NFL Power Rankings 2012: Hot Teams This Preseason That Will Cool Off in the Fall

The Cleveland Browns may be sitting atop the AFC this preseason, but that will change in a hurry once the NFL's 2012 regular season kicks off this fall.

Cleveland is coming off a 25-point win at Lambeau Field over the champions of Super Bowl XLV, but will have to prove it can continue to exceed expectations during the regular season.

The Browns are just one example of a team riding high this summer that will soon be in for a reality check.

Here we analyze three hot preseason teams, destined to cool off come fall.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Although the Jacksonville Jaguars are off to a scorching-hot start this preseason, they still have one major 2011 statistic to overcome during the regular season. The Jaguars boasted the NFL's worst passing attack last year, averaging just over 136 yards through the air per week.

Jacksonville's second-year quarterback Blaine Gabbert is the biggest question mark heading into the fall. Gabbert tossed 12 touchdowns and 11 interceptions as a rookie in 2011, completing just over 50 percent of his passes. With Justin Blackmon on board, Gabbert's life will be a little easier, but don't expect the losing culture in Jacksonville to change because of Blackmon and a fast preseason start. 

Since making the playoffs in 2007, the Jaguars have failed to put together a winning record, going 25-39 over the last four seasons. 

Cleveland Browns

Despite how strong the Cleveland Browns have looked this preseason, the perennial AFC North basement dwellers will cool off this fall. Although Cleveland's defense has been stout through its first two exhibition matchups, allowing just 13.5 points per game, the Browns must improve on a run defense that allowed more than 147 yards per game in 2011.

In addition to the struggles stopping the run, Cleveland must find an answer to its quarterback problem, which has kept the team out of the hunt in recent seasons. First-round draft picks Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden will look to help boost rushing and passing attacks that ranked 28th and 24th in the NFL respectively, but they will need plenty of help.

The Browns haven't been to the playoffs since 2002, and have had just one winning season in the past nine years. 

San Diego Chargers

San Diego has won its first two preseason games this summer by eight points each and, at the moment, looks poised to contend in the AFC. Unfortunately for the Bolts, no team in the NFL is as inconsistent as them. Philip Rivers can be an unstoppable passer at times from under center, throwing for over 4,600 yards last season, but he makes far too many poor decisions. Rivers threw 20 interceptions and fumbled seven times in 2011.

The Chargers' mediocre defense will also bring them back down to earth during the regular season. San Diego struggled to stop the run last year, and will hope that first-round draft pick Melvin Ingram can help stuff the rush in 2012. Still, the last few seasons have shown us that no matter how fast the Chargers start, it will be the midseason and beyond that defines who they are. 

My 2012 NFL Preseason Power Rankings

Rank	Team
No. 1	Seattle Seahawks
No. 2	Houston Texans
No. 3	Cleveland Browns
No. 4	San Diego Chargers
No. 5	Cincinnati Bengals
No. 6	Jacksonville Jaguars
No. 7	New England Patriots
No. 8	Indianapolis Colts
No. 9	New York Giants
No. 10	Tennessee Titans
No. 11	Denver Broncos
No. 12	Detroit Lions
No. 13	San Francisco 49ers
No. 14	Minnesota Vikings
No. 15	Pittsburgh Steelers
No. 16	Philadelphia Eagles
No. 17	New Orleans Saints
No. 18	Washington Redskins
No. 19	Baltimore Ravens
No. 20	Dallas Cowboys
No. 21	Kansas City Chiefs
No. 22	Carolina Panthers
No. 23	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
No. 24	Chicago Bears
No. 25	St. Louis Rams
No. 26	Arizona Cardinals
No. 27	Green Bay Packers
No. 28	Atlanta Falcons
No. 29	Miami Dolphins
No. 30	Buffalo Bills
No. 31	New York Jets
No. 32	Oakland Raiders

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