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Which NFL teams are the best of the best? Amidst the ever-changing power dynamic, Andersen Pickard ranks the NFL's top-10 squads ahead of Wild Card Weekend.
There's no doubt that the power dynamic in the NFL is constantly shifting. Bottom feeders rise, middling contenders falter, and even the best of the best organizations show glimpses of struggle. This ever-dynamic state of the league is what lures fans to keep watching every week. Anything can happen. If there's football on the TV, you truly don't know what to expect.
As we head into Wild Card Weekend of the 2022 postseason, it's time to look at how the top-10 teams align in our latest NFL power rankings.
Honorable Mentions: Detroit Lions, New York Giants, Los Angeles Chargers
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10. Miami Dolphins (9-8)
The Dolphins got out to a scorching hot start in Mike McDaniel's first year as head coach. They even stayed afloat when Tua Tagovailoa missed time due to a scary series of concussions. Now, though, Miami has lost five of its last six games and narrowly snuck into the playoffs.
The Dolphins have been nothing special on defense, ranking among the bottom half of the league in most major categories. They've struggled to fend off teams that they should beat, allowing 40 points to the Jets, 32 to the Bears, and 27 to the Lions. Miami's defense owns a 2.4 percent DVOA, which ranks 18th in the NFL and is worse than teams like the Bengals, Chargers, Rams, and Titans.
Despite these concerns, one factor has kept Miami afloat all this time: it's the offense. The Dolphins drastically beefed up their offensive play with the addition of Tyreek Hill last season, and it has paid off. The ex-Chiefs wideout wasted no time meshing with his new team and has totaled 113 catches for 1,632 yards, both of which are career-highs. Around him, Tagovailoa has played well, second-year receiver Jaylen Waddle continues to blossom into a star, and the running game has looked explosive at times. If they can get healthy and stay healthy, this team still has a chance to make a playoff run.
9. Baltimore Ravens (10-7)
The Ravens are struggling right now without Lamar Jackson (ankle), but that doesn't negate the fact that they have won two-thirds of their games. Baltimore sports a strong defensive line, a constantly improving secondary, and an incredibly flashy offense. Don't forget their impressive special teams unit, headlined by elite kicker Justin Tucker.
When Jackson is healthy, the Ravens might have one of the best rushing attacks in the league thanks to Jackson's agility, J.K. Dobbins' efficiency and nose for the end zone, and Gus Edwards' status as one of the best backup running backs in the league.
While the Ravens might not be extreme Super Bowl contenders, they should threaten to make a run once Jackson returns. This is a sound all-around team led by a smart head coach in John Harbaugh. If it weren't for holes in the secondary and wide receiver room, Baltimore would certainly be higher on this list.
8. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8)
Don't look now, but the Jaguars are absolutely cruising. Jacksonville closed out the season by winning five straight and clinching the AFC South title with a victory over the Tennessee Titans last week. Much of the credit for the Jaguars' success is owed to Trevor Lawrence, who has completed 66.3 percent of his passes for 4,113 yards and 25 touchdowns in his second NFL season.
Jacksonville's offense is its money-maker, but don't sleep on the defense. Over its last eight games, the unit has registered six interceptions, eight fumble recoveries, and one touchdown. They held the Chiefs to 27 points, forced four turnovers against the Titans, and toppled the Cowboys in overtime thanks to a walk-off pick-six.
This Doug Pederson-led squad has miraculously avoided injuries all season long and is now heading toward an improbable playoff berth - the organization's first since 2017 - despite finishing with the NFL's worst record in 2020 and 2021.
7. Minnesota Vikings (13-4)
With Davante Adams gone from Green Bay and the Packers struggling to stay afloat, a new leader has emerged in the NFC North. The Vikings, led by an explosive offense, have shut down most of their opponents and enter the NFL playoffs as the NFC's No. 3 seed.
The Vikings are led by quarterback Kirk Cousins, who has completed 65.9 percent of his passes for 4,547 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. He's on pace to finish with more picks and fewer scores than last season, but he has still led Minnesota to a great position. Alongside Cousins, there's no denying the threat of Justin Jefferson and Dalvin Cook, who have used their respective talents to elevate Minnesota's offense to a truly elite level.
The Vikings' defense, which ranks 22nd in DVOA (4.8 percent), has been a weak link, allowing an average of 31.3 points over their last seven games. This appears to be the team's biggest flaw, and their job isn't going to get any easier against a slate of top-notch opponents in the playoffs. If Minnesota is going to make a deep run, its offense must continue to bail out the defense. Their title hunt starts with a home playoff matchup against the New York Giants.
6. Dallas Cowboys (12-5)
The Cowboys are a team that can decimate its opponents left and right, courtesy of an offense that has averaged 37.5 points over its last eight games and a defense that ranks second in DVOA.
Dallas' offense has talent all over the field. Dak Prescott has quietly put together a Pro Bowl-caliber second half after returning from injury while Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliott make up the best backfield tandem in the NFL. The receiving corps has also stood out with big games from CeeDee Lamb, as well as equally impactful performances from names like Dalton Schultz, Michael Gallup, and Noah Brown.
As good as Dallas has looked on offense, its defense is truly otherworldly. In just his second season, Micah Parsons has emerged as a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate, registering 13 sacks, three passes defended, two fumble recoveries, and one touchdown. He's not alone, though. Leighton Vander Esch, Jayron Kearse, Donovan Wilson, DeMarcus Lawrence, Dorance Armstrong, Trevon Diggs, and DaRon Bland are among the players who have helped this defense emerge as one of the league's most dominant units.
5. Cincinnati Bengals (12-4)
Watching the Bengals bounce back has been truly impressive. Cincinnati opened the season 0-2, a frustrating start in an attempt to defend its AFC title. However, the Bengals have gone on a 12-2 run since then, positioning themselves as the AFC North's best squad.
It's all about the offense in Cincinnati. Joe Burrow's 35 touchdowns put him on pace to set a career-high and Joe Mixon has looked truly special in the running and passing games. However, the Bengals' receivers have turned heads the most. Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins have teamed up to form the best receiving corps in the NFL, but it doesn't stop there. Tyler Boyd and Trenton Irwin have been incredibly impactful, too, giving Burrow a wide variety of weapons while also adding plenty of insurance in the event of injuries.
The Bengals have already defeated the AFC's No. 2 team, the Chiefs, and they'll look to make another Super Bowl run, starting as seven-point favorites in a home matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
4. San Francisco 49ers (13-4)
You'd be hard-pressed to find a team armed with as much talent as the 49ers. Defensively, San Francisco's strongest asset was expected to be its defensive line, anchored by Nick Bosa. While that still might be the case, the 49ers' secondary, widely projected to struggle, has instead amassed 20 interceptions which was the most in the NFL this season.
On offense, the 49ers have perennial Pro Bowl candidates at nearly every position, but two specific events stand out as this unit's most defining benchmarks. The first? The 49ers' acquisition of Christian McCaffrey back at the trade deadline. San Francisco loves to run the ball, and they were doing it quite well. However, they took their outside zone running scheme to a whole new level after acquiring Carolina's star running back.
San Francisco's second-most notable development came at the quarterback position. Injuries to both Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo prompted the Niners to deploy third-stringer Brock Purdy, dubbed Mr. Irrelevant after being picked last in the 2022 NFL Draft. Rather than tarnishing his team's playoff hopes, Purdy has propelled the 49ers to six consecutive wins, leading them to a 13-4 record and the NFC West title.
If Purdy can continue to be a stable force under center, the 49ers have surrounded him with enough weapons (on both sides of the ball) that they could certainly be legitimate Super Bowl contenders. They begin their postseason march by hosting the Seattle Seahawks in the Wild Card round.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)
Winning football games in the NFC East is no easy task (all four teams in the division finished .500 or better, after all). However, Philadelphia has handled its opposition with ease, securing an NFL-best 14-3 record and the NFC's top seed.
Jalen Hurts has elevated the Eagles' offense with his elite mobility and magic touch on the football. He has 3,701 yards, 22 touchdowns, and just six interceptions through the air, all while adding 760 yards and 13 scores on the ground. His development has been pivotal to Philadelphia's success, but he hasn't done it alone. Hurts plays behind an elite offensive line comprised of a whopping three Pro Bowler starters. Offseason addition A.J. Brown has paired quite nicely with DeVonta Smith at wide receiver. Tight end Dallas Goedert and running back Miles Sanders have been constant forces in their respective roles. Philadelphia's offense is nearly unstoppable, but it gets better.
On defense, the Eagles finished the year ranked fourth in the NFC with 17 interceptions, most of which are courtesy of Darius Slay, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and James Bradberry. On the defensive line, Haason Reddick, Josh Sweat, and Javon Hargrave have accomplished an unprecedented feat: these three players each have at least 10 sacks apiece (and 35 total sacks). The Eagles are a top pick to make a deep run, especially if Hurts' injured wing is fully healed by the time the playoffs begin.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (14-3)
The Chiefs winning the AFC West has been a constant in the NFL, and 2022 is no different. Even after losing Hill, Kansas City has been nearly impossible to slow down.
The Chiefs still boast one of the league's flashiest offenses, mainly thanks to Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. That duo has combined for 110 completions, 1,338 yards, and 12 touchdowns this season. On the ground, rookie Isiah Pacheco and veteran playmaker Jerick McKinnon have proven to be great system fits, and they've filled in admirably with Clyde Edwards-Helaire sidelined.
Defensively, the Chiefs' DVOA of 4.3 percent ranks 21st in the NFL. The unit's defensive line, headlined by Chris Jones and Frank Clark, is fine, but Kansas City has been exposed by opposing running and passing attacks far too often. If the Chiefs have any shot at winning the Super Bowl, their unstoppable offense must continue to make up for the untrustworthy defense's woes.
1. Buffalo Bills (13-3)
Every football fan will agree that the Buffalo Bills are an incredibly fun team to watch. While their offense gets (and deserves) most of the credit, the defense has played impactful football, too. That's a great recipe for success in the NFL.
It would be foolish to start by highlighting anyone other than Josh Allen, who has paired an impressive passing stat line (4,283 yards, 35 touchdowns, 14 interceptions) with similarly unstoppable rushing numbers (762 yards on the ground, seven touchdowns). He plays behind an offensive line that affords him enough time to either sling the ball deep downfield or scramble to the sideline and find a big play. Pass-catchers Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis have complemented each other nicely while Devin Singletary and James Cook combine for a strong one-two punch out of the backfield.
Defensively, the Bills have played strong football even after losing Von Miller and his team-high eight sacks to an injury. Fellow linebacker Matt Milano has performed just as well (if not better), totaling 91 tackles, nine passes defended, two fumble recoveries, two interceptions, 1.5 sacks, and one touchdown. So after Buffalo rips you apart with its offense, they'll deliver a final blow on defense. While the squad has dealt with a matter of life and death with safety Damar Hamlin's on-field cardiac incident in Week 17, don't be surprised if this Bills squad circles the wagons and speeds by its opponents en route to a Super Bowl bid.
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