Predicting The 10 Worst NFL Teams Of The 2022 Season
Every year fans of every NFL franchise get excited about the new possibilities of a new season. Everyone starts with the same record, and there are hopes that the draft and free agency have turned their franchise around to make them a competitive team. An NFL season is extremely unpredictable.
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There will be injuries that derail a team season, and teams that make a dramatic leap, with players that nobody knew the year before they become household names. However, with history for context and the rosters that are put on paper, there is a likelihood that these teams will be worse than most others.
10 Houston Texans
The Houston Texans rank bottom or near the bottom in nearly every single position. They have one of the weakest offenses on paper, with a still developing quarterback Davis Mills, one of the worst wide receiver rooms, and a line that will not be able to generate much safety.
The defense isn't much better, but the secondary should be improved with Derek Stingley Jr. This will be a young team, but still a very rebuilding franchise after trading Deshaun Watson to the Cleveland Browns. Do not expect the Texans to make a playoff type of leap in the 2022 season.
9 New York Giants
The New York Giants are a team that should be better than last year, after coming out of the 2022 NFL draft as a massive winner. However, there are still too many holes on this roster for them to be a middle of the road franchise. There are still tons of questions on running back Saquon Barkley's health, and his availability determines how well the Giants can do this season.
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Not to mention this will likely be Daniel Jones' last shot at being the starting quarterback for the Giants, as he has shown some promise, but not enough for the Giants to not look into the draft next season. The Giants will likely be drafting relatively high in next year's draft.
8 Detroit Lions
Typically in the NFL season, one of the easiest bets is the Detroit Lions will be one of the worst teams. The Lions are one of the worst franchises when it comes to winning games in the last few decades, and this roster isn't something to marvel at.
To give the Lions some credit, they do seem like they have built a culture that can sustain the ups and downs of an NFL season, and they have continued to add pieces. The Lions will likely be better than what they were last season, but seeing them as better than 10 teams is extremely difficult with the roster currently.
7 Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars have been the worst team in the NFL for two straight seasons. That has afforded them two hopeful pro bowl players for the next decade in quarterback Trevor Lawrence, and defensive end Trayvon Walker. However, two players is not enough to turn this team around.
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More importantly though for Jacksonville, next season will be a year attempting to build culture, after the dumpster fire that was the Urban Meyer era. Being the worst team in the NFL for back-to-back seasons it's hard to see them not as one of the top ten worst teams, but if they can build that culture, they can begin to put the puzzle pieces together to bring the franchise back to prominence.
6 New York Jets
The Jets were clearly one of the winners of the draft with their selections of Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, Garrett Wilson and Jermaine Johsnon all in the first round, but this team is still so young that they may be a year or two away from avoiding this list. However, if quarterback Zach Wilson can take a giant leap in his second year, the Jets may have enough to compete in the AFC East/Wildcard.
The Buffalo Bills may be the kings of the AFC East, but that second place could be a battle between the Dolphins, Jets, and Patriots if everything can go to Jets' way, it's just very unlikely that it does.
5 Seattle Seahawks
After trading Russell Wilson to the Denver Broncos, the Seattle Seahawks have went into full rebuild mode, with the one star been on the team being DK Metcalf. Unfortunately for the Seahawks, that can't even go right as DK Metcalf is holding out due to wanting a new contract. The Seahawks likely have the worst quarterback room in all the NFL, with either Drew Lock or Geno Smith starting.
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The Seahawks may be able to improve their season slightly if Drew Lock shows some improvement, but even that shouldn't move the needle far enough for them not to be on this list.
4 Atlanta Falcons
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n"">Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
The Atlanta Falcons have had a wild offseason. The Falcons traded away one of their greatest players in franchise history in quarterback Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts. The Falcons also are going to be without star wide receiver Calvin Ridley, who left last season due to mental health reasons, and then was suspended in the off-season for gambling while out.
Atlanta now looks to be in a full rebuild mode, and most fans will likely be hoping that Marcus Mariota or Desmond Ridder at quarterback will ensure they can be as bad as possible and get one of the top picks in next year's draft.
3 Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders were one of the worst teams in the NFL last season, and trading for quarterback Carson Wentz to somehow shift the trajectory of the franchise probably isn't the smartest idea.
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Washington is one of the most dysfunctional franchises there is in the NFL, and with so much controversy still surrounding the front office, they have not been a desirable team for free agents to go to. For the Commanders to be a competent franchise they're going to need an overhaul on the roster and in the front office before they can get to where they want to be.
2 Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are one of the most interesting NFL teams coming into the season. They have an opportunity to take the NFC South second place. by the horns if they are able to help muster the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints. However, there are so many questions around the quarterback position with Sam Darnold, Matt Corral, and now Baker Mayfield on the roster.
They may have an interesting carousel of quarterbacks, but none of them will likely be able to take a roster that was the seventh worst last season and do much to improve it. Maybe Mayfield is the answer and Panthers fans will be crossing their fingers hoping so, but if he plays like he did last season, expert another disappointing year in Carolina.
1 Chicago Bears
Maybe the one thing going for the Chicago Bears is that Justin Fields has had games where he looks like he could be an unstoppable player. Those games were incredibly inconsistent last season though, but that flash is enough to be excited about the future.
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However, Fields is just one of the few names on the roster that bears fans can be excited about next season. The Bears have one of the worth depth charts in almost every position, especially on offenses coming into the season. On paper, it is difficult to see the Chicago Bears doing very well.
