NFL Power Rankings: 5 Teams Too High in First ESPN Rankings

I don't know if you noticed, but we're actually going to see some NFL football this week. Pretty good news considering where we were a little more than two weeks ago.

I might be alone here, but I like to think that the preseason is when football season actually starts. It's lousy football that doesn't mean anything, but at least it's football. Moreover, it's really not a bad way to evaluate what teams are working with, not to mention just how good each team might be when we get to the regular season.

But for some, waiting is not an option. Take the folks at ESPN, for example. On Tuesday, they released their first Power Rankings for the 2011 season. They don't really know how good or how bad each team really is yet, but they went ahead and took an educated guess.

Credit where credit's due, ESPN did a pretty good job with their rankings. However, there are a couple of teams I think they're overrating a little bit. There are five of them, to be exact, and they are too high on the list for a variety of reasons.

For a full rundown of those five teams, see below. 

5. Tennessee Titans (No. 20)

Before we get into the real heavy honesty, I should be honest by saying that I actually think the Titans could surprise people in 2011. A lot of things need to fall in place, but stranger things have happened.

That said, I'm not so sure I agree with ESPN, who have the Titans at No. 20 on their Power Rankings. Their reasoning for this is that new head coach Mike Munchak could find a way to "squeeze something out of the Titans."

Maybe so, but that sounds to me like a positive way of saying "they're not going to be that horrible." I agree that it could happen, but I need to see it in order to believe it.

The Titans have made some pretty good moves this offseason, no doubt about that. I particularly like the Matt Hasselbeck signing, as I think he still has plenty left in the tank. I also like rookie linebacker Akeem Ayers and rookie defensive tackle Jurrell Casey, for what it's worth.

But at the same time, we're also talking about a team that lost two very good defensive players to free agency in defensive end Jason Babin and linebacker Stephen Tulloch. Moreover, both cornerback Cortland Finnegan and star running back Chris Johnson are unhappy with their contracts, and you naturally have to wonder whether or not their unhappiness will show on the field and drag the whole team down.

In short, the Titans have more question marks than a No. 20 team should have. So do the teams below them, but I don't see why the Titans should be ranked ahead of the Arizona Cardinals and Jacksonville Jaguars. 

4. Dallas Cowboys (No. 16)

Because the Cowboys were pretty dormant when it came to making moves in the past couple weeks, the team we're going to be looking at in 2011 is going to be largely similar to the team we saw in 2010.

Does somebody want to fill me in on why that's a good thing?

Okay fine, the Cowboys are going to have Tony Romo back healthy, and rookie tackle Tyron Smith should help keep him that way. In addition, having a full season under head coach Jason Garrett should help, and new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan will also help the team improve.

But still, we're talking about a team that had to get hot in order to finish 6-10 last season. The Cowboys also have the rotten luck of playing in the same division as the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants, who should both occupy the top two spots in the NFC East this year.

Make no mistake, it will be a huge surprise if the Cowboys challenge either the Eagles or Giants. They may not be as bad as they were in 2010, but to expect a big improvement is a bit much. I can see 8-8, but that's about it.

But the real travesty here is that the Cowboys are ranked ahead of the Houston Texans, who are better than their in-state rivals on both offense and defense.

Sense? I see none. 

3. New York Giants (No. 11)

Now that I've ripped the Cowboys, let's talk about the Giants.

Yes, I think Tom Coughlin's club has the goods to win as many as 10 games once again, but there's no denying that the Giants have their work cut out for them. They were on the fringe between good and mediocre in 2010, but the offseason they've had has only pushed them more towards the latter territory.

As far as moves go, the Giants did themselves a favor by re-signing running back Ahmad Bradshaw, but losing tight end Kevin Boss to the Oakland Raiders was a huge blow. Newly signed tight end Ben Patrick didn't do them any favors by abruptly announcing his retirement. 

Elsewhere, star defensive end Osi Umenyiora is still pouting over his contract, and rookie cornerback Prince Amukamara is due to miss a couple months with a broken foot.

Yikes. This is a team that is clearly snakebitten at the moment, and whether or not they can overcome on their many obstacles on the field is very much in doubt.

Yet, for some reason, ESPN thinks they are the 11th best team in the NFL. That they have the Giants ranked ahead of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears and Kansas City Chiefs just doesn't make any sense. 

2. Indianapolis Colts (No. 8)

At this point, we can pretty much take it for granted that the Colts are going to notch 10 victories and win the AFC South as long as Peyton Manning stays healthy.

Such is the reasoning behind Indy's No. 8 ranking, as AFC South blogger Paul Kuharsky wrote: "Provided Peyton Manning is healthy, don't write off the Colts. They have healed up and even added outsiders."

No argument there. That is, except for the big one that is Manning's health.

While Manning is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season, there is definitely reason to be concerned about his offseason neck surgery. It's the second such surgery he's undergone in the last year and a half or so, and it has severely limited his offseason activities.

Because we're talking about a quarterback that is coming off his worst season in nearly a decade, this is a pretty big issue. The Colts absolutely need Manning at his best in order to be successful, and we really don't know at this point if that's what they're going to get this season.

But despite all the concerns about Manning, the Colts are still the eighth-best team in the NFL? Better than the Baltimore Ravens and the revamped San Diego Chargers?

I'm sorry, but I just don't buy that. 

1. Green Bay Packers (No. 1)

We come at last to the part of our program where I tick a great many people off. Sorry for the wait, but hopefully it will be worth it. For both of us.

Listen, the Green Bay Packers are an excellent team. We know that because they won the Super Bowl this past season despite a series of injuries that would have crippled any other team. That's a testament to the Pack's depth, and above all it's a testament to their collective grit.

Better yet, the Pack didn't change a thing this offseason. Aside from a few key departures (Cullen Jenkins, Nick Barnett, Brandon Jackson), the Packers are bringing back the same team in 2011. With so many players back healthy, they are going to be a Super Bowl contender once again.

But are they the best team in the league? Honestly, the answer is no. They may be the defending champs, but they just don't stack up on paper to teams like the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles, both of whom have made significant improvements this offseason.

Moreover, it's worth noting that the Pack finished last season at No. 9 on ESPN's rankings. If we're talking about the same team (plus a few players returning from injuries), then the only reason they're No. 1 is because they won the Super Bowl.

For many, that's a good reason. But as far as I'm concerned, what happened last year has nothing to do with what will happen this year.

No matter how things shake out, ESPN’s rankings are going to look totally different a few months from now. Nothing ever pans out the way any of us think, and there are no doubt going to be a handful of teams that surprise everyone.

But for now, all I can say is that I’m glad football is back.

-Zachary D. Rymer