NFL Power Rankings: Teams That Will Make Big Jumps After Week 1 Wins

Few things are debated more throughout the course of an NFL season than power rankings. They are an interesting gauge of where a team currently stands, but the opinions about the placement vary greatly from person to person.

It's a fact made crystal clear prior to the season actually starting. Since there are no games to work from, the rankings are a combination of last season and offseason moves. And diehard fans from every fanbase are adamant their team will exceed expectations.

With that in mind, let's take a look at three teams that should begin making a move up the rankings after Week 1. A full preseason power rankings table is also below.

Denver Broncos

The Broncos made the biggest free-agent addition of the offseason in Peyton Manning. The veteran quarterback should transform the offense into a more potent unit immediately and ensure not every game goes down to the wire like it seemingly did with Tim Tebow.

Nobody is sure how Manning will play after a year away from the game, however, so the Broncos have been ranked pretty conservatively. If he lives up to his usual high standards, the Broncos become a legitimate threat in the AFC.

Denver doesn't have to wait long for its first test. The team takes on the Pittsburgh Steelers and their vaunted defense in the opener. A victory will show exactly how much potential the Broncos have and send them flying up the rankings.

Baltimore Ravens

Perhaps the Ravens have finally found the right mix. Joe Flacco should bounce back from a down season which should provide a big boost to a promising offense. And the aging defense should still have another dominant year in the tank.

They can't be considered an elite team unless Flacco elevates his game, though. He took a huge step in the wrong direction in 2011 after three straight seasons of progress upon arriving to the NFL. The Ravens can't afford for him to keep slipping.

The question marks surrounding his play have kept Baltimore down a bit in the rankings. A strong showing against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night should lead to more confidence in the Ravens and a solid ranking improvement.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles have talent worthy of being ranked inside the top five. But after watching the team struggle mightily while trying to live up to the incredible hype last season, the team's rankings have been far more conservative this time around.

As always, keeping Michael Vick off the injury report is crucial. Backups Nick Foles and Trent Edwards were both impressive during the preseason, but the Eagles' offense isn't nearly as dynamic without Vick. He's the definition of a game-changing player.

A healthy Vick combined with a defense that showed signs of becoming a top-tier unit late last season and during the preseason makes the Eagles a dangerous team. An easy road victory over the Cleveland Browns should increase the level of optimism about Philadelphia.

Tim Daniels' Preseason NFL Power Rankings
1. New England Patriots
2. Green Bay Packers
3. San Francisco 49ers
4. New Orleans Saints
5. New York Giants
6. Detroit Lions
7. Pittsburgh Steelers
8. Baltimore Ravens
9. Houston Texans
10. Atlanta Falcons
11. Denver Broncos
12. Philadelphia Eagles
13. Chicago Bears
14. Cincinnati Bengals
15. Dallas Cowboys
16. Tennessee Titans
17. San Diego Chargers
18. Buffalo Bills
19. Seattle Seahawks
20. Carolina Panthers
21. Kansas City Chiefs
22. Arizona Cardinals
23. New York Jets
24. Oakland Raiders
25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
26. Washington Redskins
27. Jacksonville Jaguars
28. Cleveland Browns
29. Indianapolis Colts
30. Miami Dolphins
31. St. Louis Rams
32. Minnesota Vikings