The 2022 NFL regular season ended on Sunday, a day full of meaningful and pointless football games.
The Bears closed a book on the first season of the Matt Eberflus era with a 29-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Meanwhile, the Houston Texans pulled off a miraculous win over the Indianapolis Colts, giving the Bears the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
As for games that had playoff implications, the Buffalo Bills’ win over the New England Patriots secured Skylar Thompson and the zombie Dolphins their ticket to the playoffs. These were the only AFC fireworks.
The NFC has been much more eventful.
The Seattle Seahawks avoided disaster by beating the Los Angeles Rams in overtime. The win eliminated the Detroit Lions, but the Seahawks needed the Lions to beat the Green Bay Packers to earn the No. 1. 7 seed and a trip to San Francisco on Super Wild Card weekend.
Dan Campbell’s team loved playing spoiler in Green Bay, knocking out the Packers 20-16 to end Aaron Rodgers’ season.
With the playoffs set, here are the latest NFL Power Rankings for the 2022 season:
32. Houston Texans (3-13-1): TTexans can’t even tank properly.
31. Denver Broncos (5-12): I would pay a lot to be a fly on the wall when Sean Payton gives his honest opinion to Broncos ownership on Russell Wilson.
30. Arizona Cardinals (4-13): It’s been a year lost in the desert, and 2023 might not be much better.
29. Indianapolis Colts (4-12-1): Everything that could go wrong for the 2022 Colts did. Now work begins to try to make a competitor from the ruble.
28. Chicago Bears (3-14): No. 1 pick, over $100 million salary cap, and a young rising quarterback. It was a perfect rebuilding season for Bears.
27. Atlanta Falcons (7-10): The Falcons 2022: It could have been worse.
26. Carolina Panthers (7-10): The Panthers won a game in which Sam Darnold went 5-for-15 for 43 yards and two picks. That pretty much sums up Carolina’s season.
25. Tennessee Titans (7-10): I’m just grateful we don’t have to watch the Titans in the playoffs.
24. New Orleans Saints (7-10): The Saints need to make quarterbacking their top priority this offseason. If only they had their first choice.
23. Las Vegas Raiders (6-11): If Tom Brady comes to Vegas, the Raiders better find a way to add two cornerbacks, a linebacker, a defensive tackle and two offensive linemen. Otherwise, the goat does not come.
22. Los Angeles Rams (5-12): Rumors are swirling that Sean McVay may be done with the Rams. It’s understandable. He accomplished his goal. Rebuilds are not for everyone
21. Cleveland Browns (7-10): Among 39 quarterbacks with at least 150 dropouts this season, Deshaun Watson ranks 38th in EPA per play. Guess $250 million isn’t getting you what they used to do anymore.
20. Washington Commanders (8-8-1): Sam Howell and the Commanders defense handed Washington a win at the end of their season. Too bad it arrived a week too late.
19. New York Jets (7-10): The Jets plan to stand by Zach Wilson “in hell or flood”. If only they had drafted Justin Fields.
18. New England Patriots (8-9): Mac Jones has a 66.5 completion percentage in his first two seasons. Only Joe Burrow (68.2) has a better number over two seasons. Fire Matt Patricia and set Mac up for success.
17. Miami Dolphins (9-8): Mike McDaniel found a way to take the Dolphins to the playoffs. Now, who will play quarterback next week in Buffalo?
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9): Count Tom Brady in the playoffs at your peril, but this Bucs team stinks.
15. Detroit Lions (9-8): The Lions have taken a big leap forward this season. The playoffs are unavoidable in 2023.
14. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-8): Mike Tomlin has yet to finish a season below .500 as Steelers head coach. Whatever is paid is not enough.
13. Green Bay Packers (8-9): The Packers were one of the NFC’s top seven teams this season, but they dug themselves a hole they couldn’t get out of to make it to the playoffs.
12. Seattle Seahawks (9-8): The Seahawks made the playoffs and own the No. 1. 5 pick overall, thanks to the trade of Russell Wilson. That should do.
11. New York Giants (9-7-1): If Brian Daboll isn’t coach of the year, I don’t know what this award is for.
10. Baltimore Ravens (10-7): The Ravens will return to Cincinnati next week to face the Bengals in the Wild Card Round. Whether or not Lamar Jackson plays will determine their fate.
9. Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8): The Jaguars went from 3-14 to division champions in a single offseason. That should give the Bears hope for 2023.
8. Minnesota Vikings (13-4): The Vikings ended their season beating the Bears without Justin Fields. Now they have their chance to prove they are real.
7. Dallas Cowboys (12-5): Dak Prescott couldn’t come into the playoffs on a worse note. He threw one interception in seven straight games and missed eight straight passes at one point in Sunday’s loss to the Commanders. Dallas needs better starting next week.
6. Los Angeles Chargers (10-7): Brandon Staley dodged a bullet on Sunday. Wide receiver Mike Williams left the game with back spasms, but the MRI was negative, and he should be available for the playoff game against Australia. the jaguars.
5. Cincinnati Bengals (12-4): I will never rely on Joe Burrow, but losing another offensive lineman might be too much to overcome.
4. San Francisco 49ers (13-4): Brock Purdy has been stable since taking over from Jimmy Garoppolo, but how will he fare when the lights step up?
3. Philadelphia Eagles (14-3): The NFC goes through Philly and Jalen Hurts. As it should be, the Eagles have been the best team all season.
2. Buffalo Bills (13-3): For 17 years there has been no playoffs in Buffalo. Now the Bills are a mainstay, thanks to Josh Allen.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (14-3): The AFC playoffs will be a glove, but the Chiefs are well-positioned to qualify with a first-round bye and the best player in the dance.
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