After going through and picking each individual game for the 2022 NFL season (before checking the projected win totals by Vegasinsider.com), here are some predictions for how things will shake out, including who will win MVP, rookie of the year and other awards.

AFC East

Buffalo Bills (12-5)*

A warranted favorite to finish the season hoisting the Lombardy trophy, the 2022 Bills are stacked. Gabriel Davis is poised to build off of his legendary playoff performance in the heart-breaking loss to Kansas City. Anyone watching that game knew that one of those teams was going to be playing for the Super Bowl—but that didn’t happen. Adding rookie James Cook and slot-ace Jamison Crowder proves that the organization is all in on giving Josh Allen enough weapons to win a game if it ever came down to 13 seconds, or less. A couple of questions along the offensive line slightly tempers the lofty expectations for this team, but Allen is as good as any quarterback at making something out of nothing. The defense also has studs on every level, and boasts a defensive line that is one of the league’s best—if not the best. Jordan Philipps and Ed Oliver are due for big years, and the infusion of Von Miller makes this unit downright scary. The palpable hunger in Buffalo gives reason to believe that they should make a deep run into the postseason, and finally have the stars to contend with the best of them. Getting through the AFC East should not be grueling, giving the Bills a solid chance at claiming home field advantage on their tear to the Super Bowl.

Miami Dolphins (8-9)

The fact that the Dolphins added Teddy Bridgewater to be a better version of Jacoby Brissett is telling: this is Tua Tagovailoa’s last shot at impressing the brass enough to keep his starting job beyond this season. What makes things more interesting for Miami is that that same brass was stripped of an extra asset to acquire his replacement in the upcoming draft—a draft that is loaded with potential stars at the position. There should be no surprise if Bridgewater sees playing time, especially on more than one occasion, but all indications heading into the season are that Tua is ready, and healthy. Weapons are there to succeed, so if Miami gets above-average play from either quarterback, they have a shot at sneaking into the playoffs. A retooling Patriots team isn’t the big brother it used to be, while Buffalo will make for interesting contests given that the Dolphins have the depth and sideline-to-sideline players on defense to slow them down. Javon Holland and Jaelan Phillips are both poised for breakout years, while veterans like Emmanuel Ogbah and Christian Wilkins give the front line an impressive collection of talent. This team has the makings to play spoiler, but the stability questions at quarterback and new coaching, give pause for too much hype. Ultimately, Miami needs to be steady if they’re going to keep pace in a tight post-season race.

New England Patriots (7-10)

It would be easy to write off the Patriots because secretive things are happening in Fox Borough, but secretive things are always happening in Fox Borough. Asking Matt Patricia and Joe Judge to step in for the brain child Josh McDaniels is no small feat, even if Mac Jones has shown that he has a high floor and fits the team’s identity. Devante Parker is a nice addition for Jones, and his presence provides another vertical threat in the red zone—double-digit touchdown receptions for Parker is more than feasible. A few other questions about this team heading into the season were along the offensive line, and defensive secondary—trading away Shaq Mason for nothing is still a head-scratcher—but the organization did address both areas with many of their early draft picks. Despite the questions on offensive, given their schedule New England could get rolling after their bye week and be playing their best football before a season finale showdown with the Bills. More than anything, Jones needs to play better against Buffalo—he had two of his worst games of the 2021 season against them—if this team is to truly be in the mix for even a division title. 

New York Jets (9-8)

One of the 2022 NFL offseason’s darlings, the Jets made significant additions at key positions and appear on the cusp of contending in their own division. This team is still very young, and will again be relying on unproven players out of the gates to become immediate contributors. Though the Jets head into the season with concerns about his knee, keeping Zach Wilson healthy means this team has an opportunity to prove that the hype was warranted. Rookie receiver Garrett Wilson will not take long to acclimate to the NFL, and should see plenty of targets from Zach Wilson, especially on the deep routes which he throws best—C.J. Uzoman is also a name to watch on offense. Rookie Breece Hall should end up leading the ground attack, and has the type of vision and second-gear that will enable him to impact the game early. Wilson still has plenty of room to grow, but he did show flashes last season—his very first touchdown throw of his NFL career was deserving of the highlight reel. While he can also scoot, Wilson was also under duress too much last season. The offensive line should play better, but is not necessarily a point of strength for this team, yet. Conversely, the Jets’ defensive front is stacked, with a handful of quality players in rotation. Head coach Robert Saleh knows a thing or two about playing with a loaded defensive line, which means the Jets should see a big improvement in the sack department. With rookie Sauce Gardner in the fold, the secondary should improve as well. An improved defense that lives and dies by the pass rush, plus the added arsenal on offense makes the Jets a team to watch throughout the 2022 season. To sniff .500 would be a boon for this organization as they continue to build around their star quarterback.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens (10-7)

A rebuilt—and healthy—offensive line bodes well for the trajectory of this offense. With an elite unit in 2019, the Ravens watched quarterback Lamar Jackson run away with MVP honors. Even after trading away Marquise Brown, the hope in Baltimore is that Jackson’s success through the air emulates that MVP season and he returns to top form. With Mark Andrews and Rashod Bateman in the fold, plus the addition of rookie Isaiah Likely, Jackson has plenty of weapons and should contend for MVP honors yet again—Likely and Andrews are set up to combine for 20+ touchdowns between the two of them. On defense, the Ravens continue to steal quality players in the draft—this year it was Kyle Hamilton and the injured David Ojabo—which increases their chances of returning to form as one of the league’s best units. Ojabo might not play right away, but between the selection of him, Hamilton, Tyler Linderbaum, Travis Jones, and Likely, there’s a good chance we will be looking back on the Ravens 2022 draft class and drawing comparisons to the 2017 Saints class as one of the deepest of this century. With the emergence of Odafe Oweh and signings of players like Marcus Williams and Kyle Fuller—plus the slew of players returning from injury—this defense is bound to improve by a healthy margin. The AFC North will be a dogfight, especially down the stretch once Pittsburgh and Cleveland see their quarterbacks settle in, but the Ravens have the roster to compete and regain control of the division. A Super Bowl bid is certainly on the table, especially with an MVP-caliber quarterback in Jackson playing for a big payday. 

Cincinnati Bengals (12-5)*

Even after falling just a few points short of a Super Bowl victory, the Bengals are not getting the respect they deserve heading into 2022. The lack of respect, however, might be their biggest asset, as their underdog mentality helped propel them to one of the more impressive post-season runs in recent memory, in 2021. Joe Burrow is an all-world talent. With studs all around him—Ja’Marr Chase will make a case to be the league’s best wideout this year—and a rebuilt offensive line, there is no reason to think the Bengals cannot repeat—if not, exceed—last season’s success. Worth noting is that the Bengals produced 12 plays of 50+ yards on offense last season, which significantly dwarfed nearly every other team in the league, so teams will be scheming up ways to prevent the big plays this year—thus, the presence of Joe Mixon will be more vital than ever. A well-coached defense gave this team opportunities to keep games close, and adding rookie Dax Hill to the mix makes the secondary even more formidable—Hill fits the identity of this team with his hard-nosed playing style, and he has All-Pro potential in his future. Joseph Ossai is also another name to watch, and he should make his presence felt in year-two by posting double-digit sacks after missing last year due to injury. The pieces are all there for Cincinnati to succeed, and even recapture the division crown, but they draw a tougher schedule than Baltimore, so the margin for error is even more slim than last season.

Cleveland Browns (7-10)

Also in the club of disrespected squads—for more than one reason—is the Cleveland Browns. By adding an elite QB under center, the Browns have all the pieces to contend in the AFC for years to come. While the suspension of Deshaun Watson prohibits their ability to make a post-season push, there is a world where they head into their highly intriguing matchup with the Houston Texans in week 13 (Watson’s first game back) with a .500 record, and can still reel off enough wins to sneak into the playoffs. It is a tall ask of Jacoby Brissett, but stranger things have happened in this league. A retooled wide receiver corp might be cause for concern on most squads, but not only has Watson has proved in his career that he can do more with less, but the Browns also possess an elite running back room, and can rely on multiple tight ends to share the workload on this offense. With Watson’s running ability, and a sturdy offensive line, the Browns have one of the higher ceilings for offenses around the league—he does some of his best work out of shotgun formation. Defensively, the secondary is a true strong point for this squad, while Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney form one of the better tandems in the league on the edge. Second year players Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Greg Newsome II are poised for big years, while new import Chase Winovich should offer some flexibility to what the Browns can do up front. Like their divisional counterparts, the pieces are there for Cleveland to make a playoff run—but their season will be largely dictated by how well Brissett plays during Watson’s absence.

Pittsburgh Steelers (8-9)

As another team not receiving enough credit for their current roster, the Steelers officially make the AFC North the league’s biggest enigma—the Ravens finished last in their division and enter 2022 with the best odds of winning it. With a new quarterback, and still somewhat questionable offensive line, the concerns in Pittsburgh are warranted. No matter who wins the quarterback battle, which should proceed throughout the season, both Mitchell Trubisky and Kenny Pickett provide a higher ceiling for this offense than what has fielded in previous years. Najee Harris was asked to shoulder a lot of the load in his first year, but that shouldn’t be the case this year—watch for rookie George Pickens to make a big impact and have one of the best seasons of all the rookie receivers. Bringing Brian Flores into the picture should spell a career season for Minkah Fitzpatrick, while signing Levi Wallace will also help this unit improve at defending the pass. Stopping the run was also an issue for the Steelers last season, despite their ability to get after the passer—adding Larry Ogunjobi and Myles Jack should attribute to an improvement in the run defense, which will be especially important in this bruising division. Only 27 years old, and the prototypical Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker, Jack was a savvy signing, and he is positioned to earn All-Pro honors on this defense. We know the defense will be good, but in a tough division, Pittsburgh’s success will ultimately come down to how well the offensive line fares, and how consistent the play is at quarterback. In another division, this team might be a favorite, but in a muddled AFC North, they’ll be lucky to register 10 wins.

AFC South

Houston Texans (5-12)

Houston has built their roster around a slew of veteran players on contracts that will expire in either 2023 or 2024, but they have also managed to make a handful of quality selections in the 2022 draft to help expedite their considerable rebuild. More draft capital is still yet to come for the Deshaun Watson trade, which means the future could be bright. Whether Love Smith is overseeing this squad beyond 2022 is uncertain, but General Manager Nick Caserio has done a diligent job constructing a strong foundation with guys like Derek Stingley, Brevin Jordan and John Metchie. Also, adding veteran Tyler Johnson was a savvy move, giving the Texans a stable of solid receivers to rely on in Metchie’s absence. If quarterback Davis Mills pans out and performs like he did after he returned from injury at the end of the 2021 season, this team will be ahead of schedule on the rebuild. With an adequate offensive line and budding weapons in Nico Collins and Jordan to pair with the ever-steady Brandin Cooks, Mills has enough at his disposal for the team to at least gauge his value going forward—Mills showed enough last year to be encouraged that he could, in fact, be the guy in Houston. The defensive counterpart is where questions arise: three rookies are slated to start in the back seven, and there isn’t much too be excited about on the defensive line. If Stingiey can become a shutdown corner early, this unit could have its moments; but the likelihood of contending with some of the league’s most dynamic offenses later in the season is not particularly strong. There will be moments where the Texans show they’re closer to contending than expected, but they are also due for a few duds, with contests against the Chiefs, Broncos and Chargers on deck. Four or five wins is feasible—anything more than that should be celebrated as this organization moves closer to contention.

Indianapolis Colts (10-7)*

Dropping veteran Matt Ryan into the lineup gives this team one of the higher ceilings in the conference, and certainly solidifies them as a favorite to win the division. Ryan has proven he can play at an elite level, especially with big bodied receivers, a quality run game, and a fast, tenacious defense; see: the 2016 Atlanta Falcons. The 2022 Colts possess one of the better defensive lines in the league, with budding star Kwity Paye lining up opposite an underrated veteran in Yannick Ngakoue, and the both of them benefitting from DeForest Buckner eating up blocks on the inside. The best case scenario for this unit is producing two double-digit sack players in Ngakoue and Paye, with Ngakoue set up to produce one of his best pro seasons of his career. In the secondary, Julian Blackmon will solidify himself as one of the league’s best safeties, while the addition of Stephon Gilmore will be regarded as one of the more valuable signings in a league-wide busy offseason. Behind a quality offensive line, and with Jonathan Taylor in tow, Ryan doesn’t need to be an All-Pro for this offense to exceed last year’s production in terms of yards; but the development of rookie receiver Alec Pierce and third-year pro Michael Pittman will go a long way in determining how balanced this offense can be, and ultimately dictate their ceiling down the stretch. Pierce has the potential to put up a few big games. A division title is attainable, but by the time the post-season rolls around, this team will need to be firing on all cylinders if they expect to contend for a Lombardy trophy.

Jacksonville Jaguars (6-11)

One of the more intriguing, and yet under-the-radar, teams in the league, Jacksonville enters 2022 with considerably low expectations. Factor in the addition of a Super Bowl winning coach, year-two for a generational-talent in Trevor Lawerence, a slew of new playmakers and a sneaky fast defense, and the ceiling for this team is stealing a division title. While the odds of everything coming together in year one under coach Doug Pederson aren’t necessarily high, the flashes they’ll show this season should put Jacksonville in the conversation for contenders in 2023, and beyond. Although the offensive line has question marks, offensive coordinator Press Taylor is highly regarded as an offensive mind, and will undoubtedly help raise the production on an offense that ranked dead last in scoring last year. Defensively, all eyes will be on rookie Travon Walker, but fellow 2022 first-rounder Devin Lloyd will also make a name for himself amongst this versatile, rangy group of linebackers. Two other names to watch are safety Andre Cisco and corner Tyson Campbell, with the latter receiving significant praise from the coaching staff during the offseason. There are enough winnable games on their schedule for the optimism in Duval to be justified, but the stacked nature of the conference does not bode well for Jacksonville’s playoff odds—just yet.

Tennessee Titans (9-8)

The Titans might as well be playing in the AFC North for as much disrespect as they’re receiving coming into this season. Coming off of a tough playoff loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, the Titans should be motivated to prove the doubters wrong heading into 2022. Swapping out AJ Brown with Treylon Burks raised some eyebrows, but adding the ever-steady Robert Woods and a motivated Austin Hooper should erase concerns as the season wears on, especially as the engine of this offense continues to be named Derrick Henry. Burks might take a little bit to get going, but he has true star potential. Also motivated, and reportedly looking sharp in camp, is quarterback in Ryan Tannehill—he enters a pivotal year, as the Titans can get out of his contract after this season. Rookie Malik Willis is not expected to see the field in year 1, but flashed enough in preseason to provide some real optimism for the team under center, especially if Tannehill regresses or falls stagnant with a different supporting cast. With one of the league’s better scoring defenses, and a sturdy run game, the Titans should maintain their level of success without a massive drop-off. Much of the success on defense will come up front, with stalwarts Jeffrey Simmons and Bud Dupree anchoring a ferocious front-seven—but young cornerbacks Caleb Farley, Kristian Fulton and Elijah Molden will need to gel quick if the unit expects to contain the firepower from Kansas City, Denver and Green Bay. While head coach Mike Vrabel is one of the best around at getting the most out of his players, losing Harold Landry to a torn ACL before the season started puts a dent in this defense’s hopes of recreating their success of last year. An early bye-week doesn’t do Tennessee any favors either, but they should be in contention for the division, right down to the season finale against Jacksonville. 

AFC West

Denver Broncos (10-7)

Recalling their Super Bowl glories with Peyton Manning, the Broncos went all-in this year by acquiring Russel Wilson. Now the expectations are high, with all of the weapons, and a nasty defense backing up Wilson. Getting through the West will be tricky, but the Broncos—who open against Wilson’s former team, in Seattle—are square in the conversation for best roster in the division. The division is full of playoff contenders, and they are slated to face a deep NFC West on rotation. As for Denver, the back half of their schedule is tough, so they’ll need to get rolling early in order to sneak into the postseason. This offense will run through Wilson, and yet the different types of weapons—Javonte Williams out of the backfield, Albert Okwuegbunam down the seam—he possesses will allow Wilson to play some of his best ball by picking the best matchup, instead of force-feeding a player like Courtland Sutton. Stacked on the defensive side of the ball, the Broncos have reason to believe they have the makings for a Super Bowl squad. Rave reviews have come back on second-year cornerback Patrick Surtain II, while adding Randy Gregory along the edge, plus the presence of Justin Simmons, gives this unit bonafide stars at every level. The only thing stopping the Broncos from streaking to the playoffs is a hyper-competitive division. Over the course of the season, these teams will beat one another up, but the probability of all four teams in the West being formidable is strong. For Denver, their season will likely come down to if they can handle the Rams, Chiefs and Chargers to finish out the season and claim a playoff seeding.

Kansas City Chiefs (13-4)*

This is the Chiefs’ division until it’s not—they’ve had Denver’s number for years now, and although the Raiders and Chargers have taken them down to the wire in years past, Kansas City has won the division every year since 2016. With Patrick Mahomes still under center, and Andy Reid drawing up the plays, the Chiefs boast arguably the best quarterback-coaching combination in the league (not to mention the esteemed Eric Bienemy and Steve Spagnuolo doing their parts). Mahomes might be without Tyreek Hill, but this is more likely to elevate his game than not—a new stable of weapons should allow him to pick apart defenses based on the matchup, instead of relying on Hill’s ability to outrun the coverage when things get tough. A sturdy offensive line, plus the presence of Travis Kelce makes this offense just as lethal as in year’s past—Kelce is set up for a career year. Defensively, the Chiefs are looking to get more out of Frank Clark, who has dropped weight and is primed for an improved season after registering just 18.5 sacks since signing with the team in 2019. The selection of George Karlaftis gives reason to believe that the line will improve overall—Karlaftis has shown an impressive set of pass rushing tools and an exceptional motor, making him a prime breakout candidate in year 1. Add in the addition of Justin Reid and Carlos Dunlap, and this defense has a quality mix of seasoned veterans and young, talented players at premium spots. With showdowns against the Bills, 49ers and Rams on deck, the Chiefs cannot afford to sleep-walk through their schedule like they have in year’s past. Even with a wildcard birth, this team will be dangerous come January. While they will finish with the same record as the Chargers, their slightly more difficult schedule gives them the tie-breaker to win the division for a seventh year in a row.

Los Angeles Chargers (13-4)

For a team that has not won the division since 2009, expectations in Los Angeles are higher than they’ve been since the Philipp Rivers and LaDainian Tomlinson days (with the duo, the Chargers had a stretch where they won the West five out of six years). Yet, with the competitiveness of this division, the odds of any team in the West replicating that type of sustained dominance any time soon is slim. The secret is out on Justin Herbert, and the star quarterback now has a quality offensive line, plus a litany of weapons—but it will be the game management and fourth-down decisions of head coach Brandon Staley that will dictate how far this team goes. Last year Herbert bailed this team out of tough situations, while the game management by Staley was nothing short of questionable at times. Adding Khalil Mack was a huge boon, and his presence opposite Joey Boss will not go unnoticed—both players will greatly benefit from the other one’s presence. Mack is poised for a big year, and could contend for Defensive Player of the Year honors. The defensive backfield got even better with J.C. Jackson, while the versatility of Derwin James allows this unit to play multiple looks and expand their game-plan as they try to match up with some of the league’s more dynamic offenses. Herbert has shown he can put the team on his back (see: versus Las Vegas, week 18 in 2021) and move the chains with the game on the line, but the rest of his team has perpetually failed to come through in crucial moments. Getting over that hump is essential for this team, as they are all-in for a Super Bowl ride. Depending on how the playoff bracket shakes out, the Chargers could make a run.

Las Vegas Raiders (6-11)

Despite adding All-Pro players in Devante Adams and Chandler Jones, and be coming off of a post-season birth, this team is the favorite to finish last in a stacked AFC West. With Josh McDaniels at the helms, and a slew of playmakers for quarterback Derek Carr to throw to, this Raiders offense will score a lot of points in 2022. Especially given their depth at wide receiver behind Adams and Hunter Renfrow, spreading the ball around to guys like Darren Waller and Foster Moreau out of two-tight end sets is something to watch for as Carr gets familiar with this offense. Along the offensive line, there are concerns—tackle Kolton Miller is an adequate starter but, outside of that, the Raiders have questions. Fortunately for this offense, Carr was one of the best quarterbacks last season at throwing deep balls while facing pressure. If the offense clicks, this team has shown the ability to overcome its defensive deficiencies and still win games, but in an increasingly competitive conference, the margin for error will be thin. The impact of swapping out Yannick Ngakoue for Rock Ya-Sin is lessened by the Jones signing; with Ya-Sin stepping into a starting role, he’ll be depended on from the start. Trading away Trayvon Mullen was a curious move, especially with the uncertainty behind Ya-Sin on the depth chart. Vegas finished near the middle of the pack in terms of pass defense last season, but allowed opponents to score at a high clip. While the Raiders possess one of the top pass-rushing tandems in the league, they’ll need to see better play out of their own offensive line—more than a dozen sacks were surrendered in three preseason games—if they expect to hold up in pivotal moments and maximize all their talent on offense.

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys (9-8)

The playoff loss to San Francisco to close out the 2021 season was almost as gut-wrenching as the way that the Buffalo Bills fell to the Kansas City Chiefs in the next round—Dallas, although they possess one of the better rosters in the league, might have squandered their widest championship window in recent memory with that loss. The window is still open, but losing key contributors like Randy Gregory, Cedric Wilson, Connor Williams and Amari Cooper will be tough to overcome, especially for the offense. While Jerry Jones vowed to give Ezekiel Elliot the lions share of the carries, the Cowboys should find their best success on offense with Tony Pollard on the field—his usage in the slot is something to watch, and it’s very possible that Pollard amasses more receiving yards than rushing. Adding veterans like Malik Hooker, Carlos Watkins and Anthony Barr over the past few years should allow this defense to perform at a respectable level, but repeating last year’s success with the turnover margin is rather improbable. Even Trevon Diggs, who posted a league-high 11 interceptions, gave up a high number of big plays while in pass coverage. Micah Parsons has strong competition for Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2022, but he’s well positioned to claim his first award. Having more star power than there is money to go around is an enviable problem to have for any team, but it will eventually become a hindrance: for Dallas, they’ll be depending on rookies and a handful of untested players—Dorance Armstrong, Sam Williams and Tyler Smith, to name a few—in order to retain the ever elusive NFC East crown. With the competitive nature of the division, another NFC East title would be surprising—but not out of the question for this Dallas team.

New York Giants (8-9)

The Giants will be one of the more interesting teams to watch this season—with a nucleus of young, explosive players that are versatile, plus a proven offensive mind in Brian Daboll, they will be under the microscope as they enter a pivotal season for players like Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley. Shoring up the offensive line with Evan Neal and signing Mark Glowinski gives Jones the best protection he’s had since joining the league, meaning his margin for error will be thin if he expects to keep his job heading into 2023. Even if Jones does not work out, this organization is well-positioned after securing four starters from their 2021 draft-day swap with the Bears, and will at least have solid supporting cast in place for the QB of the future. Hiring Don Martindale to elevate the play of the defense was a big move by the organization, but the best of his work is not likely to be seen until next season, when he is allowed to acquire more talent to fit his scheme. Azeez Ojulari has the makings to be a fundamental piece to this young squad, and he should hit double-digit sacks in year 2. There are strengths in the secondary—Xavier McKinney is due for a breakout—but there are also weaknesses. With Ojulari and Leonard Williams up front, the Giants possess some versatility with their personnel, and should be able to help cause more turnovers than in 2021, especially given Martindale’s propensity for dialing up pressure using different looks. Things will need to click offensively if the Giants expect to make a crack at the post season; last season they went 1-5 in divisional play, so upsetting a few divisional rivals would be a good place to start. 

Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)*

A popular favorite to win the NFC East, the Philadelphia Eagles skipped what many presumed to be a rebuilding phase by wheeling and dealing their way into legitimate NFC contention with the acquisitions of AJ Brown, James Bradberry, Haason Reddick, and also the dumping of Zach Ertz and Carson Wentz. Add in the upside that Jalen Hurts provides this offense, and the stable of quality running backs, and the buzz around this team becomes legitimate. A sleeper at running back to watch is Trey Sermon, who got ousted in San Fransisco after one season but fits the style of play in this offense. Even more, Philadelphia still possesses one of the league’s best offensive lines, and the same can be said for their counterpart on defense; reviews have been favorable for first-round pick Jordan Davis, while fellow rookie Nakobe Dean could be regarded as the steal of the draft. Darius Slay having a running mate in Bradberry gives this defense even more to be excited about, which only elevates the ceiling of this team. Lastly, Jalen Hurts will be playing under the same coordinator in consecutive years for the first time since his high school days, and he should again elevate this team in clutch moments. Between Philadelphia’s relatively favorable schedule, subtractions in the division, plus their own additions, they are a team that is poised to play in the post-season, and perhaps even make a deep run.

Washington Commanders (8-9)

With Carson Wentz ready to ‘take command’ of this team, Washington is in a decidedly better spot than they have been in year’s past. Sturdy play at quarterback has been the missing ingredient for this team—and, though Wentz is not exactly the definition of sturdy, he presents an upgrade over Taylor Heinicke, and should be able to open up this offense with his propensity to take deep shots. Offensive coordinator Scott Turner is underrated as a play caller and will be able to scheme up different ways for Wentz to stretch the field—receiver Terry McLaurin is playing with the best quarterback in his career (he has played with nine different starting quarterbacks in his three years as a ‘Commander’), while the emergence of Jahan Dotson should give this offense a stable of reliable weapons, and allow Wentz to connect on tight-window throws. With a quality offensive line, and versatile run game, the Commanders are poised to improve their middling offense from 2021. On the flip side, this defense was supposed to be a strong point last year, but ended up looking like a mess at times, with players visibly not giving their full effort or playing out of position. Adding another ex-Alabama player to the pipeline on the defensive line was a curious, but not surprising, choice by the organization—while it hopes to get the most out of their other four former first-round picks. Though the play of Chase Young will be important, Montez Sweat should catapult himself into conversation for one of the league’s best defensive ends. The back seven, while not as illustrious as the front, should be solid enough to hold up against some of the league’s better passing attacks, and is poised to improve from last year’s abysmal showing. A wild-card birth—especially in a muddled division—is not out of the realm of possibilities for Washington, especially if Wentz refrains from making costly mistakes in crunch time (see: every one of his left-handed throws from 2021).

NFC North

Chicago Bears (5-12)

By not providing former first-round pick Justin Fields with a strong supporting cast, it’s hard to place where the Bears are in their rebuild, and also how they feel about Fields going forward. Adding quality players to the secondary suggests this team is looking to build their defense back-to-front, especially after trading away Khalil Mack, and then hinting at the same fate for Robert Quinn. But it doesn’t exactly boost the confidence of what this team can do to win games. After putting up the sixth-worst scoring offense (according to ESPN’s stats), the state of the offensive line and lack of weapons for Fields offers little encouragement for improvement—particularly in a division that has progressed overall. If Fields can coax out of Cole Kmet and Darnell Mooney a pair of highly productive seasons, this unit could be formidable—the emergence of Khalil Herbert was a nice surprise last season, and the second-year back should be able to usurp even more playing time from veteran David Montgomery, who has been serviceable but unspectacular. With Roquan Smith returning, and Jaylon Johnson continuing to grow, this defense still has a few bright spots—keeping Quinn, who is coming off an all-too-quiet 18.5 sack season, means Chicago actually cares about winning this season and is not looking to scrap everything for parts. The schedule allows for a few winnable games—if everything clicks right, this team can finish the season with six or seven wins—but there are also enough holes on this roster to suggest the Bears could finish with the worst record in the league this season. 

Detroit Lions (7-10)

While many teams avoid even saying the world ‘rebuild,’ the Detroit Lions have fully embraced their roster reconstruction by peppering in big-swings in the draft with adding veteran guys looking to prove themselves, such as DJ Chark and DeShon Elliot. Part of the rebuild in Detroit has been about adding to, and maintaining, a strong presence up front—both the offensive and defensive lines on this team have become focal points, and this will allow the Lions to assess the talent elsewhere on this roster. Furthermore, Jared Goff—while not viewed externally as the answer—has played some of his best football with a solid offensive line and slew of weapons. Once Jameson Williams gets on the field, this offense will be loaded with quality playmakers who can do a variety of things for Goff. Even if Goff shows further signs of improvement and has a few splash moments, the Lions can get out of his contract after 2022 and will surely be surveying a strong class of quarterbacks in the 2023 draft. The health of DeAndre Swift will also go a long way in determining the output of this offense in 2022—he has an ideal mentor in Duce Staley as his position coach, and Swift possesses the rare receiving ability that could fuel him to All-Pro honors. After going 2-4 against the NFC North in 2021, the Lions should improve at least in their inner-division play and be able to topple other rebuilding teams like the Jets, Commanders and Jaguars along the way. Tables can turn quickly in the NFL, especially for teams with potent offenses and good, upcoming coaching staffs (see: the 2021 Cincinnati Bengals)—but if Detroit is to truly turn things around this soon, it will have to start with improving a porous defense that gave up the second-most points in 2021. 

Green Bay Packers (13-4)*

Much has been made about the departure of Devante Adams and the organization’s subsequent failure to add weapons to the offense to replace his production—but truly elite quarterbacks elevate the play of those around him, and with Aaron Rodgers falling into the elite category, this Packers offense will not regress to the degree that many “experts” expect. Much like with Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City, where the offense will require the quarterback to spread the ball around instead of allowing him to force-feed his favorite target. It may take time, but diversifying this Green Bay offense even more will ultimately make them harder to defend. With the return of Robert Tunyan, drafting of Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson, and signing of Sammy Watkins, Rogers has enough weapons to maintain a balanced offensive attack—plus, Aaron Jones is still one of the best backs in the game, and AJ Dillon is set up to have a career year. A well-rounded, unselfish offense to accompany what has become a swarming, deep defense might give the Packers their best overall team since their 2010 Super Bowl run. As long as they can stay healthy, the stars on this defense will help shift the narrative on what the identity of this team can be—the starters are top-notch, but much of the defensive depth (outside of the guys playing on the line) is questionable. If injuries are low, Green Bay might, for the first time in decades, be a team that wins games because of their defense, not in spite of it. On the flip side, the special teams unit for this team lost them the playoff game against San Fransisco, so even with a stone-wall defense and surgical offense, the Packers will need to improve in all three phases of the game if they expect to make a run to the Super Bowl—perhaps one of the reasons they hired one of the top special teams minds in the game in Rich Bisaccia. 

Minnesota Vikings (8-9)

The tenure of Kirk Cousins in Minnesota was extended by one year, and by all indications it appears the Vikings are going all-in on their roster surrounding their quarterback. A rich extension is imminent for Justin Jefferson, but the team can also get out of both Dalvin Cook and Adam Thielen’s contracts after this season—while the latter two are focal points of the offense, this organization could elect to move forward without them if Cousins fails to make that next step into being an elite quarterback. It’s easy to look at Cousins’ stats and suggest he is already elite, but he has yet to secure a signature win in the playoffs, or lead the Vikings to a division title. With a robust upcoming QB class to survey in the 2023 draft, plus the new faces running the show in Minnesota, the Vikings are indeed a team to watch in 2022. Outside of the aforementioned weapons, the Vikings offensive line has steadily improved, and should be one of the better units in the league. While a rebuild is potentially in the cards for Minnesota, there’s an alternate universe in which everything comes together for them on offense and they climb into the top five in total offense and storm into the playoffs as a squad that teams do not want to play. With Za’Darius Smith in the fold, and a quality defensive line around him, the defense should improve from last year after finishing third-worst in yards allowed (per ESPN stats). Smith is a dark horse candidate for Defensive Player of the Year. Though it might take time for the unit to return to its glory days under Mike Zimmer (Minnesota spent four of its top five picks on defense in 2022), adding guys like Andrew Booth and Lewis Cine give the secondary a pair of young blue-chip players to build around. If they’re to make a playoff push, slaying the Packers in the North would be a good place for Cousins and the Vikings to start.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons (5-12)

With a rebuild explicitly underway, the Falcons are one of the teams to watch for fans of the NFL draft and college quarterbacks. With no disrespect to Marcus Mariota—he has looked sharp in the preseason, and was once a top-two pick in the draft—but the Falcons are not building this roster around him. Rookie Desmond Ridder is also an intriguing prospect, and either he or Mariota could possibly steer a balanced, adequate roster to the playoffs—but the Falcons have glaring holes in key places, and by the time the rest of the roster levels out, its unlikely that either player will have done enough to win over the organization as being the guy. While Kyle Pitts is the guy, outside of Drake London and newcomer Bryan Edwards—the latter being due for a breakout season—this offense is lacking sizzle, and the suspect offensive line doesn’t bode well for the ceiling of this unit. Outside of Grady Jarrett, the same can be said for the defensive line, and frankly the defense as a whole. Not only is star power lacking from the defense—save for AJ Terrell—depth on both sides of the ball is also an issue, which is a clear result of poor cap management from the previous organization. Fortunately for the Falcons, there is not much clarity in the future of the division, much less the conference, and they are lead by one of the better offensive minds in the game in Arthur Smith. Mariota could surprise by seizing a Comeback Player of the Year Award, and Kyle Pitts could completely change the way defenses game plan against Atlanta, but the Falcons are a safe bet for a top-5 selection in next year’s draft, which means the changes will keep coming as they fix one of the messier rosters in the league.

Carolina Panthers (5-12)

Another fascinating team to watch, especially in a muddled NFC, where teams will be in a dog-fight for the last playoff seed come week 18, the Panthers are on the brink of starting over, but could also could sneak into the post-season with a closing four-game stretch of three winnable games. Depending on how the offensive line plays, this team could go 4-13, or 10-7. With an All-World player in Christian McCaffrey handling the bulk of the touches, a stable of respectable playmakers at receiver—keep an eye on Terrace Marshall Jr.—and quarterback in Baker Mayfield, who has proven the ability to win with the right pieces and system around him, the Panthers could field a quality, if vanilla, offense that runs through McCaffrey to pair with their feisty defense. In the same division, New Orleans has proven that games can be won with a similar formula, but one of the main differences between the two is coaching. Many of the games Carolina played last year were not even competitive, despite fielding the second best defense in terms of yards allowed (per ESPN stats). Strangely, they surrendered nearly 7 more points per game than the Bills defense, who ranked first in yards allowed (is this the definition of a ‘break, but don’t bend’ defense?) Much can be accredited to the early injury of cornerback Jaycee Horn, but with the loss of veterans like Hassan Reddick and Stephon Gilmore (who underwhelmed in 2021) means that guys like Yetur Gross-Matos and Derrick Brown need to step up and play to their high draft status. Coaxing better production out of the defense in terms of scoring, and getting Mayfield to play turnover-free football can equal a playoff season for the Panthers, but it will all start up front and the durability of McCaffrey.

New Orleans Saints (10-7)

Talk about an interesting team to watch. With their future Hall of Fame coach stepping down, plus a clear ‘all-in’ approach for 2022, and a still unproven quarterback like Jameis Winston taking command of this offense, the Saints could easily be a bust, or be playing well into January—if they are able to figure things out by week 6, when their schedule really heats up. A week-14 bye could either be a blessing, or a complete waste, depending on how close the Saints are to playoff contention at that point. Winston, first and foremost, will need to play like he did while healthy in 2021, and he will need to play the whole season. The same can be said for Alvin Kamara, who saw his production dip last season, despite receiving nearly 300 total touches. Adding Chris Olave—a true blue-chip player who has a strong chance at claiming Offensive Rookie of the Year honors—and seeing Michael Thomas return means the Saints are already in much better shape heading into 2022 than they were in all of 2021. All of 2021, in fact, should be written off for the Saints—a few wild stats from last season include: Taysom Hill leading the team in rushing touchdowns, Kamara receiving the second most targets, and Deonte Harry being their second leading receiver. Even without Sean Payton, the star power is there for this offense to not have to worry about being a patch-work unit. The defense is also still special. Adding Marcus Maye and Tyrann Mathieu gives this back seven a stable of quality, versatile players to pair with their imposing defensive line. The Saints have been one of the better teams at drafting in April, which has allowed them to seemingly play Monopoly with their cap every year and still contend. With the arrow pointing up, and a few breaks along the way, the Saints could streak into the playoffs and make a respectable run.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7)*

Without Bruce Arians, this team will be fine. Todd Bowles has quality coordinators running the respective units, while Tom Brady effectively serves as a coach on the field. Loading up at the skill positions—adding seasoned vets like Kyle Rudolph, Russel Gage and Julio Jones to make splash plays was a savvy move, while collecting more pass-catching backs—gives Brady a lethal stable of weapons at his disposal, especially given his penchant for throwing short, quick routes out of the backfield. As long as his offensive line can hold up—interior pressure is one of Brady’s weaknesses—the unit should maintain its high level of production (2nd in both points and yards per game, per ESPN stats). If the pocket begins to crumble on Brady, and the running game stalls, this team could be in trouble. By having a star-studded defense—headlined by guys like Shaquil Barrett and Devin White—gives the Buccaneers some breathing room if the offense doesn’t click like it did in 2022. While Russel Gage is poised for a banner season on offense, a name to watch on Tampa Bay’s defense is Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, who should be able to reach 15 sacks, especially with Jason Pierre-Paul out of the picture and other around him. Also adding Keanu Neal and Logan Ryan gives the back unit extra insurance in case injuries strike, which should bode well for the Bucs chances heading into the post-season. All the makings are there for another Super Bowl run, but the ceiling of this team will be largely dictated on how well the offensive line performs, and if they can slay the Saints, who swept Tampa Bay in the regular season last year. 

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals (8-9)

Between the Kyler Murray social media saga, his subsequent contract extension and its unorthodox clauses, plus the addition of Marquise Brown and suspension of DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona has been one of the most talked about teams heading into the 2022 season. Management and ownership appear sold on the Kliff Kingsbury experiment, even after watching his team fade in the second half of two consecutive seasons. Importing Will Hernandez, who has historically struggled in pass protection, to start at guard was a curious choice, especially while letting All-Pro Chandler Jones walk for more money in free agency. Paying Jones may have been difficult, but relying on JJ Watt to pick up the slack for a full season is more likely to backfire than pay dividends. If anything, the Cardinals are now banking on their back-to-back first-round linebackers in Isaiah Simmons and Zaven Collins to step up and force sacks, alongside the ever-underrated Markus Golden—which could pan out, but is asking a lot. The back end of this defense also offers more questions than answers—outside of Budda Baker, the Cardinals are relying on mostly unproven players to hold their own against a slate of high-scoring, dynamic offenses like Kansas City, Tampa Bay, Los Angeles and Denver. Guys like Rondale Moore—who was used in questionable ways as a rookie—and Zach Ertz will need to step up, especially in Hopkins’ absence, if this team is expecting to make it through the first six games with a record close to .500. Given their tough schedule, and the track record of both Murray in Kingsbury down the stretch, a last-place finish in the NFC West is not out of the question. 

Los Angeles Rams (9-8)

Although they’re coming off a Super Bowl victory, the 2022 Rams will look different than the 2021 Rams—improvements around the conference will also make repeating as champions that much more difficult for Los Angeles. Gone are Andrew Whitworth and Von Miller, two staples to the respective offensive and defensive lines, and the replacements for each player do not inspire a lot of confidence. On the flip side, Matthew Stafford is playing some of the best football of his career, while Allen Robinson is due for a monster season in this offense alongside Cooper Kupp—and if Tutu Atwell emerges as a deep-threat, this offense could have another strong showing in 2022. Sean McVay is as good as any coach at masking deficiencies, so the questions along the offensive line could be a non-factor, after all. Like the offense, the defense relies on its stars to mask the holes at other positions—for every Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp on this team, there is a Ben Skowronek and Michael Hoecht. Importing Bobby Wagner and (the return of) Troy Hill should restore some of the veteran leadership lost from the departures of Miller and Eric Weddle, while shoring up otherwise top-heavy units. Ultimately, this team is built to win games on the backs of their stars, so as long as they can remain relatively healthy, and not stumble through 2022 with a Super Bowl hangover, this Rams team can once again be contenders for the Lombardi trophy.

San Francisco 49ers (10-7)*

One of the more fascinating teams to watch in 2022—given the strengths of this team, their deep playoff run last season, and the new-look offense under Trey Lance—the 49ers are a dark horse Super Bowl contender. For a team that has come up a few plays short of multiple Super Bowl appearances, and even a victory in SB LIV, there’s more reason to believe that they will continue contending, despite a quarterback change, than there is to expect a significant drop-off. Lance opens up this offense with his propensity to push the ball down the field, especially outside of the numbers, and has weapons in Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle and Deebo Samuel, who can each stretch the field and come up with chunk plays. A few new starters along the offensive line ultimately tempers the expectations for what this team can be, but even with twists to the offense, the identity of this team remains on defense, where coordinator DeMeco Ryans is one of the league’s best, and leads a unit that boasts a deep and talented stable of linebackers and linemen. A few new faces have appeared in the secondary, but as long as that unit can stay healthy, this defense will be dominate. Chunk plays, plus a punishing running game and a potentially dominant defense can certainly be a formula for slaying some of the NFC powerhouses, and the Niners may just benefit from being one of the lesser hyped teams heading into 2022—a Super Bowl appearance is not out of the question, especially given San Francisco’s track record against the rival Rams.

Seattle Seahawks (5-12)

The public perception is that Seattle is rebuilding after trading Russell Wilson, but with the ageless, bubblegum-chomping Pete Carrol at the helms, this team is not going to roll over and wait for 2023 to compete—look back to 2010, when they rode Marshawn Lynch and a stout defense to an NFC West title in Carroll’s first season with the team. While the rest of the division was abysmal that year, and Carroll (with the help of John Schneider) revamped the roster with a flurry of moves that set them up in future drafts, it just goes to show Carroll’s resilience and ability to do more with less—one could argue that Carroll is one of the best of his era in this department, and deserves Hall of Fame accolades. While the Gold Jacket days are still distant, Carroll could very well coax out of this squad a record just shy of .500. It will, of course, come down to the quarterback play—Drew Lock offers more flash, but with the style of football Carroll prefers, it would not be a shock to see Geno Smith start every game this year. Smith is serviceable, and with a stable of running backs—Kenneth Walker will contend for Rookie of the Year honors—and a pair of physically imposing pass catchers in DK Metcalf and Noah Fant, the offense should be able to hold its own. Jordyn Brooks on defense will have a breakout season and establish himself as one of the best young inside linebackers in the league, while Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs give Seattle one of the best safety tandems in the league. The depth at cornerback is not what it once was, and relying on Sidney Jones to start a full season is risky, but there is enough up front for the defense to avoid being exposed every week. A semi-favorable schedule, plus the intensity that Carrol instills in this team gives Seattle a chance to finish third in their own division, and head into next offseason feeling confident about their core.

Playoff Bracket

1st round – Wild card – AFC

Cincinnati Bengals (2) over Baltimore Ravens (7)

Buffalo Bills (3) over Denver Broncos (6)

Indianapolis Colts (4) over Los Angeles Chargers (5)

1st round – Wild card – NFC

Philadelphia Eagles (2) over Dallas Cowboys (7)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3) over Los Angeles Rams (6)

New Orleans Saints (5) over San Francisco 49ers (4)

2nd round – Divisional Round – AFC 

Kansas City Chiefs (1) over Indianapolis Colts (4)

Buffalo Bills (3) over Cincinnati Bengals (2)

2nd round – Divisional Round – NFC

Green Bay Packers (1) over New Orleans Saints (5)

Philadelphia Eagles (2) over Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3)

3rd round – Conference Championship – AFC

Buffalo Bills (3) over Kansas City Chiefs (1)

3rd round – Conference Championship – AFC

Green Bay Packers (1) over Philadelphia Eagles (2)

2022 SUPER BOWL WINNER: 

BUFFALO BILLS over Green Bay Packers

Individual Player Awards:

• Offensive Rookie of the Year: Chris Olave
• Defensive Rookie of the Year: George Karlaftis
• Offensive player of the year: Jonathan Taylor
• Defensive player of the year: Micah Parsons
• Comeback player of the year: Khalil Mack
• MVP: Lamar Jackson

ALL-PRO TEAM

Lamar Jackson – QB

Jonathan Taylor – RB

Travis Kelce – TE

Ja’Marr Chase – WR

Stefon Diggs – WR

Justin Jefferson – WR

Rashawn Slater – LT

Quenton Nelson – LG

Creed Humphrey – C

Trey Smith – RG

Penei Sewell – RT

Myles Garrett – EDGE

Nick Bosa – EDGE

Ed Oliver – DL

Shaquille Leonard – LB

Micah Parsons – LB

Myles Jack – LB

Jalen Ramsey – CB

Patrick Surtain – CB

Javon Holland – S

Derwin James – S

Vegas Insider Projected Over/Under Win Totals (as of 9/1/21, via Vegasinsider.com)

Arizona Cardinals: 8.5 

Atlanta Falcons: 4.5

Baltimore Ravens: 10.5

Buffalo Bills: 11.5

Carolina Panthers: 6.5

Chicago Bears: 6.5

Cincinnati Bengals: 9.5

Cleveland Browns: 8.5

Dallas Cowboys: 10.5

Denver Broncos: 10.5

Detroit Lions: 6.5

Green Bay Packers: 10.5 

Houston Texans: 4.5

Indianapolis Colts: 9.5

Jacksonville Jaguars: 6.5

Kansas City Chiefs: 10.5

Los Angeles Chargers: 10.5

Los Angeles Rams: 10.5

Las Vegas Raiders: 8.5

Miami Dolphins: 8.5

New England Patriots: 9.5

New Orleans Saints: 8.5

New York Giants: 7.5

New York Jets: 5.5

Philadelphia Eagles: 9.5 

Pittsburgh Steelers: 7.5

San Francisco 49ers: 9.5

Seattle Seahawks: 5.5

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 11.5

Tennessee Titans: 9.5

Washington Commanders: 7.5