NFL Power Rankings 2012: Mid-Tier Teams Quickly on the Rise

Brian MaziqueJun 1, 2018

The NFL preseason means nothing to the elite teams, unless someone gets hurt. The real cream of the crop will shine when the games count. The primary objective for the top teams is to emerge with no key players lost for an extended period of time.

The mid-tier teams are a different story. In many instances, they are hashing out key position battles, and the preseason may be a time to establish an identity.

I think the Washington Redskins are one of those teams. Robert Griffin III changes the dynamic of what the Skins can do on offense, and the defense was already a promising group. RG3 gives the offense an identity. The preseason will be key for him to get comfortable and confident under center.

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The NFC will be tough this year, as will the NFC East, but the Skins are a team to watch as the preseason progresses and the regular season begins.

Here are two other mid-tier teams that will surprise:

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs have a nice array of weapons with a healthy Jamaal Charles. The young Chiefs defense was already solid against the pass. They ranked sixth in passing yards allowed in 2011. They drafted Dontari' Poe in the first round of the 2012 draft to help the run defense.

On big help for the defense will be the fact that the Chiefs can actually move the ball this season.

The upset win the Chiefs pulled on the Green Bay Packers was just a glimpse into what we'll see this season. Kansas City is a grind-it-out squad, but a healthy Charles, teamed with Dwayne Bowe and the versatile Dexter McCluster, gives Matt Cassel options.

The Chiefs will surprise people this year.

Seattle Seahawks

Seattle's defense is going to be one of the brightest spots of its team. It has a solid secondary led by Earl Thomas, and it is balanced up front.

I expect Bruce Irvin to validate why the Seahawks took him in the first round. I believe he will be a force as a pass-rush specialist. Irvin's electrifying speed will be an asset, especially on third downs.

I'm not completely sold on Matt Flynn yet, but the O-Line and Marshawn Lynch will make his job easier. The first game of the preseason was just that, a preseason game. But reading between the lines shows this team to be a talented and confident bunch.

Look out for this team in the NFC West.

Here are my complete power rankings at this point: