NFL Power 10—Patriots, Chargers Top Preseason Power Rankings

The problem with most power rankings is that once you get out of the top 10 it becomes next to impossible to distinguish who’s better than whom. I mean, how do you decide between six, fringe, playoff teams (or even worse, 10 non-playoff teams) who are all within a couple of games of each other? 

I'll leave that to the experts, like Pete Prisco...

...sorry, I couldn't even type that with a straight face.

I’ll be checking in with a couple more of these before the start of the regular season, but I'm not sure of the schedule as of yet. It depends on how much the list changes between now and the regular season.

Once the regular season starts, I’ll be updating the Power 10 every Wednesday.

1 (-)     Patriots     16-0

I still think the Chargers are going to be the best team in the NFL this season, but they have to knock the Patriots off the AFC mountain before they can claim the top spot in the Power 10. 

The Patriots’ signing of top pick Jerod Mayo is big—if only because I expect the rookie to get a ton of playing time in the middle with Tedy Bruschi getting a little long in the tooth. Training camp will be interesting.

If someone from that secondary doesn’t step up, it could be a long season for the back-end of the Patriots’ defense. On paper, the secondary is definitely their Achilles heel.

2 (-)     Chargers     11-5

The Chargers have the Colts’ number, otherwise it would be Indy in the two spot. I have to admit, I hadn’t really put much thought into what the loss of backup running back Michael Turner would mean to LaDainian Tomlinson. His early-season workload will be something to keep an eye on.

As last year proved, if LT’s not healthy come playoff time, the Super Bowl dream ends with him sulking on the sidelines.

3 (-)     Colts     13-3

Peyton Manning is going to miss the preseason after an oddly-timed surgery to remove an infected bursa sac from his knee. 

He should return for the season opener, but the question is whether or not he’ll have Marvin Harrison to throw the ball to. Harrison missed most of last season with injuries, and he still has some legal issues hanging over his head since one of his guns mysteriously shot someone (or something like that).

Once healthy, Manning is going to need all of his weapons if he’s going to compete with the likes of the Patriots and Chargers.

4 (-)     Cowboys     13-3

I forget where I read it, but apparently Wade Phillips isn’t the only Dallas Cowboy who has a history of losing in the playoffs. 

We all know what happened in Tony Romo’s first two playoff games in a Dallas uniform. What you may not know is that when he was in college, his team (Eastern Illinois) lost each of its three first-round games in the Division I-AA playoffs.

So, to recap, the Cowboys have a head coach and a starting quarterback who both consistently come up small on the biggest stage. 

My guess is that Dallas isn’t exactly looking forward to January.

5 (-)     Jaguars     11-5

I liked the signing of Jerry Porter. It’s easy to second-guess the move considering his lack of production and off-field issues in Oakland. 

Then again, I know another WR who had issues in Oakland...and he turned out OK. 

The fact that he had to undergo surgery to repair a torn hamstring and is going to miss at least the preseason makes the move look even worse, but the Jags needed offensive help.

Their offense is, at times, slow and painful. They needed a receiving threat to take some of the pressure off the running game.

The Jags might be in the top four in the AFC. The problem is they play in the same division as the third best team in the AFC.

6 (-)     Giants     10-6

Talk about a lack of respect. You win the Super Bowl, and in the very first edition of the Power 10, you’re not only the second NFC team on the list, but you’re the sixth overall team.

Well, yes.

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?