1) San Diego Chargers: This team would have won the Lombardi had it not been for injuries when they played the Pats. Injuries to Phillip Rivers, LT, and Gates stifled their offense and kept their defense on the field far too long. A healthy lineup will equate to a Super Bowl victory in 2008.
2) New England Patriots: They still showcase the most explosive and dynamic offense in the NFL. Their problems will come on defense. Drafting Jerod Mayo was a good step forward, but their LB core is way too old, and their secondary lacks star-power.
3) Indianapolis Colts: Marvin Harrison may not ever be the same after that knee injury. Fortunately for Colts' fans, Reggie Wayne is a more-than-capable first receiver, and Anthony Gonzalez showed promise in the slot. If their defense can stop the run early, they may run away with the second-toughest division in the NFL.
4) Dallas Cowboys: Even without a playoff victory in 12 years, they are still worthy of a top-five spot because of the star-studded offense and improved defense. If Pacman can stay out of the clubs, he will be a very productive player for them at corner and as a return man. Zach Thomas should help on the field and in the locker room as a leader.
5) Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles return almost all of their starters. They somehow found a way to keep Lito Sheppard and sign Asante Samuel, to put together arguably the best secondary in the league. They are consistently in the top-five as far as the offensive line goes, and have addressed WR and special teams with one pick in DeSean Jackson. Watch for the 8-8 Eagles to bounce back hard in 2008.
6) Jacksonville Jaguars: They gave Indianapolis a run for their money last year, and are poised to make a run again this year. They have the best one-two punch with their backfield; Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew are both Pro-Bowl caliber players, and Jones-Drew has only just begun. The defense will have to be stout again, and with the subtraction of Marcus Stroud, they'll need to find a way to get to the quarterback.
7) Pittsburgh Steelers: The only concern with the Steelers will be their offensive line. They don't have a real left-tackle, and they are really going to miss Alan Faneca in the middle. Their running game should get better with Mendenhall, and Limas Sweed is another big target for Roethlisberger.
8) Seattle Seahawks: The addition of Julius Jones will improve the running game for Hasselbeck, and the defense will remain stout. They will play extra hard to send Holmgren out on a good note, and will have six guaranteed wins in the non-competitive NFC West.
9) Cleveland Browns: A team that barely missed the playoffs last year will storm through the AFC North this year, and finally uproot the Steelers. The only question is their defense. They have not proven that they can consistently stop the run or pass, and could have their offense in a lot of shoot-outs.
10) Tennessee Titans: The lack of offense could really hurt this team. Vince Young has to prove that he's a quarterback, and not just a running back that can throw really hard. The lack of WRs could be holding him back, but there's no excuse for a nine TD-16 INT season. If they stick to their run-first/stop the run mentality, they should finish third in the AFC South, still good enough for a playoff spot.
11) Minnesota Vikings: Adrian Peterson can, and will, carry this team. He won't have a choice until they sort out their quarterback situation. I see John David Booty coming in to start sometime in the middle of the season, when Tavaris Jackson proves he can't get it done. This is another team that just needs to stick to its run-first/stop the run philosophy.
12) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Out of the 53-man roster this team will have to put together, about 25 of them will be quarterbacks. I don't think even Gruden knows who is gonna be the guy come September. If they're smart, they'll give the nod to Garcia. He can not only manage a team, but he can light a spark under them, as he proved in 2006 in Philadelphia. Cross your fingers for Cadillac's health, Bucs fans.
13) Green Bay Packers: Yes, they no longer have Brett Favre. Yes, Aaron Rodgers is not Brett Favre. No, it's not going to matter. This is a young and talented team, even without number four. They have a lot of targets for Rodgers in Jennings, Jones, Grant, and Driver. The defense will remain solid, and will lead this team to the playoffs.
14) Baltimore Ravens: New coach John Harbaugh is laying down the law in Baltimore, and is going to see to it that this team is much better than the 5-11 letdown they saw last year. I don't see them making the playoffs, but I do think they'll finish somewhere around nine, maybe 10 wins.
15) Houston Texans: Matt Schaub gets another year in Kubiak's offense and another year of chemistry with Andre Johnson. Last year, if they did not play in the AFC South, they're a 10-win team. They were 7-3 against the rest of the league and 1-5 in their division.
16) Washington Redskins: Jason Campbell will flourish under new coach Jim Zorn's offense. The man is an offensive guru, and is fantastic in developing young quarterbacks. Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts will be a great one-two punch, as they are every year. If they can get the rookies involved early on offense (Malcolm Kelly, Fred Davis, and Devin Thomas), they will be able to stick with most teams.
Teams 17-32 will be coming soon.
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4 months ago
Gutsy list. I like it.
The defending Champions don't crack the top 16? Also, all four of the AFC South teams are on here, making them the number-one toughest division. And there's no way Baltimore gets 10 wins with no quarterback.
Lots of great insight, though. Good article. Looking forward to the last 16.
4 months ago
The eagles are way to high, and the packers will win that devision on account of the vikings have no QB
4 months ago
No Giants at all?? Super Bowl Champs must be in the top 10 at least for the first power rankings after the draft, there is no way they went from champs to bottom 16 teams, and Philly? I admit they will be pretty good this yr I think, but a #5 ranking? Little high if you ask me, here is what I have so far through 21 teams, let me know what you think...
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/22945-NFL-Post-Draft-Power-Rankings-1-10-130508
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/23172-Post-NFL-Draft-Power-Rankings-11-21-140508
from 4 months ago
The thing with the giants is, they got hot at the right time. that's it. they could not win at home, which is just odd. if strahan retires they are left with a gaping hole (literally) at DE. I think this team was a one-year wonder. Eli is still nothing special and neither is Coughlin. I think they have the biggest decline EVER by a super-bowl winning team.
and to Ryan, i dont feel like commenting on that specific comment so ill do it here. I think the NFC East is still the number one division in football because of how they play each other. Record and talent wise I think it will be the AFC South. but as a player on one of those NFC East teams, no game is harder than inter-divison.
4 months ago
That's the dumbest list I have ever seen. The Bills will win the Superbowl....GO BILLS
from 4 months ago
thats funny you should mention the Bills, I was doing this list with my friend sitting right next to me and he was screaming about the Bills the entire time. He's not even a Bills fan. I'm just not a Dick Jauron fan. I plan on making them 17.
4 months ago
Well, Seahawks, Ravens, Titans, and Vikings could fall out pretty quick....Texans too, along with Browns and the law of that town. Redskins, depending on if Zorn can keep the mindset of Gibbs, or if it all goes to heck in a hand basket....there's 7 teams that are question marks.
For the quick look, let's see:
Seahawks, banking too much on Jones being a playmaker again.
Ravens: bad last year, got the Dolphins off the hook last year.
Titans: No one for Young to throw to.
Vikings: AP does well, but can he pass?
Texans: History....can they finally get over 500, or was this year their high water mark?
Browns: Again, history....robbed last year, but what happens with the QB situation?
And you know the Redskins....can they ride the Memory of Taylor for another season?
4 months ago
Bob don't listen to these haters the Eagles are right where they should be!
4 months ago
Umm... no Giants? no Bills? Crap.
4 months ago
No Giants is indicative of brass cajones. I'm not sure I'd put them out of the top 16; remember, they DO play in the NFC, even if the NFC East is one of the stronger divisions in the NFC- I'd say they're a wild card. Super Bowl repeat, I'd say N.F.W.
No Bills; that's also interesting. But they're right in the middle and I wouldn't really object to them at 17-19.
As a Ravens fan I can only hope that they belong in the top 16. Maybe I have little faith, but I think they screwed up their shot by drafting Flacco instead of someone that could have helped right away. It creates too much confusion; IMO they should have stuck with Troy Smith.
I do think it's possible for them to hit 10 wins- the defense is very experienced and can still be dominant when Trevor Pryce is healthy. That will depend on whether someone can emerge as an adequate QB, but remember, the QB only has to be adequate with Willis McGahee returning and 2nd rounder Ray Rice to spell him.
4 months ago
What are you 12 years old?????? If your going to write, at least appear to be unbiased.
from 4 months ago
haha if you're going to accuse me of being bias please point out how i'm bias. argue with something.
4 months ago
I think I will tend to agree with the Bob here. Superbowl winners tend to come out a bit flat the following year. The Giants surprised everyone, even the Giants themselves. This isn't a 'dynasty' team.
I think I would have put the Patriots lower, they are not going to repeat last year's performance. Towards the end of the season (right after the Eagles nearly beat them) teams started to figure out how to beat them. The most important adjustment was: Do not let these cheaters send undercover cameramen over to your side of the field.
I think I like the Browns a little higher too, but what the hell. This is a good list. No reason to hate up on
this brother for putting his walnuts on the chopping block like this.
Good job Bob.
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4 months ago
The giants get no respect,huh.Sure,they got,so all the playoff games were luck?Eli out outplayed Garcia in the second half and the increased the pressure.Outplayed Romo and our defense had Romo running for his life.And I don't want to hear that crap about their offensive line didn't play well;they just got their 13 pro bowler butts kicked.Do I need to say anything about Green Bay?The whole team looked liked the cold was bothering them more than the giants were bothered by it,especially Bret Farve.Al Harris and Woodson are old.
Oh, and we got lucky the super bowl,too.Brady almost got sacked on their first offensive play and he knew it was going to be a long night.Again,Eli outplayed Brady,too.The Pats o-line got whipped like a rented mule.That was a taste what the rest of the league will have deal with next season;remember,that was the giants first year playing Spag's defense.Another year with it the possibilities are endless.Just one question;WHAT WILL EVERYONE SAY IF THE GIANTS WIN IT AGAIN?
LUCK?
RIHARD IN TEXAS
from 4 months ago
i didnt say they got lucky. i just think that they just got hot at the right time.. it was a one year thing. hooray for them but i dont see them getting anywhere close next year. spag is a cheap knockoff of jim johnson. i cite reasons for their fall in my rankings 17-32. check it out!
4 months ago
don't rule out Tampa Bay. they'll be solid with Cadilac back in full force.
4 months ago
The first few picks were ok. Other than that, it was pretty awful. No way that Green Bay, Washington, or Baltimore win 9 games this year. The Giants do have to be on the list. Do I think they will win it all again: No. But they will win 10 games at least. They return the main component of a superbowl contending team: QB. And now its a confident Eli.
4 months ago
You "EXPERTS" never learn do you?
It was just over three months ago that all you pundits where climbing all over each others rotten corpses to eat some crow...on TV and on radio!!
Keep at it Bob....the Giants actually thrive at lack of recognition and respect....I wish you would be available to back up your outrageous list by making a nice wager, but I guess that's why you do make these stuff up....you don't have much to lose, do you?
from 4 months ago
im not saying im perfect but id bet AT LEAST 10 of these teams are top 16.. and thats minimum. i guess i could be wrong about the giants and maybe the packers fall a bit without favre but, at least 10.
4 months ago
While I tend to not comment on a lot of the "rankings" articles that I read, I will say that I liked this one and enjoyed reading it. Very well thought out and worth the read.
As for the NYG not making the list, people forget 2 things: First and formost, rankings are nothing more than the opinions of the writer, and lets face it-people will disagree. Second, the Giants lost a lot of key players in the off season (safety and LB I believe, I'm not 100% as I don't really follow the Giants), so of course, they're going to be moved down the ladder a bit, it only makes sense. If the Pats lost Bruschi, Vrable, Maroney and Wilfork, don't you think they'd be hard pressed to be ranked in the top 5 of anyones "rankings" list? Sure they would. Just trying to point out the obvious!
All in all I still enjoyed the article Bob, even though I didn't agree with it 100%....still enjoyed it!
4 months ago
We lost Wilson, We gained Knight, Phillips, and Thomas. Upgrade.
We lost Mitchell, Who will be replaced by Wilkinson, Signed Clark and drafted 2 guys. Upgrade.
We also Get back Mathias Kiwi and Shockey.
If Strahan retires we are not going to have a GAP, We are going to have Justin Tuck starting.
BOB we know you are an Eagle Fan hence the stupidity of this post. Eagles number 5?? Forget about it. Top 16 maybe. Giants are with out a doudt the best team in the NFL currently they are the world champions! They hold the trophy! The Rings! Not saying that they have to be number 1 in your power ratings but they WON the bowl and lost no one important and gained alot.
TOP 5
GIANTS
COLTS
PATS
DALLAS
CHARGERS
from 4 months ago
Thanks for the insight, biased as it might be! You failed to mention that the majority of the players picked up were via the draft and that they're rookies.
One would argue that the Pats only lost a single game out of 19, while losing zero games in the regular season, while the Giants went 10-6 in their regular season....yet you still feel that even though the Pats beat the Giants 2 out of 3 times that they're a solid 2 spots higher than the Pats are?
Being the SB champs shouldn't automatically give you the #1 spot forever. I'd like to think that off season drafts/trades/losses/players signed, along with the previous seasons record would have something to do with it.
4 months ago
I guess the reason Bob writes the stuff he does is because of fans like Steve who not only buy the ignorant baseless stuff, but they actually "enjoy it".... Steve admitably does not "follow the Giants", but just like Bob has the audacity to express his uninformed opinion on the Giants quite strongly, even rejecting a knowledgeable fan's logical reasoning, eventhough it is clear that Manning1086 follows the Giants, and is more qualified to voice his opinion about that team.
Even if they had simply lost two starters, they would go from #1 to #17? What crap!
4 months ago
How can anybody deny the superbowl champs of even being in the top 16? So everyone of these 16 teams on this list are considered superbowl contenders? Thats obviously whats being said when they are placed over the current superbowl champ team. A team that hasnt changed and may have even improved. A team with there#1 reciever on 1 ankle,no shockey and numerous rookies on the team beat a 13 probowler team that was favored to win (dallas), Bret Farve in lambo, Tom Brady and his perfect record.Doing this all on the road.....to think they would drop as low as 17 or worse is just retarded.
Putting all loyalty a side they would have to be considered in the top 10 easily,personally i would place them at 4 or 5 at minimum.
from 4 months ago
as i said before, it was a fluke. unless they can play all 16 games on the road next year, they're screwed. and yes i believe all 16 of these teams could beat the giants.
4 months ago
Some good insights but I'll have to disagree.
Dallas and Tampa will be in the NFC Championship Game -- Dallas wins
Pittsburgh and Jacksonville will be in the AFC Champion Game -- Pittsburgh wins
Pittsburgh vs. Dallas in the Super Bowl -- Pittsburgh wins
4 months ago
Well anyone can win on any given day.But to automatically place roughly 10 unproven teams above the superbowl champs is really crazy to me.
I think it will come down to nyg or dallas,whoever wins that division will win it all.The giants are coming back with the same team,and automatically better cause they won the superbowl with a bunch of rookie second stringers,plus even though we picked rookies for our backfield,I still think they are an upgrade from last season not to mention sammy knight and his 6 interceptions last season. 2 starting Linebackers are back and healthy,picked up one veteran and 2 rookies. Strahan looks like he will come back for 1 more season,not to mention the rest of the ferocious d-line. Offensive line is coming back and they were great last season. Eli looks like he can be more consistant,finally. Picked up a pretty dam good reciever manningham,and we have shockey back,not gonna even mention the running game...
So please continue to doubt and hate on them,hopefully they will play with a huge chip and continue where they left off,no body gives them any respect anywhere from espn to vegas. LOL all the way to the bank! thank you,i only hope we have the same odds at vegas again....
4 months ago
When did a "Fortune Teller" become reliable -- Please don't fall into something foretold. -- Can you trust them when they screw up? No.
4 months ago
I do think the Giants deserve a spot in the top 10. They have the potential to play with anyone --- they just need to prove that they can do so with season-long consistency to silence their critics.
Naturally, I like the list as a Charger fan. Hoping we stay healthier this January.
I expect your Eagles to make strides in 2008. Talented team. Good read, and good luck!
4 months ago
i agree with you Charles,the giants need to show more consistancy,and its all on Eli Manning,i think the Giants have a complete team and they are trying to coach players to cover different positions,now im no fan of new england by far but you got to respect no matter how thin theyre team is they find other players from other positions to cover down.Injuries are apart of the game,hopefully the chargers can play through injury or follow suit.
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