ESPN NFL Power Rankings: Are the New Orleans Saints Ranked Correctly?

Tuesday afternoon, the initial ESPN.com Power Rankings for the 2011 season were released. While there is no such thing as an official NFL power ranking, the ESPN version is widely read and generally respected.

For that reason, it is appropriate to debate the validity of their rankings. And it is especially valid to determine the legitimacy of the ranking that has been given to the New Orleans Saints.

In the pre-preseason poll, the Saints were slotted in fourth place—out of all 32 NFL teams. While that's not the spot a team would necessarily desire to start, it is also much better than being anywhere outside the top 10.

Sure, the Saints would prefer to switch places with the Packers, Patriots or Eagles, but even being in the top 10 is good news. It means that the team has had some success in the recent past, and that the team's current roster and team makeup appears to be a good fit.

Both of those factors are true of the Saints, but also true of course of the three teams immediately preceding them. And they are definitely true of the five teams below the Saints—the Steelers, Falcons, Jets, Colts, Ravens and Chargers.

But more important than the importance of a preseason rank is whether the Saints are rightly placed in the rankings. First, I want to compare the team, as it currently stands, with the teams below it.

10. Chargers

In my opinion, the similarities between the 'Bolts and Saints are shocking. They are real and everyone knows about them. Both have quarterbacks coached by Norv Turner and other wonderful QB coaches. Both are explosive offenses with potentially very good defenses. Both have elite punters and both have great kickers who can go haywire at the most inopportune times.

But the Saints have the advantage in one particular area—they have won in the postseason. Sean Payton is known as a clutch coach, whereas Norv Turner is anything but clutch. So yes, the Saints are deservedly ranked above the Chargers.

9. Ravens

Sure, the Ravens beat the Saints a season ago in their once-every-four years matchup. But the Saints have a better QB, better receiving corps, better offensive line and younger defense with the potential to be as good as Baltimore's version, if not better.

8. Colts

The last time these two teams played, we all know what happened. Both teams lost on day one of the playoffs a year ago. Both have top five QBs in the league. Again, this one comes down to coaching, because clearly Sean Payton and his staff are superior to Jim Caldwell and co.

7. Jets

Sure the Jets have the best corner in football (according to many experts), an Xs and Os defensive mastermind and more swagger than the rest of the NFL combined. But they don't have an elite QB, they are very unsure at the receiver spot and despite blitzing more than any other NFL team, they still fail to get consistent pressure on the quarterback.

6. Falcons

It is understandable that many would say the Falcons should be ranked above the Saints, based on their NFC South Division crown in 2010. But let's be honest, the only area where the Falcons are definitely better than the Saints is at the running back spot, and even that is somewhat questionable.

Picking Atlanta over New Orleans also fails to account for the most important factor—the Saints have pretty much owned Atlanta for the past five years.

5. Steelers

It's hard to definitively point to any one area and say the Saints are better. But it would also seem unfair to say the Steelers are better in any one particular area. It seems most fair to say they are extremely even.

The difference, then, is the fact that each team struggled in the year following its most recent trip to the Super Bowl, and Pittsburgh might follow that trend. And it seems safe to assume that the Saints are going to be hungry after their disappointing end to the 2010 season.

In my estimation, the Saints deserve to be ranked above every team that ESPN has placed below them. But what about the three in front of them?

3. Eagles

No team has made as much noise in this brief offseason as Philadelphia. Remarkably, they were able to turn their backup QB into a starting cornerback and a draft pick. They worked free agency like a rag doll. But are they better than the Saints?

I hope not to jinx anyone, but both teams will only go as far as their quarterbacks take them. That in and of itself would seem to favor the Saints. Add in the distinct possibility of Michael Vick getting hurt, leaving—gulp—Vince Young at the helm of this team that everyone thinks is headed for the Super Bowl. Granted, you may want Vince Young over Chase Daniel, but it seems a lot less likely that Brees will get hurt. Advantage: Saints

2. Patriots

Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are as well thought of as any Coach-QB duo in the league. They've won more than any duo certainly. But beyond them, the real talent seems to actually favor the Saints.

Aubrayo Franklin is just as good as Albert Haynesworth. Chad Ochocinco is not the same player he was a couple of years ago. Yes, the Patriots have a couple young dynamic tight ends, but so do the Saints.

So I think this argument is a lot closer than many people would naturally think. I'll give the advantage to the Pats just because of their history.

1. Packers

The Saints found out a season ago just how difficult it is to defend a championship. The Packers are well aware of the challenge, but can they do anything about it? Truthfully I have no doubt Aaron Rodgers will win multiple Super Bowls. But this year?

No, there's too much talent on the other top teams, and the Packers are not the type of team that is capable of repeating this year. They're too young, don't have a good enough coach and they didn't do anything to get better. Because of that hunger issue, I give the Saints the advantage.

So in my opinion, the Pats should be No. 1 and the Saints No. 2 in the inaugural 2011 rankings. But time will tell better than my opinion.