It’s now the most glorious time of the year; with NFL training camp underway this week, football is back! Where there is football, there is a power vacuum waiting to be filled by the league’s 32 teams. Here’s how each team stacks up in the hunt for the ever-so-coveted Lombardi trophy.
*Rankings from worst to best according to BleacherReport.com
No. 32
Houston Texans
Well, there’s no easy way to say this; someone had to be last. It just so happens to more than likely be the Texans. To be fair to those fans of H-town, Brandin Cooks is a bright spot on the roster. He hauled in over 1,000 yards for the sixth time in seven years. he will most certainly be the Texans number one wide-out once again. Another piece is EDGE rusher Jonathan Davis, who in 2021 had eight sacks in twelve games played. The Texans finished last season with a record of 4-13.
The biggest news in the way of the Houston Texans comes from rookie wide out John Metchie III, who was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia and will miss all of the 2022 season.
No. 31
Atlanta Falcons
For the first time since 2008, the Falcons have a signal-caller not named Matt Ryan. Honestly, this looks to be a blessing in disguise, as the Falcons can finally commit to a full-on rebuild. Atlanta brought in quarterback Marcus Mariota who reunites with Arthur Smith as head coach, both going back to their time together with the Tennessee Titans. Mariota is starting for the first time since he lost the job to Ryan Tannehill back in October of 2019. Mariota would go on to backup Derek Carr for a few seasons before finding his way into Atlanta.
Success with Mariota looks doubtful-not impossible-but remember, this is still the quarterback who, his now again head coach, benched in favor of Tannehill. That’s where rookie Desmond Ridder of Cincinnati could come into play. With Atlanta in full tear-it-down mode, Ridder could get ample opportunity to show glimpses of a potential franchise quarterback. The Falcons went a respectable 7-10 last season, but no one wants to live in mediocrity, so the Falcons look to drive that tank until they can soar once again.
No. 30
Chicago Bears
If there was one word to describe the Bears’ season, it’s sub-par. Now second year quarterback Justin Fields had himself a rough time adjusting to the NFL. As a whole, Fields’ rookie season wasn’t good—he was 31st in the league in passing yards, threw three more interceptions than touchdown passes and posted a woeful passer rating of 73.2. With a less than pleasant record of 6-11, the bears have to figure out how to curb Fields’ rookie woes this season.
Outside of Fields, the Windy City is grasping at straws in the talent department. Star wide receiver Allen Robinson has moved onto the sunny skies of Los Angeles, so where do the Bears’ look to now?
No. 29
Seattle Seahawks
Much like the Falcons, the Seattle Seahawks are headed into uncharted waters under center after Russell Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos in the offseason. Just like Atlanta, the Seahawks aren’t entirely sure who will be the team’s starting quarterback when they open the 2022 season against (coincidentally) Wilson and the Broncos. So far, Geno Smith appears to have the edge over Drew Lock to be the team’s Week 1 starter. Mediocrity last season at 7-10 might be generous compared to the outlook for this season.
Outside of wide-outs Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf, the Seahawks are going to struggle in the production department offensively. on defense, long gone are the glory days of the “Legion of Boom”. Truthfully, tanking looks to be in the Seahawks future.
No. 28
Jacksonville Jaguars
The 2021 season was an absolute disaster for Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Running back Travis Etienne suffered a season-ending injury before ever taking a regular-season carry. Urban Meyer was a complete fiasco as the team’s head coach. And Lawrence’s first professional season was a mess, an abysmal three and 14 record.
In comparing this upcoming season to last, Lawrence called it “night and day”.
The Jaguars added talent on both sides of the ball in the offseason, whether it was veterans like wide receiver Christian Kirk and Foyesade Oluokun or rookies like No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker. But the Jags have had the first pick in back-to-back drafts for a reason, so expectations need to be tempered in 2022.
No. 27
New York Jets
Well, here’s something that hasn’t been said in quite a while; “The Jets are looking like a competent franchise.” All jokes aside, the Jets had an outstanding 2022 draft with names called such as: Ahmed Gardner; picked fourth, Garrett Wilson; picked tenth, and Jermaine Johnson; picked 26th.
There’s a new sheriff in town in Charlotte. Carolina hopes that Sheriff Mayfield can turn around the team’s lagging fortunes and be what owner David Tepper has vigorously pursued since buying the club: a legitimate franchise quarterback. Mayfield still has to beat out Sam Darnold for the right to start in Carolina, but given how badly Darnold struggled in 2021, it’s not especially difficult to imagine that happening. Given how turbulent it has been in Carolina recently, with quarterback troubles, Christian McCaffery’s injury history, and all-around lack of consistency; it should come as no surprise as to the issues wanting to be addressed.
No. 25
Detroit Lions
To say the Detroit Lions are used to futility is something of an understatement. The Lions haven’t won more than six games since 2017. This is a franchise that has all of one postseason win in the past six decades. Detroit does have some things going for it, including a revamped wide receiver corps and a top-five offensive line, but for the Lions to be a legitimate threat in 2022, both Goff and the Detroit defense are going to have to improve markedly this year.
Just like the aforementioned Danny Dimes; new Commanders QB, Carson Wentz is at the crossroads of his career.
It has been quite the ride for Wentz—from No. 2 overall pick to MVP candidate to watching Nick Foles lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl to traded from the Eagles to the Colts to one disappointing year in Indy followed by another trade to Washington. It’s not just Wentz who is looking for a turnaround in 2022. Washington finished last season 22nd in total defense and 25th in scoring defense despite being littered with first-round picks.
If that defense plays to its potential (it finished second and fourth in those respective categories one year prior) and if Wentz can turn back the clock this year, Washington could surprise in the NFC East.
But those are some big “ifs.”
No. 22
Pittsburgh Steelers
After a one-year hiatus, the New England Patriots were back in the playoffs in 2021, led there by the NFL’s fourth-ranked defense and an efficient rookie season from quarterback Mac Jones. The Patriots also took steps to get better around Jones in 2022, adding a new No. 1 receiver in DeVante Parker and replacing the departed Shaq Mason with rookie first-round pick Cole Strange. But these Patriots, just like last year’s iteration, will likely advance only as far as the team’s defense takes them.
As of the publication of this article, there has been no word when retired federal judge Sue L. Robinson could issue her decision as to a potential suspension of quarterback Deshaun Watson for violating the personal conduct policy after he was sued by 24 women for sexual assault and misconduct.
No one knows when that decision will be handed down or what it will be.
Second, Baker is now a Panther, so is Jacoby Brissett the backup plan? If so, Browns fans are in for a rough season. The Browns could be a legitimate playoff contender. Or they could just as easily finish last in the AFC North. But until we know who the team’s quarterback will be in 2022, it’s almost impossible to say with any certainty which they will be.
New Orleans Saints
Most of the offseason chatter in New Orleans has centered on the health status of quarterback Jameis Winston, the condition of Michael Thomas’ balky ankle or the felony battery charge levied against running back Alvin Kamara and the suspension that could result from it.
But the Saints didn’t win nine games in 2021 because of the offense. This is a team that was carried by the defense last year.
No. 18Â
Minnesota Vikings
I think we’re all asking the same question; Are the Vikings’ legit or will they disappoint once again?
A lot of things are different in Minnesota this year. There’s a new head coach and a new general manager. But one thing has not changed: When the team opens the regular season against the rival Green Bay Packers, Kirk Cousins will be the quarterback.
In the opinion of former Vikings linebacker Ben Leber, Cousins should thrive under head coach Kevin O’Connell.
“I think he’s gonna finally thrive, really thrive, in a system and a coach that actually respects him. I mean, it’s not like I’m not breaking news here that Mike Zimmer did not like Kirk Cousins. And I think that showed in the way that Kirk behaved and the way that he carried himself. The team was never given to him, or he was never allowed to earn the trust of the team, because the head coach I think just didn’t like him.”
No. 17
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins made one of the biggest splashes of the offseason when they swung a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs that brought star wideout Tyreek Hill to Miami.
That deal made the Miami offense significantly more dangerous, but it also ratcheted up the pressure on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to turn it on big-time in his third season.
Thats the million-dollar question isn’t it?
There have been quite a few questions raised about whether Tagovailoa has the arm talent to take full advantage of the weapons at his disposal. One person who isn’t at all concerned about that is Hill himself.
“It’s gonna be a lot of people taking their words back on what they said about [Tua],” Hill said on his podcast, It Needed to Be Said. “Reporters, analysts, Twitter trolls. All those people are gonna take their words back on what they said about [Tua]. I’m gonna be sitting there, eating my popcorn.”
No.16
Tennessee Titans
Last year, the Tennessee Titans were a 12-win division champion and the AFC’s No. 1 seed. Fast-forward seven months, and after the Titans traded star wideout A.J. Brown to the Eagles, most analysts are lukewarm at best on the team’s 2022 prospects.
Most of the skepticism has to do with one man: Ryan Tannehill. He completely disappeared against the Cincinnati Bengals, throwing three interceptions. All this, while his defense sacked Joe Burrow nine times, the fact that the Titans lost the iron grip their defense had on the game is shocking.
No. 15
Las Vegas Raiders
Keeping with city tradition, the Raiders gambled on a trade and acquired Davante Adams from the Green Bay Packers, to pair with his former Fresno State QB, Derek Carr.
The Raiders were one of the most active teams in free agency-not only getting Adams, but former Cardinals’ EDGE rusher, Chandler Jones in Free Agency.
But as they play in a stacked AFC West that includes three superstar quarterbacks in Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Russell Wilson, Moton wrote that the Raiders, while talented, will have their work cut out for them.
“Quarterback Derek Carr believes outsiders have overlooked the Raiders despite the team’s headline moves for Adams and Jones,” he wrote. “Whether Carr is right or looking to motivate his teammates, head coach Josh McDaniels and his staff must sort out the offensive line, specifically the right side. After a rough rookie campaign, Alex Leatherwood needs to improve or else Carr could be under constant duress in 2022.
No. 14
Philadelphia Eagles
The 2021 campaign was a tale of two seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles. The front half of the season was a mess. But after they transitioned to a run-heavy offense, the second half was a different story. The Eagles won six of their last eight games and made the playoffs.
They added a new No. 1 wide receiver in the offseason in A.J. Brown, who looks to make an instant impact on the field, which looks to make Jalen Hurts’ life at quarterback all the easier.
The Eagles added quite a bit of talent on offense and defense, whether it was Brown or rookies Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean. Much will depend on how Hurts fares in his third season in Philadelphia, but the Eagles appear to have the talent to be a legitimate challenger to the Cowboys in the NFC East.
No 13
San Francisco 49ers
The big storylines in San Francisco as camp gets underway concern a player who quite possibly won’t be on the team in Week 1 and another who not that long ago said he didn’t want to be.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, as 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo continues his rehab from offseason shoulder surgery, the team has given the 30-year-old’s agents permission to seek a trade. Meanwhile, after wide receiver Deebo Samuel requested a trade this offseason, the sides have been in discussions about a contract extension.
It truly looks like it won’t affect a team that has their eyes on the Lombardi, but if it drags out and seeps into the locker room, it could create chemistry issues on the field.
No. 12
Arizona CardinalsÂ
There has been no shortage of attention in the desert this offseason, whether it was because of the six-game suspension handed down to star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy, the trade that brought Marquise Brown to town to offset Hopkins’ absence or the contract kerfuffle with quarterback Kyler Murray.
At least one of those off-the-field issues were resolved this off-season, with star QB Kyler Murray inking a five-year, $230.5 million extension that keeps him under contract through 2028.
One concern looms out in the desert, and that is the lack of postseason success and head coach Kliff Kingsbury’s awful track record of such.
No. 11
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts were one of the teams that took a spin on the league’s quarterback carousel in the offseason. After one year in Indy, Carson Wentz was shipped to Washington and replaced via another trade with former NFL MVP Matt Ryan.
Ryan’s arrival marks the fifth starter the Colts have had in five years. But running back Nyheim Hines doesn’t expect the offense in Indianapolis to miss a beat.
Hines told the Jim Rome Show (via Matthew VanTryon of the Indianapolis Star): per BleacherReport.com
“The offense is a little bit different from last year this year. I won’t say it’s anything do with Carson (Wentz’s) playstyle or anything, but I think it’s seeing how the quarterback likes things. Having five quarterbacks in five years, you see how an offense completely changes based on one guy.
No. 10Â
Denver Broncos
Changes abound for the Denver Broncos this year, including a new head coach in Nathaniel Hackett. But the new face everyone wants to see as training camp gets underway is quarterback Russell Wilson.
Per ESPN’s Jeff Legwold, Wilson said he has already developed a level of comfort in Hackett’s scheme, which just produced back-to-back MVP seasons for Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay.
“I feel extremely confident in what we’re doing,” Wilson said. “We look really good. … We’re making touchdown plays.”
Wilson, who after being traded from Seattle, is looking for championship aspirations behind his all-time great talent and stellar defensive unit.
The Dallas Cowboys were the NFC East champions in 2021 and owners of the NFL’s most prolific offense. But for all the team accomplished during a 12-win regular season, the year ended in inglorious fashion when Dallas was bounced from the playoffs at home by the 49ers.
The Cowboys had a bumpy offseason, losing some major contributors from last season such as wide receiver Amari Cooper and edge-rusher Randy Gregory.
Dallas won the NFC East title last year which is good but there’s a reason the division is called the “NFC Least”. The Stars’ high-powered offense isn’t anything to scoff at as it once again looks to be one of the best and to push the Cowboys back into contention.
No. 8Â
Baltimore RavensÂ
After an injury-marred mess of a 2021 season that saw the Baltimore Ravens miss the playoffs, a distraction is the last thing they need as training camp gets underway. But the team potentially has one in the contract status of MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Per NFL.com’s Nick Shook, Kyler Murray’s extension sets a new baseline for Jackson’s next deal—and it’s a whopper:
“The new benchmark, then, is in the $230 million range for five-year deals. That’s the target the NFL should expect Jackson to seek whenever he and the Ravens get around to negotiating a new deal. For now, though, Jackson remains as the only star quarterback without a lucrative, long-term deal in place. We’ll see whether this prompts Jackson and the Ravens to work on a new contract, or ride it out through his fifth-year option.”
Jackson’s contract isn’t the only potential issue facing the Ravens. Running backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards are both returning from ACL tears. After the team traded Marquise Brown, Baltimore’s wideouts are a huge question mark. And the Ravens secondary was beset by injuries last season.
No. 7
Green Bay Packers
In each of the past three seasons, the Green Bay Packers have won 13 games and captured the NFC North. In each of the past two seasons, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has captured the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award.
And yet, uncertainty reigns supreme in Titletown as training camp gets underway. After the Packers traded Davante Adams, the wide receivers in Green Bay are a huge question mark looming over a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
After an off-season like the one the Chargers’ had; it’s no surprise to see then this high in the rankings.
The Chargers offense was already loaded with talent. But the defense ranked 23rd in the league last year, and Los Angeles vigorously attacked that deficiency. The Chargers traded for an edge-rusher to pair with Joey Bosa in Khalil Mack and signed one of the league’s best young cornerbacks in 26-year-old J.C. Jackson. However, for all those additions, quarterback Justin Herbert is the key to a deep playoff run.
The 2021 season ended in crushing fashion for the Los Angeles Chargers—a loss to the rival Raiders in Week 18 cost the Bolts a berth in the postseason. But the team didn’t take that disappointment lying down.
With a revamped roster and another year of development for Herbert, the Chargers face the biggest test of their squad so far, the AFC West. Now let be clear, this division isn’t normal. This is the most stacked division in NFL history. On just the offensive side of the ball alone, you have two (maybe three with Herbert) Hall-of-Famers in Mahomes and Wilson respectfully.
No. 5
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are in a similar situation as the Green Bay Packers. The Chiefs have been the gold standard in the AFC over the past several seasons. The team has hosted the last four AFC Championship Games, won a Super Bowl and appeared in another.
But after Kansas City sent Tyreek Hill packing, there are questions about whether the Chiefs can maintain the same level of excellence in 2022.
However, for once, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been healthy in the offseason after he rehabbed from toe surgery a year ago. Per ESPN’s Adam Teicher, Mahomes has taken advantage of that by working on building a rapport with an overhauled wideout corps. The quarterback said:
“We got some chemistry in just working with the guys for almost a month. Working out with them, throwing with them. We go to lunch, go to dinner, stuff like that. You kind of build that chemistry and I think a big part of especially our offense is having that chemistry on the field.
“Being able to know what the guy is doing without needing to talk about it. I think it’s translated. So far in the practices that we’ve had, we think we’re on the same page and kind of having chemistry and we’re going to keep building on that.”
No. 4Â
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
