NFL Power Rankings: Colts Plummet with Latest News on Peyton Manning Injury

The Indianapolis Colts are in a lot of trouble without star quarterback Peyton Manning. In fact, news that he will miss a significant amount of time this year absolutely changes the 2011 NFL landscape as we know it.

The Colts suffer a significant drop from their preseason ranking, and understandably so. Coming into this season it was expected that Peyton Manning would be ready to go by the start of the regular season.

A recent report by Mike Florio of NBC Sports suggests otherwise though. Florio reports that Manning will miss a significant amount of time this season:

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With rampant rumors and reports regarding the status of quarterback Peyton Manning, a source with knowledge of the situation tells us that Manning could have neck surgery as soon as today, and that he will miss “significant time” as he recovers.

It’s currently expected that, after the surgery, Manning will recover and play again, possibly this year.

Manning has had two neck surgeries in the past two years. The most recent procedure occurred on May 23. He returned to practice last week, but a setback has forced him back to sidelines.

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With Manning, the Colts are always in the spot to be a contender, but without him they don't stand a chance.

Their defense is porous and now their offense is just as bad. It may seem like a fix, but I urge you not to buy into the Kerry Collins signing. Collins has had a great NFL career, but to think that he can come in and learn the Colts system in a matter of weeks and then run it with even 10 percent of Manning's aura is ridiculous.

The impact to my NFL rankings heading into Week 1 of the NFL season is tremendous. At the beginning of the preseason, I put out my first round of NFL power rankings that had the Colts ranked No. 8.

In light of the injury though, I had no choice but to slide them all the way down to No. 27, just above divisional opponent Jacksonville. The favorite to win the AFC South has to be the Houston Texans now. I also think the Titans will be better than expected.

Peyton Manning's injury will severely hurt the Colts' chances of being competitors in their own division, let alone in the AFC.

Other teams that have noticeably dropped in stock since the first rankings due to all of the struggles they have at the quarterback position are the San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos and the Cincinnati Bengals.

Notable teams that have risen in stock during the preseason are the Detroit Lions and the Atlanta Falcons.

The Green Bay Packers are still the team to beat, followed by the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles at the top of the rankings.

Andrew Kulha's 2011 NFL Power Rankings
1. Green Bay Packers
2. New England Patriots
3. Philadelphia Eagles
4. Atlanta Falcons
5. New York Jets
6. Baltimore Ravens
7. New Orleans Saints
8. Pittsburgh Steelers
9. San Diego Chargers
10. Houston Texans
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
12. Detroit Lions
13. St. Louis Rams
14. Kansas City Chiefs
15. Seattle Seahawks
16. Arizona Cardinals
17. New York Giants
18. Chicago Bears
19. Oakland Raiders
20. Cleveland Browns
21. Dallas Cowboys
22. Minnesota Vikings
23. Tennessee Titans
24. Washington Redskins
25. Denver Broncos
26. Miami Dolphins
27. Indianapolis Colts
28. Jacksonville Jaguars
29. Carolina Panthers
30. Buffalo Bills
31. San Francisco 49ers
32. Cincinnati Bengals