NFL Power Rankings, 26-32: Tee Times, Here We Come

Time to talk about football. Even better, the NFL. Don’t get me wrong folks, I love college football, but, man, those flaws with the BCS? I don’t want to even get into that. I mean, I’m an avid Notre Dame fan, but why did they even go to a Fiesta Bowl in which they got overmatched?

Anyway, I’m here to rank the top-32 teams in the NFL coming into the 2008-09 season, starting with the squads that need to schedule a tee time almost a year in advance. I’ll have record predictions in the last week.

32. Atlanta Falcons

Nothing against them, I just think that they’re going to be in a rebuilding year. They have a good receiving corps with kinda-sorta playmaker Roddy White, a potential quarterback in Matt Ryan, and the potential to dominate on offense with running back Michael Turner. However, in order to do that, they must dominate the offensive line. Defense is decent, but nothing special. Good potential, but not at the present.

31. Kansas City Chiefs

They’re atrocious. Expect them to be in the rebuilding phase, just like the Falcons. With an unsettled receiving corps, it’s hard to predict that the Chiefs will go anywhere in the Chargers' powerhouse division. Defense has good potential, with some promising rookies coming in. Maybe next year.

30. Miami Dolphins

The Fins and the Big Tuna. Good match. Well, the Fins seemed to patch up some holes with a good rookie in Jake Long, picking up Justin Smiley from the 49ers, and keeping a very average receiving corps. Ronnie Brown looks to recover from his injury, and the defense attempts to regroup in confusion of Jason Taylor’s imminent retirement.

29. Detroit Lions

Jon Kitna guaranteed a 10-win season. That sure isn’t gonna happen. A good receiving corps, a good breakout runner, and almost no offensive line are going to provide for a long season for these Lions, and the loss of Mike Martz to the 49ers will surely hurt them. The defense provides less stability. Lions have not won 10 since 1995.

28. St. Louis Rams

Oh, Marc Bulger. You are good when you aren’t hurt, which isn’t saying much. Two words for Rams fans: Offensive line. If that line can protect Marc Bulger, the Rams will finally be going back to the playoffs. Props to Jim Haslett for bringing the Rams defense back to respectability.

27. Oakland Raiders

Sigh. Another poor year for the Silver and Black. A young offense might provide the Raiders with a good punch, but the once-prized defense has turned the Raiders into a team that can score but not stop. And may I remind you all, defense wins championships.

26. Cincinnati Bengals

Ocho Cinco. T.O. What’s the difference? Both want attention. T.O. got out. Ocho Cinco will, too. No difference. The Bengals still have Carson Palmer and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, but that’s just about the extent of their offense. Bye-bye, playoffs.

So there you have it. The bottom 7.

I'm Tim, that's my rant, and I'm out.