Overview of Power Hour 1: Ranking All 32 Teams with Ryan Clark!
In this offseason edition of Power Hour, Mina Kimes and Ryan Clark work through a full 1-to-32 ranking of the NFL, using head-to-head matchups to build the league hierarchy team by team. The conversation centers on roster talent, quarterback play, coaching, offseason additions, and how much faith to place in teams after major changes. Ryan’s final takeaway: the Bengals may be the spiciest pick on the board — not because they’re too high, but because they could end up being too low by season’s end.
Main Takeaways
- The Rams are Ryan Clark’s No. 1 team after a massive offseason talent infusion and a belief that their top-end roster is the league’s best on paper.
- Quarterback quality matters, but roster strength and coaching were decisive throughout the ranking, especially for teams like Denver, New England, San Francisco, and Baltimore.
- The Bengals drew Ryan’s highest-ceiling praise: if Joe Burrow stays healthy, he thinks Cincinnati can be “virtually unstoppable.”
- Several teams were viewed as having major upside because of coaching changes, including the Patriots, Bears, Texans, Saints, and Commanders.
- Injuries and depth were major concerns for teams like the Rams, Lions, Chiefs, and Dolphins.
Top 10 Rankings and Why They Landed There
1. Los Angeles Rams
Ryan chose the Rams over Seattle, citing:
- elite overall talent
- Matthew Stafford’s presence
- Sean McVay’s offensive structure
- a major offseason upgrade on defense
His only major concern: offensive line depth, especially if it threatens Stafford’s health.
2. Seattle Seahawks
He kept Seattle very high because:
- Sam Darnold’s self-awareness and potential growth
- Mike Macdonald’s defense
- added playmakers like Rasheed Shaheed and Jadarian Price
- the roster still feels ascendant
3. Denver Broncos
Ryan picked Denver over Buffalo because:
- the roster is stronger overall than many realize
- offensive additions improved separator/playmaker talent
- Vance Joseph’s defense remains a real strength
- Bo Nix and the offense have another year of stability under Sean Payton
4. Buffalo Bills
He stayed high on Buffalo, but raised concerns about:
- Josh Allen’s playoff performance
- whether Joe Brady can be the final “unlock”
- continued improvement on defense, especially in the secondary
5. New England Patriots
A major vote of confidence in:
- Drake Maye’s growth
- Mike Vrabel’s coaching impact
- the addition of A.J. Brown
- the defense’s postseason-level ceiling
The biggest issue is still left side offensive line protection.
6. San Francisco 49ers
Ryan praised Kyle Shanahan’s coaching job last season and believes:
- the team is healthier
- the system is intact
- Christian McCaffrey’s health remains the biggest variable
7. Baltimore Ravens
He chose the Ravens over the Chargers because:
- Lamar Jackson remains the biggest advantage
- Baltimore’s coaching/structure gives them a higher floor
- he wants to see how the new offensive setup fits
8. Los Angeles Chargers
He likes the defensive staff and Justin Herbert’s ceiling, but noted:
- new offensive leadership is unproven
- Baltimore feels safer at quarterback
9. Houston Texans
Ryan is optimistic about:
- C.J. Stroud bouncing back
- the offense’s added speed and backfield help
- a defense that already profiles as elite
- improved support pieces around the quarterback
10. Cincinnati Bengals
He put Cincinnati in the top 10 because:
- Joe Burrow raises the ceiling dramatically
- the offense is still terrifying when healthy
- young defensive talent could improve enough to matter
His final comment: the Bengals might be the league’s most “spicy” pick because they could end up too low, not too high.
Full Ranking: 1–32
- Rams
- Seahawks
- Broncos
- Bills
- Patriots
- 49ers
- Ravens
- Chargers
- Texans
- Bengals
- Cowboys
- Eagles
- Jaguars
- Bears
- Packers
- Lions
- Buccaneers
- Chiefs
- Vikings
- Saints
- Commanders
- Steelers
- Panthers
- Falcons
- Colts
- Giants
- Raiders
- Titans
- Jets
- Browns
- Cardinals
- Dolphins
Notable Team Notes
Cowboys, Eagles, Jaguars, Bears, Packers, Lions
- Cowboys over Eagles: Ryan thinks Dallas’ defense and offensive continuity give them the edge.
- Eagles at 12: still elite defensively, but he’s less certain about the offense.
- Jaguars at 13: strong pass defense, Trevor Lawrence’s late-season surge, and excitement about Travis Hunter at corner.
- Bears at 14: optimism around Caleb Williams, Ben Johnson, and the run game.
- Packers at 15: Micah Parsons’ absence/injury status heavily lowered confidence.
- Lions at 16: still dangerous offensively, but defensive turnover and injuries are concerns.
Chiefs, Vikings, Saints, Commanders
- Chiefs at 18: Ryan sees a team with too many questions if Mahomes has to carry everything again.
- Vikings at 19: he’s not ready to trust them without clarity on the quarterback situation.
- Saints at 20: he’s high on Tyler Shough, Kellen Moore, and the defense.
- Commanders at 21: Jayden Daniels’ rebound is key, but the receiver room and protection are still concerns.
Lower Tier Surprises
- Steelers at 22: defense still respected, but quarterback uncertainty remains.
- Panthers at 23: Ryan likes Bryce Young’s trajectory and the defense’s talent.
- Falcons at 24: strong overall roster, but quarterback uncertainty keeps them from rising.
- Giants at 26: he’s intrigued by Jackson Dart and the direction of the defense.
- Dolphins at 32: Ryan and Mina both expressed confusion about the roster/depth chart and overall direction.
Final Verdict
Ryan Clark’s list is driven by a familiar formula: quarterback stability, defensive upside, and coaching that can maximize the roster. The biggest surprise is the Bengals’ placement — not because they’re overrated, but because Ryan thinks their ceiling is so high that this ranking may look conservative by midseason.