The NFL offense rankings are the glamour list of the league. While laying the smackdown on defense is great, scoring with the rock is the name of the game. The defense may win championships, but the offense is what fills the stadiums.
In this space, you will find a ranking of the 20 premier offensive units from the 2022 NFL season. We review their performance this past season and offer up an outlook on each squad heading into the offseason.
Related: NFL standings 2022 – Find out who are the latest leaders in each division
Now, feast your eyes on the latest NFL offensive rankings with the 2022 NFL regular-season and playoffs in the books.
20. New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints were hampered by a mediocre quarterback situation this season. While veteran Andy Dalton had his moments as he filled in for much of the season with Week 1 starter Jameis Winston going down early in the season, the offense did not soar as consistently as it could have.
Since the team owns the tenth pick in the NFL draft, they may have a chance at scooping up one of the talented QBs that could be taken in the first round. They already have a couple of high-level skills players like Alvin Kamara and 2021 first-round pick Olave for a future franchise QB to play with.
19. Carolina Panthers
Despite being a mess for much of the season — especially when Baker Mayfield was under center — the Carolina Panthers had a strong finish to the 2022 season. Furthermore, Sam Darnold showed some of the upsides that made the team trade for him two seasons ago, in the final weeks of the schedule.
Now, with new head coach Frank Reich, there is hope the Carolina offense could see a major jump forward next season. The team has the ninth pick in the NFL draft and certainly may be aiming for a QB at that pick or higher up via trade.
18. Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons were a force on offense by the middle of the season. Having an elite rushing unit led by free agent acquisition Marcus Mariotta — who was playing far better than expected. However, the unit eventually faltered and the veteran was benched for rookie Desmond Ridder. Heading into the offseason, the team is hopeful Ridder can continue to develop and form a talented trio with 2021 top pick Drake London and Cordarelle Patterson.
17. Baltimore Ravens
Unsurprisingly, when superstar QB Lamar Jackson was on the field, the Baltimore Ravens offense was deserving of respect. When he wasn’t — like in the final weeks of the season and the Wild Card Round — the group badly struggled. They need more weapons on offense, but the top priority of the offseason will be trying to lock Jackson into a long-term contract after failing in negotiations last year.
16. Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers offense was a disappointment in 2022, despite being led by a four-time NFL MVP. Aaron Rodgers and his receivers didn’t develop chemistry until late in the year, and the running game was not as good as hoped. It put them in a win-and-in situation in the final week. They lost, unfortunately. Now, as they head into the season a paradigm shift could come as the team may trade away Rodgers and moves into the Jordan Love era at QB.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
When it came to the passing side of things, despite injuries to their receiving corp throughout the season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a top-10 attack. However, even Tom Brady could do nothing improve the imbalance of having an awful rushing attack. Many changes could come to this unit in the offseason, starting at QB following the retirement of the legendary signal-caller in February.
14. Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders offense was very frustrating throughout the 2022 season. They had all the weapons that should have added up to be an elite group, but the various elements had trouble meshing with the style of new head coach Josh McDaniels. It led to Derek Carr being benched and the team now looking for a new starter on the trade market and in NFL free agency.
Beyond QB, the team must decide if they can re-sign Josh Jacobs after a career year just in time for free agency.
13. New York Giants
The New York Giants’ success on offense this season was as much about schematics as it was the group’s actual talent. However, Daniel Jones had his best season in the league under “Coach of the Year” award winner Brian Daboll, and Saquon Barkley returned to his Pro Bowl form under the new coach.
However, both key members of the offense are free agents this spring. The Giants have some tough decisions to make on who could get a franchise tag and which to roll the dice in contract talks with. New York also badly needs to find upgrades in the draft or free-agent market at wide receiver.
12. Seattle Seahawks
Nfl Cardinals Vs Seahawks Seattle Seahawks At Arizona Cardinals
The Seattle Seahawks surprised on offense in a major way this season. Especially at QB where Geno Smith made the transition away from the Russell Wilson era seamless with a Pro Bowl season. They also may have found a long-term fit at starting running back with Kenneth Walker III.
However, Smith is a free agent, and while the team wants to retain him he is out to likely get the last major deal of his career. They can also use a franchise tag on him but that also has its own risks.
11. Miami Dolphins
Tyreek Hill lived up to the hype after the team gave up a lot of high-end draft picks for the superstar wide receiver in the offseason. He and Jaylen Waddle were a dynamite combo in 2022 when Tua Tagovailoa was on, and healthy. That wasn’t a constant this season.
While Tagovailoa did have his best season yet, his battle with concussions is a short and long-term problem to monitor with the young QB going forward. They should also use a second-day pick in the draft to find a running back diamond in the rough to upgrade that spot ahead of next season.
NFL offense rankings: 10 best 2022
10. Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert continued to evolve into a budding superstar in 2022 but injuries to his receivers hampered the offense at times throughout the season. They also were not as dynamic out of the backfield as they need to be. This offense has serious upside going forward because of the talent of Herbert but they may need to place different weapons around him in 2023.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars
With new head coach Doug Pederson leading the team, Trevor Lawrence and the offense were far more potent in 2022. One of the best signs about this group heading into 2023 beyond their playoff birth and win, but they got better later in the year and showed a solid comeback ability as well. If Lawrence can continue to grow, this group is a favorite to win the division again next season.
8. Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys had a very good offense in 2022, but it should have been better. Dak Prescott missed the first quarter of the season, and after catching fire at the midway point, he became an interception machine in the final weeks. The talent is there, but there is still much to clean up on offense next season. Maybe that happens with head coach Mike McCarthy now set to call the plays.
They also have some big free-agent questions to address with both Ezekiel Elliot and Tony Pollard up for grabs, as well as tight end Dalton Schultz.
7. San Francisco 49ers
Despite a frustrating playoff finish, the San Francisco 49ers earned their top-10 spot in the NFL offense rankings. Rookie Brock Purdy was a revelation late in the year, and Christian McCaffrey was everything the offense needed in the second half. They were one of the best NFL offenses to finish the season and have a world of upside heading into 2023. Purdy, McCaffrey, and Deebo Samuel could become the new “Big Three” of the NFC.
6. Minnesota Vikings
Until the last few weeks, the Minnesota Vikings offense was near the top of our NFL offense rankings all year. Partly because Justin Jefferson was out of this world all season long. He is the undisputed best wide receiver in professional football and QB Kirk Cousins also had a strong season tossing the All-Pro the ball. There are certain things to fix before the 2023 season, but more of the big changes for the Vikes may come on defense than offense this spring.
Top 5 offenses in NFL 2022
5. Detroit Lions
Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions’ offense was a fantastic surprise in 2022. Slowly but surely they made their way up our NFL offense rankings to be the highest team that did not make the playoffs. That is how talented and explosive they were in 2022. Their top six draft pick in April will be used on defense because this offense was already great and has a bunch of room to be better next season.
4. Buffalo Bills
It was not the finish the Buffalo Bills were hoping for, but Josh Allen and the crew were still very good all season long. One has to wonder if an elbow injury derailed what was a top-two offense all year, but we will never know. However, as good as this offense was with superstar receiver Stefon Diggs, the run game lacked in a major way.
Addressing that one need in the NFL draft could have the Bills at the top of our NFL offense rankings early in 2023.
3. Cincinnati Bengals
Some wondered if Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals’ success in 2021 was a fluke. Well, wonder no more. Burrow is a top-three QB in the sport and there is no better receiver combo than Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase after the 2022 season. Just like this past offseason, making the offensive line better is a top priority for this unit heading into the spring after a second straight trip to the AFC Championship.
2. Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles fans should be excited because they have an elite defense and offense ahead of 2023. What makes the offense so fascinating though, is that it is a balanced unit that can win multiple ways, and is led by an MVP finalist in Jalen Hurts who is just scratching the surface of his potential.
One big question to address is what will they do with impending free agent Miles Sanders. He had a Pro Bowl season and was a massive part of the dominant run game that took them to the Super Bowl.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs offense was the best all the way to the Super Bowl and showed out in winning the Lombardi trophy by scoring 38 on the sport’s best D. Despite trading off Tyreek Hill, the offense did not miss a beat and Mahomes maintained his stranglehold on the top spot among the elite QBs in the game. What is so scary is rookie Isiah Pacheco only got better as the season went on and could actually give an already great offense an even better running attack in 2023.
This article was originally published on Sportsnaut.com and is republished here with permission.
