NFL Power Rankings

My current NFL Power Rankings.

I’m going to use these rankings as the order for my 2022 NFL Mock Draft during the 2020 season. Follow @walterfootball.

I’ve gone from WORST to FIRST, so if you don’t see reverse numbering (via Javascript), don’t worry; the Jets and Texans aren’t my top teams.

Updated: Oct. 12

Houston Texans (1-4) – Previously: 32.
Bill Belichick had to have been drunk or high when creating a game plan to stop Davis Mills this past week. Belichick is the master of destroying rookie quarterbacks, yet Mills looked like the second coming of Joe Montana against him. I’m not buying it. Something weird happened, ranging from the drugs or alcohol to even alien abduction.

Jacksonville Jaguars (0-5) – Previously: 31.
Trevor Lawrence continued to play well, albeit against another opponent with a crappy defense. Still, progress is nothing to be ashamed of. Jacksonville should be thrilled that Lawrence is not Zach Wilson, who even struggled versus Atlanta’s terrible defense. And to think, the Jaguars would be stuck with Wilson had the Jets not won two meaningless games last year.

New York Jets (1-4) – Previously: 29.
The Jets just had to win two meaningless games late last year, which dropped them from Trevor Lawrence to Zach Wilson. Lawrence hasn’t been great this season, but he and every other rookie quarterback have been miles ahead of Wilson, who has enjoyed just one good half in five games.

Miami Dolphins (1-4) – Previously: 27.
The Dolphins looked like they were going to be competitive with the Buccaneers when they established a 10-7 lead, but Jacoby Brissett suffered a hamstring injury on the touchdown throw and wasn’t the same after that. That would explain why the Dolphins barely scored after that touchdown.

New York Giants (1-4) – Previously: 25.
What’s with the Giants at Cowboys Week 5 games? Last year, Dak Prescott suffered a torn knee at that venue, and this time, it was the Giants going down like flies. How many times has an NFL team lost its starting quarterback, running back and No. 1 receiver all in the same half of the same game!?

Detroit Lions (0-5) – Previously: 30.
The Lions lost yet another heart-breaker. To be fair though, they never would’ve been in position to be in the lead had the officials ruled that Alexander Mattison’s fumble shouldn’t have stood because Mattison’s forward progress was clearly stopped. Still, it was a brutal way to lose, as evidenced by PC Head Coach sobbing during his post-game press conference.

Seattle Seahawks (2-3) – Previously: 13.
The Seahawks have obviously dropped because Geno Smith will be playing instead of Russell Wilson. Smith can play well at times, but he has severe peaks and valleys. It doesn’t help that his defense is horrible.

Atlanta Falcons (2-3) – Previously: 28.
I’d criticize the Falcons for ruining their draft positioning with these meaningless wins, but there’s no sure-fire top quarterback prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft. Still, they’d probably be better off trading Matt Ryan while he still has some value.

Washington Redskins (2-3) – Previously: 22.
The Redskins are two plays away from being 0-5 right now. Remember that one idiot who bet them to win the division at the beginning of the season? Who was that guy? In my defense, I didn’t think the Redskins would have one of the worst defenses in the NFL; not with all their talent.

Las Vegas Raiders (3-2) – Previously: 12.
Sometimes the fans are smarter than the general manager. That’s true in the Raiders’ case, as anyone who was paying attention questioned Mike Mayock’s decision to completely dismantle the offensive line in the offseason. Derek Carr paid for it with the apparent concussion he suffered against the Bears.

Here’s the Grade for the Raiders firing Jon Gruden.

Chicago Bears (3-2) – Previously: 24.
I’m a bit disappointed Justin Fields isn’t running more often, but he has won his previous two games, so Chicago fans can’t complain right now. The Bears have somehow improved to 3-2, as two of the three teams they’ve beaten (Bengals, Raiders) are currently above .500.

New Orleans Saints (3-2) – Previously: 20.
Overrated NFL Team: See why the Saints are an overrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.

Carolina Panthers (3-2) – Previously: 17.
I thought Sam Darnold had a legitimate chance to prosper with the Panthers because he’d be coached better and would be surrounded by better talent than what he had in New York. Whoops. Darnold was abysmal versus a crappy Philadelphia defense that hasn’t been able to stop anyone since losing Brandon Graham in Week 2. But who knows, maybe the Panthers can trade for another cornerback to help the Darnold situation.

Philadelphia Eagles (2-3) – Previously: 23.
The Eagles squeaked out a victory versus the Panthers, but if they had a competent quarterback, they would have prevailed in a blowout. Jalen Hurts doesn’t seem capable of dominating against non-terrible teams, given his severe accuracy problems.

Denver Broncos (3-2) – Previously: 11.
Underrated NFL Team: See why the Broncos are an underrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.

Pittsburgh Steelers (2-3) – Previously: 26.
Overrated NFL Team: See why the Steelers are an overrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.

Minnesota Vikings (2-3) – Previously: 19.
Overrated NFL Team: See why the Vikings are an overrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.

Indianapolis Colts (2-3) – Previously: 21.
Underrated NFL Team: See why the Colts are an underrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.

Tennessee Titans (3-2) – Previously: 16.
The Titans avoided utter humiliation, as they were in danger of losing consecutive games to Zach Wilson and Trevor Lawrence. I wonder if that would have been the first time a team suffered consecutive defeats to rookie quarterbacks chosen first and second in the same draft. Let me ask my guys in the truck to find that info. Oh, wait, I don’t have a truck, womp womp.

San Francisco 49ers (2-3) – Previously: 15.
I hope the 49ers don’t go back to Jimmy Garoppolo. I don’t always think rookie quarterbacks should play, but Trey Lance is well protected, which makes a big difference. Besides, the 49ers are just more fun with Lance under center because anything can happen. With Garoppolo, it’s just ineffective dinking and dunking.

New England Patriots (2-3) – Previously: 14.
Underrated NFL Team: See why the Patriots are an underrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.

Cincinnati Bengals (3-2) – Previously: 18.
I want to criticize the Bengals for losing to a Packer team missing Jaire Alexander, Za’Darius Smith and three offensive linemen, but Joe Burrow’s throat injury was so bad that he had to be taken to the hospital, so if he were healthy, perhaps the Bengals wouldn’t have needed their rookie kicker to try all of those horrible field goals.

Green Bay Packers (4-1) – Previously: 10.
Overrated NFL Team: See why the Packers are an overrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.

Baltimore Ravens (4-1) – Previously: 7.
What a win! The Ravens didn’t seem to have a chance when down 22-3 in the second half, but they charged back, albeit with some help from injured Indianapolis defenders.

That said, the Ravens easily could be 1-4 right now. They won at the last second versus the Raiders, Chiefs, Lions and the Colts.

San Angeles Chargers (4-1) – Previously: 9.
The Chargers just beat the Browns, but I wonder if that would’ve happened had the Browns not lost half their roster to injury. Justin Herbert has been amazing, but the Chargers’ defense is a train wreck. Their inability to stop the run will be their downfall this year unless they can make a deal prior to the trade deadline.

Dallas Cowboys (4-1) – Previously: 8.
I’m often skeptical of the Cowboys, which is why I’m usually eager to bet the underdog in their divisional games. That was not the case this year. I picked Dallas to cover versus the Giants because the Cowboys’ defense is much better than it has been in past years, while the offensive line is intact, save for one spot. Injuries could change things, but the Cowboys are a viable Super Bowl threat at the moment.

Cleveland Browns (3-2) – Previously: 6.
Is anyone still alive on Cleveland’s roster? Half the team suffered injuries against the Chargers, which is why I’m not dropping them right now. However, if several players are ruled out for a while, I’ll have no choice to potentially move Cleveland out of the top 10 of these NFL power rankings.

Los Angeles Rams (4-1) – Previously: 5.
The Rams looked sluggish Thursday night, making dumb mistakes like Matthew Stafford’s throw-away interception in the red zone and the delay-of-game penalty on a third-and-5. Nevertheless, they won despite enduring Stafford’s finger injury. Stafford looked shaky at first, but caught fire in the fourth quarter. Perhaps that’s a sign that his finger wasn’t much of a problem.

Arizona Cardinals (5-0) – Previously: 4.
It’s great that the Cardinals are 5-0 – I’m especially biased because I bet them at 50/1 to win the Super Bowl – but I have a bad feeling about next week’s game versus the Browns, assuming the Browns have anyone available to play that game.

Kansas City Chiefs (2-3) – Previously: 2.
People being concerned about the Chiefs reminds me of those overreacting to the old Patriots teams when they lost on national television. Remember “We’re on to Cincinnati?” Well, the Chiefs are on to Washington. Once the Chiefs get Chris Jones and Charvarius Ward back from injury, they’ll be fine.

Buffalo Bills (4-1) – Previously: 3.
I’m not going to overreact to one game, but it would be foolish to not put the Bills ahead of the Chiefs at this point. Both teams have explosive offenses, but the difference is Buffalo’s defense being much better than Kansas City’s stop unit.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-1) – Previously: 1.
I guess it doesn’t matter if you’re missing two of your top three cornerbacks, just as long as you have Tom Brady throwing passes to a trio of ultra-talented receivers. The Buccaneers finally had their first convincing win of the season.

MVP Race:

1. Kyler Murray, QB, Cardinals
2. Josh Allen, QB, Bills
3. Tom Brady, QB, Buccaneers
4. Justin Herbert, QB, Chargers
5. Matthew Stafford, QB, Rams

Scrubs of the Week:

1. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers
2. Alvin Kamara, RB, Saints
3. Miles Sanders, RB, Eagles
4. Miles Sanders, RB, Eagles
5. Miles Sanders, RB, Eagles

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