NFL Power Rankings 2011: A Kickoff Companion

The NFL Power Rankings are a desirable method in sharing opinions with fans and writers across the nation. A well-respected and well-wrought ranking system can rise debates as well as give the reader a launch pad with which to understand the way the NFL season will play out. Thirty-two teams will duke it out for the Superbowl title, with only a few bearing legitimate aspirations. The NFL Power Rankings are broadcast through many outlets. Some picks may shock you, while others may seem status quo. Look no further for an unbiased, backed-up opinion on where each team stands on day one.

32: Washington Redskins

It all starts at the top. Mike Shanahan might be one of the most overrated coaches of all time. Who would not thrive with John Elway and Terrell Davis in his run of brilliance? How great has Shanahan been without those two? 

Donovan McNabb, a perennial star, even in the twilight of his career is out to Minnesota. John Beck is now the man at the helm, with Santana Moss and Chris Cooley as the the only real weapons. Add to that, the Skins are in arguably the toughest division in the NFL, and the inexperience and lack of depth on this team will ensure that Andrew Luck wears gold and red.

31: Cleveland Browns

It always made a casual fan laugh when they saw a team with orange helmets called the Browns. But for Cleveland fans, the best thing they have had in forever was LeBron losing. They reside in a division with two of the most stingy defenses in the NFL. Face it, the Browns will not do any winning. New coach, new offensive coordinator, new-ish quarterback, an overrated halfback, and Joe Haden as their best bet on defense— the future is black, not brown, for Cleveland.

30: Carolina Panthers

This was a toss up, but the general consensus is that Cameron Newton might be the highest profile bust in a long time. He is a freak athlete with incredible play making ability, but he might be another "system quarterback." Look at Colt Brennan, or what most likely will become of Tim Tebow. There are some decent players on offense, and DeAngelo Williams being resigned certainly helps. Newton will have two former Hurricane stars at TE in Jeremy Shockey and Greg Olsen. Jon Beason also is among a good crop of talent, but the lack of a quarterback and a lack of true star power in numbers will doom the Panthers. Surprise us, Cam.

29: Denver Broncos

Tim Tebow is a good Christian, a humanitarian, a role model and a stand-up guy. However, his intermediate throws resemble wounded ducks. Kyle Orton is a much better option. How many offensive players will hit their stride this year? This is an imperative year for Knowshon Moreno and Eddie Royal to shine. Orton/Tebow need help on offense. Elvis Dumervil needs to continue along his career evolution, racking up more sacks. Overall, this team looks to be the bottom of the barrel in a bland division.

28: Buffalo Bills

Sure they had a decent draft, but with so many holes in the most challenging division in football, the future looks bleak. C.J. Spiller might just wind up being a Darren Sproles-type back and never blossom into an every down player. He struggled mightily in week one against an excellent Dolphins defense. The Dolphins still have no quarterback truly capable of leading this team, have two overrated wide receivers including standout Steve Johnson with the pass drop heard round the world, and a line-backing corps now void of Paul Posluszny. Marcell Dareus projects to be a good player, with the ability to immediately make an impact in the NFL. The unfortunate circumstance for Dareus is that Nick Mangold and Mike Pouncey play in this division. Not enough firepower on either side of the ball. A last place finish for the next few seasons is in the forecast.

27: Cincinnati Bengals

T.O.—gone. Chad Ochocinco—gone. Carson Palmer—well, the jury is still out. In a draft featuring two play-making positions in the first two rounds, the offense for the Bengals looks iffy. This could be a dynamic combination in the next few years, but like the Browns, the Bengals play in a division whose top two teams will likely sweep the bottom two.

26: Detroit Lions

What a steal this will be! The two most freakish defensive tackles to come in years, both in the same line. After a slew of poor draft picks (Charles Rogers anyone?) the Lions seem to have gotten it right with Calvin Johnson Jr., Jahvid Best, Nick Fairley and Ndamukong Suh. The jury is still out on Matthew Stafford, whose injury concerns stem from his thrust into the fray at such a young junction in his career. In order for the Lions to compete, they must be dominant on both lines, with the offensive line a serious question. If the offensive line can hold up their end of the bargain, with Fairley and Suh progressing together as a defensive tandem, look for the Lions to be a top 20 team with 6-9 wins.

25: Minnesota Vikings

Donovan McNabb presents a huge upgrade over Brett Favre or anything else the Vikes could have brought in. Forget the fact that I cannot stand how ESPN turns into the Brett Favre channel every summer, Favre had lightning in a bottle, and that bottle shattered last season. Losing Sidney Rice is a big deal even though he seems to be overrated. Percy Harvin is the type of multifaceted ball player that can create a touchdown from nothing, but can he be a true #1 receiver? Time will tell if Harvin can go from factor player to simply a reliable pass-catcher.

24: San Francisco 49ers

Why did I wait so long to place an NFC West team here? Because I think all of them will be average and beat down on each other enough for not a single one to be as horrendous as the Redskins or Bills. I feel that every team in this division could split the season with their opponents. The quarterback situation, since Steve Young, has been a revolving door, despite #1 draft pick Alex Smith still on the team. However, Vernon Davis and Patrick Willis should have huge years on their side of the ball.

23: Jacksonville Jaguars

David Garrard is inconsistent, but very athletic. Blaine Gabbert suffered through a similar fate in his preseason debut. The Jaguars were beat down against a truly superior New England team. Forget about the preseason though, it really does not matter. This team will have holes to fill on defense and the offensive line, with the bulk of their efforts being handled by the skill players such as Mercedes Lewis and Maurice Jones-Drew. Without a quarterback, the Jaguars are simply a developmental team this year, and should bottom out their division.

22: Seattle Seahawks

What would a bottom 10 be without at least two teams from either west division? It seems that in baseball and football, the two major American sports where the teams are not divided by meridian, the west divisions are just dreadful. Do they really think they will be better without Matt Hasselbeck? Do they think that they can overpower a division champion like the Saints again without a herculean run by Marshawn Lynch? Tarvaris Jackson to Sidney Rice should be a nice connection to keep an eye on as one of the key developments in the evolution of a largely new look offense.

21: Oakland Raiders

There are few people as stupid in American sports as Al Davis. Can't catch? Can't throw? Can't hit? Legal troubles? But can you run?! Sure! We'll stretch for you! Let's look at some of the players drafted in 2009 after Darius Heyward-Bey: Michael Crabree, BJ Raji, Knowshon Moreno, Brian Orakpo, Malcolm Jenkins, Brian Cushing, Josh Freeman, Jeremy Maclin, Alex Mack, Percy Harvin, Michael Oher, Vontae Davis, Clay Matthews, Kenny Britt, Hakeem Nicks. That is really all you need to know about what drives the incompetence of the Oakland organization, just ask JaMarcus Russell. If they compete it will be because of a strong defensive line and a good running game from Darren McFadden.

20: St. Louis Rams

The jury is out on Sam Bradford, but with a group of receivers that were the dredge of the NFL last season, Steven Jackson and Bradford may have what it takes to step up their game. Jackson has quietly been one of the best backs in the game, and Bradford had a decent season, avoiding recurring shoulder problems that plagued him in college. Losing OJ Atogwe was a major blow for this defense, but in a division with just about no stars under center, the Rams can challenge for the title this year. We all saw what the Seahawks were capable of—7-9 pride!

19: Arizona Cardinals

Last year, with DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin at the helm, Kevin Kolb had trouble throwing out of a paper bag. I doubt, even with the excellent Larry Fitzgerald, that this will improve. Unless his off-season work revolutionizes his ability, Kevin Kolb might be the best backup-that-should-not-be-starting QB in the NFL. Beanie Wells will likely carry the load for a running game that needs work. The drafting of seemingly sure prospect Patrick Peterson makes the services of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie expendable. Look for an improvement on defense in an offensively weak division.

18: Tennessee Titans

Adding Matt Hasselbeck was a good sign. Unfortunately it still leaves the Titans without a true stellar quarterback. Hasselbeck is too old, and he will simply keep the seat warm while mentoring Jake Locker as he works out the kinks and prepares for his calling. Chris Johnson is, well, the fastest halfback ever. He should be able to shoulder most of the offensive load, but one dimensional teams do not win, and this offense will struggle. Even in a less than great division, the best the Titans have to show on the defensive side of the ball is a wiry-haired loud mouth who was mercilessly (and reasonably) beaten by Andre Johnson.

17: Kansas City Chiefs

It is quite comedic that Matt Cassel backed up two Heisman Trophy winners and will wind up having a better career than both of them. It just goes to show that the draft is a crap shoot, with two of the biggest busts in recent memory on their defensive line (maybe not yet, but for where they were drafted, they need more production). Tamba Hali's resigning was a major victory as his emergence as a budding star mirrors that of Jamaal Charles. They should compete for the division, but to me, the Chargers will not have the same season they had last year. They are too talented.

16: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

So much young talent on the offensive side of the ball. Josh Freeman looks to be one of the better selections of the draft, boasting a cannon arm and physical attributes. Mike Williams was an absolute steal in the draft and should experience another solid season following a great rookie campaign. Gerald McCoy should continue after a decent rookie season in leading a defensive team that saw him and Brian Price drafted early on in 2010. With a very young offense, the Bucs look to maximize their talent for the future, but a very competitive division makes it a perilous challenge for the Bucs to crack the top 10.

15: Chicago Bears

Jay Cutler kind of looks like Rob Riggle. Riggle played the (PAOW!) guy in Step Brothers. They are equally as obnoxious. While Riggle plays obnoxious roles, Cutler is obnoxious. Looking to rebound from that injury in the playoffs, Cutler will try to avoid concussions and sacks that nailed him down last year. Drafting Gabe Carimi is a smart choice. He blocked for some great players at Wisconsin and has that big-boned, Big 10 look that made the conference one of the best to draft O-lineman out of. He may be forced through some growing pains, facing a few tough defensive lineman in the division.

14: Houston Texans

I would venture as far as saying if I had to take the best player at four positions to build my offense around it would be LT, QB, HB and WR. Well, if Arian Foster continues in the vein of last season, the Texans are set. They failed to address their offensive line in the draft. Losing Vonta Leach was a huge blow, as many Dolphins fans like myself will quietly thank Lousaka Polite for making the running game possible. It will be interesting to see how the DB-heavy draft works out for Houston, and how Foster fares without his trusty workhorse.

13: Miami Dolphins

These Dolphins have an opportunity to be the best defense in the NFL. All they did was return the #6 unit in football in full, save for a few upgrades. This defense could have been #3 if not for the beat down New England gave them. Yes, Chad Henne was very shaky in his preseason game, and the first team offense did not look all well, but it is the preseason, and those were the excellent Falcons. Also take in note that neither  Reggie Bush nor Brandon Marshall took the field. Both touchdowns the Falcons scored early were a result of turnovers. Reggie Bush was one of the most underrated deals of the off-season, where in Brian Daboll's new offense, he is primed to succeed. If the offense can pull half of the weight this defense pulls, the Dolphins could challenge for a wild card and easily be bumped up a couple spots.

12: Dallas Cowboys

Touted as "America's Team" for reasons I am unsure, the Cowboys and owner Jerry Jones were on their high horse literally preparing to host the Superbowl for their home team much like the Heat displayed their arrogance this past off-season. Dez Bryant turns out to be one of the shining stars of the draft. The Cowboys did not have long following the retirement of Aikman to find their franchise QB in Tony Romo. Teams like the Dolphins and Broncos are still searching hard for someone to guide their team, while the Packers and Cowboys lucked out. Defensively, this team could use help in the secondary, especially after losing out on Nnamdi Asomugha. Drafting an offensive tackle first should bolster their offensive line after losing Colombo and Davis. Bruce Carter was solid at UNC after I spent years of watching him in ACC action, and DeMarco Murray may be one of the best round 3 picks in recent memory, should he succeed.

11: New York Giants

Eli Manning was a turnover machine last year, accounting for 30 of the Giants NFL leading 42. Manning was the offense for the opposition. Retaining Ahmad Bradshaw was an important step for this offense. It will be interesting to see how Brandon Jacobs can bang through defenses, softening them up for the quicker Bradshaw. Losing Steve Smith to the divisional foe Eagles was a huge blow, as he was up there as one of the top receivers on this team. Defensively, look for another excellent defensive line—this year with more Jason Pierre-Paul as the speed rusher, showing his freak athleticism and quickness. The secondary should be decent, with Kenny Phillips and Antrel Rolle hanging in there, but the defense starts and succeeds up front for New York. It is quite unfortunate that Prince Amukamara broke his foot. He will surely miss time in an otherwise solid secondary littered with first-rounders.

10: San Diego Chargers

With the kind of talent this team possesses, and the slow starts they have labored through under the tenure of Norv Turner, I would not be surprised if management gets very frustrated this season with the skipper. A similar slow start damned an otherwise write-in season for division champs. Not this year. Ryan Mathews and Mike Tolbert should have better years in 2011. Jacob Hester also provides a nice short yardage option, but it seems that Mathews must improve and carry the load for this team to compete with the other divisions. With a superstar QB in Philip Rivers and a workhorse receiver in Vincent Jackson back in the fold, the passing game should open up holes for an improving Mathews. Defensively, I do not see one player who can make the Pro Bowl this season if they live up to their current seasonal trends, save for Bob Sanders who will surprise me if he does not just get hurt again.

9: Atlanta Falcons

Michael Turner, Tony Gonzalez, Julio Jones, Roddy White: Four essential weapons for another solid weapon in Matt Ryan. Many Dolphins fans complained that the Fins passed on Matt Ryan for Jake Long, but in hindsight, each team got a superstar-caliber player at their position. The Fins vs. Falcons was the only preseason game I have seen so far, and in my assessment, it looks like in spots Ryan was heavily pressured by the pass rush. Their two scores by the first team were off stupid Chad Henne throws. Despite Henne providing the offense for Atlanta, the Falcons showed what they can do with a little bit of freedom, that being 1st and 10 on the opposing 47. Julio Jones displayed great quickness on short crossing routes, gathering distance with good footwork against Vontae Davis. Defensively, this looks like a team that could lack depth, despite the good play from Curtis Lofton up the middle. It will be important to see how Peria Jerry plays after a long slew of injuries dating back to high school. 

Props for drafting Matt Bosher. He was great at the U, and could probably start at linebacker.

8: New Orleans Saints

I really debated whether or not to switch the Saints with the Falcons, but the Saints are more playoff tested. Both teams should make the playoffs. I do not think many NFL fans realize what the loss of Reggie Bush means to this team. This is not a salivating Dolphins fan talking, this is someone who knows that Bush's presence alone draws double coverage and linebacker blanketing. Drafting former Heisman winner Mark Ingram should alleviate the pressure from Pierre Thomas, who will both have to carry a major load. Losing Jeremy Shockey only paves the way for another standout TE from the U in Jimmy Graham. At 6'8", the former power forward goes up for balls like rebounds, and should give Brees a security option on a team where I feel Marques Colston is overrated as a #1 option. Darren Sproles should help to fill the void Bush left, but he is not nearly as multidimensional as Reggie. Jonathan Vilma should continue to shine as their MLB, but the defense will have trouble in comparison to a solid off-season for the offense.

7: Indianapolis Colts

Peyton Manning to Reggie Wayne is sounding a lot more like Peyton to Marvin after all these years. If Anthony Gonzalez and Dallas Clark can remain healthy, Manning will likely have his weapons in tow. The back could be three deep if Addai and Brown do well. Javarris James surprised us all in an emergency role, surely making all of us 'Canes fans smile. Offensively this team looks like, well, the Colts. Wayne, Garcon and Gonzalez is not a bad three at all. They should be the envy of the AFC South. With Mathis and Freeney at either end, and new acquisition Tommie Harris up the middle, the defensive line should be excellent, but it ends there. Losing Bob Sanders was not really that much of a blow because they often lost him to injury anyway, but the defensive backs and linebackers lack a lot of power and potential.

6: New York Jets

The New York Jets are no longer the favorite to win the Superbowl, as they bragged about after their acquisitions of Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards, LaDanian Tomlinson, etc. The Jets most likely will be two to three games back in the division of the favorite Patriots. Losing Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery were huge blows for the team, especially when the supposed savior of the Mark Sanchez passing game is a guy fresh out of prison. LaDanian Tomlinson will most likely show his age this year, and the running game will likely not step up for Sanchez in the way it did last year. Drafting Muhammed Wilkerson was smart as it addressed a need; Kris Jenkins always an injury possibility at his age and size. The Jets will still boast one of the better offensive lines in the AFC, with Nick Mangold and D'Brickashaw Ferguson anchoring the talented side. Sanchez had much better numbers in his TD-to-Pick ratio, but his completion percentage is still dreadful. Sanchez will need to emerge in that fabled "third year" for the quarterback position if the Jets hope to upset the Patriots in any of their meetings. Also look for the Jets to potentially split the season series with Miami.

5: Pittsburgh Steelers

As if the botched fumble call at the 1-yard line that costs the 'Fins the game last year did not frustrate me enough, Rashard Mendenhall seemingly sticks up for Osama Bin Laden in an absolutely moronic tweet. I am starting to think that Twitter is a destructive force for professional athletes. No offense to them, but most pro football players were not Rhodes Scholars at their universities.

Back to the football, an aging Hines Ward could leave a hole at receiver if he does not perform, despite the great speed of Mike Wallace and the acquisition of Jerricho Cotchery. The defense is, of course, the Steelers defense. Even if the thug that is James Harrison bolsters their front seven, I feel that the only reason this team would see serious trouble on defense is if Harrison is suspended for his outspoken arrogance and near threats of Roger Goodell, coupled with his hits being more likened to assaults. Troy Polamalu will have to work through injury if he does go down for this team to compete for the division.

4: Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Hurricanes, as they are affectionately known as here in Miami, once again boast a first-rate defense anchored by the Hurricanes. Ray Lewis is still as brutal as ever at his age. Joe Flacco lost a solid target in Derrick Mason, but gained another in Lee Evans from Buffalo. The biggest addition was Vonta Leach. LT had Lorenzo Neal, the Dolphins have Lou Polite, now Ray Rice has Vonta Leach who is the best fullback in the NFL. This should pay huge dividends. The Ravens defense could rival the Steelers, and rightfully these two teams will duke it out for the title in the division, as well as the AFC. This could be the year the Ravens get over the hump and defeat the Steelers in the playoffs.

3: Philadelphia Eagles

Do not just hand them the title yet. This is a team that has a history of underachieving in the playoffs, even with incredible star power. The acquisition of Asomugha gives them even more than a first-rate corner, it gives them the ability to use Asante Samuel as trade bait, who will surely fetch even more talent. The running game should once again be decent, but is in no way the feature of this team. DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin need to have the seasons they had last year in order to have Vick succeed. Michael Vick is injury prone, which should serve as a warning to Eagles fans anointing this team. Vince Young is solid, but his arm is average and he is not the quarterback deserving of the #3 overall pick. Add to that his legal issues and I could easily see him being suspended again if he did not learn his lesson. Jason Babin is another big signing, though he will probably be the only true highlight of the first seven with his season maybe digressing. Of course the DBs will be the highlight of this defense.

2: Green Bay Packers

The only reason I place the Packers before Philly is out of respect. The Packers continued a recent trend of wild-card winners taking the Superbowl. Ryan Grant's injury merely ushered in the emergence of James Starks. Aaron Rodgers once again leads the frigid Green Bay team with a host of solid receivers. Donald Driver could truly show his age this year, but Greg Jennings will rise and instill himself as possibly the best receiver in the division. With B.J. Raji taking big steps to cementing himself as a great tackle, and A.J. Hawk and Clay Matthews a great inside-outside combination in the 3-4, the Packers look like a team that could challenge for the title on both sides of the ball.

1: New England Patriots

Does Chad Ochocinco represent a status quo, improvement or digression from Randy Moss? Do we expect Danny Woodhead to continue his dream career from the start of last season? Was Ryan Mallett the steal of the draft?

There are a lot of offensive questions, but one thing is for sure: Tom Brady is the master of accelerating the careers of possibly faltering receivers. Wes Welker has become a top slot option since joining the Pats, and we all know what Randy Moss did in 2008. Tom Brady is known as one of the softer quarterbacks in the NFL, this perception rings true when we see how he ruined football. Now the quarterback cannot be hit above the shoulders or below the waist, making it a real challenge not to turn a sack into a 15 yarder. For a man who is 6'4", 225 lbs., he surely should take a hit better than he has. Barring a catastrophic injury to Brady (no Matt Cassel to save him this year), or an absolute reverse cycle in the young, blossoming defensive backs, the Pats should win the Superbowl in 2012.