Welcome to the inaugural edition of the Pro Football Network company-wide NFL power rankings! While Dalton Miller ably provides his own power rankings following the conclusion of each Sunday’s action, we’ll be polling each of PFN’s NFL contributors to assemble our list.
Each week, we’ll combine rankings from yours truly, Chief Content Officer David Bearman, NFL Director Adam Beasley, Betting Director Brian Blewis, Audience Engagement Director Mike Gambardella, COO Matt Infante, NFL Analyst Dalton Miller, Bengals Reporter Jay Morrison, Cowboys Reporter Jess Neverez, and Fantasy Director Kyle Yates.
Which teams are too high or too low as we enter Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season?
Pro Football Network’s Week 1 NFL Power Rankings
32) Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals aren’t really trying to win in 2023. After releasing Colt McCoy and keeping Kyler Murray on the PUP list to start the season, Arizona will deploy either Josh Dobbs or fifth-round rookie Clayton Tune under center against the Commanders — good luck with that.
31) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
If Dobbs vs. Tune was the NFL’s most depressing quarterback battle, Baker Mayfield vs. Kyle Trask might’ve finished second. The Buccaneers still have a bevy of veteran talent on their roster that might make an actual tank difficult, but Mayfield isn’t scaring anyone, even if he’s throwing to Mike Evans — who could theoretically be traded — and Chris Godwin.
30) Houston Texans
DeMeco Ryans and Nick Caserio are building something in Houston — it just might take a while. While C.J. Stroud will start from the get-go, injuries have destroyed his offensive line in advance of Week 1, while the Texans don’t have a dominant pass catcher on their roster. This will be a developmental season for Stroud and the Texans, but that was always expected.
T-28) Indianapolis Colts
Anthony Richardson will be fun to watch from Day 1, and we’re excited about how new Colts head coach Shane Steichen will implement the run-based concepts he utilized as the Eagles’ OC. Indy could surprise some people, but the club has too many questions along the offensive line and on defense to be considered a Wild Card contender.
T-28) Los Angeles Rams
Aside from Aaron Donald, the Rams’ defense is almost entirely anonymous, but it was possible to squint and see an improved Los Angeles offense — that is, until Cooper Kupp’s hamstring injury became a serious issue. If Matthew Stafford’s top pass catchers are Van Jefferson and Tyler Higbee early in the season, the Rams won’t stand a chance.
27) Las Vegas Raiders
Josh Jacobs, Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Hunter Renfrow, and Michael Mayer represent an impressive set of offensive weaponry, but can Jimmy Garoppolo deliver outside of Kyle Shanahan’s scheme? And even if Maxx Crosby, Chandler Jones, and Tyree Wilson can generate pressure, Las Vegas’ cornerback corps — led by 30-year-old Marcus Peters and fourth-round rookie Jakorian Bennett — is among the NFL’s worst.
26) Carolina Panthers
Bryce Young gives the Panthers a fresh start, and Carolina’s defense could be a top-10 unit if everything breaks right. But Miles Sanders and DJ Chark are already dealing with injuries, while the Panthers’ offensive line didn’t give Young a chance during the preseason.
25) Tennessee Titans
Although Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry surfaced as offseason trade candidates, the Titans held onto both veterans while adding DeAndre Hopkins to their offense. Tennessee’s offensive line is a significant concern, but it’s become a fool’s errand to count out the Titans’ defense or Mike Vrabel.
24) Washington Commanders
The Commanders have one of the more underrated defenses in the league, but Ron Rivera’s fate under new owner Josh Harris is tied to first-year starting quarterback Sam Howell.
1 week until we get to watch Sam Howell play regular season football 😁 #HTTC pic.twitter.com/5Rjtojc7LS
— 𝙟𝙖𝙮 (@JTheWSF) September 3, 2023
League-average QB play, combined with Washington’s outstanding defense, would probably be enough to win most NFL divisions. But the NFC East, which sent three teams — all but the Commanders — to the playoffs in 2022, is a different beast.
23) Chicago Bears
Bears general manager Ryan Poles put on a masterclass in rebuilding this offseason, garnering a haul from the Panthers in exchange for the No. 1 overall pick while bolstering Chicago’s pass catchers, offensive line, and defense. But the success or failure of the Bears’ 2023 campaign will come down to Justin Fields’ progression as a pocket passer.
22) Green Bay Packers
Jordan Love has received plenty of praise this offseason, but no one — including the Packers — knows how he’ll fare as Aaron Rodgers’ heir once the regular season begins. Green Bay is betting on a young receiving corps that includes Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Jayden Reed, while the club also needs its defense to take a step forward after finishing 27th in efficiency in 2022.
21) Denver Broncos
Can Sean Payton fix Russell Wilson? That’s the only question on Broncos fans’ minds as Wilson enters his second season in Mile High. Denver might lean into a run-heavy offense after signing linemen Mike McGlinchey and Ben Powers, but Wilson will need to look like a serviceable quarterback for the Broncos to have any chance at an AFC playoff spot.
20) Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons could be one of the NFL’s most interesting teams to watch in 2023. While the rest of the league’s passing rates keep increasing, Atlanta plans to pound the rock next season.
As projected last week, #Falcons list Bijan Robinson at RB1 for season opener on first depth chart of the season.
— D. Orlando Ledbetter (@DOrlandoAJC) September 5, 2023
Running Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier behind an excellent Falcons offensive line is a solid plan, but can Desmond Ridder do enough to keep the sticks moving? And how will all the new pieces on Atlanta’s defense — Jessie Bates, David Onyemata, Calais Campbell, and others — mesh early in the season?
19) New England Patriots
The Patriots’ most critical offseason addition? Offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, who will begin his second stint in New England by mercifully taking over for the Matt Patricia/Joe Judge brain trust. The Patriots finished third in defensive DVOA in 2022, but it hardly mattered as Mac Jones devolved and briefly ceded his job to rookie Bailey Zappe. Bill Belichick can erase a lot of problems, but New England is easily the fourth-best team in the AFC East.
18) Minnesota Vikings
Regression is coming for the Vikings, who relied on unprecedented success in one-score games en route to posting 13 regular-season wins. But Kirk Cousins is still probably the best quarterback in the NFC North, and Justin Jefferson is the reigning Offensive Player of the Year.
Scoring points shouldn’t be a problem for Minnesota. But preventing them might be an issue, even with Brian Flores running a more aggressive scheme than previous DC Ed Donatell. The Vikings need productive seasons from holdover Danielle Hunter and new additions like Byron Murphy and Marcus Davenport in order to reach their ceiling.
17) New York Giants
The Giants were a surprise playoff team in 2022 and will bring back much of the same roster that won a Wild Card game last season.
Whether or not New York can repeat might depend on their upcoming slate, which profiles as the NFL’s hardest schedule. Having to play the Eagles and Cowboys twice will always hurt, while games against the 49ers, Bills, and Dolphins are far from cakewalks.
16) New Orleans Saints
Going from Andy Dalton to Derek Carr under center should be a tremendous upgrade for the Saints. Alvin Kamara is suspended for the first three games of the season, but Jamaal Williams should be able to carry the load. If New Orleans’ defense can remain an elite unit under Dennis Allen, the Saints should walk away with the NFC South title.
15) Cleveland Browns
After returning from suspension, Deshaun Watson was the NFL’s least efficient quarterback from Weeks 13-18. It’s hard to imagine he could be any worse in 2023, especially while playing behind one of the league’s top OLs and throwing to weapons like Amari Cooper, Elijah Moore, and David Njoku.
…excited to see how Elijah Moore contributes to this Browns offense. Speedy change of pace style for the offensive design. Lots of backfield alignments thus far
Getting him matched up vs Wilson/Pratt Week 1 👀 pic.twitter.com/4kMi8eM33L
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) August 28, 2023
Cleveland might expect even more improvement on the defensive side of the ball, where an improved front should enable Myles Garrett to wreak even more havoc. In a make-or-break campaign for head coach Kevin Stefanski, the Browns need to get off to a hot start in a competitive AFC.
14) Pittsburgh Steelers
The 2022 Steelers were a different club after their Week 9 bye. Kenny Pickett was the NFL’s No. 11 quarterback by EPA per dropback over the final nine weeks of the season, while Pittsburgh’s defense was fourth in DVOA after Week 9. Continued ascension should make the Steelers a viable playoff team this season, but they play in one of the league’s most difficult divisions.
13) Detroit Lions
The Lions will rely heavily on their 2023 rookie class, as Jahmyr Gibbs, Jack Campbell, Sam LaPorta, and Brian Branch are all expected to handle significant roles as early as Week 1. Play-caller Ben Johnson runs as varied a scheme as any coordinator in the NFL, but Detroit’s questions are on the other side of the ball, where the Lions allowed the second-most points per drive in the league.
12) Los Angeles Chargers
Among the quietest teams in free agency, the Chargers’ most compelling offseason addition was former Cowboys OC Kellen Moore, who figures to open up the Bolts’ scheme and provide more downfield throws for Justin Herbert. Can Brandon Staley’s defense keep up? If not, the Chargers could be looking for a new head coach in 2024.
11) Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks won’t be able to sneak up on anyone like they did last season, but that shouldn’t be a problem. Seattle made smart signings in free agency (Dre’Mont Jones, Bobby Wagner, and Julian Love), then had a home-run draft by landing Devon Witherspoon, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Derick Hall, and Zach Charbonnet with their first four selections.
#Seahawks QB Geno Smith completed 69.8% of passes last season — best in the NFL.
In Week 1, he'll face the #Rams, who allowed a completion rate of 67.4% in 2022 — fourth-worst in the NFL.
Stats: @IE_NFL | #PFN365 pic.twitter.com/K9x8RDrdOy
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) September 4, 2023
The 49ers are a better team than the Seahawks, but Seattle has closed the gap. Given the state of the NFC, it’s not crazy to think the Seahawks could end up in the Super Bowl if everything breaks right. That scenario puts a lot of faith in Geno Smith’s ability to repeat his 2022 numbers, but he has enough weapons at his disposal to stave off regression.
10) Jacksonville Jaguars
Buoyed by the addition of Calvin Ridley, Trevor Lawrence is an MVP candidate as he heads into his second season under Doug Pederson. The AFC South should be there for Jacksonville’s taking. Can their defense hold up? The Jaguars need notable improvement from last year’s first-rounders — Travon Walker and Devon Lloyd — to become a Super Bowl-caliber roster.
9) New York Jets
How high is too high for a team that boasts the reigning Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Year and acquired one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the sport during the offseason?
The offensive line tasked with keeping Aaron Rodgers upright is a potential concern, but Gang Green’s defense should be able to fend off regression. While the Jets’ defense remained abnormally healthy last year, it didn’t derive much production from turnovers. Defensive performance is inherently difficult to predict, but New York should be among the NFL’s best at preventing points in 2023.
T-7) Baltimore Ravens
After signing an extension to remain in Baltimore for the foreseeable future, Lamar Jackson will finally get to work with a forward-thinking offensive coordinator (Todd Monken) and be surrounded by actual NFL wide receivers like Odell Beckham Jr. and Zay Flowers.
We’re bullish on Mike Macdonald’s defense, too, especially after the unit gave up just 16 points per game over the final eight weeks of the regular season.
T-7) Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins fielded one of the league’s most dynamic offenses when Tua Tagovailoa was healthy, and his injury/concussion outlook is at the forefront of every Miami fan’s mind. Meanwhile, Jalen Ramsey’s recovery timetable following a meniscus repair could determine the Dolphins’ defensive ceiling under new coordinator Vic Fangio.
6) Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys took care of a lot of business this offseason, acquiring Brandin Cooks and Stephon Gilmore to fill positions of need while extending Trevon Diggs, Zack Martin, Terence Steele, and others. Dan Quinn should keep Dallas’ defense as a top-five unit, but can Mike McCarthy do the same with a Dak Prescott/Tony Pollard/CeeDee Lamb-led offense?
5) San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers’ quarterback situation came into focus this summer, with Brock Purdy recovering from UCL surgery in time for Week 1 and Trey Lance now on the Cowboys’ roster. An offense featuring Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle — and coordinated by Kyle Shanahan — will always produce results.
A look at Brock Purdy’s opening drive to start the game pic.twitter.com/7iBPMZszCh
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) August 20, 2023
But what happens on defense, where new play-caller Steve Wilks is replacing DeMeco Ryans?
4) Buffalo Bills
The Bills couldn’t reach the NFL’s mountaintop over the past few years, but their 2023 roster might represent their most talented team yet. Buffalo improved along the interior offensive line and added complementary pass-catching options, further bolstering Josh Allen’s potential MVP case.
Losing Von Miller for at least the first four weeks of the season hurts, and we don’t know how Sean McDermott will handle becoming a hybrid head coach/defensive coordinator. But the Bills have as good a shot at a Super Bowl ring as any club in the league.
3) Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals haven’t extended Joe Burrow yet, but a new deal should come soon. Fireworks should be expected on the offensive side of the ball, where Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins form the NFL’s most explosive aerial attack.
After taking a big swing on left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., the Bengals will field their best offensive line in years. If Cincinnati’s run game — headlined by Joe Mixon, who took a pay cut to stay with the Bengals — can keep up, this could be the top offense in the league.
2) Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles were a few plays away from winning the Super Bowl, and they’ll bring back almost all of their key contributors on offense. Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith proved to be a lethal trifecta, and Philadelphia’s running game could get even better in 2023, as D’Andre Swift and Rashaad Penny are more dynamic producers than Miles Sanders was.
MORE: 2023 NFL Team Schedules
But how will the Eagles’ defense hold up? New coordinator Sean Desai is missing a lot of starters from 2022, including Javon Hargrave, TJ Edwards, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and Marcus Epps, while cornerbacks Darius Slay and James Bradberry are on the wrong side of 30.
1) Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs are still kings of the NFL. The reigning Super Bowl champions are on top heading into the 2023 campaign, and not even the recent injury news surrounding Travis Kelce can deflate the optimism in Kansas City.
Patrick Mahomes and Kelce are the two players the Chiefs can’t afford to lose, but it doesn’t seem like Kelce’s injury will be long-term. Provided he returns soon, K.C. should again field one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses.
A young, ascending defense and a revamped offensive line that arguably has more upside with Donovan Smith and Jawaan Taylor will contribute to the Chiefs’ cause, but it all comes down to Mahomes. If he puts up another MVP campaign, the sky is the limit in Kansas City.