NFL Power Rankings 2011: Playoff and Super Bowl Predictions

The NFL regular season kicks off this Thursday night, with the Saints taking on the Packers.  Every team is optimistic this time of year, but in the end, "There Can Be Only One."  Can Aaron Rodgers lead the Pack back to the Super Bowl?  Is this the year Ray Lewis and the Ravens emerge from a loaded AFC?  Or will the New York Jets finally back up their coach's big mouth?

Keep reading, as I break down my Week One NFL Power Rankings.

32: Cincinnati Bengals

As we all know, rookie QB's don't always fare well in the NFL.  There have been exceptions, like Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh, but Big Ben had a lot of help his rookie year. 

Andy Dalton does not.  These are the Bengals, not the Steelers.

And that is why I have them ranked dead last in my power rankings.

31: Washington Redskins

The Redskins QB battle was between John Beck and Rex Grossman.  Their roster is pretty terrible, but if we stopped right there, you might agree with me that Washington was going to be terrible.

The only silver lining is the Redskins do have a good coach, and they will have a chance to draft Andrew Luck next year.  As for this year, the Redskins are going to be terrible.

30: Seattle Seahawks

Tavaris Jackson or Charlie Whitehurst?  The Seahawks roster is a mess, and I just can't figure out what their plan is.  Do they have a plan? 

Right now, the only thing I can figure is that Pete Carrol is trying to have a bad record so that they will have a chance to draft Andrew Luck or Matt Barkley. 

Seattle is going to be horrendous this year.

29: Carolina Panthers

Again, we have a rookie QB on a bad team.  Cam Newton has a lot of athletic ability.  He has a nice running game and a few receivers to throw to—but he is a rookie.

Newton is coming in with no offseason program, no OTA's, a shortened training camp, and all the pressure that comes with being the number one overall pick in the draft.I think he will eventually be a good player, and the Panthers will be good. 

This year, however, they are going to suck.  That is why I have them ranked 29th in my power rankings.

28: Miami Dolphins

This team has a couple of explosive playmakers in Brandon Marshall and Reggie Bush.  The problem is, they don't have anybody to get them the football.  Chad Henne has been a bust to this point in his career.  I don't know how true the rumors were of the Dolphins interest in Kevin Kolb or Kyle Orton, but the Dolphins might regret not finding a new QB.

To further complicate matters, this team has no running game.  Reggie Bush is the workhorse now.  Is he going to be able to pound it between the tackles the way head coach Tony Sporano likes to?

Bottom line: this team has made some really questionable moves in the last couple years (drafting wildcat QB Pat White with a second round pick?  Jeez...) and their roster reflects that.  They are going to be awful this year.

27: Buffalo Bills

Buffalo isn't very good, but they at least added some weapons.  They signed Brad Smith from the Jets.  He will give a handful of touchdowns a year, and he will probably make them tougher to stop around the goal line when he lines up in a Wildcat formation.  They have Steve Johnson, a promising young receiver.  They have C.J. Spiller, a running back who I really, really like.

Their biggest problem is at the quarterback position.  I honestly had to look up their QB to see who it was.  Ryan Fitzpatrick was the answer to that trivia question.  Did you know that Fitzpatrick has started 34 NFL games?  He was actually pretty good last year, throwing 23 touchdowns and only 15 interceptions in the 13 games he started for Buffalo. 

I actually think Buffalo is going to surprise a few people this year.  They aren't very good, but at least they are headed in the right direction.

26: Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jags have David Garrard at QB, but he is washed up.  Eventually, rookie Blaine Gabbert is going to take over at QB this season, and he isn't ready either. 

This is a young team with promising players on both sides of the ball. I love Maurice Jones-Drew, and a good running back is always a young quarterback's best friend.  This team is headed in the right direction, and should be a playoff team in a couple of seasons.

This season, however, is going to be hard to watch, Jags fans.  Your team is going to lose a lot of games.

25: Tennessee Titans

The Titans drafted Jake Locker, who is going to be a good quarterback, but not just yet.  So, they grabbed Matt Hasselbeck from the recycling bin. 

Chris Johnson remains one of the most explosive players in the league.  He missed almost all of training camp, and with no other consistent weapons on offense to help him, Johnson will be running against a lot of eight-man-boxes this season.

The Titans are still a solid team, but they are rebuilding this year.

24: Cleveland Browns

This is another team on the rise.  They don't make splashy, sexy moves.  They just keep adding solid football players.  I really like Colt McCoy.  I think they Browns could win between five and eight games this year, and with a good looking young QB, they look like the playoffs are possible in the next couple of seasons.

There is hope Browns fans!  You just have to suffer through one more mediocre season.

23: Denver Broncos

This is another case of a team that made several really poor personnel decisions.  They drafted Tim Tebow in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft, and he hasn't helped their team improve yet.  Then they cut three second round picks they made in that same 2010 NFL Draft. 

So they had four premium draft picks, and basically wasted all of them.

Think about itthe AFC is loaded.  The Broncos aren't going to the playoffs.  I think the Broncos should have traded Orton, loaded up on draft picks, and let Tebow play.  They would have known if he can play or not, and it would have sped up the whole rebuilding process in Denver.

Instead, they are pretending to be a playoff contender.  That's just sad, because the Broncos will finish dead last in the AFC West.

22: Oakland Raiders

The Raiders are the biggest, fastest, strongest, most explosive team in the league.  No, seriously, go look up their 40 times from the NFL Combine.  I'm serious. 

Of course, I'm only joking... just a little bit. 

The Raiders like to use the results from the NFL Combine when making their draft picks.  Everybody knows that.  We like to make fun of the Raiders for this, but they have managed to put together a very talented young roster.

The problem they have, like a lot of other teams on the bottom on this list, is they don't have a reliable quarterback.  Jason Campbell, a former first round pick by the Redskins, just hasn't managed to put it all together in the NFL.  If he could harness his talent, he will have no shortage of weapons.

Darren McFadden is an explosive running back, and the Raiders also have Michael Bush at that position.  The receivers might be the fastest in the league, with Louis Murphy, Jocoby Ford, and Darius Heyward-Bey all having speed to burn.

It all comes back to Campbell though, and I just don't think he will get the job done.  That will have the Raiders sitting home come playoff time. Again.

21: San Francisco 49'ers

Top to bottom, the 49'ers might have the most talent in the NFC West.  They have a young, physical offensive line.  They have playmakers at running back, tight end, and wide receiver.  Their defense is young and aggressive.

The only problem is their quarterback, Alex Smith, who has underachieved up to this point in his career. 

If Smith plays at a high level, San Francisco will win the NFC West and advance to the playoffs.  Jim Harbaugh will either salvage Smith's career, or the 49ers will be looking for other options at QB next year.

20: Indianapolis Colts

With a healthy Peyton Manning, the Colts could be win the AFC South or possibly a Wild Card Playoff spot.  They are no longer in that elite status of Super Bowl contenders, even with a healthy Manning.

I just don't think Manning will be healthy this year.  Look for him to play in six to ten games, with the Colts being somewhere between 6-10 and 8-8. 

This season could be the beginning of the end in Indy.

19: Minnesota Vikings

Remember those Jeff Foxworthy Jokes, "You might be a redneck IF....."

Well, "You might be a washed-up-quarterback IF Andy Reid and Mike Shanahan trade you in consecutive seasons."  And if Donovan McNabb is washed up, it's going to be a long season in Minnesota. 

Sure, they have Adrian Peterson, and he's awesome.  Sure, they have a couple of good players left on defense.  But they have a suspect offensive line, they let Sidney Rice go in free agency, and their top returning receiver, Percy Harvin, has so many migraines that he should have a sponsorship deal with Tylenol.

Their division has no weak teams in it.  Green Bay has the Lombardi trophy on the shelf, Chicago has a very solid team, and Detroit is one of the most exciting young teams in football. 

Oh yeah, and there are rumors that the Vikings are moving to Los Angeles.  Basically, right now it sucks to be a Vikings fan.

18: Arizona Cardinals

Arizona was in the Super Bowl two years ago—a lot of people forget that. 

On one hand, they have lost a lot of players from that team (Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, etc...).  On the other hand, this is still a team with some talent, including Larry Fitzgerald, arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL.

The biggest move this team made was trading for Kevin Kolb.  While Kolb is not a guaranteed star, he is still a major upgrade at that position for the Cardinals.  If you don't have a solid QB in this league, you don't have a chance to be good.  By trading for Kolb, at least the Cardinals have a chance.

17: Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs had a good team last year, mainly because they were the best rushing team in the NFL.  The tandem of Jamal Charles and Thomas Jones was hard to stop.  Matt Cassel is an efficient quarterback.  They have Dwayne Bowe and Steve Breaston at wide receiver.  Their defense is an exciting group, led by Derrick Johnson, Tamba Hali, and Eric Berry.  They suffered a major blow when they lost star tight end Tony Moeaki to a season ending injury, but other than that, their team is healthy and ready to go. 

This is a team with a lot of talent.

So why aren't they ranked higher?  I can't put my finger on it, but I just feel like this team has reached it's ceiling with Cassel.  He is one of those "good-not-great" players.  They will go 8-8 or 9-7, and Chiefs fans will feel mostly unsatisfied with their season. 

But this is still a good football team with a nice looking future.

16: Chicago Bears

I just don't trust Jay Cutler, or Mike Martz, or Roy Williams...

The Bears have a lot of good players, but as often the case with Mike Martz, the team seems to sell its blue collar soul in an attempt to be some kind of video game offense.  What are they doing trading good, hard nosed tight ends to make room for candy ass receivers like Roy Williams?  It just doesn't make sense.

These are Da' Bears!

This defense used to be able to win games by itself.  They are getting older, and some of those guys (Tommie Harris) are gone, and other guys (Lance Briggs) want to be.  So it comes down to Cutler and that offense now. 

Do you trust them?

Not me, I'm picking Detroit and Green Bay to both finish ahead of Chicago.

15: Detroit Lions

The Lions are a sexy pick right now to make the playoffs.  I think they have a chance, but they might still be a year away.  With Javid Best, Calvin Johnson, Brandon Pettigrew, Ndamukong Suh, Titus Young, Nick Fairley, and Matthew Stafford in place, this team is loaded with young talent.

But it all comes down to Stafford, doesn't it?

The former number one pick hasn't been able to stay healthy, and that has cost him valuable experience.  If you could guarantee me a healthy Stafford for 16 games, I'd bump the Lions up about five spots and guarantee them a playoff spot.

It's been a long time since Detroit fans had that kind of hope heading into a season.

14: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

You will get a pretty good argument out of most casual football fans:

Who is the more exciting young team, Detroit or Tampa Bay?

With Josh Freeman, Arrelious Benn, LeGarrette Blount, Daquan Bowers, Adrian Claiborn, Gerald McCoy, and Mike Williams all acquired via the draft, or signed as rookie free agents, no team has built "from within" as well as the Bucs have. 

With the new cap rules, they are set up to have a nice four or five year window to really make some noise in the NFC.

I would have them higher, but I'm not drinking the Josh Freeman Kool Aid just yet.  I think the kid is going to be really, really good, but he's not quite there yet.  I think the Bucs could make the playoffs, but they will need a team or two in front of them to stumble. 

13: New York Giants

The New York Giants should be a lot higher on this list than they are.  So why do I have them missing the playoffs?  Well, first of all, Eli Manning is too mistake prone.  Then you have to You also have to consider that this team was just decimated by injuries to key members of their secondary during the preseason.

I just think the Giants, playing in a very competitive NFC East, are going to struggle.  They have not played good football since Plaxico Burress shot himself in that night club.  I can't put my finger on why, but it just seems like they have been stuck in the mud.

And in the NFL, if you are standing still, somebody is passing you by.  I think the Giants will be the third best team in the NFC East, and they will miss the playoffs.

12: St. Louis Rams

I might be the only guy in America that has the Rams rated this high.  I just really like the direction this team is headed in, and I'll tell you why.

First, Sam Bradford is a stud.  It is just a matter of time before he elevates himself to one of the elite QB's in the league.  He has a great work ethic, he is athletic, he is mobile, smart, has a strong arm, and is pinpoint accurate.

Bradford also has Josh McDaniels as his Offensive Coordinator.  While McDaniels might have set the Broncos franchise back 10 years with his awful personnel decisions, you can't deny that he is a top flight offensive coordinator.  The Rams have added several weapons for McDaniels to play with in his offense in rookie tight end Lance Kendricks and Mike Sims-Walker.

The Rams also have Steven Jackson, the most underrated running back in the NFL.

The Rams also have a formidable defense led by James Laurinaitis, Chris Long, and newly added safety Quintin Mikell.  Head Coach Steve Spagnulo learned from the best, the late Jim Johnson in Philadelphia, and Spags is one of the best defensive minds in football.

Playing in a very weak NFC West, the Rams will make the playoffs this year and surprise a lot of people.

11: Houston Texans

The Texans have been this close to making the playoffs for a couple of years now.  I believe this will be the year they finally break through.  As I mentioned previously, the Colts are going to take a step back this year, the Titans are also going to have to regroup, and the Jags will be starting a rookie QB before Week 6.

Now all the Texans have to do is capitalize on their opportunity.

Matt Shaub is a good quarterback, and he has plenty of weapons.  Andre Johnson is a stud wide receiver, that rare player capable of dominating a game from that position.  Arian Foster has a hamstring injury, but when healthy, is one of the top running backs in the game.

Wade Phillips will take over as Defensive Coordinator, and he will install the 3-4 defense.  As part of the switch, they will be moving Mario Williams from defensive end to outside linebacker.  When Phillips was with the Cowboys, they made a similar move with DeMarcus Ware, helping him become one of the most dominant defensive players in the game today. 

Add it all up, and I believe this is a 10 or 11 win team that will make the playoffs.

10: Dallas Cowboys

How quickly people forget that Dallas was a popular Super Bowl pick a year ago.  I know a lot of people were just going with the flow since Dallas was hosting the Super Bowl in their brand new stadium.  But that doesn't change the fact that Dallas had a really good football team last season.

Injuries and inconsistent play ruined their season.  When Tony Romo went down with a broken collar bone, their season was basically over.  Wade Phillips never made these guys toe the line, and it ended up costing him his job.

This will be one of the most explosive offenses in the league with Romo, Miles Austin, Felix Jones, Dez Bryant, and Jason Whitten.  Their defense still has plenty of playmakers, led by DeMarcus Ware.  If head coach Jason Garrett can command the respect of his locker room, look for Dallas to make the playoffs in the NFC.

With all those weapons, nobody would want to face them in the first round of the playoffs.

9: New York Jets

I really struggled with this pick.  I really like Rex Ryan.  I like the way he isn't afraid to say what he thinks.  I really like their defense, the way they play with attitude, and I'm a huge fan of "Revis Island." 

I'm just not a fan of their quarterback.

Mark Sanchez just doesn't look like a good Pro quarterback to me.  He doesn't pass the eye test.  I see way too many throws that are way off target.  I think he has some "game manager" in him, and that with the right defense and the right running game, he can help his team win (i.e. Trent Dilfer). 

I just don't know if the Jets have those weapons this year.  Santonio Holmes is a good wide receiver, but now all the coverage is going to roll towards him.  Can he get open, especially with a sub par QB throwing to him?  If he can't, is Plaxico Burress the answer on the other side?  Is Shonne Greene finally going to step up and be a feature back?  If he can't, then is Ladanian Tomlinson going to catch lightning in a bottle for the second straight year? 

That is a whole lot of question marks, Jets' fans. 

To sum it up, I just think this team has taken an ever so slight step backwards.  The upper echelon teams in the AFC are loaded, and I just don't see the Jets being on that level this year. 

Having said all that, if I were an opposing coach, I still wouldn't want to play Rex Ryan in a "win-or-go-home" playoff game.  If they make the playoffs, they will still be dangerous.

8: San Diego Chargers

It is scary to think that Phillip Rivers put up 4,700 yards last year throwing to a bunch of no name receivers.  Rivers is a stud, and now he has his number one receiver back, Vincent Jackson.  His favorite target, Antonio Gates, is banged up, again!  However, if this team gets fully healthy, they are a top flight offense, mainly because of Rivers.

The man is that good.

Their defense is a stout unit, and if Bob Sanders can stay healthy, then they could be scary good.  I just think San Diego is a really good team, and if everything works out, this could be the year they make it to the Super Bowl.

I think they are going to have an outstanding season.

7: Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons went "all in" during the draft, giving up a ton of picks for the chance to draft wide reciever Julio Jones.  Now quarterback Matt Ryan has Jones, Roddy White, and Tony Gonzales to throw to, and it's always nice to be able to turn around and hand the ball to Michael Turner.

Atlanta had the best record in the NFC last year, only to get torched at home by the eventual Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers.  If their defense can show some slight improvement, and Matt Ryan can spread the ball around to all of his weapons, this is going to be a very good team.

You can pencil Atlanta in as a playoff team, and if they reach their potential, they might even reach the Super Bowl.

6: New Orleans Saints

The Saints were Super Bowl Champions two years ago, led by Drew Brees, a host of weapons on offense, and a rabid defense that emphasized take aways.  With several of those same players in place, the Saints are obviously one of the more talented teams in the league. 

Unlike some other elite teams, the Saints went out and added a lot of additional pieces to their roster.

They drafted Mark Ingram to give them a power running game to complement Brees and the passing game.  They signed veteran center Olin Kreutze to anchor the offensive line.  They brought in Darren Sproles, a scat back who will give them a change of pace running back. 

Sum it up, and the Saints offense is the epitome of "the rich getting richer."

Sean Payton is a great head coach, and Brees is one of the best field generals in the game.  I see the Saints being a sure fire playoff team, with a chance to make it to the Super Bowl.

5: Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles are probably the fastest, most explosive team in the NFL.  They have speed everywhere.  Whether it's running back LeSean MCoy, or receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, or even quarterback Michael Vick, they can all take it to the house.

Heck, even their defense has guys that will generate offense in Nnamdi Asomugha, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and Asante Samuel.  Everywhere you look, all you see is speed, speed, speed.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, most of the time in the NFL, explosive offense is negated by inferior play in the trenches.  In the NFL, games are won and lost by big, strong men who push each other around, not by the quick guys trying to run away from those big, strong men.

The Eagles offensive line is a mess, and their defensive front has a tendency to get pushed around also.  I really like what the Eagles did this offseason, and I think they are on the cusp of a championship.  It could happen this year for Vick and the Eagles.

But I don't think it will.  I think they are on the verge of doing something special, but I think it won't happen until next year.  Be patient Eagles' fans.  The Eagles are going to contend for several Super Bowls in the next five years.

4: Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens are loaded. 

I am a big fan of Ray Lewis and the Ravens' smash mouth style of football.  That defense is stout year in and year out with stars like Lewis, Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata, and Ed Reed.  Add in first round pick Jimmy Smith, and last year's first round pick, Sergio Kindle, who missed all of 2010 with an injury, and the Ravens are absolutely loaded on that side of the ball.

Their offense looks just as good.  Joe Flacco is a very good quarterback.  Ray Rice is one of the most dynamic running backs in all of football.  Anquan Boldin is one of the toughest wide receivers in the league.  They drafted Torrey Smith to help the wide receivers, and picked up Ricky Williams to add depth to the running back position.

Again, the Ravens are LOADED! 

I really want to pick them to go to the Super Bowl, but I can't put Flacco ahead of Big Ben or Tom Brady.  He has to beat those guys when it counts, and he hasn't done that yet.  If Joe Flacco can elevate his game, then this team is a Super Bowl lock.

3: Pittsburgh Steelers

If you can make shrewd personnel decisions, have an above average quarterback, and then combine that with this type of physical, nasty, in-your-face football—well, you are always going to be one of the better teams in the league.

Shrewd decision making—CHECK.  The Steelers turn out stud linebackers like McDonald's turns out Big Macs.  Every year, they draft a guy late, or sign a rookie free agent, and the guy ends up being a Pro Bowler before he leaves Pittsburgh.  The Steelers are probably the best run organization in all of football.

Above average quarterback—CHECK, and then some.  Big Ben has two Super Bowl rings, and is the best scrambler in the league.  Nobody "extends the play" like Ben Roethlisburger.

Smash Mouth FootballCHECK.  Pittsburgh leads the league in bone crushing hits, and fines, courtesy of their defense.  Their offensive line has been a bit shaky the past couple of years.  If second year man Maurkice Pouncey can stay healthy, then the Steelers might be able to hand it off to power back Rashard Mendenhall this year and play smash mouth offensive football also.

Basically, ditto everything I said about the Ravens, with the exception that the Steelers have a proven quarterback.  This team almost won the Super Bowl last year, losing a close game to Green Bay.  It is entirely possible that the Steelers could win it this year.

2: New England Patriots

New England had the best record in the AFC last year, only to lose to the New York Jets in the playoffs.  Their biggest weakness was their pass rush.  It's hard to believe, but Bill Belichick's defense quit getting to the quarterback. 

To remedy this problem, they brought in Albert Haynesworth, a guy with a ton of talent, but someone who had worn his welcome out in Washington due to a poor work ethic.  If Haynesworth can recapture his old form, then the Patriots defense is going to be very good.  The Patriots also added defensive ends Shaun Ellis and Andre Carter, just more proof they Pats are trying to get more pressure on opposing QB's this year.

Tom Brady is still the best QB in the league, and the Pats added Chad Ochocinco to an already deep receiving corps.  If Ochocinco can play to his ability, and the rest of the Pats young tight ends can continue to develop, there is no reason to believe that this offense won't be even better this year.

I think the Pats could win the Super Bowl this year.  Of course, I also thought they would win it last year.  Pats fans hope this is the year that Brady and Belichick win their fourth ring.

#1: Green Bay Packers

The Packers are my number one team, simply because they are the defending Super Bowl Champions.  I don't think they will win the Super Bowl again, but they are no doubt an elite team.

I think they overcame crazy odds last year—injuries to several key players, winning playoff games on the road, etc.—to win the Super Bowl.  I'm not taking anything away from the Pack.  They were red hot at the right time of the year, and when all the dust settled, they were the best team in football.

I just don't think they can do it again.

Aaron Rodgers is, in my opinion, the second best quarterback behind Tom Brady.  They have stud tight end Jermichael Finley back from injury, along with receivers Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, and Donald Drivers.  Add it up and the Packers are going to score a lot of points.

Their defense has two of the best players in the league in cornerback Charles Woodson and linebacker Clay Matthews.  With defensive tackle B.J. Raji and linebacker A.J. Hawk also in the mix, this is one of the best defensive units in the NFL.

So why can't they win the Super Bowl again?

I didn't say they can't.  I just said I think they won't.  The Packers will be very good, and if they get home field advantage, they will be next to impossible to beat on "The Frozen Tundra" of Lambeau Field. 

In the end, it's just too hard to go back-to-back. 

Have faith Packers fans.  Your team is going to be very good for a long time, and in the end, I think Rodgers will have more rings than Favre.

2011 NFL Playoff Predictions

So here is how I see the 2011 NFL Playoffs playing out:

NFC Teams: Rams, Cowboys, Falcons, Saints, Eagles, and Packers

AFC Teams: Texans, Jets, Chargers, Ravens, Steelers, Patriots

NFC Wild Card Round: Falcons over Rams, Saints over Cowboys

AFC Wild Card Round: Ravens over Texans, Jets over Chargers

NFC Divisional Round: Falcons over Eagles, Packers over Saints

AFC Divisional Round: Ravens over Steelers, Patriots over Jets

NFC Championship Game: Packers over Falcons

AFC Championship Game: Patriots over Ravens

Super Bowl: Patriots over Packers

2011 Super Bowl Champions: The New England Patriots

I have Tom Brady out dueling Aaron Rodgers to win the Super Bowl.  That's just my opinion.  Feel free to agree or disagree, but I'm sure nobody will argue that this is going to be one heck of a ride this season.  I can't wait for it to kick off Thursday night!