NFL Power Rankings: Teams That Made Vast Improvements from Last Season

Week 1 in the NFL showed that a few teams are markedly better in 2012 than they were in 2011. 

Whether it was a big-free agent signing or a key draft pick that has made the difference, the balance of power has been shifted over the offseason.

Pro Football Talks’ Mike Florio notes that there has been an average of six new playoff teams every season over the past 15 years, and a few teams that were irrelevant last season look ready to compete for a playoff spot.

Here are my power rankings after Week 1, highlighting teams that have made significant improvements since last season.

1. New England Patriots (1-0)

The Patriots went to the Super Bowl last season despite allowing the second-most yardage in the NFL.

The young defense pulled together and played above itself in the playoffs, but that experience along with a few key additions has turned this unit into a force.

First-round picks Chandler Jones and Dont’a Hightower have brought more youth and athleticism to the defense and look set to have excellent seasons. Both players recorded five tackles in Week 1 while Jones had a sack and Hightower scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery.

With an improved defense and Tom Brady leading one of the best offenses in the NFL, the Patriots are the top team in the NFL after the first round of games.

2. Baltimore Ravens (1-0) 

The Ravens have finally put more responsibility on Joe Flacco, and he responded in a big way against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football.

Letting Flacco run an up-tempo, no-huddle offense has turned the Baltimore offense into a dangerous unit capable of running up the score.

Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones provide speed on the outside while Anquan Boldin is still an excellent possession receiver, and Dennis Pitta and Ed Dixon give the team talent at tight end. Ray Rice completes the stable of skill position players and is one of the best running backs in the league.

Now that Flacco is in an offense that allows him to take advantage of the players around him, this team has the potential to dominate on both sides of the ball.

3. San Francisco 49ers (1-0)

The Niners offense looked improved from last season, but this likely has more to do with the Packers’ awful defense than the players they brought in this summer.

4. Houston Texans (1-0)

This team once again has an aggressive defense and a potent offense. If Matt Schaub stays healthy, the Texans will be making a deep postseason run.

5. Atlanta Falcons (1-0) 

The Falcons trounced the Chiefs in the second half, and they look ready to establish themselves as one of the top teams in the NFC.

6. Green Bay Packers (0-1)

The defense appears to have gotten worse over the offseason, and answers will need to be provided on that side of the ball before the Packers can start thinking about another Super Bowl run.

7. Denver Broncos (1-0) 

All the questions surrounding Peyton Manning’s ability to return from a season out of football and play at a high level have been answered.

Manning was rifling balls to receivers on the sideline, directing traffic at the line of scrimmage and calling the necessary audibles to drive the Pittsburgh Steelers defense crazy. The only difference in Manning’s performance from earlier in his career was the bright orange jersey on his back.

The Denver defense played up the standard it set down the stretch last season. The pass-rushers were active, and veterans Champ Bailey and Tracy Porter led the secondary’s fine effort.

With Manning leading the offense, this is a complete team capable of competing for a title.

8. Dallas Cowboys (1-0)

If DeMarco Murray stays healthy, the Dallas offense will be extremely dangerous this season. Unfortunately, that isn’t something Cowboys fans can count on.

9. New York Giants (0-1)

This appears to be another year characterized by inconsistent regular-season play for the Giants.

10. Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1)

The Steelers will be competitive as they are every season, and with a few wins, they will move further up the rankings.

11. Detroit Lions (1-0)

The Lions had a much more difficult time than they expected with the Rams, and this suggests that discipline may be a problem again this year.

12. Chicago Bears (1-0)

Jay Cutler finally has talent at the skill positions, and a showdown with the Packers will reveal if Chicago is capable of competing for a division title this season.

13. New York Jets (1-0)

The Jets offense certainly looked much improved in the first week. But this unit was truly awful leading up to the season, and it needs to prove it can repeat that performance before any judgment is made.

14. Washington Redskins (1-0)

Suddenly, the king’s ransom Washington gave to St. Louis for the No. 2 pick in the draft looks like a bargain.

Robert Griffin III was magnificent in his debut, and he has the calm, confident demeanor of a great quarterback. He also has a rocket arm and track-star speed. 

Griffin has brought more excitement to Washington than the franchise has had in decades, and he is an electrifying talent. His ability to make plays has energized the entire team.

The Redskins certainly look capable of being one of this season’s surprise playoff teams.

15. Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)

The Eagles are extremely fortunate that they played the Browns in Week 1. Nearly any other team in the league would have beat them, and significant improvements will be needed if this team is going to compete in the NFC East.

16. San Diego Chargers (1-0)

The defense looks more dangerous than it was last season, but the Raiders offense did not provide a true test to see if there has been a meaningful leap forward.

17. New Orleans Saints (0-1)

Sean Payton will clearly be missed this season, and a monumental effort from Drew Brees will be needed going forward to keep this team in playoff contention.

18. Cincinnati Bengals (0-1)

Cincinnati will improve along with Andy Dalton. If he is markedly better this year than he was as a rookie, the Bengals will be tough to beat.

19. Kansas City Chiefs (0-1)

Last year featured a slew of injuries to key players, and as guys like Jamaal Charles and Eric Berry get more comfortable, this team will get better.

20. Tennessee Titans (0-1)

Any more four-yard games from Chris Johnson and the Titans will be in serious trouble.

21. Arizona Cardinals (1-0) 

The Kevin Kolb saga in Arizona is about to start another chapter. He will have to perform extremely well to win over Cardinals fans who booed him immediately when he entered last week’s game.

22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0)

The team earned a victory in Week 1 but still does not look like it will make a dramatic turnaround from last season.

23. Carolina Panthers (0-1)

The Panthers are supposed to have a potent running game, but they gained just 10 yards on the ground against the Bucs. If that happens again, they will slide down the rankings.

24. Oakland Raiders (0-1)

Fortunately for the Raiders, their problems are not hard to identify. If this team finds a way to limit penalties and successfully snap the ball to Shane Lechler on punts, it will be competitive.

25. St. Louis Rams (0-1)

The Rams’ disciplined, conservative performance had Jeff Fishers’ fingerprints all over it. He will lead the team to a few surprising victories this season, but St. Louis is a long way from competing for a playoff spot.

26. Minnesota Vikings (1-0)

Adrian Peterson’s performance was an incredibly positive sign for the team, and the Vikings certainly have a chance to beat the Colts and start 2-0. However, a Week 3 game against San Francisco will be a reality check.

27. Seattle Seahawks (0-1)

Seattle’s debut showed glaring flaws on the offensive line, and this will not help rookie Russell Wilson.

28. Buffalo Bills (0-1)

The Bills were supposed to be a team that could play strong defense and run the ball. Now, the defense looks disappointing, Fred Jackson is injured and there is little to look forward to in Buffalo.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1)

Maurice Jones-Drew will have another productive season, but Blaine Gabbert’s progress will be the main storyline in Jacksonville this season.

30. Indianapolis Colts (0-1)

Robert Griffin III overshadowed Andrew Luck in Week 1, but the No. 1 pick will have impressive performances this season. Unfortunately, he has little help around him and they may be few and far between.

31. Cleveland Browns (0-1)

The Browns’ first-round picks were unable to help pull out a victory, despite Philadelphia’s best efforts to allow them to start their Cleveland careers off with a win.

32. Miami Dolphins (0-1)

The Dolphins and their fans can only take solace in the fact that they are still in Miami. The beach and the weather will be a source of happiness, but this football team will not provide anything positive this season.