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I know some guys don't like Power Rankings, but it's just for fun and it is about football instead of arguing.
I'm going to post my Top 5 teams and Bottom 5 teams. I'll post an article that are the Power Rankings for all 32 teams that you can reference. Feel free to rank the top 5, the bottom 5, both, or rank all 32. Up to you.
This is pretty tough, but my top 5 teams:
1. Buffalo---Dynamic qb and complete team.
2. Kansas City: Great qb and HC.
3. LA Rams: Defending champs. Very solid team. A bit concerned about Stafford's elbow.
4. LA Chargers: Dynamic qb. Upgraded defense big time. HC is a dufus.
5. Green Bay: Solid D. Great qb. Good HC. Good RBs. WRs are poor.
Bottom 5: Worst team is listed first:
32: Chicago: Feel sorry for Fields. 31st ranked OL. 32nd ranked WRs. Hired a defensive HC.
31. Houston: They are years away.
30. Atlanta: Poor qb. Not much talent outside of Pitts.
29: Seattle: QB issues. Poor OL. Poor D.
28. NY Giants: QB issues. Bad OL.
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Here is the promised article about the Power Rankings for all 32 teams. NFL Power Rankings: Bills, Rams hold top two slots ahead of Kickoff Game showdownPublished: Aug 09, 2022 at 12:50 PM Dan_Hanzus_1400x1000 Rank 1 Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills Previous rank: No. 1 The idea coming out of the 2022 NFL Draft was that first-round pick Kaiir Elam would line up opposite Tre’Davious White on opening night against the Rams. That might ultimately still prove to be true, but for now, the rookie is learning on the job and the veteran is still rehabbing the torn ACL he suffered in November. The Athletic reported over the weekend that Elam has been picked on in camp, opening the door for another rookie, sixth-rounder Christian Benford, to earn reps against the team's starters. Meanwhile, there remains no set timetable for White's return. With uncertainty at both corner spots, and All-Pro safety Jordan Poyer on the shelf with a hyperextended elbow, the secondary stands out as a concern in an otherwise-serene landscape in Western New York. Rank 2 Los Angeles Rams Los Angeles Rams Previous rank: No. 2 Rams coach Sean McVay said he’d “sleep better” after he watched Matthew Stafford throw without limitations on Saturday, a positive sign that the quarterback’s unusual elbow issue can be effectively managed ahead of Week 1 and beyond. The defending champions seem to have less uncertainty around Allen Robinson, who has opened eyes during training camp. On a recent edition of the Around The NFL Podcast, beat reporter Jourdan Rodrigue said she’d lost count of how many people connected to the Rams had come up to her to rave about the wide receiver. We feel safe taking the ride on this hype machine. Rank 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Bay Buccaneers Previous rank: No. 3 Tom Brady turned 45 last week, and isn't it incredible that talk of his advancing age no longer prompts any serious discussion of decline? In fact, we hear the opposite. According to NBC Sports' Peter King, Bucs quarterback coach Clyde Christensen recently offered this scouting report for GM Jason Licht: "You're not going to believe this. Brady's arm is better than I've ever seen it." What's crazier: The fact that Brady could be slinging it at the highest level of his life in his 23rd season, or the idea that there's no good reason for us to even doubt it? We have questions about the Tampa Bay offensive line and skill positions, but if the Bucs take a step back, I don't think it will be because the G.O.A.T. finally shows his age. Rank 4 1 San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers Previous rank: No. 5 It's full speed ahead for the Trey Lance era in San Francisco. There's likely to be some turbulence for a young passer with limited experience, but Lance has been set up for success after a rookie season spent mostly on the sidelines. The Deebo Samuel drama was put to bed with a big contract extension, while Brandon Aiyuk appears primed to make the leap as the No. 2 wide receiver. Throw in a do-everything Pro Bowler at tight end in George Kittle, a versatile backfield led by Elijah Mitchell, and, of course, arguably the league's best play-caller in Kyle Shanahan, and Lance will have no excuse if he doesn't pop in his first year leading the offense. Rank 5 1 Cincinnati Bengals Cincinnati Bengals Previous rank: No. 4 The Bengals are smart to give Joe Burrow plenty of recovery time following his appendectomy -- the continued absence of La'el Collins is a different matter. The veteran right tackle -- one of three new starting offensive linemen in Cincy -- remains without a timetable to return as he deals with a back injury. Collins felt like a steal in free agency, but a lengthy absence could torpedo the team's efforts to better protect their young star quarterback, who was under siege in each of his first two seasons as a pro. Rank 6 Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers Previous rank: No. 6 The Packers know they are blessed to have Aaron Rodgers, a four-time MVP who plays the quarterback position like he's mastered the sport. Even still, the Pack are asking the world from their QB as another season with Super Bowl-or-bust expectations gets rolling in Green Bay. Davante Adams is out the door, while stalwart left tackle David Bakhtiari remains sidelined after another procedure on his troublesome left knee. Add in that right tackle Elgton Jenkins appears likely to start the season on the PUP list as he continues to work back from a knee surgery of his own, and you can easily see a scenario where the Green Bay attack sputters out of the gate. The pressure on Rodgers to make it all work will be immense. Rank 7 Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs Previous rank: No. 7 Looking for a bounceback candidate in Kansas City? How about defensive end Frank Clark, who dropped some serious weight in the offseason and looks much closer to the player who dominated the opposition in Kansas City's march to Super Bowl LIV glory in 2020. Clark acknowledged to reporters this summer that he played with a "gut" last season, extra lbs that affected his speed and agility. Add in some troubling off-the-field issues from last offseason, and Clark profiled as a cut candidate ahead of the new league year. Instead, the Chiefs stuck with their high-priced defender -- restructuring his contract in March -- and now could reap the benefits. Frank Clark playing with the eye of the tiger would be a massive lift for Steve Spagnuolo's defense. Rank 8 Denver Broncos Denver Broncos Previous rank: No. 8 The Broncos suffered a terrible break last week with the news that wide receiver Tim Patrick tore his ACL after coming down awkwardly on his leg in practice. Patrick's skill set as an outside playmaker was a perfect fit for new quarterback Russell Wilson and his high-arcing deep balls -- the pressure now intensifies on 2020 first-round pick Jerry Jeudy and 2020 second-rounder K.J. Hamler, who stands to gain the biggest uptick in playing time with Patrick on the shelf until 2023. The injury, and subsequent perusal of Denver's depth chart, serves as a reminder that Wilson's new wideouts are talented -- but largely unproven. Rank 9 Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Chargers Previous rank: No. 9 Looking for a sleeper pick at tight end in your upcoming fantasy draft? You could do worse than Donald Parham, the 6-foot-8 giant currently flashing tantalizing red-zone chemistry with Justin Herbert at Chargers training camp. Parham missed the end of last season after sustaining a scary concussion on Thursday Night Football against the Chiefs, but the now-healthy fourth-year pro has loads of potential and an elite quarterback to help take his game to another level. OK, this is where I remind you the Bolts also signed solid veteran TE Gerald Everett this offseason, so you can't get mad at me if Parham is M.I.A. by Week 5. Rank 10 1 Baltimore Ravens Baltimore Ravens Previous rank: No. 11 If you close your eyes, you can picture the reaction behind the scenes at Ravens headquarters after first-round pick Tyler Linderbaum went down with a foot injury. (My vision: A collective, perfectly synchronized hand-to-forehead slap by each member of the coaching staff.) You get it, too: The 2021 Ravens had their season essentially wiped out by an injury-bug attack that reached biblical levels. The good news is that Linderbaum's injury is being treated as a sprain, rather than a rupture, leaving open a very real possibility the promising young center is on the field in Week 1. Cut the birds a break, Football Gods. Rank 11 1 Las Vegas Raiders Las Vegas Raiders Previous rank: No. 10 No more free lunch for Josh Jacobs, who enters his fourth pro season without the safety net provided by the men -- jettisoned GM Mike Mayock and head coach Jon Gruden -- who made him a first-round pick back in 2019. Jacobs was a surprise starter in the Hall of Fame Game last week, seeing significant work on a night when several key Raiders didn't play a snap. It sure had the feel of a team looking to showcase a player on the trade market, a notion Josh McDaniels has shot down. Then again, McDaniels is a Belichick disciple -- the man is more likely to share his credit card info than give you insight into the team's internal thought process. Rank 12 Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts Previous rank: No. 12 The honeymoon continues for Matt Ryan and the Colts, who are talking like a team that sincerely believes the 2016 NFL MVP is primed for a turn-back-the-clock season. (Getting out of the Carson Wentz business has surely played a role in the positive vibes in Indianapolis, as well.) Of course, Ryan will need some teammates to step up to help lift his game. Michael Pittman Jr., who eclipsed 1,000 yards last season, profiles as a candidate to make an even bigger leap in 2022. Parris Campbell is another intriguing piece of the attack who has earned rave reviews from beat reporters during camp. If Campbell can stay on the field (durability has been an issue), he profiles as a compelling piece of the Indy attack. Rank 13 5 New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints Previous rank: No. 18 Saints fans have to be thrilled with the beat reporter dispatches on Michael Thomas. The former All-Pro saw his career halted for the better part of two years by an ankle injury, but he has practiced without any noticeable issues at training camp. New Orleans has wisely paced Thomas' ramp-up process in an effort to avoid the kind of setback that completely wiped out his 2021 season. You can't overstate what a vintage version of Thomas could mean for Jameis Winston and the Saints' fortunes in 2022. The pairing of a healthy Thomas with electrifying rookie Chris Olave is a recipe for major damage in the NFC South. Rank 14 1 Dallas Cowboys Dallas Cowboys Previous rank: No. 13 Jerry Jones said the Cowboys are in no rush to explore the veteran wide receiver market. Is Jerrah sure about that? Last week, an already-thin group of pass catchers took another hit when free-agent addition James Washington suffered a foot injury that will keep him sidelined well into the season. With Michael Gallup still working his way back from knee surgery and Amari Cooper catching passes in Cleveland, the current Dallas wideout room features CeeDee Lamb and a collection of question marks. Where will Dak Prescott go when Lamb is inevitably blanketed by double coverage? The Dalton Schultz Hive buzzes with excitement and anticipation. Rank 15 Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Eagles Previous rank: No. 15 This just in: A.J. Brown is a certified Dude. Well, we already knew that after a sustained run of excellence in Nashville, but it still must give Eagles fans a warm-and-fuzzy feeling to read the camp dispatches that describe Brown as the unquestioned focal point of the passing attack. Brown will command heavy attention every week, which is great news for DeVonta Smith as he looks to take his game to another level in Year 2. Philadelphia's offense has strong breakout potential in 2022, and the presence of a legit star at WR1 is a huge reason why. Rank 16 Tennessee Titans Tennessee Titans Previous rank: No. 16 The Titans used a first-round pick on wide receiver Treylon Burks, but don't pencil him in for a huge role in the offense to start the season. Burks had conditioning issues this spring, and reports out of training camp have not been kind -- the Arkansas product has made mental and physical mistakes playing mostly with the second- and third-team offenses. Burks isn't the first rookie to be swimming in it during his first training camp, but you get the feeling Tennessee expected an instant impact on draft day. The news is more encouraging on free-agent signing Robert Woods following the reconstructive knee surgery that prematurely ended his final season with the Rams. According to Peter King, the 30-year-old wideout "looks like totally back to normal." Rank 17 3 Arizona Cardinals Arizona Cardinals Previous rank: No. 20 The Cardinals are a funky little outfit, aren't they? GM Steve Keim appeared to put a stormy offseason to bed with a huge extension for Kyler Murray, only to have that news replaced on the front page of the NFL Times by a bizarre "independent study" contract clause uncovered by NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. The Cardinals attempted to put out that fire by removing the clause from Murray's contract ... and that was weird, too! Anyway, things have been calm since -- well, besides Murray missing time after testing positive for COVID-19 -- but you just get the feeling it won't be long before the Cardinals find their way back in the headlines for the wrong reasons. The vibes are off in Arizona. Rank 18 1 New England Patriots New England Patriots Previous rank: No. 17 The reports coming out of Patriots training camp ... they're not great. The offense is being described as hopelessly behind the defense in practice, as New England and de facto offensive coordinator Matt Patricia -- yes, that Matt Patricia -- install a new offense in the wake of Josh McDaniels' departure to Vegas. We expected the Pats attack to be a work in progress early on -- this was often the case even in the best of times with Tom Brady -- but there is more cause for alarm this time around with both McDaniels and Brady out of the picture. Bill Belichick deserves the benefit of the doubt -- always -- but New England's offense has much work to do and not a lot of time to do it. Predicting all 17 games on Patriots' 2022 schedule | 'NFL Total Access' Rank 19 Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins Previous rank: No. 19 New head coach Mike McDaniel is a man with many responsibilities -- one of which is shutting down outside noise in the wake of the NFL's decision to suspend owner Stephen Ross and strip Miami of multiple draft picks for tampering violations. The bombshell discipline will hamstring the Dolphins in the future, but the team remains well set up to contend in the here and now. Camp reports on the connection between Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill are positive, and Hill continues to pump up his new QB in the media. "I see a lot of similarities when I look at him and when I see Patrick (Mahomes)," Hill told ESPN last week. The hype machine is firing on all cylinders in Miami. Rank 20 2 Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings Previous rank: No. 22 Remember the stories last year about third-round draft pick Kellen Mond potentially unseating Kirk Cousins as the starting quarterback in Minnesota? With Mike Zimmer out the door, you're not hearing much of that these days. In fact, Arif Hasan of The Athletic speculated that Mond could find himself on the outside looking in when the Vikings make final cuts this summer. Cousins, meanwhile, is quietly preparing for another 4,000-yard season with 35 touchdowns. Man, that guy stinks! Rank 21 Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers Previous rank: No. 21 The idea of Kenny Pickett: Day 1 Starter continues to lose steam in Pittsburgh. Mitch Trubisky has gotten the majority of first-team reps in camp, while Mason Rudolph apparently has yet to throw an interception through two-plus weeks of practice. As for Pickett, some very rocky struggles to begin camp led to a No. 3 designation on the official depth chart released by the team. Given the underwhelming NFL career pedigree of the players ahead of Pickett, it would be shortsighted to say the former Pitt star won't make an impact in his first season. Still, it's clear he has a lot of work to do to earn Mike Tomlin's trust. All part of the process. Rank 22 8 Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns Previous rank: No. 14 Kareem Hunt wants out of Cleveland, but that doesn’t mean Kareem Hunt gets out of Cleveland. The Browns denied the running back’s trade request and reportedly will fine him for sitting out of team drills during a brief hold-in that began on Friday and apparently ended on Sunday. Barring something unforeseen, that means Browns fans will get one more year of Hunt and Nick Chubb -- the best 1-2 punch at running back in the NFL. With Deshaun Watson suspended for the first six games of the season -- and perhaps many more depending on the outcome of the NFL’s appeal -- it’s hard not to imagine Cleveland as one of football’s most run-heavy teams with certified game manager Jacoby Brissett under center. Rank 23 2 Carolina Panthers Carolina Panthers Previous rank: No. 25 Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold continue to split first-team reps in training camp, but it appears the former Browns signal-caller has pulled ahead in this competition. RapSheet reported that Mayfield has the "inside track" to start Week 1 (against Cleveland, no less). Mayfield feels like he's one good preseason performance away from locking this thing up. Darnold, meanwhile, spent part of his Monday answering questions about a report that has him on the trade block. One could safely surmise that the combination of Darnold's game tape and bloated salary would conspire to make his trade market rather grim. Rank 24 1 Seattle Seahawks Seattle Seahawks Previous rank: No. 23 Who makes the most starts at quarterback for the Seahawks? A) Geno Smith? B) Drew Lock? C) Mysterious Quarterback X? (OK, we mean Jimmy Garoppolo.) For the time being, this is an open competition with Geno on the inside track as he continues to work with the first-team offense exclusively. Lock is keeping things interesting, however: The former Broncos starter outplayed Smith in Seattle's "mock game" on Friday, moving the No. 2 offense with efficiency against the first-team D. This feels like a QB battle that could come down to how each player fares in game action over the next three weeks. GENO v. LOCK. Who said preseason football doesn't have sizzle? Rank 25 1 New York Jets New York Jets Previous rank: No. 24 The Jets hoped this would be the season in which Mekhi Becton would stay healthy and realize his immense potential. Instead, the former first-round pick's 2022 appears to be over before it even began, with a fractured kneecap likely sidelining him for the year. Back-to-back lost seasons -- combined with ongoing concerns about work ethic and conditioning -- make you really wonder what the future holds for the Big Ticket. As for the Jets, they have to quickly pivot to fill a massive hole on the right side of their line. Veteran tackle Duane Brown -- who visited with the team over the weekend -- is an obvious plug-and-play replacement candidate. The Jets never seem to escape August unscathed, do they? Rank 26 2 New York Giants New York Giants Previous rank: No. 28 I know I'm not the only one buying into an offensive resurgence for the Giants. Daniel Jones has enjoyed some inspired moments in training camp, and his cast of playmakers (Kenny Golladay, Kadarius Toney, Wan'Dale Robinson) is pretty frisky. With an improved offensive line and a finally-healthy Saquon Barkley, is it crazy to think New York could hang around in the wide-open NFC East? Yeah, yeah, talk is cheap -- and so is August football. But at the very least, the G-Men have the potential to be watchable on offense in 2022. That's a vast upgrade from where we were last fall. Rank 27 Detroit Lions Detroit Lions Previous rank: No. 27 The Lions are Hard Knocks darlings ... but will they be a better team in 2022? It remains to be seen, but the energy feels positive around this team. The defense is certainly improved with No. 2 overall pick Aidan Hutchinson providing some much-needed playmaking punch off the edge. Meanwhile, Jared Goff has found a new best friend in D.J. Chark. Goff and Chark have displayed excellent chemistry throughout camp, connecting on multiple deep shots. Dan Campbell gets the final word here, as he always should: "We are freaking starving. We're starving. So the hyenas better get out of the way." Rank 28 2 Washington Commanders Washington Commanders Previous rank: No. 26 Stop us if you've heard this before: Carson Wentz is struggling with accuracy. The veteran quarterback, acquired from the Colts in a trade back in the spring, has yet to find his groove, a task made more difficult thanks to an offensive line that has been besieged by injuries. The good news? Curtis Samuel was back on the field and practicing to start the week, and Wentz still has a true No. 1 threat in Terry McLaurin, who recently signed a fat contract extension with the team. The Commanders have the pieces to score points. No need to panic here. (Yet.) Rank 29 3 Houston Texans Houston Texans Previous rank: No. 32 Looking for an intriguing under-the-radar wide receiver? He's right here in Houston, and his name is Nico Collins. The 2021 third-rounder has been making plays throughout camp, according to media members covering the Texans, and then there's this bit of glowing praise from quarterback Davis Mills: "I don't think there's many people out there who can stop him." Brandin Cooks will attract the most attention from opposing defenses to start the season, but that could change if the hype around the former Michigan standout translates to the games that count. Rank 30 1 Jacksonville Jaguars Jacksonville Jaguars Previous rank: No. 31 The Jaguars selected Travon Walker with the No. 1 overall pick in April knowing his lack of prolific college production made him a bigger projection than we usually see from a prospect atop an NFL draft board. So one can easily imagine Jacksonville brass trading powerful high fives after seeing Walker make an immediate impact on the stat sheet in his pro debut against the Raiders in the Hall of Fame Game. Walker played two series, finishing with a sack and pressure. "It was definitely an exciting feeling," Walker said after the game. "It was my first [sack], but plenty more to come." The Jags certainly hope so. Travon Walker sacks Stidham with bear-hug tackle Rank 31 2 Atlanta Falcons Atlanta Falcons Previous rank: No. 29 Shout-out to Dean Pees, who hears all your pitying takes about the prospects of the 2022 Atlanta Falcons and is having NONE of it. Here's what the veteran defensive coordinator said last week: "We've been in the top 10 (in defense rankings) one time out of the last 20 years. That bulls---'s over. Sorry, I'm getting fired up today, but I'm tired of this crap. We're going to change the culture of the defense around this frickin' place. People are going to start talking about the Atlanta defense like they did Baltimore and New England. It's going to be the same s--- around here." We're not buying, but we respect the vigor. Rank 32 2 Chicago Bears Chicago Bears Previous rank: No. 30 We’d all like to see Justin Fields take a big leap in Year 2, but it’s hard to ignore the troubling state of the Bears’ wide receiver group. Darnell Mooney is locked in as the No. 1 option after a 1,000-yard season, but recent injuries to Byron Pringle (quad) and N'Keal Harry (ankle) have moved this positional group into DEFCON 1 emergency territory. It would not be a surprise to see general manager Ryan Poles add a veteran off the street. Fields was not put in position to succeed as a rookie, and the state of Chicago's roster has us concerned that 2022 won’t be much better. https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-power-...wo-slots-one-month-out-from-their-kickof
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Could the Dolphins be flying under the radar with Tyreek Hill on their team now.
2. The Saints are in position to do well I think,
I feel similar about the stupid Chargers and Cardinals.
I wouldn't imagine a top 5 ranking of teams would so soon from before leave out the Tampa Bay Bucs.
Can Deshaun Watson play better for the Browns, than Baker Mayfield would have? ... Now the Games count.
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I’d break it down AFC/NFC
AFC
Buffalo - Super Bowl favorites IMO. They shouldn’t have a weakness.
Kansas City - As long as Mahomes is on their roster they’re in the top 3.
LA Chargers - Their roster is loaded and Herbert should be even better.
Denver - Another loaded roster and they add Wilson.
Cincinnati - I think they take a step back, but they will be favored to win the AFCN.
Indianapolis - This all depends on how well Ryan plays.
Baltimore - I’d put them as the final team to have a chance to make the Super Bowl.
NFC
LA Rams - They are the defending champs, even though I don’t think they’ll repeat and Stafford is older.
Tampa Bay - This is all about how Brady is (and when he returns)
Green Bay - Same as with KC, as long as they have Rodgers they’re in the top 3.
Arizona - They have a loaded offense, but their QB isn’t that consistent.
Philadelphia - I think this is a dark horse to win it all. Good roster.
Dallas - They are dynamite on offense and have a few stars on D, but never stop teams consistently enough.
Minnesota - This is another dark horse team IMO. Dynamic offense.
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
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I’d break it down AFC/NFC
AFC
Buffalo - Super Bowl favorites IMO. They shouldn’t have a weakness.
Kansas City - As long as Mahomes is on their roster they’re in the top 3.
LA Chargers - Their roster is loaded and Herbert should be even better.
Denver - Another loaded roster and they add Wilson.
Cincinnati - I think they take a step back, but they will be favored to win the AFCN.
Indianapolis - This all depends on how well Ryan plays.
Baltimore - I’d put them as the final team to have a chance to make the Super Bowl.
NFC
LA Rams - They are the defending champs, even though I don’t think they’ll repeat and Stafford is older.
Tampa Bay - This is all about how Brady is (and when he returns)
Green Bay - Same as with KC, as long as they have Rodgers they’re in the top 3.
Arizona - They have a loaded offense, but their QB isn’t that consistent.
Philadelphia - I think this is a dark horse to win it all. Good roster.
Dallas - They are dynamite on offense and have a few stars on D, but never stop teams consistently enough.
Minnesota - This is another dark horse team IMO. Dynamic offense. Denver with Russel Wilson is super interesting. Philly will go as far as Hurts can take them ... he's going to be like Lamar, dynamic with his legs but how good can he be throwing the rock? I think AJ Brown is going to be the difference and I see them being one of the teams to beat. Minnesota with Wes Phillips will be another interesting team ... Cook, Jefferson, Thielen is a helluva combo.
The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.
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Rank
22
Wow... a hell of an offseason there Browns FO, congrats! Maybe next year you can get us back to the bottom five when you start cutting players we can't afford! Smfh. I hope this is all worth it in 5 years.
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These two ranks are the range I thought we would be in going into the season with Baker, before the trade. Would love to know what we would have scored if Watson would not be missing games.
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I didn't know where to put this opinion I have so I'll put it here. IMO if Pittsburgh or Baltimore was in the same position, we're in right now with the DW and QB situation they would find a way to win 10-11 games and make the playoffs. Why? Because they have winning organizations and know how to overcome adversity. Of course, they probably wouldn't have to face as much of it as we have for various reasons one being their owners are liked by others much more than ours is but I'm sure it would be enough to be a distraction. I'm not crying about our situation because after all we as an organization did it to ourselves, but I just couldn't help but think if it was one of the two teams I mentioned.
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First I want to say this is a NFL Network poll. It is posted every week and has been posted here many times. Secondly, I hate that I’m going to get into this spat between Vers and the handful of posters that follow him around and try and argue with him, even though he has some of you on ignore. Stop it, you are making this board unreadable for the vast majority of us. This goes for Vers as much as you all. Everyone gets it you believe differently about Watson. Everyone knows where you all stand because you have posted it a million times each, making sure to get your digs into each other. I have had it out with Vers myself. I was suspended for calling him an ass. The thing is he has put people on ignore and they choose to respond to every post ( like you have here ) he makes anyway. Stop. Yes, I’m telling you how to post. We used to police ourselves somewhat in here because of the lack of refs. I don’t know when or why it changed but it needs to go back to that way.
#gmstrong
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Thanks, I think. LOL
This was supposed to be a fun thread. I should have known 888 and OCD would turn it into yet another battle.
I did a quick search of nfl power ranking 2022. I was going to go w/the PFF one because I like their stuff, but it was dated. I chose the one at the top of the page that was most recent. It said 5 or 6 days ago. I didn't even look at where Cleveland or Carolina was ranked. My top five and bottom five are my own choices. I posted the link so others could see something that had all the teams.
Whatever...
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This is not a ranking just something I read.
"PFF’s Sam Monson.
While his early top 10 ranking will likely drop, Monson called Cleveland a playoff team even without Watson."
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Again, I didn't realize that site had the Browns ranked 22nd. Most of the ones I have read in the past are in the 10-14 range because of Watson's status. I promise I was not trying to make this a negative Browns thread. Or a freaking Carolina and/or Baker thread.
I just like talking about things like this. When I was younger, a bunch of us would be at the bar and argue about these kinds of things, as well as many other topics, such as Greatest QB of all time, best hitter you ever saw in baseball, greatest coach of all-time, best 5-tool player, best hoops ball handlers, greatest games you ever saw, etc, etc. It was always a great time and I miss those conversations.
Again, this was supposed to be fun.
Last edited by Versatile Dog; 08/21/22 07:49 AM.
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I considered Tampa Bay, Baltimore, and Cinci for my top 5.
I left TB off because of Brady's mysterious absence, they lost their center to injury and had to replace both guards. Brady does not like interior pressure. BTW...they lost another guard last night.
Baltimore had more injuries than anyone else last year. They are a threat.
Cinci probably deserved top 5. I want to see their new OL before I go there. I think it's hard to sustain success w/such poor OL play. They sure looked to have upgraded it, but I want to see it first. Plus, I wonder about Burrow's durability.
Obviously, the lists are in a perpetual state of flux.
Edit: One sleeper team is New Orleans. If Winston can stay healthy and he continues on w/his new found respect for taking care of the football, they could be dangerous. They have a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. The new HC is a question mark and losing Armstead in FA was tough, though.
Last edited by Versatile Dog; 08/21/22 08:30 AM.
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Football discussion is all good.
The Browns? Hard to figure how we will play.
We have a good number of talented players. Like most teams there are questions.
The big unknown is JB in the Browns offense. I do not think Jacoby has played behind a team like the Browns. When considering the OL and run game.
That makes playing quarterback a lot easier.
Sure the defensive game plan against the Browns will be stop the run. Make JB beat you.
There are ways to plan against that. Motion, screens to backs and TE's. Heavy TE touches into places linebackers are working against the run. Slants, seam routes.
Cooper is good enough to get open at times. Jacoby needs to get comfortable with a few receivers, use check downs. Don't force things. Play smart. Punt when needed.
In the end what is important in a team game like football is how many players on the field can beat their guy?
We have a lot players who should win those battles.
I think we will be in the games we play. Then it is about making that one or two xtra plays to win.
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I will give this a go.
1.Chargers. adding Khalil Mack was a underrated move. They locked up Williams and James.
Slater will even be that much better in yr 2.most complete team in the league
2. Bengals. Upgraded online that should even give Burrow more time to throw to the best WR core
In the league. Continuity on both sides of the ball can't be discounted.
3. Bucs. The most complete team in the NFC. Their only issue is if that rebuilt online can gel in time.
4.Bills. I think there is mounting pressure on McDermott.one of the most talented rosters in the league
Yet this team can't get past RD 2 of the playoffs at best. Watch for WR Gabriel Davis to have a huge yr.
5. Rams..Everything went right for a Rans last year. I think losing Miller and Beckham isn't talked
About enough. Those guys brought some swag and juice to the lockeroom
Bottom 5.
32. Giants
31.Bears
30. Texans
29.Commanders
28. Seattle
Last edited by Iluvmyxstripper; 08/21/22 09:07 AM.
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IMHO, I think it's easy to fall prey to all the player movement this off season and start ranking teams based on paper power than reality. I think the AFC West is a perfect example of this due to what's happened there. It's no secret that all the teams loaded up, but they won't all go 12-5 especially since they will be knocking heads with each other for 6 of those games. 1 or 2 of those teams are going to disappoint, you can bank on it.
The other item of consideration would need to be the trends in the NFL. It's no secret that history shows that 4 teams that made the playoffs in 2021 won't make the playoffs in 2022. The other trend is (I think this is right) that 18 out of the last 20 years there's been a worst to first team to the playoffs.
First the bottom 5:
32. Houston - Not sold on Mills or the new head coach. With 2 picks in the top 15, they will have a good start on their rebuild beginning next year
31. Atlanta - so much wrong with this team starting at QB
30. Seattle - say they are not in a rebuild when they are - rough year ahead
29. NY Giants - Lame duck QB and a new coach that needs a year or two to install his own team
28. Chicago - not sold on Fields, not sold on Fields
4-Teams that will not make the Playoffs in 2022 that did in 2021:
1. Pittsburgh - to much of a downgrade at QB
2. New England - they will miss McDaniel's a lot, suspect WR's
3. San Francisco - Lance is not ready and it will show.
4. Kansas City - unfortunately, someone has to finish in last in the West, only team that didn't upgrade majorly as they go 9-8 in the brutal West. This would have been Cincy but with the Browns losing Watson and PIT QB issues, it gives Cincy an additional win or two - Cincy sneaks back in the playoffs
Worst to First:
The popular choice here would be Denver but not in the brutal AFC West as they go 10-7 and lose the tie breaker for the playoffs, so it'll be the Ravens in 2022 that go from worst to first
AFC Seeded Playoff Teams:
1. East - Buffalo - Class of the East and AFC going 13-4 with a dynamic QB and complete team if they stay away from injuries
2. North - Baltimore (new) - could challenge for #1 seed - staying injury free will be key as Ravens go 12-5
3. South - Indianapolis (new) - almost identical to TEN but with a better QB than the Titans will make the difference as they each go 11-6 with the Colts winning the tie breaker
4. West - LA Chargers (new) - could almost flip a coin in this division but LAC wins the division tie breaker with a 11-6 record but poorer than the Colts in the conference for that tie breaker
5. West - Las Vegas - could almost flip a coin in this division but LAC wins the tie breaker as they both go 11-6
6. South - Tennessee - last chance for the 11-6 Titans - how far will they go via the wildcard route after losing 2 tie breakers to the Colts and Raiders
7. North - Cincinnati - this spot will be won on a tie breaker of 10-7 teams with Cincy, Miami, and Denver. Coaching will be the difference maker in the end
NFC Seeded Playoff Teams:
1. West - Arizona - The Cardinals went 1-5 the end of last season (counting the playoffs) when Hopkins went down with injury. If they go 4-2 to start while Hopkins is suspended, the Cardinals go 12-5 to win the West going away and the tie breaker with Tampa Bay. Contrary to popular belief, significant injuries do impact the production and play of the QB.
2. South - Tampa Bay - If Winston struggles and/or Kamara gets suspended, the Bucs will challenge for the top spot. Otherwise, 12-5 will win them the South in Brady's last year but not the tie breaker
3. North - Minnesota (new) - The Vikings are going to score a lot of points and will be 12-5 at the bottom of a 3-team tie breaker for the top spot. If the defense is fixed, they could be the toast of the NFC.
4. East - Dallas - they'll win the East again just because they have the much better QB and go 11-6
5. North - Green Bay - growing pains at the WR position will make them a wildcard at 11-6 but they'll be hot at the end as Rodgers schools the league on how to play QB as his WR's grow throughout the season
6. West - LA Rams - 10-7 gets them in but the running game is forcing Stafford to throw more than wanted. It's hard to repeat and the Rams will feel the pressure
7. East - Philadelphia - 10-7 gets the Eagles the wildcard but they lose the tiebreaker to the LAR and get the 7th seed. Hurst has the weapons but not the skill set as his struggles almost let's SFO sneak into the last spot. Getting the last 2-games of the season at home against NOS and the NYG gets them in but not without a lot of worry. Not sold on Hurst.
(new) denotes new playoff team to the 2022 playoffs
Just "KICKING THAT CAN DOWN the ROAD"
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I think Baltimore can be a playoff team too, but I just don’t always trust Lamar’s ability to throw it when the chips are down. It’s easier for a team like Cincy to move the ball under a minute left
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
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Baltimore and Pittsburgh always find a way. How Baltimore stayed in the playoff hunt last season with all those injuries is hard to fathom and Pittsburgh found a way to get in.
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Baltimore and Pittsburgh always find a way. How Baltimore stayed in the playoff hunt last season with all those injuries is hard to fathom and Pittsburgh found a way to get in. Both teams have good coaches and organizations that have been able to remain relevant for a long time. Great culture. I feel the Browns are trying to do the same thing, but it takes time. Hopefully, we won't resort to firing people again. Sorry for getting sidetracked. I think D4 mentioned Philly. If Hurts progresses as a passer [I have my doubts] I think they have a pretty strong roster. Their OL is ranked #1 by PFF heading into the season. They are the only team ranked ahead of our OL. They now have good receivers and pretty good backs. I don't know enough about their D to comment w/intelligence.
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When looking at the PFF link I find it very confusing. It indicates that the Browns may have watson for the entire season and if not they have a "healthy Baker to play in place of watson" during a suspension....... 10. CLEVELAND BROWNS
So much of Cleveland’s success hinges on Deshaun Watson‘s availability, which remains completely up in the air as the NFL works toward the conclusion of its investigation into his sexual assault accusations. Even without Watson, the Browns should be a playoff team. They almost made it last season with Baker Mayfield playing from Week 2 on with a badly injured shoulder. A healthy Mayfield this season raises the floor a lot, and Watson for the entire season likely makes them real contenders. And the Sporting News ranking was posted while watson was still only suspended for six games...... 14. Cleveland Browns (10)
As the Browns deal with their major quarterback upgrade Deshaun Watson being suspended for the first six games, they will be a similar team to last year, leaning much on the running game and defense. It makes senses to leave them in the muddled middle after last season's disappointment. Those may have been contributing factors in these rankings. The ESPN ranking details said I needed a subscription to see it.
Intoducing for The Cleveland Browns, Quarterback Deshawn "The Predator" Watson. He will also be the one to choose your next head coach.
#gmstrong
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Agreed Vers. That's what I think Jimmy Haslam is trying to do. He wants to bring a winner here in the worst way IMO. That's why he made the move that he did for DW. I was lukewarm about the trade for obvious reasons, but the move could not have been made without his approval. It was controversial as we all know and been debated since it was made. Some of our fellow posters don't like him and that's fine but we have to give him and Dee credit for trying to bring a winner here. DW is paying for his alleged transgressions. When his punishment is over, and he comes back we may finally have a legit SB contender. I don't have to like the move JH made but it's here it happened, and we have to deal with it. One more thing, all the other owners are on JH back because he gave the first fully guaranteed contract. Eventually, some other owner probably would have done it. He was just the first. If it was done in certain other NFL city's, it probably wouldn't get the criticisms it got here.
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Pit - I think the PFF article is post draft. But other than knowing Watson's length of suspension, losing Baker and maybe adding Clowney, the roster is the same.
The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.
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I actually agree. Haslam can’t be accused of being cheap or not wanting to build a winner here.
I give him credit for trying, even though the means in which he’s done it have not worked out
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
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Haslam takes an unnecessary amount of flack in my opinion. I feel like he's learned from his mistakes and is a better owner today than he was when he first took over. I think he believes in continuity and tries his hardest to get that right. He's also willing to spend. I have no issues with Haslam. I think I would have an issue if he gets rid of Berry or Stefanski without giving them multiple opportunities to succeed.
LOL - The Rish will be upset with this news as well. KS just doesn't prioritize winning...
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There is a team not yet mentioned that I believe belongs with the good teams. anyone guess.
Can Deshaun Watson play better for the Browns, than Baker Mayfield would have? ... Now the Games count.
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Tampa Bay- Brady is ageless.
"You've never lived till you've almost died, life has a flavor the protected will never know" A vet or cop
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The Titans. Even with their upheavel I think still end up at least in the divisional round.
No mention yet of the Titans.
Can Deshaun Watson play better for the Browns, than Baker Mayfield would have? ... Now the Games count.
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The Titans. Even with their upheavel I think still end up at least in the divisional round.
No mention yet of the Titans. They’re a team I always kind of write off but probably shouldn’t. they have a tough team and always stick around
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
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Seems like a good time to update our own personal Power Rankings. Four games used to be the 1/4 point of the season. 17 is a prime number, so we gotta pick certain points. I'm going to stick w/ 4, 8, and 12 games as benchmarks.
My Top 5:
1. Buffalo. Same as my pre-season choice. They have a loss, but I still think they are the most complete team in the league. Losing Hyde hurts, though.
2. Philadelphia. I did not have them in the top 5 before the season. They are league's only undefeated team Great OL. Very good DL. Hurts has improved a ton. Considered putting them at 1.
3. Kansas City. Had them at 2 the first time. Still a very good team. Great QB. Very good OL and HC.
*********Now, it gets tough**********
4. Green Bay. Had them at 5 pre-season. I have a lot of questions about this team, but all the teams have warts.
5. Baltimore. Did not have them in top 5 earlier. Have blown two 17+ leads. Defense has been terrible. But, they are getting MVP play from their QB. Dealt w/tough schedule.
Bottom 5 [starting w/the worst]
32. Chicago. Had them as the worst before the season. They've won 2, but they are bad.
31. Houston. had them in the same spot earlier. No talent. Sub-par qb.
30. Carolina. Didn't have them in bottom 5 pre-season. They actually have a good defense. Worst qb play in the league. Coach is the odds on favorite to be the first to be fired.
*********Now, it gets tough again*********
29. Washington. Not in my bottom 5 before. OL is a mess. Wentz makes critical errors. Crappy organization.
28. Indy. Not in my bottom 5 earlier. Ryan looks old. D is not playing well. Leonard is out again this upcoming week.
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Here is the latest ranking according to ProFootball.com. I think they put one out each week. NFL Power Rankings, Week 5: 49ers vault back into top five, send Rams tumbling out of top 10 Published: Oct 04, 2022 at 08:45 AM Dan Hanzus Around the NFL Writer Parity remains a calling card of the NFL as we hit the quarter point of the regular season. The league currently has one unbeaten team (Eagles), one winless squad (Texans), seven teams at 3-1, seven more at 1-3 and a whopping 15 squads at 2-2 -- a long list of .500 outfits that includes both Super Bowl participants of a season ago. This makes for a dense fog in the land of the NFL Power Rankings. Time to throw up the high beams and see our way through this. NOTE: Up/down arrows below reflect team movement from the Week 4 Power Rankings. Rank 1 Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Eagles 4-0 Previous rank: No. 1 Adversity came for the Eagles on Sunday, and they turned it away. Playing in rainy conditions and with multiple important players forced out of action with injuries, Philly relied on its ground attack (210 yards rushing) and an opportunistic defense (five turnovers) to hold off a game Jaguars team at the Linc. Quarterback Jalen Hurts looked pedestrian for the first time all season, so Miles Sanders did the heavy lifting, with 134 yards and two scores on 27 carries. The NFL's lone undefeated team, the Eagles should have another favorable matchup next week against the inconsistent Cardinals. Rank 2 Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills 3-1 Previous rank: No. 2 The Bills were getting pushed around by the Ravens during what had the makings of a classic Statement Game for John Harbaugh's lot, a blowout conquest that would change the perception of two superpowers. Then, in a manner few teams in the league can even approach, Buffalo flipped a switch. After spotting the Ravens an early 17-point lead, the Bills reeled off the final 20 points of a 23-20 win in Baltimore. Josh Allen, per usual, was the engine on offense, but Jordan Poyer was the star of this day: The safety had two interceptions, including the end-zone pick of Lamar Jackson that kept the score tied and set up Buffalo's march to the game-winning field goal as time expired. Championship mettle by the team from Western New York. Rank 3 2 Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs 3-1 Previous rank: No. 5 Patrick Mahomes used the prime-time stage of Sunday Night Football to remind the world that he remains -- even in a golden age of quarterback play -- a one-of-one proposition. The Chiefs superstar was unstoppable in a 41-31 win over the Bucs, shredding Todd Bowles' well-regarded defense while having fun doing it. The highlight that will play one day during his Canton-induction sizzle reel? The scramble and acrobatic flip to Clyde Edwards-Helaire for an absurd touchdown in the second quarter. "The NFL hasn't seen anything like Mahomes -- I promise you that," Travis Kelce said after the victory. "You saw it today -- he's the Houdini of our era." Rank 4 Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers 3-1 Previous rank: No. 4 When it was over, FOX cameras captured Packers coach Matt LaFleur removing his headset with a look of epic relief etched across his face. A home affair against a lesser Patriots team playing its third-string rookie quarterback should not have stretched to overtime, but Green Bay is a team fighting itself while still in possession of enough muscle memory to win as they do it. "This way of winning, I don't think, is sustainable because it puts too much pressure on our defense," Aaron Rodgers said. "And obviously, I've got to play better and will play better." Rodgers is far from the problem. In fact, the reigning MVP made several brilliant throws Sunday. He just needs more help from his collection of mostly unproven receivers. Rank 5 6 San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers 2-2 Previous rank: No. 11 The Niners picked a nice moment to deliver their best performance of the year. San Francisco used the Monday Night Football spotlight to stick it to the defending champions. The 24-9 win over the Rams sends all four NFC West teams into Week 5 with identical 2-2 records. The Niners' defense sacked Matthew Stafford seven times, and breakout safety Talanoa Hufanga iced the game with a fourth-quarter pick-six. The Jimmy Garoppolo-led offense was in fine form, as well: Nearly three quarters of Garoppolo's 239 passing yards came after the catch. "We're getting the YAC Bros back," Jimmy G said after the win. "That's for sure." Rank 6 4 Cincinnati Bengals Cincinnati Bengals 2-2 Previous rank: No. 10 Bengals back? We think so! Joe Burrow passed for 287 yards and two scores, including the game-icing fourth-down TD flip to Hayden Hurst that sealed a 27-15 win over the previously undefeated Dolphins. After the victory, Burrow complimented his offensive line, a maligned unit that stepped up and kept Joey Franchise clean throughout the night (just one sack). Burrow's favorite target was -- once again -- a receiver other than Ja'Marr Chase: Tee Higgins went off for 124 yards and a touchdown on seven catches. It feels like the Bengals are back to beast status. We'll know for sure after Sunday's showdown with the Ravens in Baltimore. Rank 7 Baltimore Ravens Baltimore Ravens 2-2 Previous rank: No. 7 The Ravens are clearly a dangerous team, but man, do they know how to lose. Baltimore built a 20-3 first-half advantage over the powerhouse Bills, only to watch it all slip away in a last-second loss that left John Harbaugh answering questions about a fourth-down gamble that went terribly awry. "So, hindsight, you could take the points," Harbaugh said of the decision to bypass a go-ahead field goal and instead go for it on fourth down with 4:29 remaining. "But if you look at it analytically, you understand why we did it." Understandable? Sure. But poor execution -- Lamar Jackson floated a pass into the end zone that was intercepted by Bills safety Jordan Poyer -- led to a defeat every bit as bitter as the fourth-quarter meltdown against the Dolphins in Week 2. Get this out of your system now, gang. Rank 8 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2-2 Previous rank: No. 8 The Bucs got several important starters back in the lineup for Sunday night's showdown against the Chiefs, but Patrick Mahomes and his collection of playmakers are simply ahead of Tom Brady and his supporting cast at this point. The result: a 41-31 loss that never felt particularly competitive. A disappointing setback, no doubt, but Tampa Bay got out of the teeth of its schedule in respectable shape, with a much softer slate of opponents ahead. Let the morning TV screamers honk about what's wrong with Brady and Co. -- we're pushing pause on any serious cause for concern. Rank 9 Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings 3-1 Previous rank: No. 9 The Vikings responded to a humbling prime-time loss to the Eagles with back-to-back four- and three-point victories. This bodes well for a team that figures to play in plenty of close games this season. The biggest development in Sunday's win over the Saints in London was the return of Justin Jefferson as a prolific playmaker. After a pair of quiet outings, the third-year wideout scored untouched on a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter, then had the 39-yard reception that set up Greg Joseph's game-winner in the final minute of play. Jefferson is Kevin O'Connell's one true trump card: When he's on one, Minnesota can play with any team in the league. Rank 10 7 Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins 3-1 Previous rank: No. 3 The Dolphins lost for the first time this season against the Bengals on Thursday Night Football, but the story after the game surrounded Tua Tagovailoa, and the head and neck injuries that sent him to a Cincinnati-area medical center after a second-quarter sack. Tua was quickly released from the hospital and flew back to Miami with the team, but questions linger about whether the QB should have been on the field at all after his head was slammed to the turf in the Week 3 win over the Bills. The NFL Players Association terminated the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant involved in Tagovailoa's concussion check, and changes to the league's concussion protocol are being implemented. On Monday, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel ruled Tua out of Sunday's game against the Jets. Expect Miami to handle this situation with extreme caution moving forward. Rank 11 5 Los Angeles Rams Los Angeles Rams 2-2 Previous rank: No. 6 It's officially time to start worrying about the Rams. Facing a stout Niners defense in a loud road environment, the Matthew Stafford-led Los Angeles attack looked flat and punchless in a 24-9 loss that promises to be an impossible film watch for Sean McVay and friends. Stafford was sacked seven times, threw a game-deciding pick six and generally looks like a quarterback who doesn't have a lick of trust for anyone other than Cooper Kupp. Relatedly, the much-hyped addition of presumptive No. 2 receiver Allen Robinson (two catches, 7 yards) is fast approaching boondoggle territory. How's that knee feeling, Odell? Rank 12 Tennessee Titans Tennessee Titans 2-2 Previous rank: No. 12 Sunday had to be a soothing day for the defending AFC South champions. Derrick Henry ran all over the rival Colts like in the good old days, and Tennessee pulled itself back to .500 with a 24-17 win over its longtime rival. Mike Vrabel's team is back on track, but issues linger -- most distressingly, the ones coming out of the halftime tunnel. The Titans have been strangely inept in the second half of the first four games, outscored a whopping 64-7 in those contests. It didn't cost them against a struggling Colts offense on Sunday, but better opponents will storm through the door the Titans keep leaving open. Rank 13 Dallas Cowboys Dallas Cowboys 3-1 Previous rank: No. 13 It felt like the Cowboys were doomed when Dak Prescott went down with a Week 1 thumb injury that required surgery. Instead, Dallas finds itself riding a three-game win streak, thanks in large part to a defense that's been close to dominant. The Cowboys have given up a single touchdown in each of their four games, taking the pressure off Cooper Rush and allowing the backup QB to play in a controlled environment with a positive game script. Rush has taken that nice setup and run with it, building chemistry with CeeDee Lamb and immediately finding a connection with Michael Gallup -- playing in his first game since suffering a torn ACL in January -- in Sunday's win over the Commanders. There's no question this remains Dak's job, but there's no need to rush when you've got ... Rush. Rank 14 1 Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Chargers 2-2 Previous rank: No. 15 Say hello to Jamaree Salyer. The Chargers have been besieged by injuries at multiple positions, and it's Salyer who might be the most important new figure amongst the cavalry of replacements. The sixth-round pick's first start in place of injured Pro Bowl left tackle Rashawn Slater went off without a hitch: Justin Herbert was kept mostly clean in a 34-24 win over the Texans. A match with a lowly opponent like Houston is a nice spot to get your feet wet, but the challenge will be far greater if Myles Garrett returns to the lineup for the Browns in Week 5. For now, the Bolts will savor a small victory after the barrage of casualties that has threatened to upend their season. Rank 15 6 Las Vegas Raiders Las Vegas Raiders 1-3 Previous rank: No. 21 It starts with one. It has to start with one. The Raiders finally cracked the win column on Sunday, opening the October portion of their schedule with a vitally important, potentially season-saving 32-23 win over the rival Broncos. The star of the day was Josh Jacobs, the former first-round pick who looked like a man reborn. Jacobs displayed speed, patience and power in a 144-yard, two-touchdown day. If he can keep this up, he'll go from a summertime-cut candidate to the recipient of a contract extension. A Week 5 matchup against the Chiefs is another tough lever pull by the schedule gods, but the Silver & Black can at least go into that matchup feeling good about themselves. Rank 16 2 Denver Broncos Denver Broncos 2-2 Previous rank: No. 14 We'll start with the good news: Russell Wilson is starting to look more like his old self. On Sunday, the quarterback connected on multiple downfield shots, kept plays alive with his legs and accounted for all three of Denver's scores. The bad news? Pretty much everything else. The Broncos lost to a division rival, their defense made Josh Jacobs look like Bo Jackson, Melvin Gordon had yet another killer fumble and defensive end Randy Gregory and running back Javonte Williams were both carted off with knee injuries. Gregory will miss some time after undergoing knee surgery, but the news on Williams was especially dismaying: The former second-round pick's season was ended by a torn ACL, and there is an arduous journey ahead. Rank 17 3 Arizona Cardinals Arizona Cardinals 2-2 Previous rank: No. 20 Another week, another slow start for a Cardinals offense that seems incapable of sustaining rhythm on a weekly basis. Luckily, the alarm clock on Kliff Kingsbury's attack went off in time for Arizona to put away a subpar Panthers team on Sunday. Suspended receiver DeAndre Hopkins can return after two more games. When he does, he'll find he now has a legitimate complement on the field in Marquise "Hollywood" Brown. The offseason addition has given Kyler Murray a playmaker when Arizona needed one most. Arizona desperately missed someone like Brown opposite Hopkins in 2021 -- it will be fun to see what kind of music they can make together. We'll learn soon enough. Rank 18 1 New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints 1-3 Previous rank: No. 19 If I were NFL Commissioner, double-doinks from 61 yards out would count double. Unfortunately for the Saints ... I am not. Wil Lutz's long-range attempt to force overtime was not meant to be, sending the Saints to Week 5 at 1-3 despite a game effort without Jameis Winston, Alvin Kamara or Michael Thomas in the lineup. Andy Dalton played well in the second half against the Vikings, and it remains an open question whether Dennis Allen will stick with the Red Rifle or turn back to Winston, who was ineffective in two games after suffering his Week 1 back injury. The Saints have yet to receive a productive four-quarter performance from a QB. Rank 19 3 New York Giants New York Giants 3-1 Previous rank: No. 22 Where would the Giants be without Saquon Barkley this season? The veteran running back is healthy and back to full-dynamo status, the driving reason behind Big Blue's surprising 3-1 start. Barkley's value reached unforeseen new levels on Sunday when New York lost both of its quarterbacks to injury, and Brian Daboll turned to his star to take direct snaps out of the Wildcat to seal a win over the Bears. The early schedule has been extremely favorable, but give the Giants credit. In an NFC defined by parity, the G-Men are stacking wins with an eye on an improbable playoff return. Rank 20 2 Jacksonville Jaguars Jacksonville Jaguars 2-2 Previous rank: No. 18 The learning process for Trevor Lawrence goes on. Playing in sloppy, wet conditions, the Jaguars' second-year quarterback lacked awareness in the pocket and was too careless with the football in a 29-20 loss to the Eagles. Lawrence fumbled the ball four times (losing all four) and threw an interception -- an avalanche of giveaways that allowed the undefeated Eagles to wipe away a 14-0 deficit in the first half. A tough game for Lawrence, but he gets an ideal bounce-back opponent on Sunday in the Texans. Rank 21 4 Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns 2-2 Previous rank: No. 17 Jacoby Brissett has just two interceptions through four games, but they've both been killers. In Week 2, he sailed a pass that sealed Cleveland's fate in a collapse against the Jets. On Sunday, another Brissett misfire in the final minutes was the difference in a frustrating 23-20 loss to the Falcons. The Browns fell despite another big performance by Nick Chubb, who has three 100-yard games in four weeks and very much looks like the favorite for the NFL rushing title in 2022. The big question in Cleveland: When will Myles Garrett return to the lineup following his scary car accident last week? He is the engine that makes the Browns' defense go. Rank 22 3 Atlanta Falcons Atlanta Falcons 2-2 Previous rank: No. 25 Oh, those frisky Falcons. Second-year coach Arthur Smith continued to show signs of growth with a narrow win over the Browns in which the team went over 200 yards rushing for the second time in four weeks. Rookie Tyler Allgeier rumbled for 84 yards, and Caleb Huntley chipped in with 56 yards of his own. Cordarrelle Patterson found the end zone, but the knee injury that hampered him leading into the Browns' contest has now sent him to injured reserve for at least four weeks. Allgeier figures to get a bigger role in the offense, but the absence of Patterson will ramp up pressure on quarterback Marcus Mariota, who has been hot and cold in his four starts so far. Rank 23 5 Seattle Seahawks Seattle Seahawks 2-2 Previous rank: No. 28 The Seahawks traded Russell Wilson and have gotten better on offense. That's hard to deny after watching Geno Smith and superfriends pile up 555 total yards, 27 first downs and 48 points in a shootout win over the Lions at Ford Field. Smith finished 23 of 30 for 320 yards and three total touchdowns against a Detroit defense off to a historically inept start. Regardless of the opponent, the journeyman QB's command and execution of the Seattle attack counts as one of the season's biggest early surprises. "(Shoot), he's been on fire all year," wide receiver DK Metcalf (7/149/0) said of Smith. "He keeps building, keeps getting better week by week, and our chemistry keeps growing, and we're finally building an identity for ourselves." Rank 24 8 Detroit Lions Detroit Lions 1-3 Previous rank: No. 16 You can have all the grit in the world, but if you don't have defense, none of it matters. Detroit continued to hemorrhage yards on Sunday, surrendering 555 of them to Geno Smith and a Seahawks attack that won't be confused with the 2007 Patriots anytime soon. The Lions' combination of high-flying offense and dismal defense is putting the team in the record books. According to NFL Media research, Detroit's total of 281 points -- 140 scored, 141 allowed -- are the most by any team in the first four games of a season in NFL history. The team deserves recognition for putting 45 points on Seattle with D'Andre Swift and Amon-Ra St. Brown out with injuries -- but if they allow 35.3 points per game, they'll be picking in the top five yet again come April. Rank 25 1 New England Patriots New England Patriots 1-3 Previous rank: No. 24 The plan was not for fourth-round rookie Bailey Zappe to be taking snaps opposite of Aaron Rodgers on Sunday at Lambeau Field, but such is the nature of an unpredictable sport. Zappe did commendable work given a nearly impossible situation, making a few throws and avoiding multiple catastrophic mistakes, but the end result was still -- commendable as it was -- an overtime loss. With Mac Jones down with an ankle injury and Brian Hoyer exiting the Green Bay game with a head injury, it’s possible Zappe could get another audition for the top backup job on Sunday against the Lions. After decades of QB serenity with Tom Brady, Bill Belichick is now seeing how the other half lives. Rank 26 5 New York Jets New York Jets 2-2 Previous rank: No. 31 Welcome back, Zach Wilson. The second-year quarterback made his season debut a memorable one, leading the Jets on back-to-back touchdown drives in the fourth quarter in a 24-20 win over the Steelers in Pittsburgh. Wilson was predictably rusty in his first game action since knee surgery in August, but the former No. 2 pick was in control during the game’s final scoring drive -- a 65-yard march in which Wilson went 5 for 5 through the air. When Breece Hall reached over the goal line -- juuuuust barely -- with the go-ahead TD, New York had its second stunning comeback in three weeks. Is the long-suffering franchise finally flipping the script after a decade of struggles? With Wilson back, the Jets have buzz. Rank 27 1 Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers 1-3 Previous rank: No. 26 Mike Tomlin said he wasn’t going to do it. He said Mitchell Trubisky was his guy at quarterback. Then Sunday’s game reached halftime and Tomlin decided he’d had his fill. Enter first-round pick Kenny Pickett, who scored two rushing touchdowns and threw 13 passes that never touched the ground. Unfortunately, three of those connections were to Jets defenders in a 24-20 loss at Acrisure Field. After the game, Tomlin chose not to commit to a Week 5 starter, but he’s in too deep now. Pickett has gone from future to present and Trubisky has rightfully returned to a reserve role. Tomlin likely resisted this direction initially because he didn’t want to deal with rookie growing pains. In the end, Trubisky’s neck-straining ceiling left the coach no choice. Rank 28 5 Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts 1-2-1 Previous rank: No. 23 What is it that the Colts do really well right now? They can’t beat you with their passing game, they struggle to protect their ancient quarterback, they don’t move the ball on the ground (and now Jonathan Taylor is injured) and their special teams has already cost them one win. Their run defense entered Week 4 as a bright spot, but even that was exposed by Derrick Henry, who piled up 99 yards in the first half alone in Sunday’s 24-17 loss to the Titans. Have we mentioned Shaquille Leonard has already been ruled out for Thursday’s game against the Broncos with a concussion? I don’t mean to be a downer here ... but the vibes ... they’re no good in Indy. Rank 29 1 Washington Commanders Washington Commanders 1-3 Previous rank: No. 30 Offense looks like hard work when you’re watching the Commanders. The pass protection is poor and Carson Wentz never looks comfortable as he repeatedly throws into tight windows. Washington’s struggles go beyond the quarterback, however. On Sunday against the Cowboys, there were 11 penalties for 136 yards, with two of those infractions wiping away Cooper Rush interceptions in a 25-10 loss. Ron Rivera is a respected figure throughout league circles, but this doesn’t feel like an organization moving in the right direction. A quick glance at the NFC East standings backs up that notion. Rank 30 3 Chicago Bears Chicago Bears 2-2 Previous rank: No. 27 Justin Fields set a season high on Sunday with 11 completions and in no way is that depressing. Yes, the growing pains rolled on for the young former first-round pick, who took six sacks and had three trips inside the red zone without scoring a touchdown in a 20-12 loss to the Giants at MetLife Stadium. You can imagine Matt Eberflus finds himself in a difficult situation: Fields represents the possible future of the Bears organization, but he’s been unable to lead the offense with any efficiency. The new coach is tied to the young QB, for better or worse. Rank 31 2 Carolina Panthers Carolina Panthers 1-3 Previous rank: No. 29 With each passing week, it’s become increasingly clear the Panthers still have no answer at quarterback. Baker Mayfield struggled mightily yet again on Sunday against the Cardinals, missing open receivers and seeing several of his pass attempts swatted down at the line of scrimmage. It’s time for a change, but it’s not that easy for Matt Rhule. It was reported – and later confirmed by Rhule -- on Monday that Sam Darnold (last year’s offseason QB acquisition who didn’t work out) is not close to returning from his high-ankle sprain, while third-round pick Matt Corral exited the picture in the summer after sustaining a foot injury. That means Rhule is probably stuck with Mayfield, who was on the receiving end of a resounding chorus of boos from the Panthers faithful on Sunday. The times, they are not good in Charlotte. Rank 32 Houston Texans Houston Texans 0-3-1 Previous rank: No. 32 The Texans are winless through four games for the fourth time since the franchise’s inception in 2002, but the news isn’t all bad. It’s become increasingly clear that running back Dameon Pierce was a draft steal in the fourth round. Pierce set a franchise rookie record with a 75-yard touchdown run that gave Houston some much-needed vitality in an eventual 34-24 loss to the Chargers. Pierce leads all rookie rushers with 313 yards on the ground and was finally granted a full workload by Lovie Smith. In fact, Pierce was the only running back who had a rushing attempt for the Texans in Week 4. Houston has a new horse. https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-power-rankings-week-5-2022-nfl-season
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 75,105
Legend
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Legend
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 75,105 |
My top 10 would be:
Philly
Buffalo
Kansas City
Green Bay
Baltimore
Miami
San Francisco
Dallas
Tampa Bay
LA Chargers
"First down inside the 10. A score here will put us in the Super Bowl. Jeudy is far to the left as Njoku settles into the slot. Tillman is flanked out wide to the right. Judkins and Ford are split in the backfield as Flacco takes the snap ... Here we go."
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,788
Hall of Famer
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Hall of Famer
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,788 |
And we have 6 games with those top 10. Like I've been saying, it's going to get ugly!! I watched San Fran. last night. I'm so glad we don't have to play them.
Last edited by Homewood Dog; 10/04/22 10:42 AM.
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,200
Dawg Talker
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Dawg Talker
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,200 |
Not sure why, but I think the Eagles fold in the second half of the season and will be lucky to make it out of the wildcard round (if they get there).
Like I said, just a hunch.
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