Now that the unpredictable 2021 NFL season, which was filled with excitement, milestones, and surprises, is finally over and Super Bowl LVI is in the books with the Los Angeles Rams being crowned the champions, we can start looking ahead at the 2022 season with these far-too-early NFL power rankings.

The attention now switches to Glendale, Arizona, and Super Bowl LVII – and franchises will spend the next six months attempting to identify and acquire all of the components to a competitive squad for when games start in the autumn. The next league year (and free agency) begins on March 16, with the first round of the 2022 NFL draft taking place on April 28.

The 103rd edition of the NFL is scheduled to start on September 8, with the defending champions hosting the NFL Kickoff game. According to sportsbooks like Bet365 and William Hill – check this page for more information on Bet365 vs William Hill, and which one is better – despite winning Super Bowl LVI, the Rams are behind the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills, who are the odds-on favorites to win the upcoming Super Bowl.

Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams did everything they could to win Super Bowl LVI. The team added accomplished players like Matthew Stafford, Odell Beckham Jr., and Von Miller to an already star-studded roster and it eventually paid off. The Rams’ focus now shifts to defending their crown, something they know will be much easier said than done.

However, with a core of talent set to return, including Stafford, Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp, defensive tackle Aaron Donald, and cornerback Jalen Ramsey, their foundation will be intact. Despite playing in one of the most challenging divisions in the league, it’s safe to say that the Rams will be one of the top contenders in the upcoming NFL season.

Kansas City Chiefs

After a disappointing collapse at home against the Bengals in the AFC Championship game last season, the Kansas City Chiefs have a lot of problems to solve for the upcoming campaign. With a lot of holes in the squad, especially on defense and the offensive line, and less than $5 million in cap space, the team won’t likely be signing big players in free agency.

Nevertheless, Andy Reid seems optimistic that the team will return to good form. “Right now, things don’t seem great because of the loss,” Reid told reporters after the loss to the Bengals. “But I think the future here is still bright. So, we look forward to moving on to the 2022 season and getting ourselves built back up after we take a step back here.”

Buffalo Bills

Despite their loss at the AFC Divisional Round, the Buffalo Bills remain one of the strongest teams in the conference, and their roster will remain mostly unchanged this offseason, with the majority of the players expected to return. But the Bills need to address some issues, such as signing a new cornerback and adding more speed to the receiver corps.

And as Bills quarterback Josh Allen disclosed in a recent interview, he has already turned his focus towards bringing Buffalo its first Super Bowl win. “I think it would mean everything in terms of why I play this game,” Allen said. “To be the best at something, obviously, it takes a whole lot of preparation, a lot of skill, a lot of guys coming together to accomplish one single goal. But given Bills Mafia’s history and the history of the Buffalo Bills, […], to give them that Super Bowl, I have vivid dreams of the parade and what it would be like.

Green Bay Packers

After winning 13 games for the third consecutive season, and entering the postseason as the No. 1 seed in the NFC, the Green Bay Packers were expected to at least reach the conference finals. But a disappointing loss to the San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field ended their Super Bowl aspirations.

Their whole offseason is predicated on Aaron Rodgers’ desire to return. If that’s the case, they’ll do all they can to maintain Davante Adams and as many of their important players as possible while staying under the salary cap. 

At the NFL Honors, Rodgers said that he intends to make a quick decision about his future. “I’ve got some decisions to make for sure,” Rodgers said. “Yesterday was like the first day that kind of felt like the offseason, […] and I’m gonna enjoy the next couple of weeks. I’ve had good conversations with Green Bay and I’ll do some contemplating and then make a decision here pretty quick.”