We are two weeks into the season and there is 4 teams that stand out above the rest. The bottom is more muddled, let’s talk about it.
32. Falcons 0-2 LW: 30
I will say with great confidence there hasn’t been a truly brutal team to start the year so the Falcons get the bottom spot even though they have been competitive in two close losses. The biggest issue with the Falcons is the defense is really bad, they couldn’t stop a nosebleed. Plus I just saw Kyle Pitts on a Milk carton. Where has he been? Marcus Mariotta has been competent behind center.
31. Texans 0-1 LW: 28
The Texans have been also been competitive through the first two weeks. I just don’t like how conservative Lovie Smith has been thus far in the early going. Maybe it’s because he has just one above average skill guy and a below average offensive line? I do like the defense though so far, they play fast. Truth is this team does not have enough talent to win enough games to contend this season.
30. Seahawks 1-1 LW: 22
The Hawks are still my pick for worst team in 2022. Geno Smith’s early high completion percentage low yards per attempt we have seen in the 1st 2 weeks is still his ceiling this year. The Seahawks haven’t scored any offensive points in 7 quarters. They do have game against the Falcons this week and the loser of that game might have the inside track to the number one pick in the draft.
29. Panthers 0-2 LW: 25
The Panthers I did not expect to be among the five worst teams in all of football but with their schedule over the next five games 1-6 and an interim head coach is very possibly in their near future. It’s unfortunate because they do have good pieces. Baker Mayfield has shut up and played competent at Quarterback. But losing two winnable games to start the season has the cats in a tough spot.
28. Titans 0-2 LW: 17
I know getting trounced by the Bills shouldn’t drop you 11 spots but this team looks so limited so far this season. They should have tried to work things out with A.J Brown because you clearly can tell this team is going to really struggle throwing the football this season. Maybe they bounce back against the Raiders but if not I may want to consider putting in Malik Willis now, #bold statements!
27. Bears 1-1 LW: 24
I’ll say this about the adult Bears they battle and may have a good defense. But man is their offense limited. In maybe 2000 you could have a ball control running style offense but in 2022 you need to have some ability to throw the ball around the field. This is easily the worst passing attack in all of football. Maybe the Bears surprise me but I still think this is a 4 or 5 win team this year, but not the worst
26. Colts 0-1 LW: 12
What the hell was that Indy? I know Michael Pittman and Darius Leonard didn’t play but losing 24-0 to a talented but very young Jags team is flat out embarrassing. The entire public is trashing Carson Wentz but Wentz has thrown 7 touchdowns with a 100.3 passer rating in the first two games this year. Maybe Jim Irsay should let his GM do his job and not overreact, Matt Ryan looks cooked.
25. Jets 1-1 LW: 31
You know what I will say about the Jets they have some receivers. Corey Davis when healthy is still a solid top 50 in the league wide out. Elijah Moore and Garrett Wilson are also two very fast talented young receivers. Watching the revival of the Flacco Bomb on Sunday afternoon in Cleveland was a sight to see. Probably still a bad team but maybe a fun team to watch, think 2021 Lions.
24. Commanders 1-1 LW: 23
I still think this team is better than people think. They are a fringe bottom 10 team at worst. Crazy to think the NFC East who I’ve been bashing for years might not have any truly terrible teams this season. You want to know what was terrible in Week 2? The Football teams defense. I can now say this offense is vastly underrated and the defense is vastly overrated. Maybe another sneaky fun team.
23. Jaguars 1-1 LW: 31
Yes the AFC South is so bad the highest rated team in this division is 23rd. The Jags could be a 9 win division winner and much of the sports talking heads are now shifting to having the Jags as the favorites in the division. I do think that the Colts are not as bad as they showed in Week 2 but the Jags are clearly going to be in the thick of things in the AFC south in 2022. Trevor Lawrence hype is real.
22. Steelers 1-1 LW: 18
The Burgh is limited with Mitch Trubisky at QB and I do think there is a world where if Mitchell is bad and ineffective in the first half at Cleveland this Thursday that local boy Kenny Pickett gets inserted into action for the 2nd half. I say why not there is a world where Pickett could lead a talented Steelers team to 10 wins and a division title. I do not see this with MItchell T. make the move Michael!
21. Browns 1-1 LW: 20
The Browns blowing the game the way they did against the Jets on Sunday is only something the Browns can do. First off Nick Chubb could have just went down to run out the clock but he didn’t and scored. Then they needed Joe Flacco to throw 2 touchdowns with a recovered onside kick sandwiched inbetween. This is why we love football and Cleveland doesn’t. Crazy things happen every Sunday.
20. Patriots 1-1 LW: 26
This team is still boring as hell and Matt Patricia is as much of an offensive coordinator as I am a plumber. But Bill Belichick is the G.O.A.T and this will probably still find a way to win 8 or 9 games. But man I would much rather watch the Commanders or Falcons play. At least those teams are entertaining. Watching a Patriots game is like watching a 90’s infomercial, actually those are funny.
19. Raiders 0-2 LW: 16
The Raiders are not a bad team in my estimation but this could be a maddening 6-11 season for the silver and black. They were up 20-0 at the half on the Cardinals on Sunday and just could never put them away. I was at the game and a couple of Raiders fans said to me at the half this game is not over Derek Carr gets tight sometimes with a big lead. Not a glowing endorsement of your franchise guy
18. Lions 1-1 LW: 27
Yes my Lions are 1-1 and have 2 covers. I love them again against the number in Minnesota in Week 3 and if the Lions pull the upset (very possible) my prediction of them being a playoff team or a least a contender for a wild card becomes very very real. The one thing this team can do is block. Jared Goff with protection is actually an above average Quarterback. Remember his Rams days, I don’t lie.
17. Bengals 0-2 LW: 13
The Bengals 0-2 does feel very deflating because they lost to Mitchell Trubisky and Cooper Rush but this team can still right the ship. They have a ton of skill position talent and the defense has looked solid in the first two games. I know Bengals fans would think different but with kickers range today it’s very difficult to keep teams from picking up 30 yards to get into 55 yard fg range, will be okay.
16. Cowboys 1-1 LW: 29
I overreacted to the poop show the Cowboys put on the field in Week 1 and this ranking is an correction to the mean. Cooper Rush may actually be a capable backup and the defense can still rush the passer which even with a weak secondary can author a solid overall unit. This game at New Jersey on Monday night is a huge game in regards to where both teams stand in the early going.
15. Giants 2-0 LW: 21
Yes the Giants are 2-0 but it’s one of those 2-0’s where you think to yourself are they really any good? I do think the defensive front is good I think Saquon Barkley is good. I think Brian Daboll may actually be the first good Giants head coach since Tom Coughlin. With a favorable schedule could this be the out of nowhere wild card team in 2022? They still have Daniel Jones so don’t hold your breath.
14. Broncos 1-1 LW: 14
The Broncos did get into the win column but it probably is the least inspiring win any team has had league wide thus far in 2022. Russell Wilson looks like a shell of his former self. It appears he just isn’t seeing the whole field an what happened to all of the mobility that made him a nightmare to play against? The defense looks awesome so far and well see if that is true or false coming up.
13. Cardinals 1-1 LW: 19
That is the type of win that could galvinize a team for an entire season. Maybe I’m going to excite Cardinals fans too much here but this win in Vegas reminded me of Tennessee to start last year. They get boat raced at home in Week 1 (which was by AZ by the way), then in Week 2 have a huge comeback for an improbable overtime road win. After looking like the worst team in football for six Quarters they ended up being the number 1 overall seed in the conference. This is a monster game in Arizona Sunday afternoon.
12. Saints 1-1 LW: 11
I am not dropping the Saints a ton but the Jameis Winston concerns were brought to fruition in full force in Sunday’s hard fought (literally) loss to the Bucs. I cannot take this team seriously as a Super Bowl contender with Jameis Winston as the Quarterback and it’s a shame because the Saints have one of the best overall rosters in the entire NFC. Come back Drew come back Sean, come back!!
11. Vikings 1-1 LW: 8
I told you all I am not buying the Vikings as one of the best teams in football. Kirk Cousins on Monday night looked like he had never seen a blitz before in his entire life. There must have been I don’t know 7 possible interceptions he could have thrown in that game. This team has talent but on both lines they are average at best which makes the Vikings to me a fringe playoff team this year, go figure
10. 49ers 1-1 LW: 15
He’s baaccccckkkkkk!!! Jimmy Garoppolo getting the 49ers starting gig for most of 2022 after a devastating ankle injury to Trey Lance is just so serendipitous you would think the word was created just for good looking people. One thing I know is true, likeable good looking people (man or woman) will always get nice things. Just take a look at the world around you, I am so not wrong on this one.
9. Ravens 1-1 LW: 4
Has a team in the history of football ever had worse injury luck over the span of 2 years than the 21-22 Baltimore Ravens? It’s not even the amount of injuries it’s that they are having entire units wiped out by the injury bug. The secondary injuries was just too much to overcome on Sunday as they got Tua’ed in the 4th Quarter of a tough 42-38 home loss on Sunday. Lamar Jackson is still pretty good which makes me still have the Ravens as the team to beat in the AFC North this year.
8. Chargers 1-1 LW: 5
It’s hard for me to drop the Chargers at all but the Justin Herbert lingering rib injury is a cause for concern. If Herbert can stay on the field and be productive I think 10 wins is the floor for this talented bunch. The defense alone should get them to 9. If the Chargers somehow don’t make the playoffs in 2022 I think Brandon Staley will be available for defensive coordinator positions in the offseason.
7. Rams 1-1 LW: 6
As a Cardinals fan I am pretty excited about the game against the Rams on Sunday. People forget that even though the Rams won 12 games last season they really weren’t all the dominant of a team. They were at the lower end of the top 10 on all metrics and outside of a wildcard blowout of the aforementioned Cards the Rams needed Stafford/Kupp wizardry in key spots to lead them all the way to a title. I think the slow start is a gross overreaction but if the Rams lose in Glendale Sunday afternoon the hangover jokes will begin.
6. Packers 1-1 LW: 7
Remember what I said at this time last week. The Packers will be fine and still easily win this division. After another easy home win over the Bears (what’s new??) and Kirk Cousins turning into a primetime pumpkin on Monday night (what’s new) the Packers look like the team to beat in the NFC North. So many good games this week and the Packers at Bucs is a more than obvious one.
5. Dolphins 2-0 LW: 10
Here are in my opinion the best rosters in football. 1. Bills, 2. Bills, 3. Bills, 4. Chargers, 5. Dolphins. I think this roster is loaded and the offense is particular is so freaking fast. I do not think Tua Tagoviloa is an elite Quarterback nor will ever be. But with all of this speed at his disposal his numbers are going to be elite this season. Tyreek Hill is still the best homerun hitter in football. He’s not the best wide receiver but he is the most explosive. Bills at Dolphins is yet another fun game on Sunday, can I call in sick to work???
4. Eagles 2-0 LW: 9
I am going to jinx a team that is going to lose some of my twitter followers (yes some Eagles fans follow me). Doesn’t this feel like a 13 win number one seed that loses to either Kyler Murray or Matthew Stafford at home in the divisional round. The division is better than I thought but it’s a lot of average which means the Eagles are playing a lot of average to bad teams. The Vikings who they just annihilated are one of the best teams they will face all year. The green birds are going to win a ton of football games in 2022.
3. Bucs 2-0 LW: 3
The Bucs are the public’s choice to be the number 1 seed in the NFC but there is a very very plausible chance the pirate ships are 2-2 after 2 home losses. The defense is figgin awesome but this offense with Mike Evans to miss a game, a below average offensive line and a Quarterback that is 45 and thinner than a lamp base is below average to be kind. Have fun with your Packers Chiefs homestand Tommy boy.
2. Chiefs 2-0 LW: 1
There really is 1 and 1a at the top but since the Chiefs did struggle to beat an extremely talented Chargers team I am forced to move them down a spot. The offensive line is the best Patrick Mahomes has ever had and the defense is solid. My only concern is the schedule is unrelenting. They should beat the Colts in Week 3 but a desperate team with the games best running back is a recipe to at least make the Chiefs sweat, and this is the only supposed easy game Chiefs have coming up, stay tuned.
1.Bills 2-0 LW: 2
They will not go 20-0 even though I make all the jokes about it but man what does this team not do well. Elite Quarterback check, great special teams check, awesome at all levels of defense check. The two areas that maybe I could nit pick (and trust me it’s nit picking) is the offensive line is just okay, the running game is average and without Tre’Davious White they could be had (possibly by Miami this week) on plays over the top. That is of course if god willing your Quarterback isn’t on the ground by the leagues best pass rush before their merely decent corners get beat. This team could be the best team since the 2016 Patriots which is high high praise. Calm down Bills fans, it’s only September.