NFL Power Rankings: Where Should Peyton Manning-Less Colts Be Ranked?

With the NFL regular season kickoff just a matter of hours away, NFL power rankings, such as this one, are popping up all over the place.

Of course the power rankings of Week 1 will be vastly different from the power rankings at the end of the season that will ultimately determine the playoff-bound teams and the winner of the Andrew Luck sweepstakes.

However if you are projecting teams simply based on Week 1 of the season then there will be some very interesting results.

The most notable entry on the power rankings from NBC Sports was the Peyton Manning-less Colts falling to No. 18 overall. Initially that seems like a crazy drop-off simply based on an overreaction to one of the best players in the game missing time.

However when you really think about it, the Colts roster without Manning should fall a lot lower than just average. The truth is that team has been tailored around Manning as he has been ever-present in the team since his rookie season.

Not only is the offense so complex that a Curtis Painter or two-weeks-to-prepare Kerry Collins couldn't run it effectively, the defense is designed to play with the lead and take advantage of shootouts. The Colts have always been susceptible to the running game but have been able to dominate the AFC South regardless because of their vaunted pass rush playing with a lead.

However that defense doesn't look so formidable when Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis aren't getting to the quarterback six times a game. When the opposition will be under less pressure to pass and can run the ball more there will be fewer drop-backs and in turn less opportunities for sacks or turnovers.

Without Peyton Manning the Colts offense still has some talent, however not as much as you would think. Joseph Addai is a good back but won't be able to carry the load while some Colts fans were wondering if Donald Brown would even make the roster this year. Many Colts fans will be hoping for rookie Delonte Carter to break out instantly but he has only shown glimpses in the preseason.

The offensive line in Indianapolis was one of the worst groups in the league last year and is undergoing some surgery after they drafted two pass protectors this year. That is something the team hasn't done in recent years, instead relying on Manning to get the ball out quickly and spending their top picks on skill position players.

This should say that the team has plenty of talent at receiver.

However this is somewhat a myth for Week 1 also as Anthony Gonzalez and Austin Collie will miss out through injuries once again while Pierre Garcon is still a bit too inconsistent for my liking, especially with a less accurate quarterback under center.

Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark are future Hall of Famers and whoever starts against the Texans will rely heavily on them. The problem with that is the Colts offensive scheme is so complex and heavily reliant on Manning's intelligence that it is going to be extremely difficult for Collins or Painter to get the ball to the two targets that defenses will be keying in on.

For me, the Colts' ranking of 18th is not shocking in that it is too low, for me as the team is right now it is too high.

The Indianapolis Colts without a fully healthy Peyton Manning for the season won't be the worst team in the league, however they wouldn't be that far away from the Andrew Luck sweepstakes.

In my power rankings the Colts check in at 24th overall.