LANDOVER, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 11: Quarterback Trevor Lawrence #16 of the Jacksonville Jaguars is sacked against the Washington Commanders during the fourth quarter at FedExField on September 11, 2022 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
The season is off to a wild start. Where can you find each of the 32 teams in the first installment of the 2022 NFL Power Rankings?
The Cleveland Browns won their first game of the season for the first time since 2004. The Indianapolis Colts didn’t lose a season opener for the first time since 2013. And for only the fifth time, both Super Bowl teams from the previous year lost their first game of the season. Welcome to NFL 2022.
As always, keep in mind that these aren’t predictions for the season. It’s merely an early edition of the 2022 NFL Power Rankings.
32
New York Jets 0-1
Last week: L, 24-9 vs BAL
Last rank: 23rd
For 11 seasons, Joe Flacco was the Ravens’ main starting quarterback and he helped the team win a Super Bowl (XLVII) in 2012. And now as a member of the Jets, he would face his former employer for the first time.
He would wind up throwing for 307 yards and a score but had one of the team’s two turnovers. New York limited Baltimore to 274 yards. But Robert Saleh’s defense gave up too many big pass plays to Ravens’ quarterback Lamar Jackson.
31
Arizona Cardinals 0-1
Last week: L, 44-21 vs KC
Last rank: 17th
Kliff Kingsbury’s club hoped to get off to another strong start this season and this time sustain it. But the club faced a tall task in the visiting Chiefs. And the Cards appeared overmatched from the get-go as the club was down 14-0 after one quarter and 23-7 at intermission.
The Arizona defense would surrender 488 total yards and failed to sack Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Kingsbury’s squad was limited to 282 yards of offense in the 23-point loss.
30
Atlanta Falcons 0-1
Last week: L, 27-26 vs NO
Last rank: 27th
With Matt Ryan off to Indianapolis, the Falcons’ new starting quarterback was Marcus Mariota as the team hosted the rival Saints. Things looked good early for Arthur Smith’s squad. Atlanta owned a 26-10 lead early in the fourth quarter.
But New Orleans would tally the final 17 points of the game. The Falcons got a big effort from Cordarrelle Patterson, who had 120 of the team’s 201 yards on the ground. Mariota threw for 215 yards in the tough loss.
29
Jacksonville Jaguars 0-1
Last week: L, 28-22 at WAS
Last rank: 31st
For the third consecutive year, the Jaguars opened the season with a brand new head coach. This time, it was former Super Bowl champion Doug Pederson, who led the Philadelphia Eagles to a title in 2017. The team made its way to Washington to play the Commanders.
Jacksonville was down 14-3 at halftime, took an eight-point lead in the fourth quarter and then watched Ron Rivera’s club score the final 14 points of the game in a bitter setback.
