NFL Power Rankings 2022: Bears have hope with Eberflus, Fields |
An offseason with a lot of roster moves brings us to an NFL with loads of parity, and here is BearsHQ's first power rankings of the 2022 season.
We decided to explain the top 16 and the Bears: 1. Los Angeles Rams 12-5 The LA Rams came into this season as defending champions. Throughout the season, they became improved even more with various acquisitions and have a Super Bowl trophy as a reward for it. They are the champions, so although they do not have many draft picks or cap space, they will have our number one spot until we have a reason not to. Update: They lost last night to the Bills so they will drop out of the top spot next week! 2. Buffalo Bills 11-6 The Bills are one of the league’s best teams and had a heartbreaking end to the postseason. Josh Allen and the Bills won the AFC East and dominated New England in the playoffs before falling to Kansas City in overtime in the playoffs. Either way, the Bills are primed to own the AFC East and contend in the AFC. They are motivated and will return a large portion of what already was a great roster. 3. Kansas City Chiefs 12-5 Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs turned a rocky start into a dominating end of the season. Aside from two losses to the Bengals, the Chiefs have did not lose since October. However, without Tyreek Hill, the offense will look much different, although the Chiefs did acquire Ju-Ju Smith Schuster, Marquez-Valdez Scantling, and rookie Skyy Moore to an offense that has Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. 4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 13-4 So we know the Bucs have a wildly talented offense and a defense with young stars — plus Tom Brady, so this team really does not have any flaws. 5. Cincinnati Bengals 10-7 Joe Burrow and the Bengals shocked the world in 2021, and almost won the Super Bowl. The team had some clear weaknesses that were addressed in the offseason, so there is no reason the Bengals won’t be better in 2022. The recipe is there for the Bengals to last as a contender in the AFC. 6. Los Angeles Chargers 9-8 LA might have had the best off-season in the league. The offense had no problems, but the Chargers struggled to get stops. This year, the Chargers add pass rusher Khalil Mack and shut down corner JC Jackson to a defense that will be getting a healthy Derwin James and Joey Bosa back in 2022. This team might be the most complete team in the NFL. 7. Green Bay Packers 13-4 For most of the offseason, the Packers were one of the most questionable teams — and it all depended on reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers. Well, he led the Packers to the No. 1 seed in the NFC before getting upset by the 49ers. Despite Devante Adams switching teams, Aaron Rodgers makes Green Bay a top 10 team. 8. San Francisco 49ers 10-7 San Francisco has one of the most talented rosters in the sport and rode their best players to an NFC Championship appearance. The 49ers made the change to Trey Lance, but with Kyle Shannahan and the defensive superstars the 49ers have, they are easily one of the NFC’s best teams. 9. Baltimore Ravens 8-9 Baltimore has one of the league’s strongest rosters, but they spent most of 2021 as the most injured team in the sport. But this team has speed all over the field, on both sides of the ball, and they know their identity. Led by an MVP in Lamar Jackson, the Ravens have the recipe for success — they just need to stay healthy. 10. Denver Broncos 7-10 In the top 10 is the Denver Broncos, a loaded defense and young talented pieces on offense. All the Broncos were missing was a quarterback. Now, with Russell Wilson, they have one. Keep an eye on the Broncos to turn heads in 2022. 11. Arizona Cardinals 11-6 After looking like the NFL’s best team for most of the first half, a dramatic fall-off thanks to injuries left the Cardinals with some question marks. However, Kyler Murray got paid, and the Cardinals added a few pieces to their roster, and they are more than good enough to be a top 10 team. 12. Las Vegas Raiders 10-7 What the Las Vegas Raiders did in 2021 is nothing short of impressive. Despite losing multiple players and a coach to legal miscues, Derek Carr and the Raiders made the playoffs. The AFC is loaded, and the AFC west is no cakewalk, but the Raiders showed in 2021 to never count them out. Now, they’ve added Davante Adams to an already powerful offense. Look out for Vegas. 13. Indianapolis Colts 9-8 The Colts are in our top 16 after an upside-down season. The Colts started slow, got hot in the middle of the year thanks to a strong defense and the NFL’s leading rusher Jonathan Taylor — and then collapsed in the season’s final weeks. Nonetheless, they are built for the future and have their identity. The only question regarding the Colts is whether or not Matt Ryan can help them take the next step. 14. New England Patriots 10-7 The New England Patriots are still coached by the best coach of all time in Bill Bellichick, and QB Mac Jones is only going to improve. That alone should be enough for the Patriots to feel confident about their future. 15. Tennessee Titans 12-5 The Titans are the twice reigning AFC South champions and are coming off a season where they earned the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Despite battling numerous injuries, the Titans found a way to make it work all year long. Getting some health back, one can expect another strong season out of the Titans in 2022, even without AJ Brown. 16. Dallas Cowboys 12-5 Dallas had a disappointing end to a strong season that included winning the NFC East. Dallas has playmakers all over the field and looks to be the class of the NFC East. It’s just time for Dak Prescott to take the next step as QB and win a playoff game. 17. Minnesota Vikings 8-9 18. Philadelphia Eagles 9-8 19. New Orleans Saints 9-8 20. Miami Dolphins 9-8 21. Pittsburgh Steelers 9-7-1 22. Chicago Bears 6-11 The Bears go into the offseason with a new coach, a new general manager, a new staff, and a quarterback who many expect to take the next step. Now it’s just time for the Bears to upgrade the offensive line and build around Justin Fields, and finally, show some promise on the field. 23. Cleveland Browns 8-9 24. Washington Football Team 7-10 25. Carolina Panthers 5-12 26. Detroit Lions 3-13-1 27. Houston Texans 4-13 28. Jacksonville Jaguars 3-14 29. New York Jets 4-13 30. New York Giants 4-13 31. Atlanta Falcons 7-10 32. Seattle Seahawks 7-10 Stay tuned as we update these rankings every week.
