Having a look on the prime 10 groups on this checklist, how completely different had been they than what we anticipated going into the 12 months? Certain, the Broncos allow us to down. The Vikings stunned us. The Dolphins emerged sooner than we might have imagined. However largely, we’re these form of immovable (for now) stalwarts who’re outlined by elite quarterback play (the 49ers, who could have the deepest offensive roster within the NFL, apart).

It places into perspective simply how gross, silly or plain unreasonable a workforce will get to ensure that a shot at placing themselves on this orbit. That’s why Cleveland did what it did. That’s why the Broncos, who fired head coach Nathaniel Hackett on Monday within the final scapegoat maneuver, did what it did to get Russell Wilson. That’s why the Colts appear to be doing what they’re doing (purposely veering the car off a steep cliff) proper now.

Will it appear value it a couple of years from now?

Anyway, onto the rankings. We’ve acquired two weeks remaining, three head teaching jobs open and 5 playoff spots left to seize. It’s darkish and we’re carrying sun shades.

Final week: win at Chicago, 35–13
Subsequent week: at Cincinnati

Josh Allen’s scrambles eliminated, the Payments nonetheless rushed for greater than 200 yards in opposition to Chicago on Sunday. They haven’t misplaced a recreation since Nov. 13 (and it was in additional time). They’ve scored 30-plus in every of the earlier two weeks and we are actually sitting them again atop their rightful throne as essentially the most highly effective workforce within the NFL.

Final week: loss at Dallas, 40–34
Subsequent week: vs. New Orleans

I don’t see the way you name that loss, with a backup quarterback possessing a very completely different ability set than the MVP-level starter, an indictment of the Eagles. This workforce can nonetheless gash protection in crunch time. The Eagles ran out of gasoline, however I can’t think about that loss didn’t spike their confidence.

Final week: win vs. Seattle, 24–10
Subsequent week: vs. Denver

When your LeBron James-esque quarterback one-hand push-ups a landing, you must be demoralizing groups on a special degree. The Chiefs are succeeding at an unprecedented degree although nearly everybody is aware of they’re going to go. Look at this chart. Would you simply take a look at it? 

Final week: win at New England, 22–18
Subsequent week: vs. Buffalo

The Bengals had a tricky time shifting the soccer on the bottom, however when the Patriots took away Ja’Marr Chase (sure I’m calling ‘solely’ 79 yards on 11 targets a takeaway), Tee Higgins shined. That is the 2021-22 recipe, improved.

Final week: win vs. Philadelphia, 40–34
Subsequent week: at Tennessee

To place up 40 factors on an evening when the quarterback was sacked six occasions, the first working again averaged fewer than 3.5 yards per carry and the protection didn’t get a single sack is spectacular. Certain, the Eagles’ fumbling woes resurfaced, however Dallas has been in some troublesome, season-defining conditions down the stretch and has carried out admirably.

Final week: win vs. Washington, 37–20
Subsequent week: at Las Vegas

Defending the 49ers proper now’s like making an attempt to catch raindrops. The sheer quantity of completely gutting playmakers is staggering. Proper now, it’s been George Kittle at heart stage. Subsequent week? Who is aware of.

Final week: win at Indianapolis, 20–3
Subsequent week: vs. Los Angeles Rams

The Chargers clinched their first playoff look since 2018 on Monday evening. It ought to deflect some lingering questions in regards to the route of the franchise for now, particularly when their situational working recreation works in addition to it did in opposition to the punchless Colts.

Final week: win vs. New York Giants, 27–24
Subsequent week: at Inexperienced Bay

The Vikings are accumulating one miraculous win after one other. Final week, we puzzled if the Colts recreation would produce some degree of fatigue. This week, they edged the Giants on a 61-yard discipline aim. Their constants have remained fixed in 2022, and this week we’ll get a glimpse of them working in a real playoff ambiance. 

Final week: loss vs. Inexperienced Bay, 26–20
Subsequent week: at New England

The Dolphins must do the proper factor with regards to Tua Tagovailoa’s security at this level. I’m prepared and keen to offer Teddy Bridgewater a protracted re-examination on this system.

Final week: win vs. Atlanta, 17–9
Subsequent week: vs. Pittsburgh

The Ravens have gained video games with level totals of 10, 17, 13 and 16 since Nov. 20. You’ll be able to name that fortunate, or you possibly can name it a well-built soccer workforce that does the little issues nicely. If Lamar Jackson comes again someplace close to full pace, be careful.

11. New York Giants (8-6-1)

Final week: loss at Minnesota, 27–24
Subsequent week: vs. Indianapolis

A win over the Colts subsequent week locks within the Giants’ first playoff look because the boat image saga with Odell Beckham and Co. Sure, the Giants misplaced to the Vikings, however they stayed aggressive, they had been overwhelmed on a 61-yard discipline aim and scored some factors in a recreation the place Daniel Jones needed to throw the ball 42 occasions.

Final week: win at New York Jets, 19–3
Subsequent week: at Houston

Making the journey to New York, bludgeoning the Jets after which getting an prolonged relaxation might be big for a Jaguars workforce that’s throttling towards an end-of-season winner-take-all matchup in opposition to the Titans for the AFC South crown.

Final week: loss vs. Houston, 19–14
Subsequent week: vs. Dallas

With out Ryan Tannehill, and with out a full reimagination of what they will do offensively, the Titans are probably on the surface wanting in. Dallas and its cellular entrance seven would be the worst attainable workforce the Titans might see this weekend.

Final week: win at Arizona, 19–16
Subsequent week: vs. Carolina

One checkdown at a time, the Buccaneers whittled their means again right into a sleepy Sunday evening victory over the Cowboys. I’m certain glad Tom Brady is having enjoyable as a result of not lots of the remainder of us are.

Final week: win at Miami, 26–20
Subsequent week: vs. Minnesota

The twists and turns of the NFL season are so unusual. And immediately, the Packers are acting at their finest with two divisional opponents remaining on the schedule. Their return recreation with Kaisean Nixon is an ancillary weapon nobody is ready to cope with proper now, and Christian Watson appears as dialed in on the short recreation as a seasoned Rodgers veteran.

Final week: loss at Kansas Metropolis, 24–10
Subsequent week: vs. New York Jets

The Seahawks are out of rivalry however don’t have anything to be ashamed of. This was a constructing block season for a franchise that’s stocked with draft capital and, lastly, blessedly, freed from drama. Kenneth Walker III went for 100-plus and Seattle stored Patrick Mahomes beneath 25 factors.

Final week: loss at Carolina, 37–23
Subsequent week: vs. Chicago

A loss to the Panthers was gut-punching for thus many causes. The worst of which? A workforce that Dan Campbell tried to make unflappable in moments like this down the stretch was completely knived by the working recreation in a spot that severely derailed their try to make the playoffs.

18. New York Jets (7–8)

Final week: loss vs. Jacksonville, 19–3
Subsequent week: at Seattle

I really feel unhealthy for Zach Wilson and I really feel unhealthy for the Jets. People who find themselves blindly throwing stones at both facet have clearly by no means frolicked struggling to adapt to a scenario, or struggling to assist another person adapt to a scenario. It simply didn’t work out right here. It could not work out within the NFL. These are the probabilities you are taking.

Final week: loss at San Francisco, 37–20
Subsequent week: vs. Cleveland

It doesn’t fairly matter who’s in at quarterback. I feel we noticed the Commanders peak this season, which was good. They’re a well-schemed offense with gifted gamers, however nowhere close to potent sufficient to deal with the higher crust of this convention. 

Final week: win vs. Las Vegas, 13–10
Subsequent week: at Baltimore

This upcoming Steelers-Ravens recreation is just not going to be circled on the calendar as it might have been in years previous, however a loss by Baltimore successfully buries its possibilities of successful the division. I’d think about Mike Tomlin and the Steelers are nicely conscious of this.

Final week: win vs. Detroit, 37–23
Subsequent week: at Tampa Bay

It’s been one thing to see the Panthers rebrand themselves as punishers over the previous few weeks. Out of their earlier three video games, they’ve had speeding performances of 223 and 320 yards.

Final week: loss vs. Cincinnati, 22–18
Subsequent week: vs. Miami

I by no means thought I’d hear myself say this, however please, hurry up and produce Invoice O’Brien again to the Patriots.

Final week: loss at Pittsburgh, 13–10
Subsequent week: vs. San Francisco

I feel we’ll study lots in regards to the 2023 Raiders after we see them in opposition to two white-hot groups in rivalry for deep playoff runs, the 49ers and the Chiefs. We’ll reassess energy on the acceptable time.

24. Los Angeles Rams (5–10)

Final week: win vs. Denver, 51–14
Subsequent week: at Los Angeles Chargers

I don’t know how one can’t give a spherical of applause to each Baker Mayfield and Sean McVay, who, together with this surprisingly deep and situationally gifted receiving corps, completely demolished among the finest defensive coordinators within the NFL this previous weekend.

Final week: win at Cleveland, 17–10
Subsequent week: at Philadelphia

The Saints gained a Fifties type recreation in opposition to the Cleveland Browns to maintain their razor-thin playoff hopes alive. Alvin Kamara’s 3.8 yards per carry seems extraordinarily spectacular on a second watch when every line of scrimmage resembled a loaded rugby scrum.

26. Cleveland Browns (6–9)

Final week: loss vs. New Orleans, 17–10
Subsequent week: at Washington

Deshaun Watson acquired an opportunity to carry out within the chilly temperatures that may outline the Browns’ hopeful postseason runs throughout his tenure. He went 15-of-31 for 135 yards and an interception.

Final week: loss at Baltimore, 17–9
Subsequent week: vs. Arizona

Desmond Ridder was environment friendly in spurts however didn’t have the form of corresponding working recreation he’d want for a victory. The Falcons are value maintaining a tally of subsequent 12 months, however for now have overpassed the division.

Final week: loss vs. Buffalo, 35–13
Subsequent week: at Detroit

Justin Fields had simply three completions of 10 yards or extra in Chicago’s loss to the Payments. You’ll be able to guess that deep recreation will get dialed on this offseason, and he emerges in 2023 a extra full weapon.

Final week: loss vs. Tampa Bay, 19–16
Subsequent week: at Atlanta

I’ve to say that Sunday evening’s matchup was one of many Cardinals’ extra spirited performances towards the top of this season. Regardless of what looks like a borderline organizational disaster, Kliff Kingsbury and his offensive workers acquired Hint McSorley on the verge of beating Tom Brady in his first profession begin.

Final week: loss vs. Los Angeles Chargers, 20–3
Subsequent week: at New York Giants

I feel the Colts are dangerously circling a territory the place individuals are going to start out associating the circumstances by which Jeff Saturday was employed and their ever-improving draft place as they inch towards a possible franchise QB. Within the Saturday period, they’ve been outscored 90–9 within the fourth quarter. 

Final week: win at Tennessee, 19–14
Subsequent week: vs. Jacksonville

The Texans managed to clip a Ryan Tannehill-less Titans workforce to get their second win of the season. Whereas their file could in the end be become an indictment of Lovie Smith, make no mistake: this isn’t a workforce meant to be successful video games proper now. Kudos to the Texans for doing so on Saturday, anyway.

Final week: loss at Los Angeles Rams, 51–14
Subsequent week: at Kansas Metropolis

The Broncos are all in on Russell Wilson. Or maybe all in on a brand new coach who will persuade them that they can’t be all in on Russell Wilson. Good luck!