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Linus O'Howell

My NFL 2022 Power Rankings


32. Houston Texans


The Texans finished last season with a 4-13 record which was one of the worst for any team last year. They haven't really improved this year either and their offense and Defense are two of the worst in each category. This could be a very tough year for all the Texans fans around the world.




31. Seattle Seahawks


Since I’ve known what American football is, Seattle have always been one of the top teams. They always made the playoffs and have always been an outside pick to make the super bowl but this year they are looking in serious trouble. They’ve lost star Quarterback Russell Wilson and his replacement is Drew Lock or Geno Smith. There not the type of players who are going to help Seattle make the playoffs and defensively, they’ve lost Bobby Wagner which is a disastrous loss for the whole team. This season isn’t going to be fun if your a hawks fan.


30. New York Giants


The New York Giants were one of the worst teams in the NFL last season and they look to be staying in that area for this year. Daniel Jones at quarterback doesn’t really give Giants fans much hope and there Defense, which is better than there offense, still isn’t that strong. Another tough year ahead for the giants.




29. Atlanta Falcons


The Falcons won 7 games last season which isn’t great but it also isn’t terrible. However, this season looks to be a potentially horrid campaign as Matt Ryan is out and his replacement is Marcus Marriota, which is a step backwards in my opinion. They also have on paper, the worst Defense in the league which is massively concerning, particually when they have to play Tom Brady twice! Falcons only hope of matching last season’s record is to keep throwing the ball to Kyle Pitts, who played well in his rookie season.


28. Detroit Lions


The Detroit Lions have been struggling for a few years now, last season they were the second worse team record wise. They have Jared Goff at Quarterback again this year, who has only really had one good season in his NFL Career. The rest of the offense is ok though so if Goff can have a good season, they may have a chance of moving up in the overall league rankings. If he is poor though, it could be a very tough season in Detroit.





27. Carolina Panthers


On paper, the Carolina Panthers are one of the worse teams in the division. Ranked 30th in both Offensive and Defensive Rankings, this could be a poor year for them. However, I do feel that Baker Mayfield is an improvement at Quarterback and am interested to see how he does. The Panthers will be hoping to win more than 5 games, something they couldn’t do last year.





26. Chicago Bears


The Bears aren’t a team that are gonna be put very high by many people this season. There Offense isn’t great and neither is there Defense. Justin Fields is an exciting Quarterback (even though he struggled a bit last season) so it will be interesting to see if they can do any better then where I have placed them right now




25. New York Jets


The Jets are in for a strange season. Will they be anywhere near the playoffs, no. Will they do better than last season 4-13 record, Yes. Zach Wilson was pretty poor last year but that was his rookie season so expect him to do much better this year. He needs to because otherwise his spot as a starting Quarterback could easily go.





24. Washington Commanders


The Commanders are a team that I feel can win more than 5 to 6 games this year but I also don’t feel like there a team that is going to be able to compete for the playoff spots. New Quarterback Carson Wentz isn’t the

most inspiring choice for the newly named Washington Commanders







23. Jacksonville Jaguars


The Jacksonville Jaguars have been the worst team in the NFL for the past 2 seasons. Because of that, they’ve had the number 1 pick in the draft for the past two years and that is why I have them higher than expected. Surely they’ll be a better team than last year. Trevor Lawrence had an ok first season but I expect him to do well this year. I’m not saying that the Jags are going to have a great season, but I do think it will be a much better season than years past.




22. Cleveland Browns


The Cleveland Browns had an 8-9 record last season which is a pretty decent season but I think they’ll be worse than that this year. They have a solid Defense which is a good thing and Deshaun Watson is a good Quarterback but, he’s suspended for at least six games and his replacement Jacoby Brissett isn’t very good meaning that by the time Deshaun comes back, it could already be too late for them to do something great this year.



21. Miami Dolphins


The Dolphins had a really good season last year and were less than one win away from making the playoffs. They are also rated similar when it comes to both there Offense and there Defense. Tua Tagovailoa is getting better but I think they may struggle to match what they accomplished last year.






20. Pittsburgh Steelers


The Pittsburgh Steelers did incredibly well to make the playoffs last year. They are hard to rate this year because they don’t really know who is going to be there starting quarterback. Rookie Kenny Pickett was there Round 1 pick in last years draft but it looks like Mitch Trubisky is going to be there starter. They have a top 6 Defense though so it will be interesting to see how far that will take them. Don’t count Pittsburgh out but it will be tough to replicate last season’s playoff finish.




19. Minnesota Vikings


The Vikings had an ok season last year, finishing 8-9 and they can probably match that this year but I still don’t think they are good enough to finish in the playoffs. There Defense just doesn’t look good enough to be in the playoffs sadly for them.






18. Tennessee Titans


The Tennessee Titans are the type of team that everyone ranks low at the start of the year and then they go onto win their division and be a threat in the playoffs. That could easily happen again this year but on paper, I don’t think their squad is as good as others. Ryan Tannehill is a good Quarterback though and Derick Henry is a player that only needs one chance in a game to do something special.





17. San Francisco 49ers


The Niners are ranked very high by lots of people and it makes sense. They made the NFC Championship game last year. However, you have to remember that they still came third in their division. The big change for the 49ers this year is at Quarterback, where experienced Quarterback Jimmy G, who when fit is a very good quarterback, has been replaced by the 3rd pick in the 2021 NFL Draft Trey Lance. I think Lance will be a really good quarterback in a few seasons time, but he may struggle this year as he barely played in his rookie season. I hope I am wrong as I am a 49ers which seems hard to believe after where I have ranked them.



16. Indianapolis Colts


The Colts finished with a positive record last season (9-8) but didn’t make the playoffs. I think that this year is a great opportunity for them. I have them ranked in the top 14 for both Offense and Defense this season. My only concern is Matt Ryan, who is very experienced but also particularly great.








15. Philadelphia Eagles


I think the Eagles are a dark horse coming into this season. They don’t have a Top 10 Offense, Defense or Quarterback but they do have all three categories in the top 15. There look like a solid team and if Jalen Hurts can have a breakout year, this could be a very good year for Eagles fans.







14. Arizona Cardinals


The Cardinals had a good regular season last year, finishing with 11 wins. However, they were swept aside by Divisional Rivals and eventual Super Bowl Championship LA Rams in the Wildcard round. They have a Top 10 Quarterback in Kyler Murray so they will be hoping for a return to the playoffs this year. Arizona also hosts the Super Bowl this year which has boded well for teams in previous seasons.






13. New Orleans Saints


The New Orleans Saints were in touching distance of making the Playoffs last season, so they are very determined coming into this season. Slightly worryingly, they don’t look particularly great on Offense and Quarterback Jameis Winston is nothing special. However, they have the third best Defense in the league and they will very much hope that they can carry them forward this season. The Saints are an outsider for the NFC Championship game this season.





12. Las Vegas Raiders


You kind of have to feel sorry for the Las Vegas Raiders, as they are ranked as the 12th best team, yet are the lowest ranked team in there division. This doesn’t mean that they aren’t a major threat though as the Offense, led by a Great Quarterback in Derek Carr, are a team that most won’t want to play. The only worry for the Raiders is there Defense, which doesn’t look like a playoff contending Defense. Still, could be a great year in Las Vegas





11. New England Patriots


The New England Patriots had a season that sort of mirrored the Arizona Cardinals. Had a good campaign to make the playoffs but were they destroyed in the Wildcard Round against a Divisional Rival. They don’t have the greatest Offense but I rate Mac Jones, in my opinion he had the best season out of any rookie Quarterback last year. They also have the second best Defense in the league which is something you’d definetly take. Will be interested to

see how the Patriots perform this year.



10. Baltimore Ravens


The Ravens are perhaps the most consistent team in these power rankings. They are ranked 10th in Offense, 10th in Defense and I rate Lamar Jackson as the 9th best Quarterback in the league. I think that the Ravens VS the Bengals for the Number 1 team in the AFC North is going to be a very tight and fascinating battle.







9. Cincinatti Bengals


The Cincinatti Bengals stunned the world last year when they went all the way to the Super Bowl and were a Touchdown away from becoming Champions. It will be tough for them to replicate that feat this season but Joe Burrow has shown how good a Quarterback he is and the Bengals don’t plan to leave the Playoff scene anytime soon.






8. Los Angeles Rams


It’s crazy to think that they the reigning Super Bowl Champions are only ranked 8th in this list. They are still ranked in the top 8 for both Offense and Defense and Matthew Stafford is a lot higher on the Quarterback rankings than he was this time last year. Expect the Rams to be a Super Bowl contender again this year.







7. Dallas Cowboys


The Dallas Cowboys finished 12-5 last year and comfortably won the division. They then lost at home to the 49ers in the Wildcard round which meant there season ended early than planned. The Cowboys come into the year with a very good Offense, 4th best to be exact and Dak Prescott is a really QB. I expect them to win there division but can they go further in the playoffs than they did last year, we’ll have to wait and see.






6. Kansas City Chiefs


The Kansas City Chiefs love to be involved in crazy playoff games. They won 1 of them against Buffalo but they also lost 1 of them against the Bengals. The Chiefs will always be one of the favourites to win the Super Bowl when they have Patrick Mahomes but they have lost Tyreek Hill which is a big loss. I also worry about the Defense as that doesn’t particularly look great and the division is easily the hardest it’s been since the Mahomes era. Expect the Chiefs to be in more high scoring and dramatic affairs this year.





5. Los Angeles Chargers


The Chargers are coming into this season looking really strong. They have a good Defense and a really great Offense. Justin Herbert has put his name in the hat for the best Quarterbacks in the league and I think he will step up another level of his game this year. There is a generally good chance that we have an all LA final.






4. Denver Broncos


This may come as a surprise, but I really think the Broncos are going to be good this year. The Defense is amazing and to think they finished 7-10 with Drew Lock last year and now they have Russell Wilson. If we think the Seahawks are going to take a big step backwards, then surely the Broncos will take a big step forward with Wilson at QB. They could still easily finish 3rd, maybe even 4th in their division due to how tightly matched they all are.



3. Green Bay Packers


The Packers are going to comfortably win the division, they tend to always do. That’s because they are one of the best teams in the whole league and have one of the best Quarterbacks ever in Aaron Rodgers. They are also so hard to beat at Lambeau Field, hence the reason why they always have such a good record. The big question is can the Packers finally go on and win the Super Bowl, something they haven’t done since 2010.



2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers


Offensively, The Bucs are pretty much perfect. They have the second best overall Offense and have the Greatest Football Player of all time at Quarterback in Tom Brady. There Defense isn’t as strong but it’s still ranked 7th, showing the fact that the Bucs are probably going to be the team to beat in the NFC








1. Buffalo Bills


Is this finally going to be Buffalo’s year. They have the number 1 ranked Offense, the number 1 ranked Defense and have a Top 5 Quarterback in Josh Allen. The Bills were so unfortunate to not progress to the AFC Championship game and surely, surely it’s gonna happen for them at some point. On paper, this looks to be the best opportunity that they gonna get to finally be Super Bowl Champions.

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