Pre-Week 1 Power Rankings

My Pre-Week 1 NFL Power Rankings

These will be published once a week, during the NFL season. There will be quite a few changes since my pre draft rankings, and these are based solely on how strong a team is, not their record.

Somethings you may not fully agree with, but please only comment if you have constructive criticism or thoughts to share, not outright or flagrant flaming.

32. St. Louis Rams

The Rams have been lost for a few years...and I see them floundering once again with hardly any superstars and not too many rays of light.

31. Cleveland Browns

The Browns have seemingly regressed since their 10-6 season 2 years ago, and now they can barely even choose a starting quarterback. I'm not sure whether it's because they're both strong starters, or they both just really suck.

30. Detroit Lions

Not a horrible draft, but nothing to write home about. They'll be better than 0-16 for sure, but definitely not going to be a team in the NFC North fight at the end of the year.

29. Oakland Raiders

The Raiders have made some good moves this off-season. And I think their most recent signing off the Patriots will be helpful for them this year and for a few years. While Heyward-Bay should NOT have been the first receiver off the board, I'm sure they're glad they don't have to deal with that head case Crabtree.

28. Kansas City Chiefs

Kansas City just had their brand new star quarterback hurt. Now they're unsure if he'll be back by the opening of the season. Not a great beginning.

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs seem to have new players, a new coach, never everything this year. I don't like their chances.

26. Seattle Seahawks

Seattle was so good for so long, they had to hit the Earth sometime. I think they'll be somewhere around bad to mediocre this year.

25. New York Jets

Mark Sanchez looks to be close to NFL ready throughout the first few months of his career. At least better than a backup. But this is not the Jets year.

24. Jacksonville Jaguars

I might have been a bit harsh on the Jaguars in my last set of rankings. but I still see them as last in their division.

23. Denver Broncos

The Broncos could very well far fall down this list very soon. Their quarterback situation has turned into a debacle and I dread to think of what Brandon Marshall not being on the field might do to their passing game.

22. Cincinnati Bengals

The Bungles will IMHO have at least a strong passing game this year. Ochocinco is a knucklehead, but a damn good receiver when he wants to be.

Coles is also a strong ball catcher, and Henry has looked great this preseason. And as long as Palmer is healthy, they have one of the top QB's in the game.

21. Buffalo Bills

Ok, I was wrong. This team has fallen apart this preseason. Firing your offensive coordinator so soon before the season starts is a sign of panic. They might jump back up my list if they start clicking, but it has to happen soon.

20. San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers are a good young team, but I am having doubts about whether they can break through to the upper level this year.

19. Miami Dolphins

I still don't like the Dolphins this year. But the other teams that are now lower than them all got worse while I feel the Dolphins stayed neutral. So they got bumped up slightly.

18. Washington Redskins

Great defense. Awful offense. Just about sums it up.

17. Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons added Tony Gonzalez which is good. But they are in the NFC South which is bad. I think they'll be strong, but not as strong compared to the others around them.

16. Chicago Bears

jay Cutler is a good quarterback. He will not be as strong a QB as he was in the past few seasons though because the WR talent is just not there. Chicago should be a strong overall team but not especially great anywhere.

15. Dallas Cowboys

I like Roy Williams. I think he'll make a strong Number 1 receiver for Tony Romo. He may not be the overwhelming force T.O. was, but he IS a very good receiver without all of 81's baggage. Dallas will be capable, but not outstanding.

14. Carolina Panthers

The Panthers were very strong last year until the playoffs, and Jake Delhomme caused them to fall apart. I haven't liked their preseason looks so much, but I still consider them a strong team. They should fight for a playoff spot in the garbled NFC.

13. Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings will be a contender with Favre. I have started to hate him, but he is still a useful quarterback. He just needs to...I dunno, go away or something. But he CAN make better throws than Tarvaris or Gus. And AP is just simply the best in the NFL.

If their defense stays near the top of the heap, they'll fight hard for the NFC North.

12. New York Giants

Eli Manning is just NOT a great quarterback. He's not one of the worst, but he's definitely number three from the 2004 draft class. He simply cannot do it without an elite receiver and I don't know who is going to step up.

Hakeem Nicks? Fake Steve Smith? Amani ohwaithe'sgone Toomer? No one. But their defense is a beast. So they stay fairly strong.

11. Arizona Cardinals

Larry Fitzgerald is not the only good Cardinals receiver. heck, you could even argue he's not the best one. In the games when both he and Boldin played, their stats were very close.

Injuries knocked Boldin out of the race, but there's no way you can say he's far and away better than Boldin. Throw in Breaston and Warner? Jesus, thats a scary aerial team.

10. Houston Texans

Houston appears to have a scary good offense. if everyone stays healthy it'll be a monster. I even saw a writer call them his top fantasy team this year.

Steve Slaton, Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub is an amazing trio, comparable with the top players at each of their positions. If the defense can keep up...wow.

9. Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens are a very good team, but I don't think they're quite elite yet. They shall make the playoffs, but I don't know if they'll go far yet. Flacco looks good this preseason though.

8. Tennessee Titans

The Titans were actually lower on my list, more towards number 10 or so, before the first half of the game against the Steelers. their defense hasn't seemed to miss a step and...just as I was writing this, Holmes scored an easy TD.

I'm moving them back to 8.

7. San Diego Chargers

The Chargers have so much talent, if they can put it all together, they will be very strong. I just don't understand why they failed so hard last season until the end.

6. New Orleans Saints

Drew Brees is a monster. He can throw to anyone, anywhere at anytime. And last season, he did. This season, the defense will begin to catch up and the Saints will be strong.

5. Indianapolis Colts

The Colts are difficult to judge because of the turnover with no Tony Dungy. But when you have Peyton Manning as your starting quarterback, you can never be discounted. They will be tough.

4. Green Bay Packers

The Pack looked scary good this preseason. Efficient and dangerous. Rodgers is up for a superstar year. This team will be the team to beat in the NFC North.

3. Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles look to have had the best offseason of any team in the NFL. A very strong draft and a nice pick up of a strong and unique backup QB. When you think that they made the NFC championship last year, it's tough to argue with their ability.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers

They're the Super Bowl champs and they've only gotten better. Their special teams especially will be much stronger this year. They WERE at No. 1 until I saw their first half against Tennessee.

I still can't find any offense before the two minute warning. Then they seem to turn it up.

1. New England Patriots

BRADY. IS. BACK. BOOM BABY.