Preseason NFL Power Rankings

I know every website out there is posting its power rankings, which mans football is right around the corner.

No need to delay:

1. Pittsburgh Steelers: They are the defending Super Bowl Champions, so they start at the top by default. I don't think they are the most talented team, but I have to place them here. The distractions from Big Ben may hurt this team at times.

2. New England Patriots: Even if Tom Brady struggles a little bit in the beginning, I don't think it will matter in that division. Buffalo, Miami, and New York can't hang with this team.

3. Indianapolis Colts: The departure of Tony Dungy will not be easy, but if you are going to make the transition you might as well make it with Peyton Manning running the show. He has helped the Colts overcome a lot of deficiencies over the years so I expect him to come up clutch once again.

4. Philadelphia Eagles: According to Eagles Vice President, Joe Banner this is the best roster in football. Don't get too caught up what the Eagles front office says. Not too long ago Owner Jeffrey Lurie told fans the Eagles were the "gold standard of the NFL."

Fortunately for the Eagles they settle their differences on the field. Donovan looks healthy, but the loss of Jim Johnson could prove to be their downfall.

5. San Diego Chargers: We're just talking about how the teams stack up now right? No postseason talk? Okay. Then this team could be the best in football due to its great defense and tons of weapons on offense. The Chargers should exploit a weak division this year and give a run for home field advantage.

6. New Orleans Saints: If this defense improved even a little bit and if it can come up clutch in big games, the Saints could be marching on to the Super Bowl. Look for Reggie Bush to add another dimension to the Saints offense this year.

7. New York Giants: Eli Manning is going to look lost without Plaxico this year. But don't be alarmed just yet. The Giants added some nice wideouts via the draft who could help Eli out. If they don't pan out there is always a defense to rely on.

8. Carolina Panthers: I know what every Cardinals fan is going to say right now. We beat the Eagles and the Panthers in the playoffs last year and we're not above either team. Shouldn't we be above them since you placed the Steelers as No. 1 just because of what they did last year? No. You only get bonus points for winning the Super Bowl.

Jake Delhomme single-handedly brought that team down against the Cardinals. He will bounce back in week one when the Panthers take down the Eagles.

9. Atlanta Falcons: Usually you expect a rookie quarterback to manage the game well and then develop his skills. Matt Ryan skipped the managing part. The Falcons though have never had back-to-back winning season.

10. Baltimore Ravens: Joe Flacco managed the game well last year as well as a rookie could do. Now he has his chance to make progress in becoming an elite NFL quarterback.

11. Dallas Cowboys: Tony Romo could throw a ton of picks without T.O. Once Wade Phillips realizes Romo is not that good, he will put the ball in the hands of his best player: Marion Barber. Oh, and wait until you see what Felix Jones is made of. The kid is a stud.

12. Minnesota Vikings: With a good running back and a good run defense you will always win games in the NFL in any stadium under any conditions. The only thing holding this team back is the quarterback. And if you want to see this team grow do not bring in Brett Favre. Let Tarvaris Jackson grow. And if that doesn't work, draft someone for next season.

13. Arizona Cardinals: You are who I think you are and you're not getting left off the hook this year. This was a 9-7 team last year and they played in an awful division. During the regular season they did not beat one playoff team in five tries. All of a sudden they rip off three straight in the postseason? It doesn't make much sense to me either. Frauds.

14. Chicago Bears: Jay Cutler brings credibility to the quarterback position in Chicago since I don’t know, Jim McMahon? If the guy struggles hang with him Bears fans, you don't want to hurt this guy's feelings.

15. Tennessee Titans: I don't know how they pulled that off last year. Kerry Collins is not going to get it done this year and neither is Vince Young. When the season ends I don't even think this team will be the second best in the division.

16. Houston Texans: See the last sentence above and you will know who I think is going to the playoffs with the Colts from this division. This team is going to be the surprise of the NFL by year's end.

17. Green Bay Packers: Aaron Rodgers is making the Brett Favre fiasco look even better. The guy is quiet and does his job well. This division is wide open. Last year the Packers went into the bye week 4-3 and just destroyed the Colts. Then all of sudden they didn't know what was going on.

18. Seattle Seahawks: This team will win the NFC West. Mark it down. Book it. Do what you want with it. So why are they ranked so low right now? Because the division stinks and winning it is not much of an accomplishment, especially when 9-7 should get the job done again.

19. Buffalo Bills: T.O. is that good. Trust me; he will make Trent Edwards look like a capable quarterback in the NFL. The Bills could end their nine-year playoff drought if Edwards plays well throughout the year.

20. New York Jets: Hey if Flacco and Ryan did it why can't Mark Sanchez? And if the Dolphins turned it around last year, why can't the Jets? And if John Harbaugh and Mike Smith could do it, why can't Rex Ryan? I guess lightning doesn't strike three times.

21. Cincinnati Bengals: I actually believe this team could make a run at the playoffs this year with the return of Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco. I know Ochocinco was there last year, but we all know he really wasn't.

22. Washington Redskins: I actually still believe in Jason Campbell. I'm not a big believer but it is enough to think he should start the year there. The problem for him is that he has to face Philadelphia, New York, and Dallas twice each. If he can survive the divisional games he can survive the rest of the NFL.

23. Miami Dolphins: I know mirages occur often in the desert, but do they occur often in Miami? I think we will get the answer this year.

24. Oakland Raiders: When you're in a division as bad as they are in you can't help but to pick up a couple of wins. I still don't get the Heyward-Bay pick, but then again does anyone understand the Raiders?

25. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jack Del Rio is done there. I saw his team quit against the Texans on Monday Night and I can't shake that image from my head. Once a coach losses his team it is hard to get it back.

26. Kansas City Chiefs: I expect big things this year from Larry Johnson and for Matt Cassel to prove he was worth the trade. I just don't know if this defense is ready to compete consistently in the NFL.

27. St. Louis Rams: Steve Spagnuolo is that good. He will get that defense and team to buy into his system. And once he does the Rams could contend in that division.

28. San Francisco 49ers: Alex Smith is still there? Really? Why? Move on already. Mike Singletary has a lot of work to do and it will take a couple of years to get there. You can't let a dead weight like Smith hold you back any longer. Cut the ties.

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: This team could be the worst in the NFL when it is all said and done. No quarterback, running back, or head coach to speak of. And without a dominant defense this team is toast.

30. Denver Broncos: Glad to see one of the disciples from the inventor of football ruin the Broncos. Job well done. I can't wait to see what happens when they actually play.

31. Cleveland Browns: Ah. The other disciple is going to make sure the Browns never get up off the canvas. Again, job well done.

32. Detroit Lions: This team will win at least six games this year. Stafford to Johnson is going to be something you will hear a lot of in the years to come.