NFL Power Rankings: The Most Substantial Rankings Ahead of the 2012 Season

Last year I picked the New Orleans Saints to win the Super Bowl and had them atop my preseason power rankings at the beginning of the season.

That didn't go so well.

I missed.

It happens. In fact, I had been pretty lucky before that one because I had picked three Super Bowl winners in a row. You see, around this time every year, I jump into a little cave inside my house and delve into a week of analysing the state of each NFL team. The result? The result are my in-depth power rankings which you see below.

Most writers create power rankings for the sake of it. They explain their reasoning with one or two sentences and expect that to be justification enough. Personally, I prefer to use power rankings as my preparation for the beginning of the preseason. Because I do that, the end result is often the most comprehensive power rankings list you will read anywhere.

Forget about reputations or what you did last year, here is my ranking of the 32 teams in the NFL as they enter this year.

Please do let me know what you think!

*Rankings are not solely determined by grades of units. Leadership, consistency and other concerns were also taken into account while teams with franchise quarterbacks often got the edge over very similar teams.

32. Indianapolis Colts

The Colts are in full-blown rebuilding mode with a new head coach and quarterback at the helm. However, what will actually hold them back this year is a defense that needs to be radically overhauled.

Offense: C

Andrew Luck may have been a demigod in college, but the professional level will be a major challenge as he succeeds Peyton Manning. The pressure will be on Luck, and his most difficult issue will be overcoming a poor offensive line. Expect Luck to link up with tight ends Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen a lot in Bruce Arians' offense. This season will be all about making Luck's life easier rather than putting points on the board.

Defense: D+

The Colts are changing scheme without the pieces to properly fit it. Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis will be asked to change positions after years of playing defensive end. The defensive line in its new 3-4 scheme is vital. You need specific types of players to play on a 3-4 defensive line and you need enough of them to create a rotation. The Colts brought in Corey Redding and Brandon McKinney from the Ravens to fit the defense but don't have enough players with them to succeed.

A lack of cornerbacks will severely hurt the Colts' defense this year, but Tom Zbikowski and Antoine Bethea should create a very strong safety pairing.

31. Oakland Raiders

Cap problems and a lack of draft picks really hurt the Raiders this offseason. They paid the price for making such loaded trades in the past and for overrewarding their own players with massive contracts as they did with Stanford Routt. It's a new regime in Oakland and the long term is more important than the short term.

Offense: C+

With a fully healthy Darren McFadden, the Raiders offense has a totally different look to it. However, McFadden has done nothing of late to suggest he will ever be able to stay healthy. McFadden is an elite back who has the potential to be the best in the league at his position, but he simply doesn't have the durability.

Without Michael Bush they don't have a quality backup, either, as Mike Goodson is not on his level. Stefen Wisniewski and Jared Veldheer are quality linemen, but the offensive line as a unit will struggle to protect Carson Palmer. If Palmer can stay upright, just getting the ball to Jacoby Ford, Denarius Moore and Darrius Heyward-Bey can often be enough to put points on the board.

Defense: C-

The front four should be a force again this year, but beyond that there is little to be excited about in Oakland on defense. Rolando McClain needs to get his head screwed on if he is to keep his place with the team, while Philip Wheeler and Aaron Curry are not impact players.

The secondary has undergone serious surgery with Ronald Bartell and Shawntae Spencer now the likely starters at cornerback. Tyvon Branch and Michael Huff can alter this defense significantly if they play to their potential, but that is asking a lot considering the situation around them.

30. Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings should focus on Adrian Peterson's rehab, Christian Ponder's development and continuing to improve their defense as opposed to trying to win games instantly. Finding out if Ponder is the quarterback to lead them into the future is a must for the long term.

Offense: C

Matt Kalil should bring some stability to an offensive line that struggled last year; however, the offense as a whole hasn't improved too much since 2011. Adding Jerome Simpson is a solid move but not enough to really make a difference while Kyle Rudolph should be a huge playmaker as the starting tight end.

The biggest issue in Minnesota is the health of its running back. Adrian Peterson suffered a major injury at the end of last season that should hamper him into the beginning of this year and maybe beyond. Despite how many controlled workouts he shows off this offseason, the type of injury Peterson suffered isn't something that can really be tested until he is back on the field.

At the very least, this year Christian Ponder will have more playmakers on the outside to throw to other than Percy Harvin—that is presuming Bill Musgrave doesn't keep taking him off the field.

Defense: C+

Despite featuring my defensive player of the year from last year and making some excellent moves in the draft to upgrade the unit, the Vikings' defense is still a season or two away from being really competitive.

The secondary remains a major issue that will be exposed with six games against the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers on the schedule. Harrison Smith and Robert Blanton could both start as rookies at safety, while Chris Carr and Zackary Bowman will help the team's cornerbacks along with rookie Josh Robinson. It's not as bad a group that finished the season last year, but nor is it a group teams will worry about facing.

29. Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins appear to be a team that took a voluntary plunge to the bottom of the rebuilding curve. Their inability to bring in a new quarterback severely impacted their offseason. Matt Moore is their best quarterback option for the coming season unless they decide to throw Ryan Tannehill in from day one in Mike Sherman's offense.

Offense: D+

Joe Philbin is an offensive guru, but Philbin also appears to be looking towards the future rather than this year.

After trading Brandon Marshall, the wide receiving corps lacks proven playmakers. While Marshall was traded because Philbin's philosophy is to spread the ball, throwing to Davone Bess, Brian Hartline and Clyde Gates doesn't inspire confidence.

The offensive line has some very nice pieces with Jonathan Martin adding to Mike Pouncey and Jake Long, but whether their good work can be taken advantage of by Reggie Bush with Matt Moore/David Garrard/Ryan Tannehill under center is another thing.
 

Defense: C

The Dolphins defense has a lot of talent in it, but the direction and congruency remain unclear. They entered this offseason talking about instilling a hybrid defense but did not appear to bring in the requisite pieces and re-signed Paul Soliai, who is a scheme-limited run-stuffer. Richard Marshall is an outstanding addition who will likely play safety, but the overall outlook for this defense is unclear at best.

Cameron Wake, Karlos Dansby and Vontae Davis could be in for a frustrating season if Jared Odrick and Koa Misi/Olivier Vernon don't step up.

28. Cleveland Browns

The Browns are still some distance from being a relevant football team in the NFL. Playing in the AFC North almost compels them to be one of the worst teams in the league next year as their rookie quarterback is going to be in for a baptism of fire against Mike Zimmer and Dick LeBeau.

Offense: C

Despite the performances of Cam Newton and Andy Dalton last year, Brandon Weeden is unlikely to be a major improvement over Colt McCoy in the Browns' offense. As I said at the time of drafting, McCoy wasn't the reason the Browns offense has struggled in recent years. Obviously he was not an elite quarterback, but he was never really given a chance to be one because of the poor weapons around him in Cleveland.

This year the Browns have upgraded around McCoy, with Mitchell Schwartz and Trent Richardson being the key additions. Schwartz should solve the team's long-time right tackle issue, while Richardson gives the unit an identity. Greg Little should take another step forward after a promising rookie season, but the Browns offense is still at least a year away from being worthy of a contending team, especially in the AFC North.

Defense: C

If statistics are to be believed, at least certain statistics, the Browns' defense just needs to find some run-stuffers because their pass defense was one of the best in the league last year, giving up 184.9 yards per game through the air, which was second only to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

While they do have one of the best cornerbacks in the league in Joe Haden in their secondary, the reality is the Browns only gave up so few yards because teams didn't need to pass on them. Once they got a lead, teams simply ran out the clock, which is why the Browns faced the second-most rushing attempts in the league, behind only the Colts.

Losing Phil Taylor to a torn pectoral is really going to hurt the development of this defense as he was a key piece of the defensive line in front of D'Qwell Jackson. Scott Fujita's suspension for the first three games of the season doesn't help, but the Browns do at least have a relatively talented group of linebackers entering this year.

27. New York Jets

The Jets are a team of reputations rather than quality right now. Even the great Tim Tebow can't fix this holy mess.

Offense: C

Instead of bringing in a right tackle to better protect Mark Sanchez over Wayne Hunter, Rex Ryan decided to trade draft picks away for Tim Tebow to create a circus in New York.

Sanchez has nothing working in his favor this year. The whole world is waiting to see Tebow on the field while the offensive pieces in place around him are below average.

Santonio Holmes could explode at any point and LaDainian Tomlinson is gone while Shonn Greene looked like he was a 10-year veteran last year (not a compliment for running backs).

Unless Stephen Hill is Randy Moss,without the off-the-field issues, the Jets offense is in major trouble this year.
 

Defense: C+

The Jets will be lucky to get four games out of LaRon Landry with his injury record while Darrelle Revis has already been making noise about a new deal. Replacing Jim Leonhard with Eric Smith is a significant downgrade also.

Quinton Coples rounds out a fine defensive line with Sione Pouha and Muhammad Wilkerson but does not appear to be the instant impact rookie fans were hoping for.

The linebacker unit looks old and slow, which could see rookie Demario Davis become a starter at some point.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars definitely won't be the worst team in the league, but neither have they much potential to shock anyone this year.

Offense: C

If Blaine Gabbert starts, this grade turns to a C-.

I actually expect Chad Henne to beat Gabbert out this year because he is a good fit with what the Jaguars have. Henne's arm strength complements Laurent Robinson and Lee Evans' speed to go deep off the play action created by Maurice Jones-Drew.

With Justin Blackmon and Marcedes Lewis running shorter routes, the Jaguars should be able to consistently find receivers.

A healthy offensive line will make a major difference this year also.

Defense: B-

Keeping Rashean Mathis and adding a pass-rusher, Alan Branch, to help his risky style of play should prove to be a winning formula to add more turnovers to the defense. Terrance Knighton has had a tumultuous offseason but shouldn't be affected by that once football begins.

The Jaguars defense is very underrated by most people because the offense never does enough to reap the rewards of their work.

25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers spent a lot of money this offseason, but that doesn't mean they spent it wisely. Greg Schiano's most important priority this offseason should be eradicating the losing atmosphere that enveloped the franchise last year when it essentially quit on its coach.

Offense: C+

Carl Nicks is being paid like an elite tackle but won't be able to impact the game enough to live up to his price tag.

Josh Freeman needs to turn back the clock and perform like he did during his rookie season, but that may not be as easy as everyone expects with Vincent Jackson on the roster. Jackson is very talented but has made no secret that he has been motivated by money in recent years. Now that he has that money, why would he play at 100 percent every week?

Kellen Winslow is over the hill, while LeGarrette Blount will probably knock Doug Martin out physically once Martin knocks him out from the top of the depth chart.
 

Defense: C

Not having enough defensive tackle busts on the roster, Greg Schiano added Amobi Okoye  this offseason in the rotation with Brian Price. Adrian Clayborn is a big play waiting to happen, but the loss of DaQuan Bowers through injury will hurt as they were hoping to get more from him this year.

Lavonte David is a nice addition to a weak overall linebacker group while Ronde Barber is moving to safety to play with rookie Mark Barron. Barron is a fantastic talent, but, with Eric Wright coming over from Detroit and Aqib Talib's slew of character concerns, the team's secondary as a whole will struggle.

24. Seattle Seahawks

The base of a quality team is there in Seattle, but the uncertainty that comes with the Seahawks' offensive line and wide receiving corps still holds them back, while the defense is good but not overwhelming. They may not be the best team in the league this year, but nobody will want to play the Seahawks next year.

Offense: C-

Matt Flynn should quickly find out just how good the Green Bay Packers offense is once he wins the starting job from Tarvaris Jackson in Seattle. Flynn will be throwing to Doug Baldwin, Ben Obomanu and Mike Williams—with a possible appearance from Sidney Rice if he can stay healthy—who are not bad receivers, but neither are they Jordy Nelson or Greg Jennings.

With an offensive line that struggled to stay together last year, the Seahawks have a lot of worries upfront, especially with left tackle Russell Okung. Even with the addition of Flynn, the Seahawks should likely be handing the ball off to Marshawn Lynch more than 300 times this year.
 

Defense: B

Jason Jones, Bruce Irvin and Bobby Wagner should add to a relatively strong front seven playing in front of the best young secondary in the league. Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor are the best pair of young safeties in the league, if not the best of all 32 teams. Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman are excellent press cover corners with the physicality to stick with most receivers one-on-one.

The Seahawks have a defense that is a lot better than teams realize because their offense rarely puts them in the best positions to succeed.

23. St. Louis Rams

It's very possible the Rams sneak into the playoffs this year, even if they are still a few significant pieces away from making waves once they are there. The 49ers are undoubtedly the favorites for the NFC West, but not much is certain in that division.

Offense: B-

Jeff Fisher has made some astute moves to protect Sam Bradford next year. Scott Wells is the obvious improvement, coming over from Green Bay to play center, but the addition of Isaiah Pead not only gives the Rams a second punch to add to Steven Jackson in the backfield, but it also gives them a dangerous receiving back to run screens with.

Using multiple screens will slow down the blitz while having receivers like Danny Amendola and Steve Smith to throw quick passes to will also help Bradford. Brian Quick was drafted to give Bradford the big receiver that Danario Alexander has failed to become, while Lance Kendricks will be expected to perform after a poor rookie season.

If Jason Smith and Rodger Saffold can rebound this year, the Rams could excel on offense.

Defense: C+

Jeff Fisher invested heavily in his defensive line this offseason. First-round pick Michael Brockers was brought in to stuff the run while Kendall Langford came over from Miami to to fill space for Chris Long and Robert Quinn to work outside.

The Rams will expect a lot from their defensive front, who should have better opportunities with Cortland Finnegan and Quintin Mikell trying to lead rookies Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson in the secondary.

The return of Jerome Murphy and Bradley Fletcher should significantly help the Rams' defense overall.

22. Arizona Cardinals

Ever since Kurt Warner retired, this franchise has been handicapped by the quarterback position. Kevin Kolb does not appear to be the answer while John Skelton still needs a lot of work to be a full-time starter. With a strong defense in place and playmaking receivers on offense, the quarterback position will determine the fate of this franchise more than any other.

Offense: C

Even though he was re-signed for a more reasonable rate, having Levi Brown at left tackle is an anchor the Cardinals must carry again this season. Judging by the setup of their offense, the Cardinals will likely try to hide Brown by establishing the run and going deep often off the play action.

Adding Adam Snyder inside and Michael Floyd to play across from Larry Fitzgerald, it appears more likely that John Skelton will be the Cardinals' starting quarterback as they look to throw deep often to the two bigger receivers.

Snyder will help graft for Chris Wells and the potentially healthy Ryan Williams, although Williams' health remains unclear right now.

Defense: B

The Cardinals have a very underrated defense with some young emerging talent expecting to take them to another level this year. Sam Acho and O'Brien Schofield both had strong years last year for such young players—Acho was a rookie and Schofield a second-year player.

With two bookend outside linebackers and Calais Campbell inside with Darnell Dockett in front of Daryl Washington, the Cardinals' front seven has playmakers littered through it.

Considering that the secondary boasts the talents of Patrick Peterson, Adrian Wilson, Kerry Rhodes and free-agent addition William Gay, the Cardinals defense under Ray Horton should be in the top 10 next year.

21. Washington Redskins

It is always difficult to project how rookies will fare in the NFL. Last year everyone expected Cam Newton to struggle, and most expect Robert Griffin III to have an easier transition, but nobody really knows until the games are played out. The Redskins will go as far as Griffin allows them to, but their primary focus this year is his development.

Offense: C+

A heavy dose of Roy Helu and Tim Hightower should be used by Kyle Shanahan to ease Robert Griffin III into his rookie season. As the weeks go by, I suspect the leash will loosen on Griffin as he adjusts to the professional game, but he should still be able to make plays early in the year. There will be a lot of play-action shots deep and quick throws to Pierre Garcon, Josh Morgan and Santana Moss.

With a strong pair of tackles protecting him and a playmaking tight end in Fred Davis, Griffin's rookie mistakes should be limited with easier throws and more time in the pocket. Once he settles, however, who knows how far he can carry this unit.

Defense: B-

The safety position could really hamper the prospects of this defense this year. Tanard Jackson and Brandon Meriweather are erratic football players who cannot be trusted.

Outside of that however, the defense is stout.

Ryan Kerrigan and Brian Orakpo should have plenty of opportunities to get to the quarterback while DeAngelo Hall and Josh Wilson are serviceable cornerbacks outside. The real strength of the defense is upfront with Barry Cofield and Stephen Bowen in particular being pillars on the defensive line.

20. Atlanta Falcons

How the Falcons thought they were a wide receiver away from competing for the Super Bowl before last year's draft I will never know. Their roster has plenty of issues entering this season with plenty of key players entering the twilight of their careers.

Offense: C+

Putting up a zero, at least offensively, in the playoffs last year will have some effect on this group whether it be used as motivation or an excuse.

Michael Turner should be replaced by Jason Snelling at this point in his career with Jacquizz Rodgers being a prominent factor on third down. Tony Gonzalez has been defying father time for quite some time, but that can't last forever.

This figures to be Matt Ryan's most difficult test in the NFL. To a certain extent, he needs to prove himself this year. He needs to prove whether he will ever be able to carry an offense.

Defense: B-

John Abraham had a great year last year, but even that wasn't enough for other teams to sign him in free agency. Abraham is 33 and can't continue to carry the defense.

The return of Jonathan Babineaux will help, but Ray Edwards isn't worthy of the contract he received before last year. Losing Curtis Lofton will hurt the run defense, but adding Asante Samuel and re-signing Brent Grimes give the team a strong secondary with William Moore and Thomas DeCoud.

19. Carolina Panthers

The Panthers didn't do a huge amount to help Cam Newton this offseason as they were largely limited by their own salary. The team should get better through growth and health, however. Still, they have some ways to go before they can give their franchise quarterback a shot at the big boys.

Offense: B

Teams now have a lot more tape, and time to study it, when they go up against Cam Newton. Newton, to a certain extent, benefited from the element of surprise last year and will need to stave of the second season slump.

Adding Mike Tolbert to the offense was odd as the team now essentially has four running backs who need touches when you include Newton.

Greg Olsen should see a lot more work with Greg Shockey gone, while the receiving corps mostly returns from last year.

Defense: C

Adding Luke Kuechly is an odd move but tells us two things: The team no longer relies on Thomas Davis to start at linebacker and it also believes in its defensive tackles—Sione Fua and Terrell McClain—who were drafted last year.

Losing Richard Marshall really hurts the secondary but Haruki Nakamura should provide some reliable depth. Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy will look to continue upfront in order to help that secondary, but the key is stopping the run first and foremost in Carolina.

18. Tennessee Titans

The Titans are in a good position to challenge now and in the future with a well-shaped roster. Their roster is essentially relying on the quarterback to take them as far as he can.

Offense: B

If Kenny Britt returns to full health, he, Jared Cook, Nate Washington and Kendall Wright will be a very dangerous group of receivers. Chris Johnson should have a much better year this year after a sluggish outing last year, which will make Matt Hasselbeck or Jake Locker's life a lot easier.

If Locker can step into the starting role, the Titans could be thinking about the playoffs. It's possible they do with Hasselbeck, too, if less likely.

Defense: B-

There are a lot of young talented players on the Titans' defense who need to prove themselves and continue their development. Alterraun Verner and Jason McCourty will look to replace the departed Cortland Finnegan, but Michael Griffin returns at safety. Will Witherspoon will need to lead a young group of linebackers as Colin McCarthy and Akeem Ayers are slated to start.

The defensive line is where the Titans will look to win games as Jurrell Casey, Sen'Derrick Marks and Karl Klug try to push the pocket for Kamerion Wimbley and Derrick Morgan to work outside.

17. Denver Broncos

A lot about the Broncos is uncertain. It truly is a project out in Denver with Peyton Manning on offense. The defense isn't completely set either after a very inconsistent season last year. If Manning comes back without missing a beat and makes it through 16 games, this should be a top-10 team.

Offense: B-

The most difficult prediction this year is that of Peyton Manning. Truthfully, nobody knows what to expect from the quarterback recovering from multiple neck surgeries. I suspect we won't see the best of Manning, if we do at all, until six to eight weeks into the season.

The Broncos have set up their offense as such also prioritizing tight ends in free agency, Jacob Tamme and Joel Dreessen were signed, and adding another running back, Ronnie Hillman, to an already-crowded depth chart.

Defense: B-

Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil will have some help from Tracy Porter and Drayton Florence on the backend but still need to carry the torch for the front seven. Derek Wolfe and Justin Bannan will provide better defensive tackle depth while Joe Mays will hope to continue to rack up the tackles with D.J. Williams.

Losing Brian Dawkins' leadership cannot be overestimated as they move forward with much younger safeties.

16. Buffalo Bills

There has been a lot of hype in Buffalo with the new additions the team has made this year, but they must get some old faces healthy before they can even consider a playoff spot. Kyle Williams, Fred Jackson and Eric Wood all must get healthy for this team to have any kind of success.

Offense: C+

Ryan Fitzpatrick enters a make-or-break season as the pressure will be on the quarterback to prove that he is capable of carrying a team deep in the playoffs. With Fred Jackson returning and a strong interior offensive line in place, he should have a running game capable of carrying the offense at times, while Stevie Johnson should see C.J. Spiller split out alongside him very often.

The Bills have some very good wide receivers who they are hoping to take a step to the next level, but entering the season Fitzpatrick will rely on Spiller, Jackson and Johnson. If Donald Jones, David Nelson or rookie T.J. Graham step up, then it can only be good news for Bills fans.

Defense: B+

Arguably the best defensive line in football resides in Buffalo, and that is not just due to Mario Williams. Williams will be a big player for the Bills this yea, but it will be more important for them to get production from Kyle Williams and Marcel Dareus inside. Dareus had a great rookie year last year that mostly went unnoticed, while Kyle Williams is arguably the best blitzing defensive tackle in the NFL.

With those two dominating inside, M. Williams and Mark Anderson should put up huge numbers.

Along with the additions on the defensive line, the Bills drafted Stephon Gilmore, giving them a physical presence to put on hybrid tight ends. The Bills' secondary is not outstanding, but it does excel at creating turnovers; with more pressure upfront they should have plenty of opportunities to do that even more next year.

15. Baltimore Ravens

Joe Flacco still doesn't have his long-term deal. This year he will have to prove himself worthy of it if the Ravens are to contend. No longer is this team a defense trying to carry its offense; in fact, it looks more likely the offense will be doing the heavy lifting this year.

Offense: B

One must presume Bryant McKinnie will be able to get his weight under control before season's start and that Ray Rice will be on the field. Rice lost one of his grafting guards as Ben Grubbs moved onto the Saints. Grubbs will be replaced by a converted tackle in Jah Reid, which should somewhat alter the Ravens' gameplan as Rice should now see even more screens. After Joe Flacco's improvement last year, putting the ball in his hands more shouldn't be a bad thing.

With Jacoby Jones added to the receiving corps and the team's tight ends continuing to mature, the Ravens' offense should be a more than capable machine next year.

Defense: B-

Terrell Suggs is the last player the Ravens would want to see sidelined. Ray Lewis showed his age last year as his lack of pace finally caught up to him, while Ed Reed won't be able to be as effective without Suggs' pressure upfront. With Jarrett Johnson and Corey Redding also moving on, the front seven is undergoing considerable changeover. Pernell McPhee, Paul Kruger, Courtney Upshaw and even Sergio Kindle will be asked to contribute a lot this year.

The one fallback the Ravens have is that the strength of this defense is the secondary. Bernard Pollard was given a contract extension to prolong his strong partnership with Ed Reed at safety, while Lardarius Webb with Jimmy Smith are two of the most talented cornerbacks in the NFL. Smith still needs to establish himself at this level, but Webb is already scaring opposing signal-callers.

14. New Orleans Saints

The only way you lose your head coach and not suffer a major drop-off is if that coach is not very good. Sean Payton is not only very good, but he is one of the best offensive minds in the game. Without Payton the Saints will suffer a drop-off this year despite their solid overall work in free agency.

Offense: A-

I don't expect this Drew Brees drama to carry into the regular season or have any effect on him throughout the year at all. I still don't expect Brees to replicate what he did last year simply because that was such a historic season.

Losing Carl Nicks will hurt, but his replacement, Ben Grubbs, is one of the better guards in the game also. Mark Ingram's offseason surgery could be a problem, but this offense is still stacked more than most in the league. Losing Robert Meachem won't affect the offense negatively—Brees will just send more targets towards his other receivers and Jimmy Graham/Darren Sproles.

They do lose some credence without Payton running the show, though.

Defense: C

Will Smith will start this season suspended again, which puts pressure on Cameron Jordan again. At least Brodrick Bunkley is a nice new piece to play alongside Sedrick Ellis inside. Losing Jonathan Vilma for the year won't hurt the Saints as Curtis Lofton and David Hawthorne are better players at this point in their respective careers. Tracy Porter leaving for Denver hurts the secondary even with the emergence of Patrick Robinson.

This defense really suffered from having so few draft picks this year.

13. Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals have two of the hottest coordinators in the NFL entering this year. Their season will completely depend on how Andy Dalton continues to perform into his second season. With A.J. Green on the outside, I doubt Dalton will have any major struggles, especially with the other improvements the team has made in the offseason.

The AFC North is stacked this year!

Offense: B

Jay Gruden is building a fine unit to aid Andy Dalton as he returns for his second NFL season as a starter. Each addition made this offseason has indicated that the Bengals want to run a very balanced attack next year.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis may not be an explosive runner, but he is very versatile in the passing game and safe with the football. Kevin Zeitler and Travelle Wharton are new guards who can effectively pass block and run block, while Orson Charles, a tight end, and Mohamed Sanu, a wide receiver, are added to A.J. Green and Jermaine Gresham to give Dalton a bulging arsenal.

Jay Gruden's offense is developing into a unit that looks very similar to that of the New England Patriots with two quality tight ends creating mismatches for opposing defenses.

Defense: B

Mike Zimmer is one of the best defensive coordinators in the league and he added substantially to the talent at his disposal this offseason.

Dre Kirkpatrick and Terrence Newman give the team a very deep set of cornerbacks while Brandon Thompson and Devon Still could provide the beef that was needed on the interior of the defensive line last season to go with Geno Atkins' pass-rush ability. Leon Hall's return will be a massive boost for the whole group while rookie George Iloka could supplant Taylor Mays as a starting safety from day one.

12. Houston Texans

It will be hard for the Texans to repeat the performances of last year on defense, but returning Matt Schaub to the offense will be a major boost and make them favorites to win a soft division.

Offense: B

Losing Eric Winston will really hurt the Texans' offensive line, considering he is the best right tackle in the NFL. Replacing Joel Dreessen will be important, too, but the prospect of having Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson at 100 percent will be bigger for the Texans' offense than anything else.

Keeping Arian Foster and Ben Tate together returns the best one-two punch in the league, which is never a bad thing.

Defense: B

Having one good year is one thing, but sustaining success in the NFL is a difficult thing. Wade Phillips is a fantastic defensive coordinator who will need to do a lot of work to keep a relatively young group focused on the task at hand.

Darryl Sharpton will replace DeMeco Ryans in the starting lineup while Whitney Mercilus arrives through the draft to give Phillips another pass-rusher to come off the edge.

11. Detroit Lions

The Lions are building their team in a similar vein to their division rival, the  Packers. The offense looks set to be very explosive relying on Matthew Stafford's arm, while the defense will try to do just enough to get by.

Offense: A-

Instead of trying to fix their running game with new interior linemen or running backs, the Lions drafted a pass-protecting offensive tackle, Riley Reiff, and another wide receiver, Ryan Broyles, this year. This shows that the team is going all in on quarterback Matthew Stafford to lead them deep into the playoffs.

If Mikel Leshoure and Jahvid Best come back to full health, then this offense could challenge for the best in the league. Stafford is still very young and needs to develop certain aspects of his game, but he showed last year he is an elite talent.

Defense: C+

It may not bother the Lions that their defensive line doesn't care about stopping running backs, but don't expect me to overlook it. The Lions didn't really improve their defense from last season with the most notable move being the franchise-tagging of Cliff Avril or the re-signing of Stephen Tulloch. Third-round pick Dwight Bentley will be asked to help an ailing secondary while fans will be hoping to squeeze one more year out of Kyle Vanden Bosch upfront.

10. San Francisco 49ers

Jim Harbaugh believed in Alex Smith more than anyone else last year, but even he went knocking on Peyton Manning's door this offseason. While it is Peyton Manning, Smith must have some form of doubt in his mind after the he had to visit the Dolphins in order to get a new deal in San Francisco.

The 49ers came from nowhere last year; sustaining that success isn't always easy.

Offense: B-

If football were just about Xs and Os, the 49ers as a whole would be much higher up on the list. After missing out on Peyton Manning, one must wonder if Alex Smith will forget about the flirtation forever.

One thing is for sure: The 49ers definitely have the offensive firepower this offseason to avoid having to settle for a record number of field goals.

Mario Manningham, AJ Jenkins and Randy Moss should completely revamp the wide receiving corps while LaMichael James brings an X-factor in the mold of Darren Sproles. With Vernon Davis creating mismatches and Frank Gore pounding the ball with new teammate Brandon Jacobs, Alex Smith has no excuses this year.

If he is looking for any, Colin Kaepernick will happily take his place.

Defense: A

Just like the offense, the issue with the defense has nothing to do with X's and O's. Last year the 49ers came out of nowhere to have arguably the best defense in football. The issue is how do they react to that success?

There is no doubting the talent the team, has but if it enters this year resting on its laurels from last season, it will quickly be found out. The most interest aspect of the 49ers' fortunes entering this year will be the increased role of Aldon Smith. As a specialist pass-rusher, Smith wasn't overly exposed as a rookie, it will be important to see if he can play every down for 16-plus games this year without being found out in other areas.

9. San Diego Chargers

The Chargers are a top-10 team on paper, but they need to find that consistency on the field. Their flaws need to be explored as they cannot afford to have the protection issues that limited Philip Rivers last year or the cornerback inconsistencies with Antoine Cason.

Offense: A-

GM A.J. Smith made some outstanding moves this offseason to improve the Chargers offense but failed to replace Jeromey Clary at right tackle. Clary has been the biggest issue for the Chargers offense for some time, but instead of replacing him, Smith focused on replacing lost skill position players.

Le'Ron McClain is a good replacement for the departed Mike Tolbert, while Robert Meachem and Eddie Royal will look to replace Vincent Jackson. Royal, Meachem, Malcom Floyd and Vincent Brown are good enough receivers to complement Philip Rivers while his future Hall of Fame tight end remains: Antonio Gates.

With Jared Gaither protecting his blind side, Rivers shouldn't have the same issues he had last year, while Ryan Mathews will look to have an even better year running the ball.

Defense: B-

Clearly, the Chargers were not happy with their front seven last year as rookies Kendall Reyes and Melvin Ingram came in with veteran Jarret Johnson. Johnson and Ingram, with Shaun Phillips and Antwan Barnes, give the Chargers a very dynamic group of outside linebackers while Reyes adds to a stacked defensive line.

The Chargers will need that front seven to perform at a high level in case they have the same inconsistencies they had in the secondary last year. Who knows—Larry English may even turn into something; if he does, the Chargers could lead the league in sacks next year.

8. Philadelphia Eagles

Simply having an offseason to prepare for the season should be a major boost to the Eagles this year. After the way they ended last year, the time together can only benefit them as they try to carry that momentum into this year.

Offense: B

Demetress Bell is a major downgrade from Jason Peters, who is out for the season, but he is still a solid left tackle. With DeSean Jackson now happy again, the Eagles' only real worry on offense is their ability to keep Michael Vick upright. If that happens, this should be one of the more explosive offenses in the NFL.

Defense: B

I was one of the few people who wrote the Eagles off before the season even began last year. I did so largely because of their lack of linebacker talent. They are slated to have three new starters at linebacker this year, though, who should all improve the unit dramatically.

DeMeco Ryans may be a two-down linebacker now, but if he can be a dominant run-stuffer then that will be enough for the Eagles. Rookie Mychal Kendricks has a lot of talent, while Brian Rolle really impressed me last year in limited time.

Adding Fletcher Cox to Cullen Jenkins upfront will really help this front seven as a whole because they now have arguably the best defensive line rotation in the NFL.

With better play upfront, and a full offseason together, the secondary should be able to overcome the loss of Asante Samuel to actually improve over last year.

7. Kansas City Chiefs

Scott Pioli is an excellent general manager. One look at this roster and you can see why.

The Chiefs were only derailed last season because of their unnatural number of injuries to key players. With those players returning this season, and an excellent offseason, the Chiefs are set to challenge for it all this year. That is, if Matt Cassel can carry them that far.

 

Offense: B

The Chiefs have added a few significant pieces to the offensive line with two rookie tackles, Jeff Allen and Donald Stephenson, and, most importantly, veteran Eric Winston from the Houston Texans. Winston is the best right tackle in the NFL and will improve both the run and passing games in Kansas City.

Kevin Boss joins Tony Moeaki to create a dual-tight end threat while Jonathan Baldwin should really improve the receiving corps in his second season. Adding Peyton Hillis' power to dynamism of Dexter McCluster and the returning Jamaal Charles will have defenses wincing.

Defense: B+

There were some worries about Dontari Poe's ability to man two gaps coming out of college. He has landed in the perfect spot to hide that between Tyson Jackson and Glenn Dorsey. Dorsey and Jackson are both huge space-fillers who can consume double-teams. They often get no credit ,but both are excellent at their jobs.

With Poe rounding out the defensive line, Justin Houston should have every opportunity to establish himself this year across from Tamba Hali. With Eric Berry returning and Stanford Routt joining the secondary, the Chiefs have the talent to shut down receivers and let their new-found pass rush chase the quarterback down.

6. Chicago Bears

You likely won't see the Bears this high in many other power rankings, but they've made some very positive moves this offseason. Replacing Mike Martz with Mike Tice should get the best out of Jay Cutler while the defense should be fearsome once again.
 

Offense: B+

Mike Martz was always one of the more interesting coordinators in the NFL; his replacement in Chicago, Mike Tice, is quite the opposite. Tice is a former offensive line coach who is going to look to establish the run in Chicago after re-signing Matt Forte and adding Michael Bush.

The return of Gabe Carimi to full health will significantly improve the line while Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery will pose major question marks of opposition cornerbacks. Jeffery and Marshall's respective sizes, with Earl Bennett working inside and Devin Hester looking to stretch the field, give Jay Cutler every opportunity to return his name to the upper echelon of quarterbacks in the NFL. Cutler should have similar success to that he had in Denver at the start of his career.
 

Defense: B+

For so long, this defense has been so dominant that many people will likely be shutting the window on it, if they haven't already. I am not one of those people.

Lance Briggs should play with a renewed vigor after receiving the contract extension he coveted while the return of Tim Jennings, one of only two cornerbacks not to give up a touchdown all of last season (the other being Lardarius Webb of the Ravens), keeps a quality secondary in tact. Adding Shea McClellin to the front seven gives the Bears a dynamic blitzer to move around the field, much like the Broncos did with Von Miller last year.

5. New York Giants

Repeating is not easy in the NFL. The last time a team did it was a decade ago when the Patriots won three championships in four years. When you are the Super Bowl champions everybody plays their best against you each week. The Packers played unbelievable football last year and still didn't repeat, so why do I see so many people with the Giants atop their power rankings for being the reigning champs? This is about this season, not last year.

Offense: B+

Rueben Randle should be an adequate replacement for Mario Manningham if Jerrel Jernigan doesn't step up while Martellus Bennett is a fine addition at tight end. David Wilson should be an improvement in the backfield over the departed Brandon Jacobs with Ahmad Bradshaw. Victor Cruz will need to prove that he can repeat his performances of last year before I buy into him as an elite receiver, while Eli Manning will have to keep this relatively young group focused.
 

Defense: B+

The return of Terrell Thomas will significantly boost the secondary while Marvin Austin will be asked to do the same upfront. Keith Rivers was acquired in a trade to give the team more flexibility with Mathias Kiwanuka as nobody is certain of what to expect from Osi Umenyiora this year.

This is still one of the most talented teams in the league, and with Prince Amukamara entering his second year also, the secondary has the potential to be the best in the league.

4. Dallas Cowboys

In the past, the Cowboys have been proclaimed Super Bowl favorites before the season simply because they were the Dallas Cowboys. When they had players like Terrell Owens and Roy Williams on the roster, the players' reputations preceded them; however, this year the Cowboys have the talent that will establish their reputations this year.

The Cowboys are a legitimate threat to be in Louisiana next year and add to an already-packed NFC fight.

Offense: A-

For all the abuse Tony Romo received last year, did anyone actually check his stats? I'm not a big stats guy (I compare them to propaganda), but you can't ignore a line that reads 4,184 yards, 31 touchdowns to only 10 interceptions and a 66 percent completion percentage. When you throw in the fact he dealt with a plethora of injuries to himself and around him while playing behind a confused offensive line, Romo was awesome last year, save for a few nationally televised moments.

With DeMarco Murray looking like a franchise back—if he can stay healthy—a talented offensive line gelling and proven receivers with an elite tight end, this offense should dominate teams next year.

Defense: B+

Last year, the Cowboys' secondary killed them. They gave up too many big plays and couldn't match up to receivers the way Rob Ryan wanted them to. Therefore, Jerry Jones brought in Brandon Carr, Morris Claiborne and Brodney Pool to revamp the secondary after adding Dan Connor to beef up the front seven. Connor and Sean Lee together should be an outstanding partnership.

You may not know all of these names right now, but you will by this time next year, and not just because they wear Cowboy uniforms either.

With an improved secondary, DeMarcus Ware could break Michael Strahan's sack record next year.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers

James Farrior and Hines Ward may be gone, but the Steelers still have a great blend of veterans and youth throughout their roster. They had an outstanding offseason to put themselves back in contention for the Super Bowl this year.

Offense: A-

Losing Rashard Mendenhall is a major issue, but the Steelers will hope to compensate for him with a committee of running backs and a vastly improved offensive line.

The biggest change to this offense, however, will be the arrival of Todd Haley. Haley, prior to being a head coach in Kansas City, was an outstanding offensive coordinator in Arizona with the Cardinals. Considering what he did with Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, Haley will be thrilled to get a chance to work with Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders.

The Steelers will be letting Ben Roethlisberger loose this year.

Defense: A-

Casey Hampton will likely start the season on the PUP list as he recovers from a serious knee injury, but the Steelers have a ready made replacement in Steve McLendon and rookie Alameda Ta'amu. James Farrior being replaced by the slightly younger Larry Foote will improve the defense while a fully healthy James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley should be able to rack up the sacks with what is shaping to be the best secondary in the NFL.

The Steelers have size, speed and plenty of ability at cornerback now, while Ryan Clark is coming off possibly his best ever season, and Troy Polamalu is fully healthy.

2. New England Patriots

You can never count out Bill Belichick and Tom Brady. When they have the toys that they have this year, the only surprise is that they are not the outright favorites. They are still the favorites in the AFC, though.

Much like the Packers, they will rely on an unstoppable offense.

Offense: A+

Even though he is not a household name, Brandon Lloyd was easily the best signing of any team during free agency. Lloyd's speed gives the Patriots' offense the explosion it was lacking last season, but more importantly it prevents teams from zoning in on Wes Welker or Rob Gronkowski.

There may be some turnover on the offensive line, but this offense has way too many weapons not to light up defenses next year. With all the turmoil in New Orleans, the Patriots take over the tag of the most balanced offense in the NFL.

Defense: C

Last year the Patriots ranked second last in the league in pass defense and overall defense. They only gave up 21.4 points per game, which ranked 15th in the league, though that was against a relatively soft schedule.

Rookies Chandler Jones and Dont'a Hightower should start straight away. Hightower joins a very strong linebacker group in New England, but Jones is one of many new pieces on the defensive line.

Trevor Scott was brought in from the Raiders to be this year's Mark Anderson, after Anderson himself moved on to Buffalo, while Jonathan Fanene will be asked to replace Shaun Ellis. Each should be a valuable role player in New England without being significant improvements over the departed.

1. Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers is at the Peyton Manning level right now. With him on the roster this team will always believe it has a chance at going all the way. They should be the favorites to represent the NFC in Louisiana next February. Ultimately, they should be the favorites to win it all right now, too.

Offense: A+

They may not have a running game of note, but they don't really need one with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. There is nothing about Rodgers that tells me he is going to start to slow down any time soon.

Even though some of his receivers may begin to slow, Randall Cobb should step up next year while Jermichael Finley surely won't struggle the way he did last year at tight end.

Adding Jeff Saturday was an astute move for Mike McCarthy's offensive line.

Defense: C+

Ted Thompson couldn't have done much more to go about improving the Packers' defense this offseason. Losing Nick Collins is a major blow, but the addition of Nick Perry and Jerel Worthy to the front seven could reignite the pass rush that went cold last year. Getting over the suspensions of Mike Neal and Anthony Hargrove will be important obstacles for the Packers early on.

How the defense as a whole reacts to such a down year last year will be the deciding factor for this group. The defense doesn't need to be good, it just has to be good enough.

Twitter @Cianaf