NFL Power Rankings: Teams Destined to Fall After Week 1

Week 1 of the 2013 NFL regular season is quickly approaching and the excitement surrounding the new beginning is also the start of the sadness for several teams destined to fall in the rankings after an early loss.

While each of the following teams has high hopes for this year’s campaign, a defeat to start the season will rattle the franchises and push them down the rankings.

Baltimore Ravens

There were some NFL diehards that felt ranking the Baltimore Ravens at No. 5 overall was a slap in the face to the defending Super Bowl champions, but that’s what happens when a team loses stars like linebacker Ray Lewis, safety Ed Reed and wide receiver Anquan Boldin.

Add in the fact that the Ravens open the season on the road against the Denver Broncos, and the possibility that Baltimore could start the year off with a loss is very real.

These teams split their two meetings in 2012 (Denver won 34-17 in Week 15 and the Ravens won the divisional round playoff game 38-35 in double overtime), but it is clear from the additions that the Broncos made this offseason—most notably WR Wes Welker—that they are the better team.

As if having the more talented weapons around him wasn’t enough, there is no picking against Denver’s Peyton Manning in the regular season—even if Baltimore has the defending Super Bowl MVP in Joe Flacco under center.

Prediction: Denver 34, Baltimore 31

Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears currently sit at No. 17 on the Week 1 rankings, but have the raw talent to make a serious jump up if they beat the Cincinnati Bengals to start the year.

Unfortunately for Chi-Town, that isn’t going to happen.

While Chicago is going all in on the pass-happy offensive attack led by new head coach Marc Trestman and the quarterback-wide receiver tandem of Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall, the Bengals will have it well-scouted. They were seventh in the NFL against the pass in 2012, allowing only 212.5 yards per game).

Bears running back Matt Forte will also be looking for a breakout season, but with Cincinnati’s stiff run defense—12th against the rush in 2012 with just 107.2 yards allowed per game—that success will have to start against a less stingy front seven.

Add in the Bengals' own young offensive unit led by QB Andy Dalton and WR A.J. Green that will be looking to reach an elite level against a rebuilding Chicago defense, and this will be the wrong way to start the 2013 campaign for the Bears.

Prediction: Cincinnati 34, Chicago 24

Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers are hoping for a bounce-back season after finishing 2012 with a 7-9 record, but a meeting against the tough Seattle Seahawks is not how the franchise wanted to open Week 1.

Instead of allowing Carolina to find an offensive rhythm and build momentum moving forward, Seattle’s sixth-ranked pass defense (203.1 yards per game) and 10th-ranked run defense (103.1 yards per game) in 2012 will be buzzing all game.

Third-year quarterback Cam Newton will be looking to lead his team to a playoff berth this season, but if the Seahawks get to the dual-threat QB early and often, the Panthers will be in serious trouble.

Carolina will lose in Week 1 and drop down the rankings.

Prediction: Seattle 31, Carolina 17

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