Who is the best team in the NFL? The return of our 2022 NFL power rankings takes a look at what teams will be competing for a Super Bowl this season and which clubs will be in the race for Bryce Young. From the start of the preseason to the final whistle, the 2022 NFL season should be fascinating.
Week 3 provided some unbelievable finishes with comebacks that dramatically shook up the outlook for the league and influenced perspectives on a variety of teams.
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Bookmark this page throughout the season for updates to our weekly NFL power rankings. Let’s look at how all 32 teams performed this weekend as we dive into our NFL power rankings for Week 4.
32. Houston Texans (27)
Davis Mills played well for a rookie quarterback in 2021, showing flashes that hinted at some starting-caliber potential. Through three games, fans have been reminded why he slipped to the 67th overall pick and why the Houston Texans certainly don’t view him as the long-term solution.
31. Seattle Seahawks (29)
This is exactly how the Seattle Seahawks want their season to unfold. They ruined Russell Wilson’s debut with the Denver Broncos, picking up a win that excited the fan base. The losses are all about securing a top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, finding the next franchise quarterback to lead this team.
30. New York Jets (30)
Zach Wilson is expected to return in Week 4 and that’s all that matters for the New York Jets. The remainder of the season is all about Wilson proving he can be a franchise-caliber quarterback and Ahmaud ‘Sauce’ Gardner flashing more of the talent he showed on Sunday.
29. Chicago Bears (31)
The record doesn’t matter for the Chicago Bears. Circumstances needed to be perfect to beat the Houston Texans and the weather had everything to do with the Week 1 victory. Frankly, the only thing these games are doing is hurting Chicago’s draft position.
28. Atlanta Falcons (32)
Credit to the Atlanta Falcons for turning competitive losses the first two weeks into a victory. It certainly helps facing one of the worst NFL teams, but Atlanta proved in Weeks 1 and 2 that it knows how to keep games close. We wouldn’t anticipate a win in Week 4, but a one-score loss to the Cleveland Browns is doable.
27. Washington Commanders (23)
The Washington Commanders are sliding back down to earth, playing like a club many projected to finish near the bottom of the standings. Washington’s defense keeps having issues and now the offensive line is becoming a problem. None of that bodes well for a Week 4 draw against the Dallas Cowboys.
Related: Washington Commanders schedule
26. New England Patriots (22)
The Mac Jones injury is going to make a challenging New England Patriots’ season even worse. Broadcasters are easily predicting whether New England is going to run or pass it, which says even more about what opponents must be picking up on. Things will get ugly in Week 4 against the Green Bay Packers.
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25. Pittsburgh Steelers (24)
If the Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t making a quarterback change, this will be one of the worst NFL teams in 2022 until T.J. Watt returns. Pittsburgh can’t generate consistent pressure without its All-Pro edge rusher, exposing its secondary and also making life harder for the run defense. Combine that with an offense averaging 16.5 points in its last two games and just 272.7 total yards per game on the season, it’s not out of the question to think the Steelers lose to New York in Week 4 and drop further in the NFL power rankings.
24. Las Vegas Raiders (16)
Only six NFL teams have made the playoffs after starting the season with an 0-3 record. In an ultra-competitive conference with more teams rising, it seems highly unlikely that the Las Vegas Raiders join that exclusive club. After investing so much money into the roster this offseason, Las Vegas now finds itself near the bottom of NFL power rankings heading into October.
23. Tennessee Titans (28)
Derrick Henry looked more like his best self on Sunday, accounting for 143 scrimmage yards and a touchdown in a 24-22 victory. It’s nice to see the 6-foot-3 running back show some of his old form, but that might be a greater statement of the Raiders’ defense. It’s going to take a win over the Indianapolis Colts for anyone to believe Tennessee is on its way back.
22. New York Giants (19)
21. New Orleans Saints (19)
Jameis Winston has reminded everyone of who he really is. If you put him behind a great offensive line and a phenomenal play-caller is with him, the warts aren’t at noticeable. That’s not the situation the New Orleans Saints find themselves in. Andy Dalton isn’t taking over yet, but it might not be long before he moves into the lineup.
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20. Arizona Cardinals (11)
The Arizona Cardinals have used garbage time twice to pad the stats and make an underwhelming offense look better in the box score. The comeback victory over the Las Vegas Raiders also looks far less impressive now, too. If Arizona can’t beat the Carolina Panthers, it might be time to view it as one of the worst NFL teams.
19. Carolina Panthers (26)
After losing the first two games by a combined five points, the Carolina Panthers single-handedly delivered the first victory of the season. Offensively, Christian McCaffrey looks like his old self but that’s all that can be said positively for this side of the ball. Fortunately, a defense playing this well could take down Arizona in Week 4 and help the Panthers claw their way further up the NFL power rankings.
New York’s 2-0 start seemed like a fluke with Daniel Jones looking every bit the part of the below-average quarterback we’ve come to known. That all came out in a big way following the Giants’ 23-16 loss to the division-rival Dallas Cowboys in Week 3. Jones was sacked five times and pressured on more than half of his drop backs. New York’s defense allowed three consecutive scoring drives to be led by backup Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush in the second half. And in reality, it has the Giants in their rightful spots in our updated NFL power rankings.
18. Cleveland Browns (21)
Things are looking up for the Cleveland Browns. Already at 2-1, quarterback Jacoby Brissett is playing above expectations and this offense is functioning nicely. A Week 4 draw against the Atlanta Falcons shouldn’t slow things down whatsoever, likely pushing the Browns to 3-1 before a difficult stretch in their schedule.
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17. Detroit Lions (17)
The Detroit Lions feel like the opposite of the Denver Broncos. While they are 1-2 on the season, losses to the Philadelphia Eagles (38-35) and Minnesota Vikings (28-24) highlight how competitive Detroit is against some of the best NFL teams this season. With the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots on deck, Detroit could surpass its 2021 win total before Week 6.
Related: Detroit Lions schedule
16. San Francisco 49ers (7)
Jimmy Garoppolo behind an elite offensive line with a great rushing attack is a functional starter. Remove that from the equation and it becomes indisputable that he is a bridge quarterback. The San Francisco 49ers offensive line is a shell of what it used to be and Kyle Shanahan’s offense isn’t firing on all cylinders right now. This is the first steep drop in the NFL power rankings for the 49ers and a loss to the Rams in Week 4 will sink them further.
15. Indianapolis Colts (18)
A lot went right for the Indianapolis Colts in their home opener. The positive is they walked away with a win and it was vital with the ascension of the Jacksonville Jaguars. We’ll see how this offense progresses moving forward, but Sunday was a step forward for the defense.
14. Denver Broncos (12)
The Denver Broncos won in Week 3, but it certainly didn’t feel like it. Russell Wilson delivered one good drive, with everything outside of that casting further doubt on the quarterback and Nathaniel Hackett. Denver certainly doesn’t look like one of the best teams in the AFC right now, but winning ugly games might get them into the playoffs.
13. Jacksonville Jaguars (25)
This might go down as one of the biggest spikes ever in Sportsnaut’s NFL power rankings. Beating the Colts in Florida has become typical for this franchise, but consecutive double-digit wins says so much more about the Jacksonville Jaguars. This is already the most-improved team in the NFL with an exciting offense and an underrated defense. If the Jaguars pull off a Week 4 upset over the Philadelphia Eagles, we can start to talk about this team as a dark horse Super Bowl threat.
12. Los Angeles Chargers (5)
The Los Angeles Chargers’ hype bubble popped. After a pick-six wiped out a defining victory in Week 2, the Chargers’ offense lacked any electricity in Florida. To make matters worse, Joey Bosa left with a groin injury and Justin Herbert‘s rib cartilage damage will bother him for months.
11. Dallas Cowboys (14)
Dallas is now 2-0 with Cooper Rush as its starting quarterback. After leading the Cowboys to a Week 2 win over the defending AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals, Rush continued his excellent play against the New York Giants on Monday night. He led three consecutive scoring drives in the second half, completing 13-of-15 passes during that span. Stars Ezekiel Elliott and CeeDee Lamb finally got it going. Meanwhile, Dallas’ defense (12 QB hits and five sacks) controlled the trenches in a 23-16 win. Set to return Dak Prescott here soon, these Cowboys are on an upward trajectory in our NFL power rankings heading into Week 4.
10. Cincinnati Bengals (15)
Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals saved their season in Week 3. It certainly helps that the Jets’ defense struggles to even get within five yards of a quarterback. With that said, a home win over the previously undefeated Miami Dolphins was absolutely huge. Joe Burrow played his second consecutive excellent game while the Bengals’ defense held Miami to three second-half points.
9. Minnesota Vikings (13)
Kirk Cousins is an outstanding quarterback in the comfort of daylight. Trailing 24-14 with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Minnesota Vikings quarterback responded with 14 unanswered points for an important comeback against a strong divisional foe. Cousins’ nighttime terrors will be put to the test in Week 4 with a kickoff at 9:30 AM ET but 4:30 PM in London and it’s a nationally-televised game. We can’t wait to see what British Summer Time does to Cousins.
Related: Minnesota Vikings schedule
8. Baltimore Ravens (10)
The Baltimore Ravens were foolish this offseason. By not offering Lamar Jackson a contract that would have made him one of the two highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL, the franchise cost itself even more money long-term. Jackson is playing even better than he did in his 2019 MVP season and we still haven’t seen a healthy Ravens’ offense yet. Jackson is following the Aaron Judge path, delivering a historic season in a contract year.
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7. Los Angeles Rams (9)
A small step forward by the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3. They knocked around the Cardinals the way you’d expect one of the best NFL teams to handle a Kliff Kingsbury-coached club. This is a nice step forward, but it’s going to take a decisive road win in San Francisco on Monday Night Football for Los Angeles to prove its back for good.
6. Kansas City Chiefs (2)
The Kansas City Chiefs are entirely responsible for their own collapse in the Week 3 NFL power rankings. Mistakes on special teams resulted in an 11-point swing and Andy Reid’s lack of faith in his backup kicker became clear late in the game. After a 2-0 start, the Chiefs could be destined for a 2-2 record if they don’t clean things up before facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be one of the best NFL teams when healthy. Chris Godwin, Mike Evans and Donovan Smith should all return in the near future. Once that happens, an offense with three touchdowns in its first three games should return closer to form. If there’s one area of concern, we’d point to the offensive line that is clearly a step down from the front that protected Tom Brady so well in previous years.
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4. Buffalo Bills (1)
Playing without nearly half of their defensive starters, the Buffalo Bills defense exceeded expectations in Week 3. Sunday’s loss came down to penalties (seven), problems in the red zone (50% conversion rate) and some mental mistakes. Expect the offense to rebound vs a Ravens’ secondary that allows an abundance of big plays.
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3. Miami Dolphins (8)
More so than losing their first game of the season Thursday night, the Tua Tagovailoa injury is something to watch here. He exited in the second quarter on a stretcher and was ambulanced to the hospital with a neck injury. The good news? Tua was released from the hospital and traveled back to Miami with the team. The bad news? This could be a long-term injury. We will have to wait and see.
2. Green Bay Packers (6)
A much-needed win for Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. A pair of early touchdown drives proved to be all Green Bay needed on a day when its defense put on a performance to remember. Getting that road victory over Brady and the return of David Bakhtiari is huge for the Packers moving forward.
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1. Philadelphia Eagles (4)
The Philadelphia Eagles are the best team in the NFL. On a Sunday when the top three teams in the NFL power rankings tumbled, there was no question who would grab the No. 1 spot. Jalen Hurts is playing like an NFL MVP, Philadelphia has the No. 1 defense in the NFL and its offense is elite. Combine that with excellent coaching and the best roster in the NFL, it puts Philly No. 1 in the rankings was an easy decision.
Feedback on Sportsnaut’s NFL power rankings can be sent on Twitter to @MattJ_Sports
This article was originally published on Sportsnaut.com and is republished here with permission.
