NFL Power Rankings: Comparing Each Team to a Summer Blockbuster

NFL training camps are in full swing, as is the summer blockbuster season for movies. While your favorite players and teams are sweating it out in the relentless heat, you can go and enjoy some of the greatest movies to ever grace the big screen. 

The film industry is similar to the NFL in that it is always evolving into bigger and better things. New technology benefits both, and individual stars help to change things entirely in the blink of an eye.

Of course, there are always those highly touted summer blockbusters that audiences walk out of halfway through and demand their money back. Make no mistake about it, the NFL has those issues with certain teams as well. 

Each team participating in a training camp right now shares strange similarities with summer blockbusters, past and present—for better or worse. 

Here is a full preseason NFL power rankings with each team compared to a summer blockbuster:

Disclaimer: All box office numbers courtesy of imdb.com. All images are courtesy of mposter.com unless otherwise specified. 

Follow @Chris_Roling

32. Minnesota Vikings: The Hangover (2009)

Release Date: June 5, 2009

USA Box Office: $277,313,371

Anyone that decides to watch the Minnesota Vikings play is doing so to see one player—Adrian Peterson. Anyone that goes to see The Hangover is going to see one actor—Zach Galifianakis. The talent around both Peterson and Galifianakis is average at best, but it justifies watching. 

Unfortunately for the Vikings, watching the team play can be as funny as watching The Hangover. That, or the team makes its fans wish they had a hangover. 

The Vikings are in a rebuilding phase that does not look to be ending any time soon. Peterson is hobbled and cannot do it on his own. Quarterback Christian Ponder is not good enough yet, and it appears as if Minnesota will spend another year in the cellar of the NFL. 

31. Indianapolis Colts: The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)

Release Date: June 13, 2012

USA Box Office: $232,198,265

After everyone's favorite webslinger had a horrendous showing in his last film (Spider-Man 3), the folks in charge decided it was time for a reboot. Likewise, the Indianapolis Colts were miserable last year and decided it was time to start over. 

The Amazing Spider-Man was a fantastic new start for the franchise. The Colts are hoping that the 2012 edition featuring Andrew Luck will find the same success. 

The Colts are going to be in a lot of close games in 2012 but not games they can win with the lack of talent on the roster. The defense is average and in transition, and the offense lacks the firepower in its current state to make a difference. 

30. Miami Dolphins: Finding Nemo (2003)

Release Date: May 30, 2003

USA Box Office: $339,714,367

What, expecting Jaws?

Just like the little clownfish named Marlin in Finding Nemo attempted to find his son, the Miami Dolphins front office is attempting to find a starting quarterback for the present and future. 

At present, there is a not-so-attractive battle going on between Matt Moore, David Garrard and Ryan Tannehill. Moore was just good enough last year, Garrard has had a year off from football and Tannehill is an unknown that was taken way too early in the draft. 

No matter how the quarterback scenario shapes up, the other positions on the roster are simply not that talented. The offense lacks any intimidating weapons and the defense is above average at best. Miami will be the worst team in the state of Florida this year.

29. St. Louis Rams: Spider-Man 3 (2007)

Release Date: May 4, 2007 

USA Box Office: $336,530,303

As mentioned earlier, Spider-Man 3 was the incarceration that ran the series into the ground. In a scarily similar manner, the St. Louis Rams have ruined outstanding running back Steven Jackson without accomplishing anythings. 

At least the horrific Spider-Man 3 made a lot of money in the process. 

Since Jackson joined the Rams in 2004, the team has never finished above .500. 2012 will be no different. 

The offensive line is still a mess and quarterback Sam Bradford is still made of glass. The defense is slowly improving with a new regime in place, but success is still a few years out. 

28. Jacksonville Jaguars: Green Lantern (2011)

Release Date: June 17, 2011

USA Box Office: $116,593,191

Green Lantern was supposed to be a major box office hit, but we all know how that turned out. The 2012 Jacksonville Jaguars will suffer a similar fate because the decisions of the front office are about as bad as the decision to make a Green Lantern film in the first place.

Jaguars management has elected to let the NFL's leading rusher Maurice Jones-Drew hold out instead of paying him more money. Not a smart move. They have also allowed their first-round selection, Justin Blackmon, to hold out in an era where rookie holdouts are not supposed to exist. 

There's also the attempt to make Blaine Gabbert a franchise quarterback. 

Despite horrible decisions all around, not all hope is lost for the franchise. The defense is pretty good. And they are not the Minnesota Vikings, so there's that. 

27. Arizona Cardinals: Face/Off (1997)

Release Date: June 27, 1997 

USA Box Office: $112,225,777

Face/Off was an exciting movie for its time that featured a duel between two men in a long and convoluted story. There's a faceoff happening in Arizona that is a lot less convoluted, and a much less exciting. 

The quarterback battle between Kevin Kolb and John Skelton is the furthest thing from exciting. Both are so similar and mediocre that they will likely swap in and out of the starting role multiple times over the course of the season. 

It is disappointing the Cardinals cannot find a quality quarterback because the rest of the roster is pretty exciting. The offense is explosive with players like Larry Fitzgerald, Ryan Williams and Michael Floyd. and the defense is an emerging group.

Until the franchise can find a legitimate NFL quarterback, this is as far as the Cardinals go.  

26. Cleveland Browns: Forrest Gump (1994)

Release Date: July 6, 1994

USA Box Office: $329,691,196

The Cleveland Browns are amlovable franchise that truly deserves to be admired simply because of the dedication of a rabid fanbase despite horrible season after horrible season. 

The 2012 iteration of the Browns would actually be a pretty good football team had they not elected to reach for a 28-year-old rookie quarterback in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft. Brandon Weeden could turn out to be good, but he will not be a solid NFL quarterback this season simply because of his age.

Defensively the Browns are great and have a shot at keeping the Browns close in each game. Unfortunately, the Browns play in the toughest division in all of football, a division that fielded three playoff teams last year.

They will continue to be a doormat in such a tough division. 

Run, Browns! Run!

25. Oakland Raiders: Men in Black (1997)

Release Date: July 1, 1997

USA Box Office: $250,147,615

Men in Black featured a washed-up leading actor in Tommy Lee Jones. Sound familiar? The NFL's men in black, the Oakland Raiders, are led by a washed up veteran as well—Carson Palmer. 

In a last-ditch effort to make the playoffs a year ago, the Raiders decided it would be wise to break the bank and trade for Palmer. Now the organization and fans have to suffer for that horrific decision. 

Luckily for the Raiders, Men in Black turned out pretty good, and Oakland should in 2012 as well. The Raiders play in a mediocre, at best, division. At least fighting for a playoff spot is not out of the question next year, no matter how many interceptions returned for touchdowns Palmer throws. 

24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006)

Release Date: July 7, 2006

USA Box Office: $423,032,628

It is only fitting that one of the up-and-coming franchises in the NFL be compared to a younger film franchise that has found massive success recently. 

The Pirates of the Caribbean movies are led by a talented actor in Johnny Depp. Likewise, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are led by a quarterback in Josh Freeman that is simply oozing with elite potential. 

The Buccaneers have a solid defensive unit that will now be led by first-round pick Mark Barron. His presence in the secondary will provide a huge boost. 

On offense Freeman has some nice new weapons to work with in free-agent acquisition Vincent Jackson and another first-round pick in running back Doug Martin. Martin will take over as the starting back and be effective while Jackson will give Freeman the No. 1 receiver he has always needed. 

Things are looking up in Tampa Bay. 

23. Tennessee Titans: Iron Man 2 (2010)

Release Date: May 7, 2010

USA Box Office: $312,057,433

Iron Man 2 was the follow-up hit to the preceding film with the same name. The Tennessee Titans have their own iron-man in quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who is entering season No. 14 in the NFL. 

The Titans' organization is hoping that Hasselbeck can have a successful sequel to his first year with the team in the same way that Iron Man 2 was successful in its sequel attempt. 

If Jake Locker is not ready to go, it will be the veteran Hasselbeck leading the way again, which is just fine because he is still good enough to lead the team to a playoff appearance.

The flammable pieces around him, such as running back Chris Johnson and wide receiver Kenny Britt, need to get things together to make the playoff dreams a reality. 

22. Washington Redskins: Batman Begins (2005)

Release Date: June 15, 2005 

USA Box Office: $205,343,774

Christian Bale successfully took a character that has been done a million times over and made it into the unstoppable franchise that it is today. Batman Begins was just that—a beginning for a franchise that would go on to control the entire film industry. 

The Washington Redskins are hoping that they have their own Bale in rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III. 

RGIII has unlimited potential. He has sufficient weapons around him and is able to beat defenses in a multitude of different ways. The defense supporting him is average, but if Griffin is anything close to what he has been hyped up to be, the Redskins could develop into a powerhouse in the NFL. 

21. Kansas City Chiefs: Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)

Release Date: June 24, 2009

USA Box Office: $402,076,689

Any movie directed by Micheal Bay is going to have a lot of flash and explosions, but not a lot of substance. That would be exactly what Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, or any of the titles in that series are. 

As of late the Kansas City Chiefs have been in a similar rut. They have one of the most talented rosters on paper, but that has meant nothing on the field. Whether it is injuries or a simple case of underperforming, the Chiefs have yet to put it all together. 

When the Chiefs do play up to their potential, they will be a scary team. They may not be as successful as the Transformers series, but it could be a good year for Kansas City in 2012 if key players like running back Jamaal Charles and safety Eric Berry can stay healthy. 

20. New York Jets: The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

Release Date: June 24, 2010

USA Box Office: $300,523,113

The Twilight Saga features two men that women flock to see in droves. So do the New York Jets. 

It's a safe bet that most of what anyone is going to hear this summer and throughout the 2012 season is the quarterback duel between Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow. 

Like Twilight, both are absolutely uninteresting and mediocre at best, but don't tell their fans that. Media hype is what drives New York sports, and it almost seems as if the move to pick up Tebow was not made to improve, but to garner more attention. 

The Jets will not be horrible in 2012, but simply mediocre. While the spotlight is on the media circus, the defending Super Bowl champions from the same city are quietly preparing for another run. 

19. Chicago Bears: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

Release Date: May 22, 2008

USA Box Office: $317,011,114

Indiana Jones is one of the better film franchises of all time, just like the Chicago Bears are one of the better NFL franchises. However, both are absolutely unpredictable, and at times stunningly mediocre when everything leading up to the fact looked so good. 

That would be the story of the 2012 Chicago Bears. Sure, Jay Cutler was just reunited with receiver Brandon Marshall and running back Matt Forte will not miss any time. On paper, things are looking good. 

Once reality sets in, the Bears are still playing in the NFC North and will be lucky to beat the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions once. The team is not really on the rise or decline, which reflects their overall position in the NFL hierarchy—middle of the pack. 

18. San Diego Chargers: Star Trek (2009)

Release Date: May 8, 2009

USA Box Office: $257,704,099

Star Trek had one very good actor surrounded by a variety of average-at-best talent, which sounds oddly familiar. The San Diego Chargers have a great quarterback in Philip Rivers, but there are not many other notable names on the roster after him.

Perhaps that would explain why a decent team like the Chargers are always struggling to make the playoffs in one of the worst divisions in all of football. 

This trend of underperforming will continue in San Diego in 2012. Rivers cannot do it on his own, and now his No. 1 receiver in Vincent Jackson, shall we say, bolted for Tampa Bay. 

17. Atlanta Falcons: Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Release Date: July 24, 1998

USA Box Office: $216,119,491

Someone needs to save Atlanta Falcons' quarterback Matt Ryan. Even with the elite weapons at his disposal on the offensive side of the ball the team has been unable to make a lot of noise in the postseason. 

If anyone is to save Ryan, it is going to have to be the Falcons defensive unit. The unit as a whole is going to have to improve if Atlanta hopes to win a playoff game with Matty Ice at the helm. 

2012 could be that year for Ryan and the Falcons. The team acquired cornerback Asante Samuel, which should lead to an overall improvement. A lot of things need to come together at once for the unit, but if they can make it happen, Ryan might be able to direct the team to a postseason victory. 

16. Denver Broncos: Back to the Future (1985)

Release Date:  July 3, 1985

USA Box Office: $210,609,762

The title of Back to the Future says it all. The Denver Broncos broke the bank to bring in Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning. He is 36 years old and has not played football in over a year, but the Broncos seem to believe in him. 

For the Broncos' investment to truly pay off, the Manning of the past, preferably the 2004 edition who threw for 49 touchdowns, is going to have to magically transport himself to present day. 

The Broncos are a solid unit overall, but it is hard to imagine Manning will be anything but a shell of his former self. If Manning is back to his old ways, the Broncos will be an elite team. For now, this is as far as they go.

15. Buffalo Bills: Toy Story 3 (2010)

Release Date: June 18, 2010

USA Box Office: $414,984,497

The Toy Story franchise took an 11-year hiatus before returning to the big screen in a big way with Toy Story 3. The Buffalo Bills are hoping to mimic that pattern in 2012 considering the franchise has not made an appearance in the postseason in 12 seasons now. 

The Bills are certainly poised to copy the success story. They picked up defensive end Mario Williams in free agency, had an outstanding draft and brought back their biggest offensive playmaker in Steve Johnson. 

The Bills could have one of the best defensive units in the entire NFL. Add in the fact that running back Fred Jackson, who was on an MVP-like tear before his injury, should be back to 100 percent and the Bills could be the surprise team of 2012. 

14. Seattle Seahawks: Shrek 2 (2004)

Release Date: May 19, 2004

USA Box Office: $436,471,036

Despite featuring a green, smelly monster as the main character, Shrek 2 is one of the most successful films of all time in the United States. 

You know what else is green, and likely really smelly? The Seattle Seahawks' new uniforms. 

The Seahawks have a lovable monster of their own in running back Marshawn Lynch, and that may just be enough to propel the Seahawks to the postseason.

There is a borderline elite defense and an uninteresting triple-quarterback battle going on in Seattle, but Lynch will be the determining factor in the success or failure of the Seahawks in 2012. 

13. Cincinnati Bengals: The Lion King (1994)

Release Date: June 24, 1994

USA Box Office: $328,423,001

The Lion King is the story of a young lion attempting to take over the realm and claim his kingdom. In a similar manner, the young Cincinnati Bengals are attempting to win the AFC North and potentially win a playoff game for the first time in 20-plus years. 

The Bengals are led by second-year quarterback Andy Dalton and receiver A.J. Green, a combination that likely is not going away any time soon. The defense is orchestrated by Mike Zimmer and is considerably an elite unit. 

Cincinnati has a tough road ahead, but the future is promising for such a young core of talent. The Bengals might miss out on the postseason in 2012, but that might slowly be changing into an exception rather than the rule.

12. Carolina Panthers: The Bourne Ultimatum (2007)

Release Date: August 3, 2007

USA Box Office: $227,225,045

In the same way that Jason Bourne took the film industry by storm, Cam Newton took over the NFL in his rookie season last year. Bourne is a one-man wrecking crew, and Newton has the abilities to dominate a game effortlessly. 

Even though Newton could probably do it on his own, he most certainly is not on his own. He has a rejuvenated receiver in Steve Smith and an incredible running back duo in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. 

Defensively Carolina is no slouch either. The addition of rookie linebacker Luke Kuechly next to the returning Jon Beason will provide a massive upgrade from the average 2011 unit. 

Bourne may work alone, but Newton doesn't have to. The outstanding team being built around him will allow the Panthers to be the surprise team of 2012.

11. Detroit Lions: Jurassic Park (1993)

Release Date: June 11, 1993

USA Box Office: $356,784,000

Jurassic Park was a major hit not because of talented actors, but because of the stunning distractions provided by the CGI dinosaurs. The 2012 Detroit Lions can probably relate because the various distractions off the field get far more attention than the talented roster that takes the field. 

Without getting into the absurd amount of arrests and off-the-field issues the Lions have been dealing with, it is better to focus on the football side of things. 

If the Lions can come together as a team, they can do some serious damage in 2012. They have an elite quarterback in Matthew Stafford and the best receiver in all of football in Calvin Johnson.

The defense is improving at a steady pace, which is another luxury for the high-octane offense. Detroit may not win the division outright, but it could make a run in the postseason—as long as key players can stay on the field.  

10. New Orleans Saints: Inglourious Basterds (2009)

Release Date: August 21, 2009

USA Box Office: $120,523,073

The title says it all. Inglourious Basterds was supposed to be a massive summer hit considering all the talent involved with the project. Instead it flopped financially. 

The New Orleans Saints can relate right now because they are the disgraced NFL franchise thanks to Bountygate. Without their head coach, the Saints are hoping to just get by in 2012. 

Drew Brees is back, so the the Saints have a fighting chance. There are no huge offseason acquisitions to speak of outside of linebacker Curtis Lofton, so the 2012 squad will be about the same as the one that took the field last year. 

This means the Saints will still be competitive, but a drop-off is not out of the question. 

9. Pittsburgh Steelers: The Expendables (2010)

Release Date: August 3, 2010

USA Box Office: $102,981,571

The Expendables featured an excess of old movie heroes that combined for an entertaining time. It certainly was not the most successful movie in history, but it was still great. 

The Pittsburgh Steelers have a variety of older veterans that continue to defy the odds of age. Every year we all get to hear about how old the Steelers are and how big of a step back the franchise will take. 

Alas, every year the Steelers are one of the best teams in the league. 

That won't change in 2012. Veterans like Troy Polamalu and Ben Roethlisberger are still around, and that means Pittsburgh will be right in the thick of things come next January. 

8. Baltimore Ravens: Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)

Release Date: May 19, 1999

USA Box Office: $431,065,444

The Star Wars franchise has been one of the most dominant forces in the film industry since the beginning, and The Phantom Menace was no exception considering it is the eighth-highest-grossing film of all time. 

Although not exactly the same, but similar, the Baltimore Ravens have been exceptionally dominant since its creation in 1996, with a few glaring exceptions. 

2012 will just be another year of dominance for the franchise. Not much has changed personnel wise, and even the absence of reigning Defensive Player of the Year Terrell Suggs won't stop the Ravens from contending for the title. 

7. Dallas Cowboys: Independence Day (1996)

Release Date: June 27, 2000

USA Box Office: $306,124,059

Independence Day shocked the United States when it first came out, and the Dallas Cowboys, better known as "America's Team," could have a similar impact in 2012. 

The Cowboys are stacked. Tony Romo, love him or hate him, is a borderline elite quarterback with excellent weapons around him. Defensively the Cowboys are a force to be reckoned with thanks to the guidance of defensive guru Rob Ryan. 

Romo and Co. are Super Bowl contenders in 2012. The hype is enormous, and rightfully so. 

6. Philadelphia Eagles: Inception (2010)

Release Date: July 16, 2010

USA Box Office: $292,568,851

The Philadelphia Eagles were in a dream-state last year after the label "Dream Team" was turned on its head. Key members of the team could not stay healthy, and the talented roster failed to make any noise at all. 

This year things should be different. A more humble approach from quarterback Michael Vick and Co. would probably help. 

Offensively the Eagles still have the potential to be an elite unit. LeSean "Shady" McCoy is still one of the best backs in the league and the duo of DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin is still a huge threat in the passing game. 

There is a lot of work to be done on the defensive side of the ball, but the addition of Fletcher Cox is a nice first step. Philadelphia could possibly live up to the hype of last year in 2012. 

5. San Francisco 49ers: The Dark Knight (2008)

Release Date:  July 18, 2008

USA Box Office: $533,316,061

The Dark Knight is widely hailed as one of the greatest movies ever, and it certainly sold that way. The San Francisco 49ers are one of the best football franchises ever as well. 

San Francisco still has arguably the best defensive group in the league, and the offense continues to improve with upgrades such as receivers Randy Moss and A.J. Jenkins. 

2012 sees the 49ers as an even better squad than the 2011 version. It may not reach TDK status as one of the best teams ever, but it will most certainly compete for a Super Bowl. 

4. New York Giants: Gladiator (2000)

Release Date: May 5, 2000

USA Box Office: $187,670,866

In Gladiator, Russell Crowe is the ultimate warrior that only performs at his best when the stakes are the highest. That should sound very, very familiar to NFL fans. 

Over the past few years the New York Giants have been abysmal in the regular season, only to turn it up a notch when they sneak into the postseason. The result? Two Super Bowl Championships in the past five years. 

2012 will likely be more of the same for the men in blue. For whatever reason, the team struggles in the regular season but does just enough to make it to the postseason. 

That's when the stakes are the highest, and when the Giants are at their best. 

3. Houston Texans: The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Release Date: July 20, 2012

USA Box Office: $198,038,896 (so far)

In The Dark Knight Rises, Batman returns to save the city. In a similar vein, quarterback Matt Schaub is returning to the Houston Texans in 2012 to potentially lead the team to the Super Bowl. 

Last season without Schaub, the Texans made a run with a rookie quarterback at the helm. Schaub is a solid quarterback when healthy, and the weapons around him are outstanding. Running back Arian Foster is the league's best and wide receiver Andre Johnson is still great. 

On the defensive side of things the Texans have arguable the best pass rush in the business, and the secondary is steadily improving as well. 

With Schaub healthy, the Texans might just have enough to bring a Lombardi Trophy to Houston. 

2. New England Patriots: Fantastic 4 (2005)

Release Date: July 8, 2005

USA Box Office: $154,695,569

The Fantastic 4, which starred in the movie of the same name, featured four unbelievable super heroes that saved the world from impossible odds. 

The New England Patriots happen to have a Fantastic 4 of their own in quarterback Tom Brady, receiver Wes Welker and tight ends Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski. 

These four elite players make the Patriots Super Bowl contenders no matter what. The defense is improving, but it does not matter. New England made it to the Super Bowl last year with a laughably bad defense. 

As long as New England's very own "Fantastic 4" are around, things are looking good in Foxborough. 

1. Green Bay Packers: The Avengers (2012)

Release Date:  May 4, 2012

USA Box Office: $615,058,425

It is only fitting that the best team in the NFL be compared to the highest-ranking summer blockbuster in United States history. The Avengers absolutely shattered records on the way to the top, something Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers know a thing or two about. 

After winning Super Bowl in 2010, last season the Packers had a down year and bowed out of the playoffs early. It makes sense for the Packers to bounce back in 2012 and, shall we say, avenge that mediocre showing. 

As long as Rodgers is running the offense, the Packers will always be Super Bowl favorites. 2012 is going to be a huge year for Green Bay.