Chicago Bears land in top 20 of first NFL Power Rankings of 2023 season

The NFL kicks off the 2023 season this week, and while there still haven’t been any games played, we, of course, have our first 2023 Power Rankings.

That’s how it’s done, right? We’re in overreaction season, after all.

You may be surprised where some teams are ranked in my first power ranking of the 2023 NFL season. What teams are ranked too high? Which ones are too low? Let me know your thoughts on “X.”

Let’s get to those rankings.

1. Kansas City Chiefs

The Super Bowl champs keep their top spot until someone knocks them off. That’s just the rule.

2. Philedalphia Eagles

Despite having arguably the most talented overall roster last year, the Eagles somehow managed to improve. This is a scary team entering 2023.

3. New York Jets

I’m buying the Jets hype, consider me all-in. That is a mean defense, an offense full of playmakers, and now a first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback. If there’s one team that will challenge the Chiefs for home-field advantage in the playoffs, it’s Gang Green.

4. Miami Dolphins

This one is going to be controversial, but I’m sticking with it. As long as Tua stays healthy (and that’s a tremendous “if”), the Dolphins simply have too much offensive firepower for most teams to keep up.

5. Cincinnati Bengals

As long as Joe Burrow is throwing to Ja’Marr Chase, the Bengals are Super Bowl contenders. The offensive line is still shaky, but you can safely pencil them in for a Top-5 finish.

Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images

6. Buffalo Bills

Maybe the lights were a little too bright for Buffalo when they entered the 2022 season as a Super Bowl contender. Despite a poor showing in the playoffs, I expect Buffalo to rebound well in 2023.

7. Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers have a history of “Chargering”, as evidenced in their epic playoff collapse against Jacksonville, but I think that’s going to change in 2023. Justin Herbert has a trio of phenomenal pass-catches to work with, the defense should be healthier this year, and a new offensive coordinator should be everything they need to make a deep playoff run. If not, consider head coach Brandon Staley as good as gone.

8. San Francisco 49ers

Only the Eagles have a more complete roster than the Niners, but San Francisco still lacks that quarterback that keeps defensive coordinators up at night. I’m not buying the Brock Purdy hype, and I’m expecting a massive regression to the mean for him. Still, the rest of the roster is good enough for a Super Bowl trip.

9. Baltimore Ravens

I base this one entirely on a gut feeling about Lamar Jackson. After getting a massive contract extension this offseason, and with the addition of a talented pass catcher like Odell Beckham Jr., Jackson will get back to his 2019 MVP form.

10. Dallas Cowboys

I don’t understand how the Cowboys can keep failing in the postseason when they have as much talent as they do. Maybe they’ll collapse again this year, but for now, they’re still a Top-10 squad on paper.

11. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steel Curtain is back in Pittsburgh, and the offense is primed to take a leap forward in Kenny Pickett’s second year. With playmakers up and down the roster, this Steelers team should be a delight to watch.

12. Jacksonville Jaguars

I’m not as high on the Jaguars as everyone else. Calvin Ridley hasn’t played football in two years and it may take him a while to return to form, and Lawrence still needs to prove that he’s a superstar before I can say with confidence that he’ll carry a team.

13. Denver Broncos

Denver, and Russell Wilson specifically, are going to have a fantastic comeback season with new head coach Sean Payton. Book it.

14. Seattle Seahawks

I think Geno Smith is due for a major regression this year, but this team low-key has improved at several important positions. Adding exciting playmakers like wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba and cornerback Devon Witherspoon in the draft was a masterclass of premium talent acquisition.

15. Detroit Lions

I’ve never seen the Lions get as much hype as they have this offseason, and I simply don’t buy it. Not yet, anyway. Jameson Williams is suspended for the first 6 games of 2023 and their defensive additions feel mostly mediocre. Still, they are solid in the trenches and that will win them some games.

16. New York Giants

I really like what the Giants did this offseason (besides extending Daniel Jones). They drafted well and brought in a legit playmaker in Darren Waller to help the offense. My only concern is that they play in a crowded NFC East division.

17. Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings made history as the first 13-win team in NFL history to finish the season with a negative point differential. A massive regression to the mean is coming for them, but Justin Jefferson will keep them competitive almost single-handedly.

18. Chicago Bears

The Bears have a lot to prove in 2023, coming off a franchise worst 14-loss season. But give credit to GM Ryan Poles for flipping this roster in such a short amount of time. If Justin Fields takes the same third-year-leap we’ve seen from Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts, then this Bears team will find themselves competing for a playoff spot.

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19. New Orleans Saints

I don’t think the NFC South will be nearly as bad as expected, but it’s still hard to put any of the teams in the division higher than this. I’ll start with the Saints, who I believe have a chance to be a legit playoff contender in the NFC, thanks mostly to the acquisition of Derek Carr, who is now easily the best QB in his division.

20. Atlanta Falcons

Another NFC South team I expect to punch above their weight. I think rookie running back Bijan Robinson is primed to have a historic rookie season, and an underrated defense should be enough to keep the “dirty birds” feisty.

21. Green Bay Packers

How fitting is it that the two biggest mysteries in the NFL right now are the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers? In both cases, their fortunes for 2023 depend entirely on their quarterbacks. If Love is even average, they should be competitive, especially in a low-ceiling division. If he’s bad, well, Green Bay is in for some dark days.

22. Washington Commanders

Despite a monstrous defensive line and a playmaker like Terry McLaurin, I’m not buying the Washington hype. I’m especially not buying the hype around Sam Howell, and I will 100% never buy into a coach who didn’t know the playoff elimination scenarios for his own team last year.

23. Los Angeles Rams

The Rams went all in for a Super Bowl two years ago and won it, so I guess you could say whatever comes next is worth it. I hope their fans feel the same way, because it’s hard to feel good about an extremely top-heavy Rams team that is already facing time without Cooper Kupp. Even with arguably the greatest defensive player of this generation in Aaron Donald, I just don’t have faith in this team.

24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Almost a mirror image of the Rams, here’s another team that went all in for a championship who are now paying the bills that came due. They have more overall depth of talent than LA, but their quarterback situation doesn’t inspire confidence.

25. New England Patriots

It’s Year 3 for Mac Jones, and possibly his last chance to prove he can be an NFL starting quarterback. I don’t love his supporting cast but it’s hard to put a Bill Belichick team any lower than this.

26. Indianapolis Colts

Count me in on the Anthony Richardson hype train, but that train isn’t leaving the station for a while. The start to his career could be ugly, but that’s okay. As long as he shows poise as a rookie and continues to improve, that should be all Colts fans care about in a season that could end with double-digit losses again.

27. Tennessee Titans

Despite adding Deandre Hopkins, it’s hard to have any faith in the Titans. Playing in a weak AFC South helps, but they seem destined for a Top-5 draft pick.

28. Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders are a poorly coached team that pinned their troubles on their franchise QB and ran him out of town. They’re playing in arguably the toughest division in football. This will be another ugly season for Raiders nation.

29. Houston Texans

The Texans found their quarterback of the future and a potential superstar pass rusher in the 2023 NFL draft, but they still have a long way to go before they can return to relevance. Another good draft and some savvy free agency moves next offseason should prime them for a big leap up the standings.

30. Cleveland Browns

DeShaun Watson is cooked, that’s all we can say. What we saw in 2022 didn’t look like rust to me, but rather a player whose career has taken a permanent downturn, and that fully guaranteed contract will be a millstone around the franchise’s neck. I wouldn’t be surprised to see head coach Kevin Stefanski fired midseason.

31. Carolina Panthers

Bryce Young is going to be fine. The team around him, however, is downright awful. Plus, Frank Reich is not a good head coach. There’s a reason he was fired by Indianapolis. The Panthers could be the 2023 version of last year’s Chicago Bears.

32. Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals are tanking, and already doing a very nice job of it. If Caleb Williams declares for the NFL draft, it’s almost a certain lock that he will end up in Arizona.