NFL Power Rankings: Updated Look After Key Injuries to Top Teams
July 29, 2013
Though football is a team sport, certain players are invaluable to their respective NFL teams.
Injuries are part of the game, but this summer's opening salvo of season-ending and season-threatening injuries has significantly altered NFL power rankings.
It seems like every day there's a new player who has been lost for the season. While some of the players who have been afflicted may not have had a good chance of making a roster, others were being counted on to be highly productive in 2013.
Without further ado, here's an updated look at the league's power structure after the first wave of devastating injuries as teams prepare for their first preseason games.
1. Green Bay Packers
With a mostly healthy roster and the NFL's premier quarterback in Aaron Rodgers, the Packers are looking strong heading into the preseason.
Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson and James Jones make up one of the most dangerous trios of receivers in the league, while rookie running backs Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin will help the offense with some much-needed balance.
Rookie defensive end Datone Jones should help Clay Matthews and the team's pass-rushers immensely this season, too. And if Matthews gets going, then the Packers secondary will continue its ball-hawking ways early and often this year.
2. San Francisco 49ers
By all accounts, Colin Kaepernick has been blowing everyone away at 49ers camp.
He still has one of the strongest arms in the NFL, but his ability to put some touch on the ball has "vastly improved" since last season, as noted by Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com.
While there are questions about exactly who will line up at receiver opposite Anquan Boldin to open the season (as Michael Crabtree recovers from his Achilles injury), the team may have an unconventional fix to this problem.
Vernon Davis has been lining up at receiver extensively during camp, as noted by ESPN News Services. With Brent Celek and rookie Vance McDonald on the roster, the 49ers could run plenty of three-tight end sets this season until Crabtree returns.
Given the 49ers loaded running game and top-tier defense, San Francisco will be a formidable opponent in 2013.
3. Seattle Seahawks
Percy Harvin is dealing with a hip injury.
He's seeking a second opinion, but at this time nobody knows when or if he'll play in 2013. SI.com's Peter King believes Harvin will be ready for Week 1, but Seahawks general manager John Schneider said in an interview with SiriusXM Blitz that the team is preparing for any outcome.
If he misses extended time this year, then the Seahawks will not be nearly as explosive on offense as most experts projected with him in the lineup.
Don't get me wrong—the Seahawks are still one of the premier teams this season. But if Harvin isn't available, then the Seahawks won't be nearly as dynamic on offense.
4. Atlanta Falcons
The addition of Steven Jackson should significantly improve Atlanta's chances of running a balanced offensive game plan this season. Given the team's explosive aerial attack, opposing defenses will be hard-pressed to pick a poison that doesn't leave a mark.
5. Denver Broncos
Denver suffered a tremendous blow to its offense this season when it lost center Dan Koppen to a season-ending ACL injury, as noted by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Peyton Manning has always had a great relationship with his centers, and he'll need to develop some chemistry with backup center Manny Ramirez (no, not that Manny Ramirez) in a hurry.
Combined with Von Miller's potential four-game suspension looming, Denver could get off to a rough start this season.
Don't get it twisted, though.
The Broncos, playing in the weak AFC West, will be a postseason player as long as Manning is the man lining up behind center.
6. Houston Texans
Arian Foster started out training camp on the PUP list, and there's no rush for his return, as noted by Tania Ganguli of the Houston Chronicle. That said, the team is simply using caution in order to keep him healthy for the regular season.
Foster will be good to go once the season begins, and the Texans will be legitimate contenders in the AFC.
7. Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals are healthy, wealthy in terms of talent and poised to take over as AFC North divisional champs this season.
The biggest injury concern is really no concern at all. Receiver A.J. Green was held out of weekend practices with a knee bruise, as noted by the team's official Twitter account, but there's absolutely no concern about his health going forward.
8. Chicago Bears
Jay Cutler and the Bears' passing attack should flourish this season under Marc Trestman's guidance. With Alshon Jeffery stepping up in a big way and new tight end Martellus Bennett roaming the middle of the field, the offense will be far more explosive than it was last season.
9. New England Patriots
As we've seen many times in the past, it will be fascinating to watch Tom Brady figure out how to move the sticks with a supporting cast that doesn't appear to offer much in the way of talent. He'll get it done, regardless of who lines up at receiver.
10. Baltimore Ravens
Dennis Pitta was supposed to have a huge breakout season for the Ravens.
After trading away Anquan Boldin to the San Francisco 49ers, Pitta was primed to step up as Joe Flacco's favorite target.
Unfortunately, Pitta was lost for the 2013 season, as noted by Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun, after suffering a fractured, dislocated hip during practice.
Considering all the new players general manager Ozzie Newsome brought in on the defensive side of the ball, combined with Pitta's injury, the Ravens could be looking at a letdown season after winning the Super Bowl last year.
11. Washington Redskins
With Robert Griffin III coming back fully healthy this season, expectations are high for the Redskins to repeat as NFC East champions. It's an attainable goal, too. Brian Orakpo is also healthy, and the team's secondary received some much-needed help via the draft.
12. Indianapolis Colts
Andrew Luck was given more tools to work with this past offseason. The team landed free-agent receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey and running back Ahmad Bradshaw—both of whom should see considerable action this year. And if the team's defense improves—especially at stuffing the run—then the Colts should make a return to the postseason this year.
13. New York Giants
The biggest key to the Giants' 2013 campaign will be health.
If Jason Pierre-Paul doesn't suffer any setbacks with his recovery from back surgery, and if the team's receiving corps can stay healthy, then the Giants will be in the thick of the NFC playoff hunt.
14. Minnesota Vikings
For Vikings fans, it's hard not to get excited looking at the young talent Rick Spielman has assembled in recent drafts. The biggest key to the team's success this season will be whether or not Christian Ponder can find a way to build on his up-and-down rookie campaign.
15. St. Louis Rams
St. Louis is my sleeper pick for an NFC wild-card berth.
With impressive talent on both sides of the ball and a proven leader in head coach Jeff Fisher, this team is poised for a breakout season.
16. Miami Dolphins
The early returns on Miami's huge investment in receiver Mike Wallace haven't been promising. He has reportedly "lacked chemistry" with quarterback Ryan Tannehill and has been dropping passes in training camp, as noted by Omar Kelly of the Sun Sentinel.
General manager Jeff Ireland put all his eggs in one basket this season by attempting to buy a playoff team via free agency. This is a strategy that rarely works, and it will be fascinating to see how second-year head coach Joe Philbin handles the challenge of getting all his new players on the same page.
17. New Orleans Saints
The loss of Victor Butler to an ACL injury in OTAs was significant. He was expected to play a big role as a pass-rusher from the outside linebacker position—a position that was already thin when he was healthy.
Then, to add insult to injury, Martez Wilson was injured in training camp, as noted by Larry Holder of NOLA.com:
As long as Drew Brees is slinging passes and Sean Payton is calling plays, the Saints will score enough points to stay competitive. That said, if the defense can't keep opponents from scoring, then the Saints could be facing another season of mediocrity.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers
Don't fall asleep on the Steelers this year. Though the team struggled last season with injuries, Pittsburgh is a sleeping giant.
A healthy squad this season could make some noise in the playoffs.
19. Dallas Cowboys
If you're a Cowboys fan, then you must be extremely nervous about this upcoming season. A new defense combined with an offense that still has significant question marks on the offensive line and running back position could cause Dallas to miss the playoffs again this year.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Doug Martin should flourish in his second year as the Bucs' featured back, and I suspect Josh Freeman will rebound from a frustrating 2012 season. With the additions of cornerback Darrelle Revis and Dashon Goldson, the team's secondary should also be improved.
But without pass-rushers, the team's defense will not be able to stop Brees, Matt Ryan and Cam Newton from making big plays—regardless of the improved secondary.
21. Carolina Panthers
There hasn't been much in the way of news regarding Newton since last season—and that's a good thing. The third-year quarterback will have a strong season in 2013, but the team's defense still isn't ready to take the leap it needs to take in order to facilitate a playoff run.
22. Detroit Lions
There's a lot to like about the Lions this year—especially on offense. That said, Matthew Stafford has a lot to prove, as does the team's defense.
Can the Lions be a playoff team in 2013? Absolutely.
Will the Lions make the playoffs? Your guess is as good as mine.
23. San Diego Chargers
As easy as it is to get excited about Detroit's playoff chances in 2013, it's just as hard to get pumped about San Diego's chances.
A suspect offensive line and running game could doom Philip Rivers to another dismal season, and the team's defense has big question marks—especially at the outside linebacker position and in the secondary.
24. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs were a trendy pick as a playoff team before the beginning of last season, but Romeo Crennel's team suffered through a miserable campaign. This year's squad has just as much promise, but there isn't the same level of expectations surrounding this team.
If Alex Smith can play with the same kind of efficiency he did with the 49ers BK (before Kaepernick), then the Chiefs could be a surprise playoff team this year.
25. Cleveland Browns
Fantasy football owners must be drooling over Trent Richardson's potential this season, as the Browns will lean heavily on the second-year back to move the sticks on offense. New offensive coordinator Norv Turner has said Richardson may see 300-plus carries this year, as noted by Mary Kay Cabot of the Plain Dealer.
Given the level of competition in the brutal AFC North, however, and considering the team's switch to a 3-4 defense under new defensive coordinator Ray Horton, the Browns will be lucky to win six games this year.
26. Philadelphia Eagles
No matter who starts at quarterback this year for the Eagles, Philly's offense had explosive potential with DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin starting at receiver. Unfortunately, Maclin is likely done for the season with an ACL injury, as noted by ESPN News Services, and the void he leaves in his absence is significant.
27. Buffalo Bills
It's never a good omen when your star defender sits out the first practice at training camp, which is exactly what happened to the Bills with Mario Williams, who was nursing a sore foot, according to Tim Graham of The Buffalo News.
The biggest issue facing Buffalo, however, is that neither Kevin Kolb nor rookie EJ Manuel is good enough to vault the Bills into the playoffs.
28. Tennessee Titans
After he held out while camp began, the Titans finally signed offensive guard Chance Warmack to his rookie contract, as noted by Adam Schefter of ESPN.
His presence, along with guard Andy Levitre, should significantly improve the team's running game, but it remains to be seen if Jake Locker can play at a high enough level to win more than six games.
29. Arizona Cardinals
Playing in the NFC West is bad for Arizona's health.
This team should be much improved this season compared to last—especially on offense—but a six-win campaign should be considered a success in Bruce Arians' first year.
30. New York Jets
The hits just keep on coming for the Jets.
Braylon Edwards was recently signed, and he'll likely be the top target in the passing game. Santonio Holmes may not even play this year, as noted by Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News, and his playmaking ability will be sorely missed.
31. Jacksonville Jaguars
A pitiful pass rush and spotty secondary highlight Jacksonville's defensive woes, and neither Blaine Gabbert nor Chad Henne give one reason to hope.
Gus Bradley's first year with the Jaguars will be filled with frustration.
32. Oakland Raiders
There's not much to get excited about for Raiders fans this season.
Reggie McKenzie's rebuilding process is just now starting to take shape, and it'll be another year or two before it bears good fruit.
At least one big question appears to be answered, however. Matt Flynn has emerged as the "clear" No. 1 quarterback for the Raiders, as noted by Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com.
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