Ranking the NFL's Most Dangerous Offenses

With Aaron Rodgers zipping passes to his talent corps of receivers, Tom Brady frequently finding an uncoverable Rob Gronkowski, and Drew Brees dispersing the ball to seemingly the entire city of New Orleans, the term "dangerous" has officially been redefined in the NFL. 

Brees shattered passing records in 2011, Rodgers led his team to a 15-1 record, and the 34-year-old Brady threw for over 5,000 yards for the first time in his career. 

Don't forget about what Matt Stafford and his Detroit Lions are capable of, either. 

Here's a ranking of the most dangerous offenses heading into the 2012 campaign. 

5. Detroit Lions

Calvin Johnson is the best non-quarterback in the NFL. 

The Detroit Lions offense runs through him. 

He was virtually unstoppable in 2011, reeling in 96 passes for 1,681 yards with 16 touchdowns during the regular season. Although Megatron's team was ousted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the playoffs, his 12-catch, 211-yard, two-touchdown performance served as a keen reminder of his sheer dominance. 

Matt Stafford was finally healthy for a full 16 games and emerged as a quarterback many mentioned in the elite category. 

The combination of those two alone makes the Lions a top-10 offense in 2012. 

Throw in the ideal slot contributor Titus Young, who enters his second year after a 48-grab, 607-yard, six-touchdown campaign last year, Brandon Pettigrew, a respectable pass-catching tight end, and rookie Ryan Broyles, and you'll understand why Motown is the home of one of the most dangerous passing offenses in football. 

However, there are question marks galore in the running game. 

Though that facet of game has been on the decline over the last few seasons, teams cannot be totally one-dimensional. 

Jahvid Best can't stay healthy. Mikel Leshoure was arrested twice this offseason, and we don't know how consistent Kevin Smith can be. 

Still, the Lions boast one freakishly dynamic offensive attack. 

4. Philadelphia Eagles

Forget the "Dream Team" disappointment. 

It's over and done with. 

Mike Vick remains one of the scariest and most intimidating quarterbacks in the game with big-play potential lurking on every play. His main receiving targets, DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, are true speedsters capable of simultaneously stretching the defense down each sideline. 

Maclin quietly recorded 63 catches for 859 yards and five touchdowns in 2011. According to NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah, he looked "outstanding" in offseason workouts, and the Eagles expect a huge year from the former Missouri burner.  

Brenk Celek isn't necessarily a household name, but he's a major facet of Marty Mornhinweg's offensive scheme. Many teams would kill for a 62-catch, 811-yard and five-touchdown season from their tight end—Celek's numbers last season.  

All that firepower makes the Eagles a top-flight NFL attack, and the only skill position offensive All-Pro of 2011 has yet to be mentioned. 

Running back LeSean McCoy scored 17 rushing touchdowns last year and rushed for 1,309 yards at 4.8 yards per carry clip. His burst is as tremendous as anyone on the roster and is the final reason why Philadelphia will house a top-three offense in 2012. 

3. New England Patriots

Tom Brady is undoubtedly an elite quarterback, and for the first time since 2007, he has a multitude of weapons around him. 

Rob Gronkowski had the best tight end season in the history of the NFL. Wes Welker is Wes Welker. Aaron Hernandez is the X-factor with a variety of roles that no defense can quite figure out. 

The Patriots finished second to the Saints in offensive yardage last season with that core of playmakers, but now they boast crafty deep threat Brandon Lloyd. 

Though Lloyd isn't a true speedster with blazing speed, he tracks the ball as well as anyone in football and has soft hands. 

With the Denver Broncos in 2010, under the tutelage of Josh McDaniels, who has returned as New England's offensive coordinator, Lloyd led the NFL with 1,448 receiving yards. 

The outside receiving threat will bring an added dimension to the Patriots offense and should open things down the seam for Gronkowski and Hernandez while potentially making Welker even more effective underneath, if that's possible.

Unproven running backs Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen are the only offensive question marks. 

2. New Orleans Saints

The Saints endured as tumultuous of an offseason as anyone and will play the 2012 season without their head coach and offensive guru Sean Payton. 

If anyone's a true extension of their coach with a firm grasp on the playbook and offensive scheme, it's Drew Brees.

He lost complementary but dangerous burner Robert Meachem in free agency, but together, Adrian Arrington and Nick Toon should be capable of replacing his production. 

Marques Colston is still an underrated pass-catching commodity, and Jimmy Graham is the only tight end in football that can argue he's better than Rob Gronkowski. 

Throw in a stable of steady running backs that includes the ridiculously efficient spark plug Darren Sproles, and you'll realize why the Saints come in at No. 2. 

Yes, like Meachem, Carl Nicks departed in free agency, but Ben Grubbs is more than an adequate fill-in at the left guard position. 

Brees is poised for another record-breaking season in 2012. 

1. Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers won the MVP last season after throwing 45 touchdowns to only six interceptions in 15 games. 

His quarterback rating was an astounding 122.5. 

All of his weapons return, and gadget player Randall Cobb should become move into a more prominent role in the electric offense. 

Cobb, Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones and Jermichael Finley formulate the most physically impressive and esteemed receiving corps in the NFL. 

The running game isn't established, but Alex Green and James Starks should provide enough statistical ouput on the ground to keep opposing defenses somewhat honest.