NFL Divisional Power Rankings Through 2013 Free Agency
The early frenzy of free-agency activity has come and gone during the 2013 offseason. Some teams have been left in shambles and others look to be building toward dominance in the coming season.
The first goal for each NFL team is beating their own divisional opponents. Winning a division is an automatic bid to the postseason and brings with it a chance to earn a Lombardi Trophy.
Each divisional ranking, however, can not be based solely upon one specific team that has performed very well recently. These rankings will reiterate that a division is only as strong as its weakest link.
To accurately rank all eight divisions, we will look at where each team within the division currently stands. Rankings will be based upon where teams left off in the 2012 season and how they have fared through the first two full weeks of free agency. Each team will be given a "power rating." These ratings will range from one to five—one being the lowest score, and a five the highest.
All four teams' scores will then be totaled together, and the highest cumulative score will earn the top spot in these divisional power rankings. The highest possible power rating for a division is 20, and the lowest is four.
So, which division figures to be the most powerful in 2013?
Criteria for the power ratings are listed below.
A power rating of "5" will be reserved for a team that had a fantastic campaign in 2012 and has built upon its success by retaining key players and adding others to figure to be even more competitive in the upcoming season.
A power rating of "4" will be given to a team that had a great run in 2012 and, although it may not have added key players this offseason, will certainly still be well in the mix in 2013.
A power rating of "3" is designated to a team that could have done one of two things. Either it had a great 2012 season but is significantly lacking this offseason due to personnel losses. Also, this could be a team that was average in 2012 but have made some nice gains in 2013 free agency and should be vastly improved from last season.
A power rating of "2" will be given to a team that did not have a spectacular season in 2012 and also has not made any noticeable improvements so far in the 2013 offseason. This rating is for a below-average team that figures to stay the same in the coming season.
A power rating of "1" will be handed to a team that was far below average in the 2012 season and may have actually gotten worse so far in the 2013 offseason. This will be given to a team that should not be expected to make any significant impact in the near future.
8. AFC West
1 of 8The AFC West was the most lopsided division in all of football in 2012. The division only accounted for 26 wins in 2012—half of which belonged to the Denver Broncos. The balance of power in this division does not seem to be shifting at all based upon 2013 free-agent signings.
Cumulative Power Rating: 11
The Denver Broncos finished the 2012 season with a 13-3 record and made a deep run into the playoffs behind the strong arm of quarterback Peyton Manning. Defensively, the Broncos were stellar as Pro Football Focus gave them a 114.8 grade—the highest in the league (subscription required).
The Broncos did lose key free agent Elvis Dumervil to the Baltimore Ravens, but they acquired the talents of Wes Welker and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie—both of whom provide upgrades. They also might be currently interested in bringing in Dwight Freeney to replace Dumervil.
This is a team that was very dominant in 2012 and figures to be even better in 2013. The Broncos have already made significant upgrades and should dominate the division once again.
Power Rating: 5
The San Diego Chargers are under new leadership this coming season, which could be a very positive change for this team. However, they have done absolutely nothing to improve upon their 7-9 finish in 2012.
They have already lost their top free agent Antoine Cason and figure to lose more if the front office does not get on track. They did sign Derek Cox to replace Cason, but that signing is not an upgrade.
The Chargers received one of the worst overall offensive grades from Pro Football Focus from 2012 at a staggering negaitve-33.2 (subscription required). Quarterback Philip Rivers has not been in the upper echelons of his positional group for quite some time now. Major changes need to happen if this team is to become any kind of a threat once again.
Power Rating: 3
There may not be another NFL team that is in as much turmoil as the Oakland Raiders right now. They finished the 2012 season with a dismal 4-12 record and have more personnel questions than answers right now.
The Raiders figure to deal Carson Palmer (via NFL.com) soon but are unsure of what Terrelle Pryor brings to the table as a read-option quarterback. This team may just be in worse shape from which it ended the 2012 season.
Losing Darrius Heyward-Bey and Michael Huff and gaining virtually nothing in return does not bode well for this team next season. The Raiders are also short one second-round selection that they traded to the Cincinnati Bengals for Palmer.
Power Rating: 1
Now that the Kansas City Chiefs are under new head coach Andy Reid, things have taken a slight turn for the better in Kansas City. Coming off of a disastrous 2-14 year, the only way they can go is up—that is just what Reid has been doing, thus far.
The Chiefs started the offseason well by filling the biggest hole on their football team—quarterback. Trading for Alex Smith was a great move and a significant upgrade over Matt Cassel. They also provided Smith with weapons by retaining Dwayne Bowe and signing Anthony Fasano.
Defensively, they have improved in the secondary by signing free-agent cornerbacks Sean Smith and Dunta Robinson. This team already had a solid core of young players, and it has improved nicely. However, there is still much work that needs to be done to even reach the .500 plateau.
Power Rating: 2
7. NFC East
2 of 8For many years, the NFC East was one of the toughest divisions in football. However, things changed in 2012 and the wheels fell off the more dominant teams in the division. The scenario for this division worsened during the playoffs when rookie phenom Robert Griffin III significantly damaged his knee and is questionable for the start of the 2013 season.
Cumulative Power Rating: 11
The Washington Redskins shocked the football world last season when they finished 10-6 and went on to win the NFC East on the arm and legs of their rookie quarterback. This team remains mostly intact after the first couple weeks of free agency. There have not been any major signings, but the Redskins have not had any significant losses as well.
However, one troublesome factor remains—the health of Griffin. It has been reported lately that Griffin is recovering from injury at "a superhuman rate" (via Robert Klemko, USA Today), but he is still questionable for the start of the 2013 season.
If Griffin can get back on the field for the start of the season, this team should not have a problem taking the division for a second straight year. If he can't, the Redskins have a very capable backup in Kirk Cousins. This is a good team already, but it is still on the rise and should be dominant for years to come.
Power Rating: 4
The New York Giants were the defending Super Bowl champions during the 2012 season. They had many ups and downs throughout the year as they looked dominant in some games but looked overwhelmed in others. They did finish with a 9-7 record, but it was not enough to get them back into the playoffs.
The Giants have sustained some significant losses during the 2013 offseason. Thus far, they have lost Osi Umenyiora, Chris Canty, Kenny Phillips and Martellus Bennett. They also could lose Ahmad Bradshaw very soon as the Pittsburgh Steelers are very interested in him (via NFL.com).
These losses greatly outweigh their gains and this is troublesome for a franchise with so many great players already in place. If the Giants cannot pull the trigger on some free agents or have a stellar draft, they could struggle to get to the .500 mark in 2013.
Power Rating: 3
The Dallas Cowboys were a huge disappointment in 2012. Many fans and pundits alike were favoring them to go deep into the playoffs. However, that ended rather abruptly as they finished with a very average 8-8 record.
One thing the Cowboys need to clean up next season is the amount of penalties they have been given. Pro Football Focus ranked the Cowboys in the negatives both offensively and defensively in their penalty category (subscription required).
Currently, the Cowboys have broke even in free agency during the offseason. However, they need to do much more to become relevant once again. They have just signed quarterback Tony Romo to a long-term deal (via USA Today); however, this is a delicate matter as Romo holds a career 1-4 playoff record.
Power Rating: 3
The Philadelphia Eagles were once the most dominant team in this division for quite some time. However, lately they have found themselves in the gutter. Posting a horrid 4-12 record over the 2012 season, this team needs to make significant changes to become competitive once again.
This team is the very definition of "rebuilding" at the moment. New head coach Chip Kelly has been brought in to revamp this offense, but the quarterback situation remains murky and the team lacks consistency.
The Eagles made a nice free-agency signing in Connor Barwin but have lost too many players to have made any kind of positive impact. This team will need to get on a three-year plan and rebuild this franchise from top to bottom. Do not expect a sudden improvement from this team in 2013.
Power Rating: 1
6. AFC South
3 of 8The AFC South was home to two playoff teams from a year ago. It was a rather lopsided division, as two teams were playoff-caliber and the other two could not seem to gain any momentum whatsoever. So far, after two weeks of free agency, it looks to be headed in the same direction for the 2013 season.
Cumulative Power Rating: 12
The Houston Texans were one of the league's bright spots early in the season last year. They were the last undefeated team left standing until they went on a late-season slide and finished 12-4. Still, this team has plenty to build upon as it hosts some of the most talented players in the NFL.
This team does have holes to fill if it is to get to the next level, however. Attaining a second wide receiver to complement Andre Johnson would be a major benefactor to this franchise. The Texans have been unable to do so for the duration of his career.
In free agency, they had one big loss and one big gain. They lost out on Barwin to the Eagles but were able to sign Ed Reed at safety. With a great defense already, this will boost the Texans nicely in 2013. They are currently just one great offensive addition away from becoming a very dominant team once again next season.
Power Rating: 4
What a great story this team provided from its 2012 campaign. With so much emotion extending from the diagnosis of Chuck Pagano and a very talented rookie quarterback in Andrew Luck leading the way, the team quickly became quite popular.
The Indianapolis Colts will now look to improve upon their 11-5 finish from 2012 during free agency. They do stand to possibly lose Freeney but have made some great acquisitions. LaRon Landry, Gosder Cherilus and Matt Hasselbeck have all been recent additions to this team.
With Hasselbeck's ability to mentor Luck, this young quarterback only stands to get even better. This team was a great story in 2012, but it stands to be a major force in 2013 if it can keep the momentum going.
Power Rating: 4
The Tennessee Titans had a very disappointing 2012 campaign as they went just 6-10. Clearly, they were nowhere near satisfied with this performance and have made that abundantly clear in 2013 free agency—they have been very busy.
The Titans have now signed Andy Levitre, Bernard Pollard, Geroge Wilson, Shonn Greene, Delanie Walker and Ryan Fitzpatrick to their roster. These are all great acquisitions, especially that of Fitzpatrick due to the concerns around quarterback Jake Locker.
After being very average in 2012, it looks as though the Titans have realized exactly what their team needs were and have established themselves as major players in the free-agent market. These signings have been good, but this is still a team that needs to come together as a unit to get over the hump.
Power Rating: 3
The Jaguars may be the one team in the league that was terrible in 2012 and does not seem to be looking any better for 2013. The Jaguars sit behind quarterback Blaine Gabbert for the upcoming season, which is unsettling enough.
Gabbert proved to be one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL last season as Pro Football Focus gave him a negative-4.3 overall rating which ranked 27th in the league (subscription required). Not only are they sticking with Gabbert, they have been unable to surround him with any kind of weapons to help the situation.
This team is in desperate need of an overhaul, and it should get one after the 2013 season. The Jaguars stand to once again be one of the worst teams in the league and should be selecting very high in the 2014 draft.
Power Rating: 1
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5. AFC East
4 of 8Last season, this seemed like a very lopsided division—it was. The New England Patriots were the only team to finish above the .500 mark and make the playoffs. However, during the 2013 offseason, other teams in the division have been making moves in attempt to close the gap between the Patriots and the rest of the AFC East.
Cumulative Power Rating: 13
The New England Patriots have been the long-standing champions of this division for many years now. They have been very successful in free agency and the draft in recent years allowing time for players to develop in their system. Each time they lose a player to some unforeseen event, they always seem to have someone in line ready to step in.
During 2013 free agency, the Patriots have been at it again. Pro Football Focus ranked the Patriots offense as the third-most efficient in 2012 (subscription required). Even though they lost a key player in Welker, they have made great additions as well.
Adrian Wilson, Danny Amendola and Leon Washington should all be able to play major roles on this team in the upcoming season. When this team is healthy and firing on all calendars, it becomes one of the most unstoppable forces in the NFL.
Power Rating: 5
The Miami Dolphins may have had the busiest offseason of any NFL team, thus far. They finished the 2012 season at 7-9 which is respectable under a rookie quarterback with very few weapons at his disposal. Recently, the Dolphins have certainly added those weapons for the 2013 season.
The Dolphins lost four big-time players in Reggie Bush, Kevin Burnett, Jake Long and Karlos Dansby, but have suitable replacements for them. They have gained quite a few big-name players of their own as well. The additions of Mike Wallace, Dustin Keller and Dannell Ellerbe along with the retention of Brian Hartline make this team very dangerous come 2013.
Ryan Tannehill will finally have a good amount of weapons at his disposal on the offensive side of the ball. The Dolphins defense is already a very solid unit all the way around. This team could very well threaten the Patriots for the top spot in the division in the coming season.
Power Rating: 4
Quite possibly one of the worst franchises in the NFL at the moment, the New York Jets just seem to be moving in circles. For every loss the team sustains, it seems content with bringing in a very average replacement. This should not be the case for a team that finished just 6-10 a year ago.
The Jets did sing Willie Colon to replace the possible departure of Brandon Moore, but they have been quiet in all other departments. Instead, they have allowed themselves to lose players such as Keller, Landry and Greene.
Also, the addition of David Garrard at quarterback is baffling. This is a quarterback that had one good year and has not played in the NFL since 2010. With Mark Sanchez continuously struggling, the Jets could have made a much better personnel decision here.
Power Rating: 2
The Buffalo Bills have seemingly lost all of their key free agents to the Titans this offseason. Levitre, Wilson and Fitzpatrick have all gone to Tennessee. The Bills were able to sign one above-average free agent in Manny Lawson but are still very much behind.
They lack a starting quarterback and, aside from the running back position, lack offensive skill players. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded this team above average overall both offensively and defensively in 2012; however, they can not seem to string wins together.
With a new coaching staff in place, this could be the beginning of a major overhaul to the roster of the Bills. Do not expect any fireworks from this team in 2013 as it will be looking to weed out certain players that do not fit the mold of the new regime.
Power Rating: 2
4. AFC North
5 of 8The AFC North continues to be one of the toughest divisions in the NFL each year because of its physicality. This division currently hosts the reigning Super Bowl champions and another 2012 playoff team. This was one of the better divisions in 2012, but it may have taken a step back during the 2013 offseason.
Cumulative Power Rating: 14
The Baltimore Ravens currently reign as the defending Super Bowl champions heading into the 2013 season. They made a very impressive run on the arm of quarterback Joe Flacco and have a championship to show for it. However, all is not well concerning the cap space of this franchise.
After Flacco signed a record-breaking deal, the team was unable to retain many key players from 2012. It lost Ray Lewis and Matt Birk to retirement, and lost Reed, Anquan Boldin, Ellerbe, Paul Kruger, Cary Williams, Pollard and Bobbie Williams. The Ravens were able to sign Dumervil, Huff and Canty, but they do not make things even for this team at all.
Baltimore's biggest concern heading into 2013 will be the lack of leadership on the defensive side of the ball. After sustaining the losses that it did, it is very tough to find a player who can step in and make everyone jell. This will be the Ravens' largest task and could cost them dearly in 2013.
Power Rating: 4
The Cincinnati Bengals are now coming off of two consecutive playoff appearances for the first time in over three decades. This team had one of the most feared pass rushes in the NFL last season and has been able to keep it intact by re-signing its own free agents.
The Bengals have not done anything to improve on the offensive side of the ball, however. This is a big concern after their struggles toward the end of the 2012 season. It looks like Cincinnati is looking toward the draft to improve its roster. This could end up being a very risky move for the Bengals heading into a new season.
Being that the Bengals have not made any significant signings, but also do not have any significant losses in free agency, they currently remain about even with their 10-6 team from 2012. They should be in the hunt for what appears to be another tight race for the AFC North crown in 2013.
Power Rating: 4
Like the Bengals and Ravens, Pittsburgh had one of the best defenses in the NFL in 2012 in all statistical categories. However, like the Bengals, it struggled on the offensive side of the ball as well—injuries were the main concern here.
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger simply cannot seem to stay healthy for an entire season, and this has hurt the Steelers deary in the recent past. Strengthening the offensive line should be very high on the priority list for this team as it cannot afford to allow this to continue.
In 2013 free agency, the Steelers' cap issues have caused them to lose some very key players. Wallace, Keenan Lewis, James Harrison, Rashard Mendenhall, Colon, Ryan Mundy and Will Allen have all departed. This is not good news for a team that only finished 8-8 in 2012. The Steelers may struggle to hit the .500 mark again in the coming season.
Power Rating: 3
The Cleveland Browns finished the 2012 season at 5-11 on the arm and legs of two rookies—Brandon Weeden and Trent Richardson. Richardson was fantastic, but Weeden was very inconsistent. The down year (again) caused the Browns brass to go in a different direction with the coaching staff. Enter Rob Chudzinksi.
Chudzinski is looking to revamp the Browns in a major way. He started by becoming a major player in free agency. On the defensive side of the ball, he brought in Kruger, Desmond Bryant, Quentin Groves, Chris Owens and Kevin Barnes. These signings will bolster the already solid defensive core of the Browns.
On the offensive side of the ball, one move was made that stands out above the rest. The addition of quarterback Jason Campbell. Campbell has been a solid quarterback in the past and should push Weeden for the starting job. If Campbell wins out and gets back into form, this team could make a push at the .500 mark in the upcoming season.
Power Rating: 3
3. NFC West
6 of 8Only a few years ago, the NFC West was absolutely the weakest division in all of football. All four teams fought for the .500 mark and a playoff berth solely for the division win. Now, the new head coaches of these franchises are turning these teams around and forging one of the most powerful divisions in the NFL.
Cumulative Power Rating: 14
The San Francisco 49ers' Super Bowl bid came up just short after a dazzling comeback in the second half of the game. This is a team that is poised to be a contender for years to come. Not only does it have an enormous amount of talent on the team, it has compiled an exuberant amount of draft picks as well.
So far in free agency, the 49ers have been relatively quiet. They lost Dashon Goldson and Walker, but added other needs with defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey and kicker Phil Dawson. They have remained very even after these moves and only look to continue to improve through the draft.
It was certainly no fluke that the 49ers were as dominant as they appeared in 2012. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) gave them the highest offensive grade (273.2) and second-highest defensive grade (111.7). Being that successful and still allowing for improvement though the draft will keep the 49ers on top for a long time.
Power Rating: 5
The Seattle Seahawks were a great surprise in 2012 as they followed rookie quarterback Russell Wilson to an 11-5 record and playoff berth. Wilson made the offense come alive along with running back Marshawn Lynch. Defensively, the Seahawks were so big and strong in the secondary, it became virtually impossible to defeat them through the air.
The Seahawks have improved yet again during the 2013 offseason. They have taken their two weakest links and improved upon them right away. First, they gave Wilson another weapon on offense in wide receiver Percy Harvin. Next, they improved their pass rush with the signings of Cliff Avril and Michael Bennett.
This team looks very poised to compete with the 49ers once again in the 2013 season if Wilson can keep up his great form from 2012. Having a quarterback in his sophomore season is always slightly scary, but there are no indications of a drop-off in performance.
Power Rating: 5
This St. Louis Rams team took a nice step forward in 2012 under new head coach Jeff Fisher. Fisher allowed quarterback Sam Bradford to rebound from a terrible, injury-plagued 2011 season and regain his confidence. He allowed the offense to improve but still has work to do defensively.
During the 2013 offseason, Fisher continues to improve the offense by signing Long and Jared Cook. Two major losses on offense are the departures of Amendola and running back Steven Jackson. Bradford lacked targets last season and seems to be in worse shape now.
Defensively, this team has not done anything to improve upon its 2012 performance, thus far. If the Rams would like to compete in this very tough division, they need to continue to build upon recent success by adding key players to a solid foundation of a roster.
Power Rating: 3
The Arizona Cardinals found out very quickly that it is almost impossible to win a football game without a competent quarterback. This position was an utter failure last season and doomed the franchise to the tune of a 5-11 record.
This team does have a solid nucleus of talent; however, there are too many pieces missing to make it work. During the offseason, the Cardinals have lost longtime safety and leader of the defense in Wilson. They also stand to lose Kerry Rhodes as well. They have made some additions in Antoine Cason, Matt Shaughnessy and Mendenhall, but this will not be enough.
As long as the quarterback position remains the same, this team will continue to struggle in a tough division. The Cardinals did sign Drew Stanton, but he is no significant upgrade from the players they already possess. 2013 could be another long year for this franchise.
Power Rating: 1
2. NFC South
7 of 8The NFC South is a division with so much talent, it is so very difficult to predict each year. This division only yielded one winning team in 2012; however, 2013 seems to be a much different story. Three teams finished 7-9 last season and all look to continue to improve.
Cumulative Power Rating: 15
The Atlanta Falcons have one of the most dynamic offenses in the NFL—Pro Football Focus gave them a very high 139.8 rating (subscription required). With Matt Ryan at the helm, receivers Roddy White and Julio Jones at his disposal along with the return of Tony Gonzalez, this offense looks to remain intact for 2013.
The Falcons have not been major players in free agency so far, but they do not need to be. They allowed Michael Turner to leave and they signed Jackson to replace him—a significant upgrade. They also helped their terrible pass rush situation with the signing of Osi Umenyiora after the departure of John Abraham.
The last thing the Falcons need to stabilize is their secondary. If they can acquire another above-average cornerback, this team will certainly be a huge force once again. It is looking very likely that the Falcons will continue to thrive in the upcoming season.
Power Rating: 5
The Carolina Panthers teams in the 2011 and 2012 seasons were very similar—a powerful offense and a very lackluster defense. This will need to change drastically if this team wants to compete in this very tough division.
So far in free agency, the Panthers have remained very even. They were able to sign Drayton Florence, D.J. Moore and Chase Blackburn, but they appear to lose Chris Gamble to retirement. Also, Carolina has already lost James Anderson as well. More significant upgrades will be necessary for this team to approach the next level.
The Panthers have been able to acquire Ted Ginn Jr. as a return specialist, which should help out slightly, but they need to get more explosive in other areas as well. Until that happens, this team does not have the tools to win this division.
Power Rating: 3
The New Orleans Saints may have been one of the most lopsided teams in the NFL in 2012. They owned one of the most daunting offenses to face along with one of the most porous defenses. Certainly, the lack of Sean Payton's presence with the team hurt very much due to missing out on leadership.
In 2013, Payton returns and brings a new defensive coordinator with him in Rob Ryan. The Saints will switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 base defense. Ryan should be able to bring about a certain swagger to this team as well after they were decimated on that side of the ball last year.
The Saints did lose offensive tackle Jermon Bushrod in free agency, but they have also brought in Lewis to bolster their secondary. One thing is for sure—it is very difficult to match up to the combination of Payton and quarterback Drew Brees.
Power Rating: 4
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers went through some growing pains last season with new head coach Greg Schiano at the helm and quarterback Josh Freeman recovering from a horrid 2011 season. However, this team was able to rally and put up a fairly respectable 7-9 record on the season.
The Bucs made one of the biggest free-agent signings in the NFL this season when they signed a new safety in Goldson. This will bolster a secondary that struggled at times during their 2012 campaign. They did lose Bennett, but the team looks to be in a fairly improved state from last season.
If Tampa Bay can continue to jell as a team under Schiano, it is very likely to become a major competitor in this division in the near future. The Bucs may be just a few players away from becoming contenders.
Power Rating: 3
1. NFC North
8 of 8The NFC North has become the most dominant and powerful division in the NFL. It is very tight at the top, but this division wins on its ability to provide three 2012 teams with 10-plus wins. Some of these teams are still top-tier, others may have taken a step back, but this division will continue to dominate in 2013.
Cumulative Power Rating: 16
The Green Bay Packers will continue to have one of the most explosive passing attacks in the NFL as long as Aaron Rodgers is under center. They never have much of a ground game to speak of, but it does not seem to matter as Rodgers is able to beat teams through the air regardless.
Green Bay started the 2012 season in rocky fashion, but righted the ship—as all good teams do—and finished at 11-5. The Packers did not have too many free agents to speak of, but they did lose one marquee name in wide receiver Greg Jennings. This should not matter, however, as they played most of the season without Jennings last year and were very successful.
The Packers defense is something that should be improved upon as they tend to allow themselves to get into shootouts. However, this defense has been known to be ball hawks, which is just what a quarterback like Rodgers needs to get some wins. This team is primed to dominate once again in 2013.
Power Rating: 5
The Minnesota Vikings were a peculiar team in 2012. They did not have a strong quarterback at the helm as so many other playoff teams did. Instead, they rode the legs of running back Adrian Peterson, who made an improbable comeback from injury and rushed for over 2,000 yards.
Minnesota has had a nice, quiet offseason and has been successful in re-signing its own players. One big move it made was the trade of Harvin to Seattle. The Vikings did make up for it, however, by signing Jennings from Green Bay.
The quarterback position is still very much in question now that Christian Ponder is entering his third year. He will need to produce this year, or this team may look in a different direction. Still, this team should not look much different than the team that finished 10-6 in 2012.
Power Rating: 4
The Chicago Bears had a difficult season in 2012, but they ended up with a 10-6 record. Unfortunately, this was not good enough for a playoff berth and changes to the franchise followed. New head coach and offensive guru Marc Trestman was brought in to revamp the offensive scheme. He immediately added Bennett and Bushrod to help out quarterback Jay Cutler.
On the defensive side of the ball, key additions have been linebackers Williams and Anderson, but the departure of Brian Urlacher could really hurt this team in regard to leadership.
Still, if the Bears defense can continue to improve and get younger and the offensive line can hold up for Cutler, this can be a very good team come the start of next season. Look for another race to ensue for this division.
Power Rating: 4
The DetroitLions may have had the most disappointing season in the entire NFL in 2012. With so much talent on this football team, they struggled to the tune of a 4-12 record. This is as underachieving as it gets these days in football.
Most of these hiccups from 2012 were the cause of a stagnant defense that could not seem to stop an average offense. Nothing was done about this in free agency, as they allowed Avril—their best defensive player—to depart. The Lions look to struggle yet again next season on this side of the ball.
Offensively, they improved with the signing of Bush, which will give this team an added dimension out of the backfield. However, this offense is already very explosive, and while this is an improvement, the team's focus should have been on defense. Still, expect better than a four-win season from Detroit in 2013.
Power Rating: 3
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