PFT’s Week 15 2022 NFL power rankings

Philadelphia Eagles v New York Giants
Getty Images

1. Eagles (12-1; last week No. 1): Good news, they clinched a playoff berth. Better news, they don’t care.

2. Bills (10-3; No. 3): TuAnon wants none of the Bills in Buffalo in December.

3. Cowboys (10-3; No. 2): They can spin it all they want; it was embarrassing to be taken to the limit by a one-win team.

4. Chiefs (10-3; No. 4): Why do I feel like everything else is details, and that this is the team that will be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy?

5. 49ers (9-4; No. 5): One too many injuries could keep this team from getting to where it wants to be.

6. Bengals (9-4; No. 7): First, Ohio. Next, the world.

7. Ravens (9-4; No. 9): Even with their top two quarterbacks injured, this team can win in December and January.

8. Vikings (10-3; No. 6): A blowout loss in the divisional round has never felt more certain.

9. Dolphins (8-5; No. 8): The season is at a crossroads, at a time when the road is taking them straight into Buffalo.

10. Patriots (7-6; No. 13): The stretch run may be more than this team can handle.

11. Seahawks (7-6; No. 10): It was fun while it lasted.

12. Commanders (7-5-1; No. 12): They’re built to make it to the playoffs, and to make some noise when they get there.

13. Giants (7-5-1; No. 11): It was fun while it lasted.

14. Chargers (7-6; No. 17): It can become fun, if it lasts.

15. Lions (6-7; No. 18): They’re still facing an uphill climb to get to the postseason, but they’re scaling the rock.

16. Titans (7-6; No. 14): It wasn’t much fun while it lasted.

17. Jets (7-6; No. 15): Even in defeat, Mike White earns more respect from teammates and opponents.

18. Buccaneers (6-7; No. 16): The flesh is willing, but the spirit is weak.

19. Panthers (5-8; No. 22): Steve Wilks is making it harder and harder for David Tepper to not hire him.

20. Jaguars (5-8; No. 25): The Week 18 visit from the Titans could be for the division title, somehow.

21. Browns (5-8; No. 19): The rest of the 2022 regular season is an extended 2023 preseason for Deshaun Watson.

22. Steelers (5-8; No. 20): I won’t give up on a Mike Tomlin team until there’s no path to the playoffs.

23. Falcons (5-8; No. 23): Falcons country, let’s Ridder.

24. Packers (5-8; No. 24): It could be Packers vs. Lions in Week 18 for a wild-card spot.

25. Rams (4-9; No. 29): Hollywood is the perfect place for a really great story that ultimately means nothing.

26. Raiders (5-8; No. 21): Will the Raiders keep Derek Carr? The next four games could answer that question.

27. Cardinals (4-9; No. 26): A horrible 2022 just became a potentially worse 2023.

28. Colts (4-8-1; No. 27): By playing Matt Ryan, they continue to gamble with $17 million.

29. Saints (4-9; No. 28): If they hadn’t choked last Monday night, they’d be in great shape right now.

30. Bears (3-10; No. 30): It’s spoiler season for the Bears.

31. Broncos (3-10; No. 31): When the Broncos slide down our chimney for a Christmas Day game, we’re all getting a lump of coal.

32. Texans (1-11-1; No. 32): When you have two quarterbacks, you have the first overall pick in the draft.

83 responses to “PFT’s Week 15 2022 NFL power rankings

  1. As stated before, we are the most feared team in the league. We are marching towards six, jump on or get out of the way. We rock with Dirty Purdy. #goNiners #bangbang

  2. 1. 49ers: I’ve been trying to tell you all, keep doubting
    2. Eagles: NFCCG against the Niners should be a good one
    3. Bengals: Burrow and those WR’s makes them legit year in year out
    4. Bills: Loss of Miller hurts but still have Allen and talented roster
    5. Chiefs: Mahomes is still the best QB in the game but sure could use Tyreke
    6. Cowboys: If they play to their level of competition, they are one and done
    7. Chargers: new to the top 10 for me, Herbert is awesome
    8. Ravens: Close games against average opponents does not instill confidence
    9. Lions: playing great ball lately, yes I know their record but they are hot
    10. Dolphins: need to stop this losing streak

  3. 7. Ravens (9-4; No. 9): Even with their top two quarterbacks injured, this team can win in December and January.

    No they can’t.
    They’ve proven that during this season, and several recent playoffs appearances, that they’re vastly overrated preseason wonders. They may be cursed with injuries but they still find ways to lose winnable games because their defence isn’t good enough to stop quality offences, and their offence isn’t able to score against competent defences.

  4. If the Bills get the #1 seed and the AFC playoffs run through Buffalo, I don’t see the Chiefs hoisting the Lombardi.

  5. Bengals below the Chiefs after beating them three times in 2022?
    Yeah, that makes the kind of sense that doesn’t.
    Kansas City managed to make the Denver Broncos offence look good. And that pretty much says everything about how bad their defence really is. Patrick Mahomes’ run of making the AFC championship game every season as a starter ends next month.

  6. Ha! I laugh at this. Do you really think the Vikings are actually going to MAKE it to the Divisional round? They are going to embarrass themselves at home in the wild card round IF they win the division. I have been a Vikings fan since 1973 and it would NOT surprise me to see them go 0-4 the rest of the way finding heartbreaking ways to lose each game, finish 10-7 and have to go on the road to play in the Wild Card round and get waxed.

  7. Mike White is an absolute mountain of man to take all those shots and come out only for his doctors to check for a punctured lung before he came back in.

    Justin Herbert had to dodge 1-2 defenders before every single pass came out. Anyone who watched the Chargers and Dolphins game and still thinks Tua is the better of the two….. just don’t know what to tell you.

    You swap QBs in that game and Tua not only gets shut out, don’t know if he finishes the game. Pocket awareness and immobility have plagued his career. He went from playing the worst 5 teams in the league to good teams and no one can figure out why his historic 5 game stretch ended.

    To the Dolphins fans who just saw what we did to Mike White…. 8-6 comes at you fast.

  8. If you feel the Chiefs are the team that’s going to be hoisting the trophy, why not make them #1?

  9. Going on the road in December and beating their most storied divisional rival (Regardless of how bad they’ve been) with Anthony Brown, who literally can not throw a football, at QB is very promising.

  10. I don’t see a lot of parity. 14 teams make the playoffs, but only about a half dozen have an actual chance of making it to the Super Bowl. So much bad football being played.

  11. NFC North has been given a vigorous shaking by the Lions. Quiet competence and focus are paying dividends now while the Packer and Viking soap operas continue to get messier.

  12. Ravens up 2 spots?

    OK. They were underdogs last week to the 22nd ranked Steelers and barely won.
    Barely beat the 31 ranked Broncos, Barely beat the 19th ranked panthers.

    QB hurt.

    And up 2 spots….interesting.

    Oh, and they are 3 point dogs this week in Cleveland. The 21st ranked team here.

    Vegas doesn’t think the Ravens are the 7th best team in the NFL.

  13. Patriots at 10, yeah right, try 20

    I’m a die hard Pat’s fan who hasn’t missed a game since 93 and can tell you with this O-Line and MP calling the Offensive plays this team is a hot mess.

    Billy B thru Matty P & Mac to the wolves by trying to ask a guy with zero experience on offense to coach not just the O-Line, but also the Offensive play calling.

    At least we look to have a couple solid drafts back to back.

    Is it me or does Detroit finally starting to look like they have a legit pro team.

    Love to see them make the playoffs

  14. I can see the Lions running the table. Jets, Panthers, Bears, Packers. Not impossible at all. They are playing solid ball and could be an upset candidate in wild card or even divisional round.

    Good for Detroit. They’ve been kicked while down for a long time.

  15. Dallas is too high up there. This team was barely keeping pace with the Colts until the 4th quarter in week 13, followed by almost losing to the worst team in football this week. They are beating WEAK teams. They have two wins against decent teams (Minnesota and Cincinnati).
    The NFC East has undoubtedly the WEAKEST schedule this year. And we are acting like it will be Philly and Dallas in the NFC Championship. No way that happens.

  16. I hope my Eagles can maintain momentum. I’m still worried about our secondary.

    And RIP Mike Leach, a good coach and a good man.

  17. 4. Chiefs (10-3; No. 4): Why do I feel like everything else is details, and that this is the team that will be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy?

    Swap spots with Cincy, and show some due respect. Cincy has both outplayed and out-coached KC three times in a row.

  18. The Vikings lucky season was exposed by a rising mediocre team. Their record makes no sense based on their point differential. There are only so many miracles.

  19. I am down in the dumps already and it seems like you are just piling on now. The Steelers lose by 2 points – after ROTY frontrunner Kenny “Wicked” Pickett was illegally hit in the head, grabbed by the facemask, and slammed to the turf all in one play – to your precious Ravens who you move UP 2 spots to #7 and we still DROP 2 spots to 22. Don’t sleep on the Steelers! Everything we want is still in our control. Stay focused, stay humble, and GO STEELERS!

  20. NINER NATION BABY! WE FOUND A GOLDEN NUGGET AND WE JUST GOT TO KEEP DIGGING BECAUSE WE ARE THE FOURTY NINERS!

  21. The 49ers’ win was smoke and mirrors. The Bucs defense is now one of the worst cover defenses in the NFL, Purdy’s bubble will burst once he faces a good defense…

  22. Cowboys at 3…y’all actually trust Dak in the playoffs? I don’t. There are 5 Super Bowl contenders – Eagles, 49ers, Chiefs, Bills, Bengals. THAT’S IT.

  23. That Chiefs Defense somehow managed to make Russell Wilson look like he was cookin until he got knocked out. I think they are too suspect to get past Josh Allen or Joe Burrrrrrrr. No AFCG for KC this year.

  24. Dallas at #3 are also large frauds. Really Mike? Cowboys over Chiefs, Bengals and 49ers at this point? I would put them firmly behind those 3

  25. Media loves them some Patrick Mahomes, cant get enough of those shovel passes. I seen them lose decidedly to a better team just last week. Defintely not a given they are winning anything.

  26. Not sure how the Steelers got up to #22. The Ravens had them up by 9 points and then let me burn up the clock and their time-outs during garbage time. Each of the Steelers’ two touchdowns was delivered on a silver platter by the refs. The Broncos (#31) actually put up a fight and made the Ravens work for it the previous week. Steelers should be #31 or #32. Maybe then they can draft at least one decent player.

  27. Yeah ..But Mike White is losing games . Ask players and coaches if they want a teammate that’s Tough or teammate that’s a Winner. For instance. Back up Cooper Rush came off the Bench and Won, Back up QB P J Walker wins .He even help defeat the Goat TB. My guy back up QB , Brock Purdy wins! It’s all about coaching.

  28. We can sit here and debate the order of the top 6, but the truth is any one of those teams is capable of beating the other on any given Sunday. Some of those top 6 teams are more complete/balanced and some are less complete/balanced, but can win with dynamic quarterback play. We’re 13 games into the season and I think we have a pretty good idea of which teams are contenders and which teams aren’t. At this point of the season, they’ve all played their share of both stiffs and good teams. So I think we can finally move on from the “they haven’t played anyone” narrative.

  29. Patriots are lower than #10…that offense is putrid, but I agree with the thinking that it will be the Chiefs in the end.

  30. malcomreynolds says:
    December 13, 2022 at 9:18 am
    7. Ravens (9-4; No. 9): Even with their top two quarterbacks injured, this team can win in December and January.

    No they can’t.
    They’ve proven that during this season, and several recent playoffs appearances, that they’re vastly overrated preseason wonders. They may be cursed with injuries but they still find ways to lose winnable games because their defence isn’t good enough to stop quality offences, and their offence isn’t able to score against competent defences.
    __________________________________

    Then how are they 2-0 this December with a backup QB? What does a regular season PFT ranking have to do with the playoffs? Stay on topic.

  31. As a lifelong Steeler fan I can confidently say stick a fork in them, they are done. If Tomlin is still running the show next year they better have two new coordinators from outside the organization that are allowed to do their jobs or you can write off any improvement next year to!

  32. Raiders week this week for NE.

    We honest Patriots fans can admit it was a fumble and the Raiders were royally screwed on that call. Tommy’s career was nice to watch but it hurts a little knowing that it started on a lie.

  33. fatoldsun1 says:
    December 13, 2022 at 9:40 am
    The Steelers have a 0.2% chance to make the playoffs.

    Hopes can be given up.

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

    Yeah, I thought the Raiders/Steelers game was going to be a huge game for both teams but now I can enjoy Christmas Eve without any pressure to watch a crappy football game. Steelers will win that game btw.

  34. Cowboys are too high, and I’m cowboys fan. They’re only #3 for short periods of a game right now. Let’s see what happens Christmas Eve. That’s their real test.

  35. bradygirl12 says:
    December 13, 2022 at 11:10 am
    Patriots are lower than #10…that offense is putrid, but I agree with the thinking that it will be the Chiefs in the end.

    43Rate This
    ————-

    Better than Brady’s offense.

  36. 22. Steelers (5-8; No. 20): I won’t give up on a Mike Tomlin team until there’s no path to the playoffs. ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
    I needed a good laugh! Even if the Steelers could win out (which they can`t) 9-8 would not make the Playoffs in the AFC! The Chargers are the 8 seed and they finish with Tenn,Indy, Rams & Denver so they will get to 10. the Steelers are forked!

  37. Say what you want about them, but the Vikings are 3-1 vs their NFCN foes and are gonna win the NFCN while the others in the division watch (rather than play) the playoffs, once again saying “wait till next year”. Well, it ain’t next year yet folks, and us Vikings fans are just enjoying the ride. . . .

  38. trentdilfer08 says:
    December 13, 2022 at 12:17 pm
    citizenstrange, I look forward to reading your comments every week!!

    Ravens Fan.
    _______________________________________________________________________________
    I hope that you’re not one of the hundreds of downvoters! LOL!

  39. buffalobluecollarlunchbucket56 says:
    December 13, 2022 at 9:22 am
    If the Bills get the #1 seed and the AFC playoffs run through Buffalo, I don’t see the Chiefs hoisting the Lombardi.

    ——————-

    Agree, we see the Niners doing it.

  40. GoodellMustGo says:
    December 13, 2022 at 11:23 am
    Raiders week this week for NE.

    We honest Patriots fans can admit it was a fumble and the Raiders were royally screwed on that call. Tommy’s career was nice to watch but it hurts a little knowing that it started on a lie.

    —————————-

    I personally do believe the rules should count that as a fumble. But the fact is the NFL rules at that time did not consider that a fumble, therefore it was not a fumble. You can squawk all you want about how you hate that fact, but it’s still a fact. You have had close to two decades to get over it so I do hope you are making progress on that. 20 years is a long time.

  41. The Patriots have to beat #’s 26, 9 and 6 to avoid getting knocked from the playoffs by #2.

    Of course, crapping the bed in Vegas later this week, as they did against Chicago earlier this year, could end all speculation then.

  42. ctiggs says:
    December 13, 2022 at 9:11 am
    As stated before, we are the most feared team in the league. We are marching towards six, jump on or get out of the way. We rock with Dirty Purdy. #goNiners #bangbang
    ————————————————————————

    Bruh. You have a rookie QB who is Mr. Irrelevant. Deebo is hurt. You’ve lost 4 games. My Eagles blew the Giants, Packers and Titans out of the water the last 3 weeks in 3 different ways, and are 12-1. You guys are a good team but don’t scare me at all. #FearTheBirds

  43. Football says:
    December 13, 2022 at 12:52 pm
    GoodellMustGo says:
    December 13, 2022 at 11:23 am
    Raiders week this week for NE.

    We honest Patriots fans can admit it was a fumble and the Raiders were royally screwed on that call. Tommy’s career was nice to watch but it hurts a little knowing that it started on a lie.

    —————————-

    I personally do believe the rules should count that as a fumble. But the fact is the NFL rules at that time did not consider that a fumble, therefore it was not a fumble. You can squawk all you want about how you hate that fact, but it’s still a fact. You have had close to two decades to get over it so I do hope you are making progress on that. 20 years is a long time.
    ——
    The problem wasn’t the tuck rule. The problem was that the call was overturned without conclusive evidence that the call on the field of fumble was wrong. It was not clear that Brady had or hadn’t completed a tuck. The replay showed he had two hands on the ball. That’s not conclusive evidence to overturn a call on the field.

    If the call on the field was incomplete pass THEN people can say bad rule right call. As it is, bad call bad rule.

    As an objective Patriot fan and football fan I can admit that the Raiders were screwed big time on the play and the Patriots and Tommy didn’t deserve to win that game and that first Super Bowl has an asterisk. It stings that Tommy’s career isn’t clean no matter how much we all want it to be, with that and the cheating suspension later.

  44. Viking fans should just enjoy the ride. Not supposed to be above .500 in the first year of this regeim. Win the division this week and see what happens from there! an off season to address the HORRIBLE defense and then there will be expectations.

  45. I just have to laugh every time I see these power rankings come out. These ranking are irrelevant anyways, but every week, how can the bungles and Bucs be ranked ahead of the Steelers when we beat both of those teams? Also the refs stole the Jets and Ravens games from us from some badly blown calls, and yet they are still ranked ahead of us? Most of the other games, we were only a couple plays away from winning. We had a bad day against the Bills, and weren’t able to get into rhythm. But outside of the Bills game, how can most of these other teams be realistically ranked higher?

  46. touchback6 says:
    December 13, 2022 at 12:07 pm
    bradygirl12 says:
    December 13, 2022 at 11:10 am
    Patriots are lower than #10…that offense is putrid, but I agree with the thinking that it will be the Chiefs in the end.

    43Rate This
    ————-

    Better than Brady’s offense.

    Better QB too.

  47. Eagles fan, but if you think the Chiefs are going to win the Super Bowl, why did you rank them behind 2 other 10-3 teams?

  48. Before this season started, this website was trying to push the notion that there were literally a dozen Super Bowl contenders in the AFC, but I was like no, there are only 3 real contenders in the AFC. The Bills, The Chiefs, and the Bengals, and then maybe, maybe the Ravens if they go on a dark horse run in the playoffs.

  49. Better than Brady’s offense.
    ==========

    -30 point differential.

    Have you ever seen that from a HOF QB?.. Definitely not in this era of free offense.

  50. Well, it ain’t next year yet folks, and us Vikings fans are just enjoying the ride.
    +++++
    Remember those happy thoughts when you don’t select a 2nd round draft pick.

  51. GoodellMustGo says:
    December 13, 2022 at 1:11 pm
    Football says:
    December 13, 2022 at 12:52 pm
    GoodellMustGo says:
    December 13, 2022 at 11:23 am
    Raiders week this week for NE.

    We honest Patriots fans can admit it was a fumble and the Raiders were royally screwed on that call. Tommy’s career was nice to watch but it hurts a little knowing that it started on a lie.

    —————————-

    I personally do believe the rules should count that as a fumble. But the fact is the NFL rules at that time did not consider that a fumble, therefore it was not a fumble. You can squawk all you want about how you hate that fact, but it’s still a fact. You have had close to two decades to get over it so I do hope you are making progress on that. 20 years is a long time.
    ——
    The problem wasn’t the tuck rule. The problem was that the call was overturned without conclusive evidence that the call on the field of fumble was wrong. It was not clear that Brady had or hadn’t completed a tuck. The replay showed he had two hands on the ball. That’s not conclusive evidence to overturn a call on the field.

    If the call on the field was incomplete pass THEN people can say bad rule right call. As it is, bad call bad rule.

    As an objective Patriot fan and football fan I can admit that the Raiders were screwed big time on the play and the Patriots and Tommy didn’t deserve to win that game and that first Super Bowl has an asterisk. It stings that Tommy’s career isn’t clean no matter how much we all want it to be, with that and the cheating suspension later.

    —————————————

    Interesting story. You must be really hurt to still be clinging to that nonsense two decades later. Should I be picturing Linus here?

    The NFL has in fact clarified and explained the rulling and why the call was correctly done. They have been heavily grilled so it was heavily explained in turn. Not a question any more. You guys can still cling to your own stories but it’s kind of funny when you are still at it 20 years later.

  52. cs-lewis says:
    December 13, 2022 at 1:52 pm
    Mayfield wins a superbowl before watson

    ————————

    Watson is on the Browns so you are pretty safe on that one.

  53. footballer23 says:
    December 13, 2022 at 1:20 pm
    I just have to laugh every time I see these power rankings come out. These ranking are irrelevant anyways, but every week, how can the bungles and Bucs be ranked ahead of the Steelers when we beat both of those teams? Also the refs stole the Jets and Ravens games from us from some badly blown calls, and yet they are still ranked ahead of us? Most of the other games, we were only a couple plays away from winning. We had a bad day against the Bills, and weren’t able to get into rhythm. But outside of the Bills game, how can most of these other teams be realistically ranked higher?

    ———————

    Its all the other games you played this year. You lost most of those. It counts.

  54. nite2al says:
    Then how are they 2-0 this December with a backup QB? What does a regular season PFT ranking have to do with the playoffs? Stay on topic.

    How? By beating the sadsack Broncos and the Steelers with their error prone backup QB.
    The Ravens have had a remarkably easy schedule, the last team with a winning record they played (and lost to) was the Giants in week 6. The next one they face is the Bengals in week 18.
    And yet they are consistently struggling against bad teams, and now have injuries at QB. It weren’t for that soft schedule, it’s doubtful they’d even make the playoffs. And it’s not as if Jackson has had track record of success in the playoffs either.
    So yeah, saying they could win in December is plausible when you play nothing but teams that are ranked below 20. But good luck in January against the Bengals or in the wildcard game…

  55. Pretty top heavy. Some team could get hot & make a run, but I’d have potential SB winners as Eagles, Bills, Chiefs, Niners & Bengals.

    The AFC playoffs will be crazy. Some really good match-ups. Whoever ends up w/ the 1 seed will have a huge advantage this year.

    Still don’t love that there is only 1 team getting the bye now.

  56. The cowboys have taken over the spot of most overrated team from the Vikings. Their Super Bowl is in 2 weeks vs the eagles and that’ll either be the climax of their season or the first nail in the coffin. Either way, it’s the beginning of the end. I almost want the cowboys to win that game because of how hard it is to beat a team, even an overrated one, 3 times in one year. Operative word being almost.

  57. Love the niners fans banging their chest since beating Tampa Bay. The Miami win looked a lot better than it will with each game Miami plays going forward. Also, my guess is the reason for this “we’re the greatest” attitude is the deebo situation. While it’s undoubtedly better he’s not out for the year, (and I’m happy for him that he’s not more seriously injured) it’s going to be 2 months at least before he’s 100%. I had that same injury & it took me 4 months to be 100% and a little better than 2 months before I could start competing but I was maybe 60%, I’m figuring he can cut my time in half.

  58. Eagles have the 4th easiest schedule in the league, we have the 4/5th hardest. Hurts would see ghost out there. Yall dont wanna see us. Bang bang

  59. Eagles will end up 15-2(sit starters in last game) and coast to the Super Bowl. I am a Vikings fan and can see that. Wait until you see Suh and Linval Joseph in the Dline rotation keeping the big boys rested. That defense is gonna feast in the playoffs and the offense will just keep scoring points. Gotta tip my cap to the boys in Philly.

  60. 31. Broncos (3-10; No. 31): When the Broncos slide down our chimney for a Christmas Day game, we’re all getting a lump of coal.

    ==================================================================================

    Broncos? Rams? Christmas Day? Nickelodeon? Slime!

    Two teams that are going nowhere!

    I’ll take the NBA!

  61. I don’t doubt the Packers’ ability to make 18 vs. Lions a play-in game for a wild card spot. The Lions have a history of choking those games away.

  62. 10 is a little high for NE imo. 15 is about right for a team that is very good against weak teams but not as good against good teams.

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