I’m going to use these rankings as the order for my 2023 NFL Mock Draft during the early stages of the 2022 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.
NFL Power Rankings updated Sept. 27, 2022
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Seattle Seahawks (1-2) – Previously: 31.
Geno Smith hasn’t been a liability in two of Seattle’s games, and yet the Seahawks are two points away from being 0-3 right now. This team is dreadful, though it doesn’t help that most of their secondary was injured versus Atlanta.
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Houston Texans (0-2-1) – Previously: 30.
The Texans are 11 combined points away from being 3-0 right now! They somehow haven’t been blown out yet, but it’s coming. Their run defense was so dreadful against Khalil Herbert.
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New York Jets (1-2) – Previously: 32.
People seemed shocked that I still had the Jets at the bottom of my power rankings entering Week 3, but there was no way Joe Flacco was going to replicate what he accomplished at the end of the Cleveland game. Had Nick Chubb not scored his third touchdown in Week 2, the Jets would be 0-3 right now.
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Chicago Bears (2-1) – Previously: 29.
Overrated NFL Team: See why the Bears are an overrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.
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Washington Redskins (1-2) – Previously: 26.
The Redskins could easily be 0-3 right now if the Jaguars didn’t shoot themselves in the foot repeatedly in Week 1. They struggled against a Detroit team that was missing three offensive linemen and a starting cornerback, and then they were demolished by the Eagles, who were playing on a short work week.
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Atlanta Falcons (1-2) – Previously: 28.
The Falcons scored 27 points against the Seahawks, but don’t expect anything like that again anytime soon. The Seahawks, who already had a poor defense, were missing most of their secondary.
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Carolina Panthers (1-2) – Previously: 27.
The Panthers could have won their first two games, but they didn’t deserve to beat the Saints. Their offense was horrible, as it still seems as though Matt Rhule doesn’t know that Christian McCaffrey can catch passes. They won because the Saints shot themselves in the foot repeatedly.
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New England Patriots (1-2) – Previously: 17.
I labeled the Patriots as an underrated team last week, but that’s no longer the case in the wake of Mac Jones’ high ankle sprain. It’s going to be difficult for New England to win without him, especially in Lambeau.
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New York Giants (2-1) – Previously: 22.
I can’t even blame the Giants for their offensive line because they signed two free agents and spent a top-10 pick on a right tackle. It seems as though Daniel Jones will never have adequate pass protection, so it’s difficult to judge him properly.
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Arizona Cardinals (1-2) – Previously: 21.
Outside of the fourth quarter and overtime against the Raiders, the Cardinals have been outscored this year by 52 points. It’s been a rough start for Kyler Murray because of his incompetent supporting cast, but things will be much better when DeAndre Hopkins returns.
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Pittsburgh Steelers (1-2) – Previously: 24.
The Steelers have a completely different defense without T.J. Watt. The offense, meanwhile, needs a boost. With a mini-bye on the horizon, the Steelers should use the extra time to prepare Kenny Pickett to start against the Jets.
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Indianapolis Colts (1-1-1) – Previously: 20.
Overrated NFL Team: See why the Colts are an overrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.
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Las Vegas Raiders (0-3) – Previously: 14.
Mark Davis really has to wonder about Josh McDaniels, who can’t get a victory with a playoff team that added Davante Adams to the roster this offseason. The Raiders really miss Greg Olson’s great play-calling.
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Tennessee Titans (1-2) – Previously: 23.
Mike Vrabel did a great job of getting his team to rebound from such an ugly loss on a short work week. The offense looked so much better with the coaching staff making sure Derrick Henry would catch plenty of passes out of the backfield. Hopefully Matt Rhule pays attention to this.
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Dallas Cowboys (2-1) – Previously: 25.
I was convinced that Cooper Rush was a bad quarerback starting for a bad team, but that has been incorrect. Jason Peters’ presence on the offensive line allows Dallas’ blocking to be competent, while the pass rush is incredible.
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New Orleans Saints (1-2) – Previously: 18.
Underrated NFL Team: See why the Saints are an underrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.
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Cleveland Browns (2-1) – Previously: 16.
The Browns would be 3-0 right now if Nick Chubb had not scored his third touchdown against the Jets. They have a matchup against the Falcons following their mini-bye next week, so they have a good chance of being 3-1. Myles Garrett’s car accident could change things, however.
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Detroit Lions (1-2) – Previously: 15.
Underrated NFL Team: See why the Lions are an underrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.
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Minnesota Vikings (2-1) – Previously: 13.
I marked down the Vikings as “1-2” before realizing my mistake. The Lions outplayed the Vikings, but Minnesota prevailed once Detroit’s offense took a hit in the wake of the Amon-Ra St. Brown injury.
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Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1) – Previously: 19.
The Jaguars could easily be 3-0 right now if they hadn’t repeatedly shot themselves in the foot against the Redskins. That game looks like a real head-scratcher right now. At any rate, Trevor Lawrence is now a completely different quarterback.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1) – Previously: 12.
Overrated NFL Team: See why the Buccaneers are an overrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.
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Miami Dolphins (3-0) – Previously: 11.
Overrated NFL Team: See why the Dolphins are an overrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.
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Denver Broncos (2-1) – Previously: 7.
It’s nice that Nathaniel Hackett was man enough to admit that he needed to hire a Madden player to help him with his in-game situations, but if I’m the owner of the Broncos, I’m asking why the Madden player can’t just be the head coach himself.
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Los Angeles Rams (2-1) – Previously: 9.
The Rams are 2-1, but they’ve looked a bit off in their victory over the Cardinals. I expected their defense to play poorly with all the injuries they have in their secondary, but it was their offense that was lackluster.
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Baltimore Ravens (2-1) – Previously: 10.
The Ravens are not the team that blew a 21-point lead to the Dolphins in the fourth quarter. They did a great job of rebounding from that loss, especially considering that teams often struggle after blowing big leads.
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Green Bay Packers (2-1) – Previously: 8.
The Packers suddenly look better with a healthier group of receivers and offensive linemen. I think it’s best to completely disregard what happened in Week 1 because Green Bay had nothing in both regards in the defeat at Minnesota.
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San Francisco 49ers (1-2) – Previously: 6.
Underrated NFL Team: See why the 49ers are an underrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.
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San Angeles Chargers (1-2) – Previously: 2.
I don’t understand how the Chargers allowed Justin Herbert to play. As my sixth-grade English teacher used to say, “That was ilresponsible.” Herbert didn’t even have Keenan Allen and Corey Linsley available, so it’s not like he had his full supporting cast to help him.
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Cincinnati Bengals (1-2) – Previously: 5.
Underrated NFL Team: See why the Bengals are an underrated NFL team in our Overrated-Underrated page.
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Philadelphia Eagles (3-0) – Previously: 4.
The Eagles won 24-8, but the margin would’ve been much greater had they not taken their foot off the gas. They were up 24-0, sacking Carson Wentz six times. They got to Wentz on nine occasions overall.
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Kansas City Chiefs (2-1) – Previously: 3.
Kansas City’s offense hasn’t been very impressive after the win against the Cardinals, which was very misleading because Arizona was missing half of its starters.
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Buffalo Bills (2-1) – Previously: 1.
The Bills dominated the Miami game – they outgained the Dolphins, 497-212 – but gave that potential victory away with so many mistakes. I guess you could say that it’s good that they got this out of their system now rather than in January.
2022 NFL MVP Race:
1. Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens
2. Jalen Hurts, QB, Eagles
3. Josh Allen, QB, Bills
4. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs
5. Tyreek Hill, WR, Dolphins
NFL Picks - Dec. 15
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Dec. 11
NFL Power Rankings - Dec. 9
2026 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 29
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4
2022 NFL Power Rankings. Week: Post-Super Bowl Power Rankings | Post-Free Agency Power Rankings | Post-NFL Draft Power Rankings | Post-Preseason Power Rankings | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17
2021 NFL Power Rankings. Week: Post-Super Bowl Power Rankings | Preseason Power Rankings | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | Playoffs |
2020 NFL Power Rankings. Week: Post-Super Bowl Power Rankings 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Playoffs |
