JACKSONVILLE – Senior writer John Oehser's pre-Week 1 2022 NFL power rankings. And we all know how important these are …

Rank.Team (record) | Prev. | Comment

1. Los Angeles Rams (12-5) | No. 1 until they're not
2. Buffalo Bills (11-6) | Popular preseason Super Bowl prediction – with good reason
3. Green Bay Packers (13-4) | Because he's still Aaron Rodgers
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-4) | Because he's still Tom Brady
5. Cincinnati Bengals (10-7) | Super Bowl runner-up historically means difficulty next season
6. Kansas City Chiefs (12-5) | Remember them?
7. Los Angeles Chargers (9-8) | Feels like it needs to start being their time
8. Baltimore Ravens (8-9) | Too consistent to miss the postseason three consecutive seasons
9. San Francisco 49ers (10-7) | All eyes are now on Trey Lance
10. Dallas Cowboys (12-5) | Major offseason losses, but still NFC East favorite
11. Indianapolis Colts (9-8) | In Matty Ice they trust
12. Tennessee Titans (12-5) | AFC's best record in 2021; don't count them out yet
13. Arizona Cardinals (11-6) | Unusual offseason could mean early-season pressure here
14. Minnesota Vikings (8-9) | New head coach, same big-time offensive talent
15. Las Vegas Raiders (10-7) | Hopes high as McDaniel Era begins
16. New England Patriots (10-7) | It's vogue these days to count the Pats out; vogue may not wise
17. Philadelphia Eagles (9-8) | One of NFL's surprise stories in '21
18. Denver Broncos (7-10) | The Russell Wilson (and Nate Hackett) era begins
19. Miami Dolphins (9-8) |New head coach, familiar QB – and enough talent to push for playoffs
20. Washington Football Team (7-10) | Up next: Duuuval
21. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7-1) | Life after Big Ben begins
22. Cleveland Browns (8-9) | QB questions key for a talented roster
23. New Orleans Saints (9-8) | A lot of change, a lot of uncertainty
24. New York Giants (4-13) | New Era with familiar quarterback begins in Big Blue …
25. Chicago Bears (6-11) | … and in Chicago, too
26. Atlanta Falcons (7-10) | Dynamic playmakers will be key to hopes here
27. Carolina Panthers (5-12) | A feeling that improvement is needed in Year 3 of Rhule Era
28. Detroit Lions (3-13-1) | Looked ready to improve late last season
29. Seattle Seahawks (7-10) | Life after Russell Wilson begins
30. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-14) | Start 'em here and see where they go
31. New York Jets (4-13) | Year 2 for Saleh, Wilson
32. Houston Texans (4-13) | QB Davis Mills key in HC Lovie Smith's first season