NFL Way-Too-Early 2023 Power Rankings

Story posted February 16, 2022 in CommRadio, Sports by Jack Dempsky

The NFL season is now over, but it is never too early to talk about next season. The Rams and the Bengals were just in the Super Bowl, but neither one of those teams are ranked in the top two of the way-to-early power rankings.

Here are the predicted top-10 teams for the upcoming NFL season.

1. Kansas City Chiefs

Even after their surprising loss to the Bengals, the Chiefs are still the top-ranked team going into the 2022 season.

Kansas City has the best quarterback in the league, and the best receiver duo in the league in Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. Andy Reid is also one of the best coaches of all time, and he is not retiring anytime soon.

The Chiefs are currently the betting co-favorites for the next Super Bowl, and there is very little reason to doubt them.

2. Buffalo Bills

The other betting co-favorite are the Buffalo Bills. The matchup everyone saw in the AFC Divisional Round might be the future of the AFC.

Josh Allen is already a superstar, and if the Bills  are able to get a wide receiver in the draft to replace their veterans then Buffalo might finally make it all the way.

3. Los Angeles Rams

The Rams are coming off their first Super Bowl win under Sean McVay, but there are some questions heading into next season.

Odell Beckham Jr. tore his ACL in the Super Bowl, while Robert Woods is still recovering from his torn ACL. Von Miller is scheduled to be a free agent, and Aaron Donald is currently thinking about retirement after only eight seasons.

How the Rams look next year is still in question, but they have enough pieces to be the top team in the NFC.

4. Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys lost in an upset to the 49ers in the NFC Wild Card round, but their potential is very high for the upcoming season.

Young superstars CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons will only continue to get better, and both Kellen Moore and Dan Quinn stayed in Dallas after head coaching interviews. If Dallas is able to improve its secondary in the draft, the Cowboys can easily be in Super Bowl contention.

5. Green Bay Packers

This ranking is all about if Aaron Rodgers returns to Green Bay.

If the Packers run it back with Rodgers and Davante Adams, then the Packers should be in the thick of things again.

However, if Rodgers moves on to another team (Denver?) and Adams hits free agency (Las Vegas?), then the Packers will not be anywhere near this ranking.

But, as of Feb. 14, both are still on rhe Packers, so they deserve the No. 5 ranking.

6. Cincinnati Bengals

The biggest surprise of the season was the emergence of the Bengals. Led by young offensive stars in Joe Burrow, JaMarr Chase, Tee Higgins and Joe Mixon, the Bengals are set up to be a top AFC team for a long time.

However, the playoffs also showed why the Bengals quite are not the top yet. Their offensive line is terrible, and the secondary still needs another upgrade. But the Bengals have a bright future, as long as they don’t turn Burrow into the next Andrew Luck.

7. Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals were among the most disappointing second-half teams, but Kyler Murray is still elite, and if the defense is healthy, they should be good as well.

If the Cardinals are able to get another cornerback, then they should be in line for another playoff berth.

8. New England Patriots

This ranking might seem too high at the moment, but when at their fullest potential, the Patriots could ride their defense into another playoff berth. New England got embarrassed by Buffalo in the AFC Wild Card round, but Mac Jones should only get better.

Losing offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to the Raiders will hurt, but it is never wise to doubt Bill Belichick. He has a plan for New England. 

9. Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans are among the most confusing teams for the upcoming season. They are returning every main piece, but they are each getting older.

Their formula has not worked in the playoffs, but it is very difficult to get off of the Ryan Tannehill contract. Are the Titans stuck in purgatory?

10. Los Angeles Chargers

Justin Herbert should only improve in his third NFL season, and the Chargers also have plenty of cap space.

Priorities in the off-season should be finding a good run-stopper and another receiver, but the Chargers are set up nicely for 2022. 
 

Jack Dempsky is a first-year majoring in business management. To contact him, email jmd7563@psu.edu.