PFT’s final 2022 NFL power rankings

USA TODAY Sports

1. 49ers (13-4; last edition No. 1): Nearly 30 years later, Super Bowl win No. 6 could be coming.

2. Bills (13-3; No. 2): Nearly 30 years later, Super Bowl appearance No. 5 — and win No. 1 — could be coming.

3. Chiefs (14-3; No. 3): Neutral site or not for the AFC title game, that week off comes in handy.

4. Eagles (14-3; No. 4): Lately, they’re not looking like the team they’ve been.

5. Bengals (12-4; No. 5): They’re good enough to win it all — and feisty enough to do it, too.

6. Vikings (13-4; No. 7): They’ll beat the Giants by 2-4 points, or lose by 20-40.

7. Lions (9-8; No. 12): One of the rare NFL teams other than the Super Bowl champ who is truly happy after their final game of the year.

8. Jaguars (9-8; No. 10): They’ve come a long, long way from Urban Meyer.

9. Cowboys (12-5; No. 6): They’re definitely not going into the playoffs on a high note.

10. Chargers (10-7; No. 9): Other coaches eyeing possible jobs are quietly plotting ways to stab Brandon Staley in the back. On Sunday, he handed them a knife.

11. Steelers (9-8; No. 15): Every AFC playoff team should be thrilled they didn’t make it.

12. Giants (9-7-1; No. 13): No matter what happens in the playoffs, it was a great year.

13. Ravens (10-6; No. 8): Even with Tyler Huntley, they’ll have a rough time against the Bengals.

14. Buccaneers (8-9; No. 22): Tom Brady‘s 47 career playoff games will come in handy, starting on Monday.

15. Seahawks (9-8; No. 18): Division rivals are always dangerous opponents. Could the Seahawks have something special in store for San Fran?

16. Dolphins (9-8; No. 11): Will anyone be rooting for Miami this weekend?

17. Packers (8-9; No. 16): They’re great when the pressure is off. When it’s on, they can’t deliver.

18. Patriots (8-9; No. 17): They played as well as anyone could have in Buffalo on Sunday.

19. Browns (7-10; No. 21): Things could get interesting with Deshaun Watson for a full season.

20. Commanders (8-8-1; No. 14): Why not give Sam Howell a full season to show what he can do?

21. Titans (7-10; No. 19): From 7-3 to 7-10, and plenty of changes coming.

22. Panthers (7-10; No. 23): Steve Wilks did enough to earn that job.

23. Saints (7-10; No. 24): Get a quarterback, and things could get interesting.

24. Jets (7-10; No. 20): Maybe they should sign Geno Smith in free agency.

25. Falcons (7-10; No. 27): Folks may start inching toward the hot seat next year.

26. Raiders (6-11; No. 25):  Why didn’t they pivot to Jarrett Stidham earlier?

27. Rams (5-12; No. 26): The Rams sold their soul for a silver trophy, and the devil showed up sooner than expected to collect.

28. Broncos (5-12; No. 32): They finished on a high note. After way too many low notes.

29. Cardinals (4-13; No. 28): Will they pay for a high-end head coach?

30. Bears (3-14; No. 29): They would have been winless without Justin Fields.

31. Texans (3-12-1; No. 30): The Texans are the gang that couldn’t tank straight.

32. Colts (4-12-1; No. 31): The best part of giving Jeff Saturday the interim coaching job is that it gave Jim Irsay enough evidence to conclude he shouldn’t give Saturday the permanent coaching job.

95 responses to “PFT’s final 2022 NFL power rankings

  1. Every AFC team should be glad the Steelers didn’t make the playoffs?? That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever seen on here, and that’s saying a lot!

  2. 49ers #1? The Chiefs beat them. They almost lost to The Raiders. The Bills should be 1 with the Chiefs 1B

  3. Do you guys honestly think Chiefs are the third best team in the league? If you had the Bengals at 2 I’d understand. Josh Allen isn’t even a top 3 MVP candidate this year. The Bills have one less game and have injuries all over the place going into the playoffs. You also have them ahead of the Eagles and Bengals. Makes no sense. Doesn’t pass the eye test or stat test. Not with the ups and downs that team has had. Media narrative.

    The Niners look like the most complete and dominant team in the NFL. I could see them steam rolling just about everyone.

  4. Non playoff Lions ranked over other playoff teams?
    Mike, please. Cmon now. The lions finished strong but they finished out of the playoffs. Great story. but the story is over (for now)

  5. I don’t enjoy validating my statements on here by using the “as a (insert team name here) fan” statement. That being said, as a Vikings fan, I totally agree with the stance on our ranking and prospects vs the G-men. We consistently land somewhere between barely good enough, and bent over.

  6. As a Packer fan, you put them too high. At the same time, it’s foolish to say they couldn’t deliver when the pressure was on, since they beat the Dolphins and Vikings in games they had to win before flopping against the Lions.

  7. How non playoff teams are in the top 14 and playoff teams are not is beyond logic. Bucs with a losing record are in the top 14….go figure.

  8. I would put the Bengals ahead of the Eagles and the Chiefs ahead of the Bills. The bottom 6 you could shuffle into any order.

  9. The Bengals should be ahead of the chiefs. They should be number three behind Buffalo and San Francisco.

  10. 49ers have beaten three teams with winning records, Dolphins, Chargers, and Seahawks. And they got wrecked by the Chiefs. They had a shockingly soft schedule (.417 the lowest in the league this year) and are getting way too much hype because of that.

  11. Iggles fans are gonna roll out the underdog thing again ,you watch ! Philly can’t handle being the lead dog !

  12. Absolutely love seeing the Lions at #7 ahead of several playoff teams. That’s respect. Let’s see what they do in the draft and free agency but to me they are the team to beat in the NFCN in 2023.

    The other three comments in the rest of the NFCN is spot on as well

  13. Bengals still not ranked higher than the Chiefs despite beating them three times in 2022, and closing the season on an 8 game win streak.
    Why is it so hard for some people to accept that Cincinnati is actually a really good team?

  14. Confused why people are high on the Giants and not the Seahawks
    Giants started 6-1, then went 3-6-1 over the rest of the year
    Seahawks started 6-3 and went 3-5 over the rest of their year

    Both teams feel extremely similar + the Seahawks beat the Giants by 14 earlier this year

  15. If the Niners win the SB with a rookie QB and a 14-game winning streak, then the script will be written by a writer the NFL hired from Hollywood. No way, this will happen. It could only happen if the other 31 owners allowed for Jed York to sit at the pigs table.

  16. Commanders beat Green Bay, had a better record overall in a tougher division but ranked lower than Green Bay? How does that work exactly?

  17. The Steelers had a nice finish to bad early season, but other than the Ravens and possibly the Chargers no AFC team would have been fearful of playing them in the playoffs.
    In their final 5 games against teams with a winning record they went 1-4 with the one win against an injury-plagued Ravens.

  18. Why didn’t they pivot to Stidham earlier? Carr’s issue was throwing too many INTs not his production. Carr’s INT% was 2.8, Stidham’s was 3.6, and it’s 5.3 for his career. You run Carr out of the building for throwing too many picks, then cheer this guy who throws more picks.

  19. The chiefs are ranked way to high as they need the refs help to beat the terrible Raiders & Bronco’s!!

  20. 4. Eagles (14-3; No. 4): Lately, they’re not looking like the team they’ve been.

    Yeah, injuries will do that to a team BUT they will be fully healthy for the playoffs. Keep counting them out

  21. The Bengals are winning the Superbowl. You guys wll go back to slobbering over Mahomes and Allen next year again.

  22. I don’t know about the Bears… I think they could have won more than 3 games if they had a quarterback that could actually throw the ball for more than 149 yards per game.

  23. Just a friendly reminder that the 49ers still have not beaten a top team this season.
    In their only major test this season they were blown out by KC.

    Stop the 49er’s are the best team insanity, they won’t even make the NFCCG!

  24. ————————-
    goodvibes says:
    January 10, 2023 at 9:16 am
    Do you guys honestly think Chiefs are the third best team in the league? If you had the Bengals at 2 I’d understand. Josh Allen isn’t even a top 3 MVP candidate this year. The Bills have one less game and have injuries all over the place going into the playoffs. You also have them ahead of the Eagles and Bengals. Makes no sense. Doesn’t pass the eye test or stat test. Not with the ups and downs that team has had. Media narrative.
    ————————-
    The Bills injurqy siwtuation is getting better, exc

  25. ————————-
    goodvibes says:
    January 10, 2023 at 9:16 am
    Do you guys honestly think Chiefs are the third best team in the league? If you had the Bengals at 2 I’d understand. Josh Allen isn’t even a top 3 MVP candidate this year. The Bills have one less game and have injuries all over the place going into the playoffs. You also have them ahead of the Eagles and Bengals. Makes no sense. Doesn’t pass the eye test or stat test. Not with the ups and downs that team has had. Media narrative.
    ————————
    The Bills injury situation is getting better, except obviously Miller. The Chief’s got beat by both the Bills and Bengals this year. They were “given” the title and a weeks rest.

  26. The Vikings game will be determined by the first two possessions.

    The NFL will mandate the Bills win the SB after Hamlin returns to the lineup.

  27. People getting bent and into their feelings…the power rankings are a take on if teams played today, who’s playing the best now, not who made the playoffs.

  28. I’m a Niners fan, but the AFC overall is stronger this year than the NFC, and most of the top AFC teams would stomp us, as the Chiefs did earlier in the year.

  29. Reno Hightower says:
    January 10, 2023 at 10:04 am
    The Bengals are winning the Superbowl. You guys wll go back to slobbering over Mahomes and Allen next year again.

    ——

    As if the media doesn’t slobber all over Joe Burrow, too. Come on, man.

  30. I’d love to see PFT rate the officials every week.

    Now that would bring out the comments.

  31. So sick of the “Howlettes” in Washington begging to have Sam Howl to start. He’s a rookie. And from what I saw, aside from running, he is inaccurate and doesn’t allow plays to develop. He had ONE good pass. He’s not that good and he appears to be slow at reading defenses – something that he also had problems with in college!

  32. I’m not sure the Steelers should be 11 then again I’m not sure the rest of the teams after them should be. Good call.

  33. MortimerInMiami says:
    January 10, 2023 at 10:07 am
    16. Dolphins (9-8; No. 11): Will anyone be rooting for Miami this weekend?

    Me.

    Me too.

  34. “Why didn’t the Raiders pivot to Stidham earlier.” Why? For better draft position?
    Stidham went 0-2 and the Raiders got obliterated by KC in the final game. Raiders are now 0-8 since 2014 in games Derek Carr either didn’t start (0-6) or didn’t take the majority of snaps (0-2).
    The Raiders were 4-2 with Carr in his last 6 starts. The two losses included typical late game meltdowns by the defense allowing Baker to go 98 yards with no timeouts and one walkthrough practice with the Rams under his belt, and a rookie QB in horrible weather conditions to drive the field for a TD at the end of the Steelers game.
    Raiders defense is 32nd in the NFL since Derek Carr entered the league.
    How does Stidham (or Tom Brady for that matter) correct any of that?

  35. I am still kind of down that we didn’t make the playoffs but I guess I have to be grateful for the #11 ranking … although I think we are definitely a Top 10 team. This is the longest stretch we have gone without a playoff win since the Immaculate Reception so Coach Tomlin’s no losing season streak rings a little hollow. Kind of like a participation trophy. GO STEELERS! (said kind of half-heartedly)

  36. I get that Miami limped into the playoffs and has a very small chance on Sunday if Tua doesn’t play.

    But it is absolutely ludicrous to rank two non-playoff teams (Lions and Steelers) ahead of them. Especially when the Dolphins beat both of those teams during the regular season.

  37. The bengals are riding the hype train out of town
    They will get beat by a field goal or less in round 1
    Then everyone will remember who the bengals are , were and will always continue to be
    Losers

  38. If you go back and watch the 49ers – Cheaps game, it was close right until the 4th quarter.

  39. 9ers at #1? Purdy won’t take them any where. Plus, Shanahan was a choker twice in Superbowl. Don’t count on them.

  40. AFC:

    Miami has zero chance. Ravens and Jags not much better. Chargers will go in the next round. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Bengals end up representing the AFC in the Super Bowl.

    NFC:
    Everyone loves the Niners or Philly, I’m not sold on either. Watch out for a free-agent year playoff performance from Brady. If Geno Smith ends up in the Super Bowl, I’ll quit watching football once and for all.

  41. Imagine rating a Brock Purdy-led team #1. I don’t care how good their defense is. They will have to go shot for shot with Mahomes, Burrow or Allen.

  42. This list is divorced from the reality of final standings. “You are what your record says you are.” Pat yourself on the back for thinking non-playoff teams finished more “powerful” than playoff teams.

  43. The Steelers at 11 is ridiculous. They’ve allowed 40 pts per gm in last 3 playoffs appearances, and have beaten up on bad teams w/ backup QBs since the bye. Plus those saying Medicare Mike Tomlin coach of yr are even more insane. Sorry, but #18 is more accurate & I’m a fan.

  44. Unbelievable. How can the Patriots be ranked so low? They should be in the Top 3. Mac Jones is ascending to his rightful place in the Hall of Fame, and BB is simply a God. Shameful.

  45. Shame the lions are not in the dance. They could have easily made it to the nfccg. Nfc is stupid weak.

  46. It’s the Bengals and everyone else. Best Super Bowl winner future bet on the board. Punch in that +850 ticket and hit repeat about 25 times.

  47. Interesting stat I read. The records each AFC contender had against playoff teams this year.

    KC 6-2
    BUF 3-2
    CIN 4-2
    JAC 3-3
    LAC 1-5
    BAL 2-5
    MIA 2-5

  48. not a commanders or cowboys fan, but how does a winning team drop six spots(commanders)and a losing team(cowboys) drop 4 spots, my thinking would be a gain by the commanders not a bigger loss than the team they beat????????

  49. ocdn says:
    January 10, 2023 at 10:16 am

    As of today, the Lions are the best team in the NFC North, hands down.

    _____________

    As of today, the Lions still have one playoff victory since 1957.

    Also the Lions will watch the post season from the couch, LOL.

  50. The AFC Quarterbacks get the hype but I can’t see any of them beating the 9ers or eagles. Easily the two most complete teams in the NFL. The superbowl is going to be a blowout.

  51. malcomreynolds says:
    January 10, 2023 at 9:42 am
    49ers have beaten three teams with winning records, Dolphins, Chargers, and Seahawks. And they got wrecked by the Chiefs. They had a shockingly soft schedule (.417 the lowest in the league this year) and are getting way too much hype because of that
    ———-
    Yup. And only one team with double digit wins. And that 10 win charger team was missing 3 top o-lineman and both starting wrs.

  52. The best part of giving Jeff Saturday the interim coaching job is that it gave Jim Irsay enough evidence to conclude he shouldn’t give Saturday the permanent coaching job.
    ____________

    But does Irsay actually think that way? I’m not sure Irsay won’t call this season “Saturday getting experience” even though the whole reason he hired him was it supposedly being a plus he had no experience. Similar to how coaches are sometimes allowed to fix things they themself broke as if it was somebody else’s doing.

  53. Nick Foles struggled in Games 16 and 17 the last time the Eagles finished as the #1 seed. Half of Philly wanted Nate Sudfeld to start. We did just fine. You guys thought we’d lose back then and probably think the same again. Fine with us. #FlyEaglesFly

  54. I’d hire Jeff Saturday in a heartbeat. I remember not too long ago the Lions’ coach was the butt of a lot of jokes, but he’s got his guys fighting like heck for him. You can’t turn a franchise around overnight. Look at all the instability at the premier position in all of sports, QB. You can’t win bringing in a bunch of over the hill QBs. That’s not on Jeff Saturday.

  55. williamshatnerstoupee says:
    January 10, 2023 at 11:49 am
    Unbelievable. How can the Patriots be ranked so low? They should be in the Top 3. Mac Jones is ascending to his rightful place in the Hall of Fame, and BB is simply a God. Shameful.
    *****************************************************
    You’re only off by a year MAYBE 2, just show a tad more patience & you will be rewarded with your prediction…rebuilding is a process after all

  56. There’s no AFC playoff team thrilled that the Steelers didn’t make it. Dolphins if Tua plays will be a tough out. Ravens were the best team in football 8 weeks ago and if Jackson returns they’ll be a tough out. Chargers are finally healthy. There’s no chance anyone of these playoff teams wouldn’t rather play the Steelers than their current opponents.

  57. goodvibes says:
    January 10, 2023 at 9:16 am
    Do you guys honestly think Chiefs are the third best team in the league? If you had the Bengals at 2 I’d understand. Josh Allen isn’t even a top 3 MVP candidate this year. The Bills have one less game and have injuries all over the place going into the playoffs. You also have them ahead of the Eagles and Bengals. Makes no sense. Doesn’t pass the eye test or stat test. Not with the ups and downs that team has had. Media narrative.

    ——————-

    Man being a Bills fan is so much better than it used to be. Injuries all over the place, supposedly all sorts of “ups and downs,” and yet ending the season on a 7 game winning streak and tied for the fewest losses in the league (granting that we played one fewer game.)

    Not too shabby.

  58. Gilgameshvshumbaba says:
    Then everyone will remember who the bengals are , were and will always continue to be
    Losers
    _________________________________________________

    I’m guessing you’re talking about Carson Palmer or Andy Dalton Bengals? Because these Bengals ARE the 3 seed and have already beaten the 1 seed and in only about 8 minutes they showed they’ll hang with the 2 seed. They WERE the AFC Champs. They WILL be really good for however long Joe Burrow plays for them.

  59. Great! Now we will have to listen to the tired narrative from the eagles about how underrated they are despite being the first seed, just like ‘17. Just waiting for the “we all we got, we all we need” speeches.

  60. Good to see ‘all’ the Lions fans getting worked for next year, the let-down will be sweet to watch.

  61. ocdn says:
    January 10, 2023 at 10:16 am
    As of today, the Lions are the best team in the NFC North, hands down.

    ———————————————————————————
    Legend in their own minds, finishes with a 9-8 you’d think they won a playoff game in the last centur…..oh wait, just 4 games worse then the division leader….try again next year…

  62. Still waiting for some comments like
    “… so the Colts were beating the Chiefs, why… ”
    or “… so the Dodgers were beating the Lions in 1935,why…

  63. I’m a Bills fan, but I think the Bengals are undervalued. They are talented and playing as well as anybody.

  64. Sniff sniff…smell that? It’s the sweet aroma that has kicked around at least once every decade since the 1980s (go look it up young-ins) of the Giants making their once every decade run out of nowhere. Don’t let us beat Minnesota is all I’m sayin.

  65. icantstandwhitecastleanymore says:
    January 10, 2023 at 9:43 am

    Absolutely love seeing the Lions at #7 ahead of several playoff teams. That’s respect. Let’s see what they do in the draft and free agency but to me they are the team to beat in the NFCN in 2023.

    The other three comments in the rest of the NFCN is spot on as well

    _______________________________________________________

    Yeah, it’s cool seeing the Lions on the up. Fact is, this was Kevin O’Connell’s first year coaching (I understand it’s only Campbell’s second), and I think KOC is just warming up. Let’s put it this way, if Zim coached the Vikings this season, the division would have been the Lion’s without a doubt. O’Connell is a great coach, great for the culture and things will only get better from here. Bears with the first pick, let’s see what happens. And the Packers will continue their slide to oblivion.

  66. I think people get too caught up in power rankings. This is one outlets take on the current rankings. Go to ESPN and you will find an entirely different take.
    There will always be teams ahead of your team, even though your team beat them.
    It does not even factor in how you beat or got beat in many cases.
    Examples: Chief lost to bills by 4pts at home, they lost to bengals by 3pts at Cinci, and lost to the colts by 3pts at Indy. these were the only 3 losses. lots of factors in each game of how they lost, but to the eyes the bills looked to be the better team of the Chiefs 3 losses. Chiefs crushed the 9ers, but they have been playing better football for a while. In the end none of these rankings matter. Only playoff teams have a chance to control their actual destiny for the SB at this point. Homefield vs Away vs Neutral field do not matter that much actually at this point. Neither does a teams regular season record or if you beat a division rival twice already.
    Were the Lions playing better football than at least a few current playoff teams? I would say yes. But, it’s all objective.
    Any team in the playoffs has a chance to win it all. Its more about matchups, preparation, coaching, health and just overall catching the right breaks. Often 1 turnover makes a difference in an upset. So, lets all just take a deep breath and not get too worked up on where your team ranks. Most would secretly put their team as #1 if they had the chance. Sometimes the team that wins it all is probably not the best overall team. If the Rams had to play the bucs game 3 times to move on, they probably lose to the bucs. Same could be said for any team really. One thing I know is, the playoffs were great last year. So many close games and overtime wins, even though my team did not make it, I was thoroughly entertained. Hope this year is great too.

  67. Meh, my Vikings are too high — so are the Lions (who the Vikes beat) and the Pack; however, I suspect Mike listed the Pack so high since that is all the cheesers have to hang on to as the playoff drought commences and they await King Rodgers decision as to what to do next year.

  68. Great! Now we will have to listen to the tired narrative from the eagles about how underrated they are despite being the first seed, just like ‘17. Just waiting for the “we all we got, we all we need” speeches.

    Not our fault the Cowboys haven’t been relevant since the mid 90’s

  69. jwcarlson says:
    January 10, 2023 at 12:06 pm

    Lions are better than the Vikings. Like… a lot better.
    _______

    Dude, they just played a few weeks ago in Detroit. The Lions were on a hot streak and had everything to play for. The Vikings were cruising to the NFC North title and had absolutely no desperation to win. If Dalvin Cook hadn’t fumbled on the 1-yard line while attempting a jump pass, the game is probably tied near the end and anybody could have won it. Congratulations on beating the Packers when there was no pressure, but let’s not get ridiculous.

  70. jwcarlson says:
    January 10, 2023 at 12:06 pm

    Lions are better than the Vikings. Like… a lot better.

    ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    As in 13-4 vs. 9-8 better?

  71. mnvikes1961 says:
    January 10, 2023 at 7:16 pm
    jwcarlson says:
    January 10, 2023 at 12:06 pm

    Lions are better than the Vikings. Like… a lot better.

    ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    As in 13-4 vs. 9-8 better?+

    ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

    Doesn’t matter, the Vikings season will be over this weekend on Sunday evening.

  72. mnvikes1961 says:
    January 10, 2023 at 8:33 pm

    ^ For something that doesn’t matter, you seem to be all over it. Need a tissue?

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

    Says the guy that has been posting and replying on this thread since 3pm EST

    Clearly he struck a nerve or you’re getting nervous about the Vikings playoff choke.

  73. jwcarlson says:
    January 10, 2023 at 12:06 pm
    Lions are better than the Vikings. Like… a lot better.
    ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

    Yeah, right. If they had been *consistently* a lot better they would have made the playoffs. They didn’t, so they’re not a lot better. Just watch. Next year the Kitties will revert back to being the Kitties. It’s their MO.

  74. Vikings and Cowboys are probably the weakest teams in the NFC playoffs, both will be one and done.
    As a Vikings fan, I can honestly acknowledge the Lions are thr better team. They won when in December and January, where the Vikings fizzled out.

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