Week One NFL Team Power Rankings

It’s time to breakout out my 2010 power rankings for Week One in the NFL. As every week, I will write about the top 10 teams I see in the league and then list the rest from that point. While some tend to see power rankings as pointless before the season begins, I disagree.

Expectations are important, and those teams that are projected to be Super Bowl contenders have a bulls’ eye on their back from the beginning of the season. Many times we see teams like the Saints last year or the Cardinals the year before make it to the Super Bowl. These teams played free and easy without the media expectation for them to win a Championship.

For those of you in fantasy football, these rankings should show you the teams that will be projected winners and losers. Value will come from just about every team, but it will be the best teams that tend to have the most success.

Week One Power Rankings

1. Colts: Sure the Saints won the Super Bowl, but the Colts should be hungry for a return. This offseason, the Colts did nothing but add more talent on both sides of the football. Peyton Manning has Anthony Gonzalez back, and the defense gets Bob Sanders back. Couple that with the fact that the Colts spent their first three picks of the draft on defense, and this is my favorite team to win it all.

2. Saints: While I still love this teams’ offense and that they are great for fantasy football, I can’t help but believe their defense will suffer. Much like the Rams after their first championship, the defense had a hard time the next season.

Darren Sharper was a key player in this defensive unit last year, and this season he will start the year on the PUP list. Even when he comes back, I don’t expect him to have the success he put together in 2009.

3. Vikings: At this point in time, I still have the Vikings as the favorite to win the NFC North, but it could be the Packers, who win it in the end. Brett Favre is another year older, and the loss of Sidney Rice will probably hurt this squad.

Still, they have a great overall team, and they are built to win on the road, in the playoffs. This group is equipped to handle being a Wild Card team that can still win it all.

4. Packers: Aaron Rodgers will be a fantasy stud this season, but many around the NFL want to see if he can beat Favre and win his division. Some homers (Jon Gruden) already have this guy as an all-time great, but the fact remains that he’s never won his division or a playoff game.

Still, the Packers should be a great team in 2010 and will probably win 12 or more games this season.

5. Patriots: Much hype has been made about the Jets, but I still believe the Patriots will win the division. Tom Brady is by far the best quarterback of the two teams and is one of the best winning quarterbacks in NFL history. Look for Brady and the passing game to come out strong.

Throwing to get a lead makes lots of sense as it would give their defense and running game an advantage to play from a lead. Look for the Patriots to go farther in the playoffs this season as well.

6. Ravens: I would have the Ravens as a clear top five team if they had a stronger secondary. By mid season, they will have Ed Reed back, and he will make an obvious impact. The clash between the Ravens and Bengals should be a good one this season in the AFC North.

7. Jets: If Marc Sanchez was another year or two older, I would like this team to truly take the Patriots in the AFC East. In the end, this team will be great on defense and a strong running team. However, can Sanchez play mistake free football for most of the regular season?

I think not and that should be the Jets’ downfall for 2010 in the regular season and the postseason.

8. Bengals: Can the Bengals have back-to-back playoff seasons? History suggests that won’t happen as the Bengals aren’t accustomed to putting two good years together. Still, this group should be better than last year as Terrell Owens is in line to have a solid season with Carson Palmer two years removed from his arm issue.

Now let’s see if the defense is up to the challenge of playing with the big boys in 2010.

9. Cowboys: I have major question marks about the Cowboys offensive line, and that is why they aren’t a Super Bowl team in my mind. Romo should put up close to 30 touchdowns and over 4,000 yards passing, but he will take a beating in the process. This team needs Dez Bryant more than many would have thought this summer.

10. 49ers: The 49ers are going to surprise some people this season with how hard they play the game. Mike Singletary is known for running a tough camp, and that shows up in the way this team plays the game. Outside of the Jets’ defense, the 49ers will have one of the best groups in all of football.

Now we need to find out if Alex Smith can play at a respectable level. For the first time in Smith’s career, he has a great group of receivers, a respectable offensive line and the same offensive coordinator from the year before. Beyond that, he has support from ownership and his coaches that he can get the job done.

• 11. Texans
  
• 12. Chargers
  
• 13. Falcons
  
• 14. Giants
  
• 15. Titans
  
• 16. Steelers
  
• 17. Dolphins
  
• 18. Cardinals
  
• 19. Panthers
  
• 20. Eagles
  
• 21. Bears
  
• 22. Raiders
  
• 23. Broncos
  
• 24. Jaguars
  
• 25. Lions
  
• 26. Seahawks
  
• 27. Chiefs
  
• 28. Redskins
  
• 29.  Buccaneers
  
• 30. Browns
  
• 31. Bills
  
• 32. Rams