
The Lions are now 5-7, yet they could be 7-5 or even better if they didn’t have terrible luck earlier in the season. It seems as though people are finally beginning to realize that they are a solid team.
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Pittsburgh Steelers (5-7) – Previously: 16.
Underrated NFL Team: See why the Steelers are an underrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.
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New England Patriots (6-6) – Previously: 12.
Bill Belichick has done a poor job of coaching his team the past two weeks. Against the Vikings, it was the two special-teams blunder leading to 14 Minnesota points. Against the Bills, Belichick opted not to go for it on a fourth-and-7 while down 17 near midfield in the final quarter. Plus, he refused to bench Mac Jones when Bailey Zappe is clearly the better option.
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Baltimore Ravens (8-4) – Previously: 9.
The Ravens could be 12-0 right now. They lost fourth-quarter leads against the Dolphins and Bills, and they should have defeated the Giants. They outgained New York, 406-238, and averaged almost four more yards per play. The Ravens just lost to the Jaguars, but they outgained them as well! That said, Baltimore has been very unimpressive lately, particularly concerning its leaky offensive line.
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Tennessee Titans (7-5) – Previously: 10.
The blowout loss to the Eagles was yet another example of why the Titans will never win the Super Bowl with Ryan Tannehill as their starter. They’ll always be competitive because they’re coached so well, and they can run the ball and play good defense most of the time, but when things go south with Derrick Henry, Tannehill can’t beat good defenses.
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New York Jets (7-5) – Previously: 8.
The Jets were one yard away from beating the Vikings, but Braxton Berrios dropped a touchdown. Also, why do teams insist on putting their quarterbacks in shotgun on goal-to-go situations at the 1-yard line? It always fails!
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Minnesota Vikings (10-2) – Previously: 11.
Overrated NFL Team: See why the Vikings are an overrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.
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Miami Dolphins (8-4) – Previously: 7.
It’s difficult to penalize the Dolphins for their loss to the 49ers. First of all, they were battling a better team, and second, they did so without either starting offensive tackle. The Miami-San Francisco affair would have been much different if just one of the tackles happened to be on the field.
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San Francisco 49ers (8-4) – Previously: 4.
Jimmy Garoppolo is out for the year, hence the slight drop. However, the 49ers still have one of the best rosters in the NFL, so they’re still a threat to make a deep playoff run. Brock Purdy may just be a seventh-round rookie, but I was very impressed with him in the preseason.
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Dallas Cowboys (9-3) – Previously: 5.
I almost listed the Cowboys as overrated following their 54-point output against the Colts. People who didn’t watch the game will look at the 54-19 score and be amazed, but they’ll have no idea that the Dallas-Indianapolis affair was a 21-19 defensive grinder heading into the fourth quarter. Plenty of fluky plays gave the Cowboys a huge win, so they’ll be overpriced now as a result.
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Kansas City Chiefs (9-3) – Previously: 2.
The Chiefs lost once again to Joe Burrow because their high-blitz defense is such a bad matchup against him. Kansas City’s defense as a whole has been bad, which is why it nearly lost to the Raiders and Malik Willis-led Titans earlier in the year.
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Cincinnati Bengals (8-4) – Previously: 6.
Ja’Marr Chase is back, which makes the Bengals elite once again. They’re once again peaking at the right time, and they’ll be extremely difficult to beat in the playoffs.
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Philadelphia Eagles (11-1) – Previously: 3.
So much for being terrible against the run! If Jordan Davis can continue to stuff great backs like Derrick Henry, the Eagles will be nearly impossible to beat in the playoffs.
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Buffalo Bills (9-3) – Previously: 1.
The Bills definitely found something with James Cook, who had a breakout performance against the Patriots. Buffalo hasn’t possessed a dynamic threat in the backfield, but that has apparently changed in the wake of Cook emerging.
2022 NFL MVP Race:
1. Jalen Hurts, QB, Eagles
2. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs
3. Justin Jefferson, WR, Vikings
4. Josh Allen, QB, Bills
5. Joe Burrow, QB, Bengals
2024 NFL Mock Draft - April 23
NFL Power Rankings - Feb. 22
Fantasy Football Rankings - Feb. 19
NFL Picks - Feb. 12
2022 NFL Power Rankings. Week: Post-Super Bowl Power Rankings | Post-Free Agency Power Rankings | Post-NFL Draft Power Rankings | Post-Preseason Power Rankings | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17
2021 NFL Power Rankings. Week: Post-Super Bowl Power Rankings | Preseason Power Rankings | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | Playoffs |
2020 NFL Power Rankings. Week: Post-Super Bowl Power Rankings 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Playoffs |
