NFL power rankings 2023: Steelers, Broncos, Jets on rise in way-too-early projections; Vikings, Buccaneers sink
With Super Bowl 57 here, either the Eagles or the Chiefs will win the ultimate battle for NFL hierarchy for the 2022 season. But the calendar has already rolled to 2023 and the clock has started ticking in the race to win Super Bowl 58.
While the road to Glendale has ended, the road to returning to the desert in Las Vegas has begun on February 11, 2024, with the long offseason including free agency, the draft and training camp before the next inaugural kickoff.
It might seem way too early to predict how all teams will fare against each other, but here’s still an updated look from #1 to #32.
MORE NFL DRAFT: SN’s Latest Mock Draft for 2023 | The 100 best prospects
NFL Power Rankings 2023
1. Kansas City Chiefs (final 2022 regular season rankings: 1)
The Chiefs remain on top regardless of the outcome of Super Bowl 57 because they have most of their core intact with Patrick Mahomes in his prime and only have one major free-agent issue (left tackle against Orlando Brown Jr. ). . Mahomes, Andy Reid and Kansas City are the new New England and Bill Belichick is the standard team to beat every year in the entire NFL.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (4)
The Eagles have some issues to work out with experienced free agency on their offensive and defensive lines, but they’ll keep their window open before they have to sign Jalen Hurts to a mega contract. They have too much talent and depth not to be right back next year, even against a more challenging schedule.
3. Cincinnati-Bengal (6)
The Bengals, like the Eagles with hurts, will soon be paying Joe Burrow and making some difficult decisions at other positions. But they should also have another big push towards the Super Bowl with their largely complete condition and promising young core. Like Mahomes, Burrow will keep the window open for a while.
4. San Francisco 49ers (2)
The 49ers need to see the health of young QBs Trey Lance and Brock Purdy to better inform their decision to actually replace Jimmy Garoppolo, but the lean should still be the big draw with Lance. Either way, their rookie contracts guaranteed the 49ers’ roster would remain loaded elsewhere.
5. Buffalo Beaks (5)
Josh Allen’s contract will go into effect and they have some work to do again to rebuild the offensive line, backfield, defensive line and secondary line, with a few holes popping up here and there. All of them still give them a high floor, but the cushion at the AFC East should be gone.
6. Dallas Cowboys (6)
The Cowboys are changing their offensive philosophy without Kellen Moore, while Mike McCarthy and Brian Schottenheimer now look to provide the necessary supplement group to Dan Quinn’s playmaking defense. They need to get Dak Prescott past CeeDee Lamb to a more reliable downfield pass assist.
7. Baltimore Ravens (10)
This assumes the Ravens end up taking care of business with Lamar Jackson and he comes back for a healthy, more effective season with healthier help. The defensive foundation remains strong and it’s difficult to hold down a team coached by John Harbaugh for long.
8. Los Angeles Chargers (7)
The Chargers stayed with Brandon Staley because of his defensive acumen and should continue to receive short-term reinforcements with Justin Herbert’s big second contract looming. Moore should have a big impact on getting even more out of the big QB, assuming the injury doesn’t bite her that bad.
9. Green Bay Packers (14)
Will Aaron Rodgers emerge from the darkness and back into the light and the Packers lineup? Nobody still knows for sure, but this offseason feels different, with a real shot at the moves that would see this team slide down with Jordan Love while also pushing another team (Jets? Raiders?) into the top 10 . With Rodgers, the Packers are good enough elsewhere if he’s healthy to at least bounce back to a familiar playoff contest.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars (11)
The Jaguars could be the latest Doug Pederson-coached team to enjoy a massive sophomore boom with a rising young athletic QB. Trevor Lawrence works his way into the conversation as a top AFC passer who brings a high level to his team. Look for aggressive spending and roster moves to make a big throw to take off from victory in the weak South.
11. Detroit Lions (13)
The Lions deserve to roar here in the top dozen after nearly breaking out of the playoffs under Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes. Look for more solid moves that complement their youthful promise, the only question being how much they trust Jared Goff.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers (18)
Stay on high alert with the Steelers, who have avoided yet another losing season under Mike Tomlin while undergoing a major quarterback change for the first time in a long time. Speaking of the QB, look for the team to capitalize on Kenny Pickett’s promise as a sophomore and ensure it’s dangerous enough elsewhere.
13. New York Jets (23)
The Jets need to find their quarterback answer, and that position is based on Robert Saleh having a very strong young team off the QB that’s now offensive and defensive. Getting Rodgers would make them an instant favorite in the AFC East.
14. Denver Broncos (28)
The Broncos deserve a big jump for hiring Super Bowl-winning coach Sean Payton. He’ll clean up offensively and defensively and begin to get Russell Wilson back on track. This will look more like the season they were meant to have in 2022 until they were led by Nathaniel Hackett’s incompetence.
15.Seattle Seahawks (15)
The Seahawks used a weaker schedule, improved defense, a revised offensive line, and stable QB play from Geno Smith to surprise everyone as a playoff team under Pete Carroll without Russell Wilson. After a great design, they should keep infusing new talent.
16. New York Giants (9)
Well-trained now under Brian Daboll, the Giants should only improve offense provided they bring back both Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley. A few more plays on either side and they can get closer to the Eagles and Cowboys.
17. Miami Dolphins (17)
The Dolphins have outperformed offensively to put them in the playoffs, but the cooldown will come with uncertainty surrounding Tua Tagovailoa. Watch out for the defense becoming more reliable than strength at the end thanks to Vic Fangio.
16.Los Angeles Rams (27)
The Rams have some question marks over Matthew Stafford’s durability going forward, and there’s a chance more core players could be separated from the defense. However, with Sean McVay, it’s difficult to drop her past the muddled middle.
19. Cleveland Browns (20)
Deshaun Watson should theoretically offer a bigger QB upgrade to give them a higher ceiling, but they’re still run dependent and could get a bit more explosive despite some good reception options. However, the defense needs to do much better behind Myles Garrett to put them in the playoff position.
20. Minnesota Vikings (8)
Everyone knows that last season the Vikings defied the stats and odds to be a big winning team, resulting in an instant playoff bust. Their defensive build is still ongoing and could get time to move off the bottom of Kirk Cousins and move up to bolster Justin Jefferson and the rest of their offense.
21.New England Patriots (16)
The Patriots are doing their best to maintain their defensive pop under Bill Belichick and back it up with complementary running play. But they face a successful year for Mac Jones with more transition in the passing game.
22. Las Vegas Robbers (24)
Should that team end up with Rodgers to replace Carr, it would become an immediate threat to take the division away from the Chiefs, Chargers and Broncos. But in the current state, with Derek Carr a lame duck and massive defensive holes away from Maxx Crosby, this is the Raiders’ best case.
23. Chicago Bears (31)
The bears know they have something special in Justin Fields. This offseason has to be about being aggressive and charging up the offensive resources he needs to make a big leap forward on his incredible run. There is also the capital to make the defense more respectable relative to past strengths.
24th Saint of New Orleans (19)
The Saints are trying to march through quarterback tape style without Drew Brees and need to leverage the draft to avoid another bridge year. Dennis Allen’s defense is still solid, but some of the old plays are starting to become less reliable.
25. Tennessee Titans (22)
It may seem like Mike Vrabel’s team are about to suffer a major setback, but their brand of physical play and knowledge of how to work their way through attrition will make them more competitive than expected. Just remember that there are enough restrictions, especially in passing and pass defense, the cap is still pretty low.
26. Carolina Panther (25)
The Panthers are likely to break in a first-round rookie quarterback who needs to take some nuggets as the game in progress needs fixing to help and the post-DJ Moore receiving corps needs more reliability and versatility. They will lean heavily on defense much like Frank Reich did with the Colts to complement that. At the very least, Reich will correct the mindset and identity for plenty of optimism.
27. Washington Commanders (21)
Commanders fall here because, for now, despite some promises with their ongoing game of getting corps on defense, they plan to roll with Sam Howell as the starting QB. Watch for shakier and more limited returns from the most important position.
MORE: The Buccaneers’ 7 best QB options to replace Tom Brady
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (12)
The Buccaneers don’t have quarterback answers yet without Tom Brady. They have some key defensive free agents and have had some coaching changes. It should go back to losing ground despite some good talent at the front line.
29. Atlanta Falcons (27)
The Falcons will soon have to find out if they believe Desmond Ridder is the answer in QB to get more out of their talented young guns to break out of run-heavy mode. The defense has a few bridging stars, but they need a lot of help.
30. Houston Texans (32)
The Texans, with their rebuild mentality, hired the right coach this time by bringing DeMeco Ryans back to Houston. Now they must master the blueprint and find their franchise QB to turn the tide.
31. Arizona Cardinals (30)
The Cardinals are taking their time with their coach search with new production and durability concerns for Kyler Murray, who could soon be on an offensive without DeAndre Hopkins. The defense will be without a retired JJ Watt up front, and there are big questions in the back as well.
32. Indianapolis Colts (29)
The Colts have an unknown and chaotic coaching situation, and it’s also uncertain where they will go as quarterback this time. This doesn’t bode well for them digging out of the AFC basement.