NFL Power Rankings: Pre-Season
With the Pre-Season well under way, I decided to make my Pre-Season Power Rankings before the teams hit the field September 10 when the Steelers and Titans open up the NFL season.
As familiar faces sit on the top of the leaderboard, the rest may surprise you.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers - Super Bowl Champs. What can I say?
2. New England Patriots - The Patriots have their man back and seemingly healthy, they are the favorite in the tough AFC East.
3. Philadelphia Eagles - One of the most talented rosters in football, the Eagles had a successful draft, signed Michael Vick and is my NFC team to beat as of now.
4. Tennessee Titans - They lost their key run stopper, but a better team this year is in store for the squad with the best record in football last year.
5. Indianapolis Colts - A bunch of changes in the coaching staff should not be a problem as Peyton Manning is still throwing the passes. Colts should make a two-horse race for the AFC South title with the Titans.
6. New York Giants - Plaxico Burress is in jail, which puts the Giants in a hole in the WR spot. Still should compete for the NFC East with the Eagles, but likely a Wild Card spot should be open for the G-Men.
7. Atlanta Falcons - Matt Ryan is the real deal, as he showed us last season. Michael Turner should take off some pressure from the second-year QB, as will off-season acquisition Tony Gonzalez.
8. San Diego Chargers - An easy division aids the Chargers as they should glide to the playoffs.
9. Carolina Panthers - A great run game should benefit a team looking for Jake Delhomme to not throw as many passes to the other team.
10. Baltimore Ravens - A great defense is downgraded after the loss of Bart Scott as well as defensive coordinator, Rex Ryan.
11. Chicago Bears - The Bears now have somebody who can actually throw the ball in Jay Cutler, teamed up with a standout defense, look for a good team this year.
12. Dallas Cowboys - I haven’t jumped on the Cowboys bandwagon, and think the “distractions” from last season were just excuses. Plus, Tony Romo can’t step up in big games, especially the playoffs.
13. Arizona Cardinals - Losers in the Super Bowl last year when I didn’t think they were good enough to get there. Fitzgerald and Boldin are back, but expect a decline from last year.
14. Minnesota Vikings - Brett Favre has FINALLY made a decision and is now a Viking. Oh and by the way, they have a pretty good running back too. What’s his name again?
15. New Orleans Saints - Their stars are back as the Saints try to fight for a playoff spot after just missing out last year.
16. Miami Dolphins - Didn’t really think they were as good of a team as their record showed, it will be tough to make the playoffs again with the division that they are in.
17. Washington Redskins - Albert Haynesworth bolsters the defensive line coming in from the Titans, but the play of Jason Campbell will be the key this season.
18. Buffalo Bills - T.O was given the key to the city but not the key to the playoffs. Bills a likely watcher rather then participant in January.
19. Houston Texans - Battling the Colts and Titans twice a year can’t be easy, but Andre Johnson is looking for another star-studded season.
20. Seattle Seahawks - As long as Matt Hasselbeck is healthy this year, they will improve from last season.
21. San Francisco 49ers - Mike Singletary will have his team in line this season behind Frank Gore.
22. Green Bay Packers - Division gets extremely tougher this season with the Bears welcoming Cutler and Favre heading to Minnesota.
23. Cincinnati Bengals - Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco need to get on the same page and be a dominant duo like they were in years past.
24. New York Jets - Jets announced that they will start rookie Mark Sanchez at the QB spot, potential of finding themselves in the cellar of the tough AFC East.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars - Not a good season up ahead for the Jags, while playing in the AFC South that includes the Titans and the Colts.
26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - A tough division will result in some losses but a QB battle will help the Buccs gain steady play from the position.
27. Oakland Raiders - My gut feeling tells me that the Raiders will actually have a good season this year. Playing in a easy division could result in multiple wins against the Broncos and Chiefs. Until they prove my thinking, they sit at 27th in the Power Rankings.
28. Denver Broncos - The loss of Jay Cutler will definitely hurt their team as Kyle Orton looks to fill his shoes. Now the whole Brandon Marshall situation will add another distraction to the first season of rookie head coach Josh McDaniels.
29. Cleveland Browns - A QB controversy going on now as former Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson battle it out.
30. Kansas City Chiefs - Chiefs fans should get ready for a frustrating season this year, but a change in the coaching staff shows that there is hope.
31. Detriot Lions - That is right, the Lions will not hold dead-last in the Pre-Season Power Rankings. A promising draft lifts the Lions out of the most dismal spot in the football: Last.
32. St. Louis Rams - Ohh boy, dead last for the Rams.
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I highly disagree with these rankings personally. And remember, I am being completely unbiased:
1.I feel the Giants are far more better than the Eagles at this point. With the acquisition of Vick, the Eagles offense becomes way too confusing, as proven so far in the early games. The offensive line is hampered by injuries, including Brian Westbrook. I don’t see more than 9 or 10 wins for them, which is great, but the Giants have the defense with the most depth in the entire NFL. The offensive line is amongst the elite, they have more depth at RB, and despite lacking a WR, can make up for it with the screen and the rush.
2. The Packers at 22?! 22?!!!!! They improved their defense, and look great running the 3-4. Aaron Rodgers looks absolutely incredible thus far, as does Ryan Grant. Plus, they had the best draft of anybody, much better than the Eagles especially.
3. The Saints at 15 is beyond me as well, they have arguably the most explosive QB in the NFL in terms of the deep threat, a quality WR in Colston, solid rushing in Thomas, a decent defense.
4. The Ravens defense is still spectacular, even with losing Scott. You failed to mention the threat that Ray Rice brings alongside the return of Joe Flacco.
5. The Chargers are going to be much better on defense this year.
Just my thoughts.
Yeah, pretty questionable list you’ve got here. I can understand why Philly is a sexy pick to put near the top, and they will certainly be up there this season but I can’t put them above the Giants. New York has two of the best lines in football and an outstanding running game……and those are spots in question with the Eagles. Fire power is important, and they certainly loaded up….but fast players and QBs fresh out of prison dont win games, the offensive and defensive lines do. And I can see Eli still doing well with the guys he has now at receiver.
I best not comment or else id be writing awholenother article in response, 90% of these rankings have holes all over them
Well it looks at though I really screwed up here. Guess I shouldn’t have done this then
What is it about the Steelers that you like about them? Just because they are Super Bowl champs you put them at #1? Why not put Arizona at #2 then? Why do you think the Cardinals will decline if they have possibly the best Wide Receiver in the NFL?
It’s alright Cody, your opinion sparks debate. That’s a good thing.