2022 NFL Power Rankings Week 1: Bills ready to make a run

4. Kansas City Chiefs

It was a shock when the Kansas City Chiefs took out the Bills after losing the lead with 13 seconds left to play and it was equally surprising when the Bengals knocked them out of the playoffs with a second-quarter comeback.

In the offseason, they traded away Tyreek Hill and added JuJu Smith-Schuster, which isn’t close to an even swap but with Patrick Mahomes, they should still have plenty of offense. The question will be if their defense can do enough when it counts.

3. Cincinnati Bengals

The surprise team from 2021, the Cincinnati Bengals very well might have won it all if their offensive line gave Joe Burrow another second on their final fourth-down play. Knowing they needed to improve there, they added three new starters including Alex Cappa, Ted Karras, and La’el Collins.

With better protection, Burrow is likely to make another leap in 2022. For that reason, Cincy is favored in the AFC North and should be one of the better teams in the conference this season.

2. Los Angeles Rams

After coming close for years, Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay realized he needed to make a change under center. That’s why general manager Les Snead traded  Jared Goff and two first-round picks to the Lions for Matthew Stafford.

With an improved passing game, the Rams were able to make it to the Super Bowl (in their own stadium) and won it all. They’re the defending champs and are the favorites in the NFC. Even without draft picks, they continued to build an elite roster and after adding Allen Robinson, they could be even better this year.

1. Buffalo Bills

After adding Von Miller and Kaiir Elam in the offseason, the Buffalo Bills are ready to take another step in 2022. Their offense was already one of the best in the league as Josh Allen turned into a legitimate MVP candidate and then Gabriel Davis exploded in the playoffs against the Chiefs.

The improvements they made on defense could be just enough to push them over the top. Had they been able to stop Kansas City in those final 13 seconds last year, they may have been the AFC representatives in the Super Bowl. Entering Week 1, they’re one of the favorites to do just that this season.