2022 NFL Power Rankings Week 7: Jets, Giants skyrocket after huge wins

28. Houston Texans (1-3-1), BYE in Week 6

After coming so close for a handful of weeks, the Houston Texans finally got their first win of the 2022 NFL season in Week 5 against the Jaguars, and one week later, they are poised to have two picks in the top six of the 2023 NFL Draft. Although Cleveland might keep losing, I think the Texans will find a little bit of a groove at some point here. They look like at least a five or six-win team, and they came so close in each of their first four games before finally getting on the board.

Houston’s roster has improved, Lovie Smith and his staff have some decent weapons offensively, and the team has a budding star in running back Dameon Pierce, who has really been a huge boost to this team.

27. Cleveland Browns (2-4), lost to Patriots

Six weeks into Deshaun Watson’s 11-game suspension from the NFL, and things are going just about as you would expect for the Cleveland Browns, aren’t they? They have a couple of wins and the running game has been their bread and butter, but they are not playing well enough defensively to keep the ship afloat in Watson’s absence.

Not to mention, nobody really knows what to expect when Watson comes back, anyway. On Sunday, the Browns were beaten pretty handily on their home field by the New England Patriots, who have been playing some really good ball with Bailey Zappe under center.

Still, as good as people said this Cleveland roster is, they should be able to beat a Bailey Zappe-led Patriots team at home with the players they have, even if Jacoby Brissett is under center. Alas…