NFL Power Rankings: Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Top

The Buffalo Bills have reached the playoffs for three consecutive seasons, and they open the 2022 campaign with the shortest odds to win the Super Bowl.

Coming into a new season, any team can harbor hopes for a competitive year, but the teams that are legitimate Super Bowl contenders out of the gate are there because they have high-end quarterbacks. As the NFL has become even more pass focused, having a star quarterback can make a massive difference.

Here is a preseason edition of the NFL Power Rankings, where quarterbacks are king.

NFL Power Rankings

1. Buffalo Bills

The Bills have been Super Bowl favorites for most of the offseason, with expectations sky-high for QB Josh Allen after back-to-back seasons with more than 4,000 yards passing and 35 touchdowns.  

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

QB Tom Brady returned but, at least for now, TE Rob Gronkowski did not. Brady is taking a break in the middle of camp, which is unusual, but presuming Brady is good to go, that's reason enough to expect the Bucs to be Super Bowl contenders yet again.

3. Los Angeles Chargers

Even though the Chargers did not make the playoffs last year, they are considered contenders this year, in large part because QB Justin Herbert has shown elite passing skills through his first two seasons. Bringing in veteran pass rusher Khalil Mack to pair with Joey Bosa helps the Chargers' defense, too.

4. Los Angeles Rams

The defending Super Bowl champions are still great, but there has been some concern regarding the health of QB Matthew Stafford, whose elbow tendinitis has flared up during training camp. The Rams have upgraded in spots, too, bringing in WR Allen Robinson and ILB Bobby Wagner.

5. Kansas City Chiefs

The loss of WR Tyreek Hill will present more of a challenge for QB Patrick Mahomes, who has thrown 151 touchdowns in the past four seasons – but he has proven to be a superstar no matter who is catching his passes.

6. Cincinnati Bengals

Last year’s Super Bowl finalists had a glaring need on the offensive line, and they addressed it by signing C Ted Karras, G Alex Cappa, and T La’el Collins. If they can protect QB Joe Burrow, then the Bengals should be even more dangerous than they were last season.  

7. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles hope that QB Jalen Hurts can continue to improve in his third NFL season; the acquisition of WR A.J. Brown should give Hurts another big-play threat in the passing game. Will that be enough for the Eagles to rise to the top of the NFC East?

8. Dallas Cowboys

If the Cowboys are going to repeat as NFC East champs – which would be their first division repeat since 1996 – they will need rookie WR Jalen Tolbert to step up and fill the void created by trading Amari Cooper to Cleveland. The ‘Boys still have enough talent to take the division, but the Eagles look like they are gaining ground.

Here are the latest NFL Power Rankings, with Super Bowl odds via DraftKings, FanDuel, and Caesars.

Super Bowl Odds

9. Green Bay Packers

As long as QB Aaron Rodgers is running the show, the Packers will have high expectations – but after trading WR Davante Adams to the Raiders, there is some question about whether the receivers will bring out the best in the reigning MVP. If second-round pick WR Christian Watson and fourth-round pick WR Romeo Doubs are legitimately ready to contribute, the Packers may be championship contenders again.

10. Las Vegas Raiders

After bringing in new head coach Josh McDaniels, the Raiders added star WR Davante Adams and star pass rusher Chandler Jones, moves that show a sense of urgency about the Silver and Black challenging other teams at the top of the AFC West.

11. Arizona Cardinals

Trading for WR Marquise Brown ought to help the Cardinals get by for the first six games while WR DeAndre Hopkins is suspended. QB Kyler Murray got a lot of attention for a (since removed) homework clause in his new contract – but if Murray performs at an elite level on the field, the discussion should shift significantly.

12. Denver Broncos

Having missed the playoffs for six straight seasons, the Broncos hired Nathaniel Hackett as their new head coach and traded for QB Russell Wilson, which should be enough to make the Broncos competitive. Unfortunately, they're also in what is likely the best division in football, so it won't  be easy to overtake the Chiefs, Chargers, and Raiders.  

13. San Francisco 49ers

After losing a hard-fought NFC Championship Game, the Niners are preparing to enter the season with Trey Lance, the third overall pick in 2021, at quarterback. He offers a higher ceiling than Jimmy Garoppolo, but the 49ers’ chances of contending will be heavily dependent on how well – and how quickly – Lance handles the starting job.

14. Indianapolis Colts

The Colts replaced QB Carson Wentz with Matt Ryan, while second-round pick Alec Pierce should upgrade the receiving corps. Will that be enough to complement star RB Jonathan Taylor, the runner-up for Offensive Player of the Year in 2021?

15. Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens had a losing record last season – and while they saw little roster turnover, the trade of WR Marquise Brown to Arizona puts plenty of pressure on 2021 first-round pick Rashod Bateman to elevate his play. Of course, QB Lamar Jackson will probably lean more on TE Mark Andrews, anyway.

16. New England Patriots

Naturally, there is a drop off when the franchise cuts ties with possibly the best quarterback ever to play, but rookie QB Mac Jones had an impressive rookie season and guided the Patriots to a 10-7 record. Can Jones take another step forward in his second season? New England added WR DeVante Parker to give Jones another downfield weapon.

NFL Regular Season Win Totals (via DraftKings)

17. Minnesota Vikings

An offensive core built around RB Dalvin Cook, WR Justin Jefferson, and QB Kirk Cousins should make Minnesota competitive. The Vikings also added LB Jordan Hicks and are hoping for a  healthy LB Danielle Hunter to give the defense more playmaking ability. If the D is reliable, the Vikings could be dangerous.  

18. New Orleans Saints

It’s a new era for the Saints, with Dennis Allen taking over as head coach. They will look to QB Jameis Winston, who threw 14 touchdowns and three interceptions in seven games last season before suffering a torn ACL, and hope that WR Michael Thomas can return to form after missing all of last season and playing just seven games in 2020.

19. Miami Dolphins

Trading for big-play WR Tyreek Hill changed expectations for the Dolphins; acquiring the mercurial talent signals a win-now attitude, and the Dolphins have to hope that they have the quarterback who can lead them there. Tua Tagovailoa is unproven at this level, so veteran Teddy Bridgewater could end up seeing some important action for Miami.  

20. Tennessee Titans

Getting RB Derrick Henry back in the lineup should put the Titans on the right track – and while they traded WR A.J. Brown, it is not as though Tennessee gave up on the position, signing WR Robert Woods and drafting Treylon Burks in the first round.

21. Cleveland Browns

The Browns handed QB Deshaun Watson one of the most ludicrous contracts in NFL history and now face the possibility of not having him for a good chunk of the 2022 season. An arbitrator suggested a six-game suspension for Watson, which the Browns fully supported, but the NFL is appealing, seeking a full year suspension. Whenever the final verdict comes down, it could throw Cleveland’s season into turmoil, again.

22. Carolina Panthers

The Browns' decision to bring in Watson left QB Baker Mayfield without a starting job; he has since landed in Carolina, where he has the edge over Sam Darnold. If RB Christian McCaffrey can stay healthy and Mayfield can give Carolina even average quarterback play, that would mark a significant step up compared to recent Panthers seasons.

23. Pittsburgh Steelers

Now that the Steelers have finally moved on from Ben Roethlisberger, the question is whether Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph, or rookie Kenny Pickett will take over at quarterback. If the Steelers can get competent QB play from one of them, RB Najee Harris and second-round pick WR George Pickens offer hope for the future and possibly even the present.

24. New York Giants

If RB Saquon Barkley can stay healthy, that would go a long way toward easing the pressure on QB Daniel Jones, whose performance has been uneven through his first three NFL seasons. The G-Men used first-round picks on pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux and RT Evan Neal, both of whom should help the Giants at the point of attack.

25. Washington Commanders

Did the acquisition of QB Carson Wentz provide the stability that the Commanders desperately need? Not exactly, but he is also taking a lot of criticism despite coming off a decent season in which he threw 27 touchdowns and just seven interceptions.  

26. Jacksonville Jaguars

New head coach Doug Pederson has an opportunity to fix a Jaguars team that was a mess under Urban Meyer in 2021. The Jaguars are committed to supporting second-year QB Trevor Lawrence and have upgraded the offensive line, bringing in WRs Christian Kirk and Zay Jones and TE Evan Engram. RB Travis Etienne is expected to be a difference maker after he was injured for his entire rookie season. There is potential here, but potential is not new in Jacksonville.

27. Seattle Seahawks

Trading QB Russell Wilson leaves the Seahawks in a tough spot, because Geno Smith and Drew Lock are not on Wilson’s level, and that could limit the contributions of two of Seattle’s best players – wide receivers Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf. The Seahawks may have a solid enough lineup aside from the quarterback position, but that’s a big hole to fill.

28. Detroit Lions

While the Lions won just three games last season, that included a 3-3 finish after opening the season with a 0-10-1 record, so there's some reason for optimism. Second overall pick DE Aidan Hutchinson should upgrade the defense and 12th overall pick WR Jameson Williams could be a game-changer for the offense once he is healthy (he is expected to miss at least the first week of the season as he continues to recover from a torn ACL).

29. Atlanta Falcons

QB Marcus Mariota gets another chance to shine – he last started for Tennessee in 2019 – and has first-round WR Drake London as well as last year’s first-round pick, TE Kyle Pitts, to give him some options in the passing game. Still, feels like the Falcons might not take a step forward until third-round QB Desmond Ridder is ready for his shot.

30. New York Jets

After drafting QB Zach Wilson second overall last year, the Jets used their first-round pick on WR Garrett Wilson and second-round pick on RB Breece Hall this year. That could set up the core of the offense for years to come, but Zach Wilson suffered a knee injury in the first preseason game that will keep him out for the next 2-4 weeks. Cue Joe Flacco time.

31. Chicago Bears

As with most teams, the Bears are heavily dependent on their quarterback; in Chicago’s case, second-year QB Justin Fields has a wide variance for what he might become in his second NFL season. The Bears could turn into a respectable team if he busts out with a great season, or they could be looking at one of the top picks in next year’s draft.

32. Houston Texans

Coming off a four-win season in 2021, the Texans are not forecast to have much success in 2022. There are, however, some young players to keep an eye on, including QB Davis Mills, rookie RB Dameon Pierce, and third overall pick CB Derek Stingley Jr.

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