Preseason Power Rankings

Preseason Power Rankings… these aren’t season predicitions, people, but how I would rank the teams based on their finish last year and the moves they made this offseason, along with the general impression of their preseason thus far. I had the Broncos higher, but after two generally poor showings in the preseason I had to move them down.

1. Indianapolis Colts | PREVIOUS: —

The Colts finished the year on top, and they start my Power Rankings that way. They are the team to beat in the NFL this year, period. Peyton Manning got the monkey off his back, and now they have to defend their title. They’ll drop from this spot once they lose a game bad enough to warrant it.

2. New England Patriots | PREVIOUS: —

Did anyone really believe, heading into the playoffs last year, that it would be the Patriots vs. the Colts in the AFC Championship Game? I know I didn’t, but the Patriots came out and surprised a lot of people and were this close to making it back into the Super Bowl. Everyone’s favorite team this year made a lot of moves to push themselves over that edge; it’ll be interesting to see how they handle the expectations.

3. Chicago Bears | PREVIOUS: —

I never thought Rex Grossman should have been benched last year. He had barely played any regular season games up to that point in his career, and the Bears stormed into the 2006 season with both the best defense AND offense four weeks into the year. He had a few bad games, but he definitely had more good ones than bad. And he looks like he could be even better this year. The defense is still solid – I think the Bears are hungry for the Super Bowl again, and are built to get there.

4. San Diego Chargers | PREVIOUS: —

A new coaching staff all around definitely adds questions to this talented team – and before Denver fans start crying traitor to me, I’m trying to be objective here. While I think Philip Rivers still has a lot to prove, their running game is phenomenal. One of the best offensive lines in the league; the best fullback in the league; the best backup RB; the best running back and reigning MVP – all on this team, built to be unstoppable offensively. Add in an agressive defense and a bunch of up-and-comers in the secondary and this may be the most talented team in the NFL. It’s just a matter of seeing this coaching stuff putting them in the position to succeed, and Rivers not blowing it like he did to a certain point in the playoffs last year.

(But man, do I hate ’em…)

5. Baltimore Ravens | PREVIOUS: —

A lot of people aren’t as high on this team as I am – I think they’re probably the most underrated team in the entire NFL. While Steve McNair may be old, he’s still a Top 16 quarterback, and the Ravens defense has won it all with worse. The defense will carry this team, and with just a little bit more offense (which I think they’ll get), they won’t fall the way they did last year against the lowly Colts defense.

6. Dallas Cowboys | PREVIOUS: —

Is it just me, or is there just something about this team this year? It seems like all the pieces are falling into place. They had one of the best defenses in the league last year, and their offense was exceptional too. They were the only team with a winning record against the AFC last year… I don’t know why, but it looks like the Cowboys may be heading to Glendale this February by my eyes.

7. New Orleans Saints | PREVIOUS: —

I think this team is overrated, so call this my “benefit of the doubt” rank. If they’re able to come out of the gates strong like last year, I’ll jump on the bandwagon everyone’s been on since last September.

8. Denver Broncos | PREVIOUS: —

A lot of upside for our Broncos this year, but they’ve gotta pull it together and stop a running back. The Browns are up this week, with Jamal Lewis leading the Cleveland runners… if we struggle against them too, it’s official panic time.

9. Seattle Seahawks | PREVIOUS: —

The Seahawks will definitely be in the mix this year, and I could see Mike Holmgren leading the ‘Hawks to a rematch against the men in stripes this year… if healthy, Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander make one of the best QB-RB duos in the business, and their defense looks to improve to the level of two years ago. Patrick Kerney was a good, jealousy-inducing signing, too. They’ll be in it to the end.

10. Philadelphia Eagles | PREVIOUS: —

With Donovan McNabb, this team is one of the best. But I’m not assured that he’ll be healthy enough to start, and I’m definitely not counting on him to finish the season. I just can’t. But if they’re able to put away this quarterback controversy, this team could definitely do some damage again this year.

11. Pittsburgh Steelers | PREVIOUS: —
12. Carolina Panthers | PREVIOUS: —
13. Cincinnati Bengals | PREVIOUS: —
14. Jacksonville Jaguars | PREVIOUS: —
15. New York Jets | PREVIOUS: —
16. St. Louis Rams | PREVIOUS: —
17. San Francisco 49ers | PREVIOUS: —
18. Buffalo Bills | PREVIOUS: —
19. Kansas City Chiefs | PREVIOUS: —
20. New York Giants | PREVIOUS: —
21. Washington Redskins | PREVIOUS: —
22. Miami Dolphins | PREVIOUS: —
23. Arizona Cardinals | PREVIOUS: —
24. Tampa Bay Bucanneers | PREVIOUS: —
25. Houston Texans | PREVIOUS: —
26. Green Bay Packers | PREVIOUS: —
27. Detroit Lions | PREVIOUS: —
28. Tennessee Titans | PREVIOUS: —
29. Cleveland Browns | PREVIOUS: —
30. Oakland Raiders | PREVIOUS: —
31. Minnesota Vikings | PREVIOUS: —
32. Atlanta Falcons | PREVIOUS: —

ON 11-32: I think 10-18 come into this season with good shots at the playoffs each. Every one of them have a quarterback to rally around. I think the Cardinals, Texans, Lions and Bucs have a chance to really surprise people this year, but they need to show me a little more before I rank them higher. The Titans are ranked lower than most people would have them because I just don’t believe in this team, and I never saw Vince Young as worthy of Rookie of the Year. He will struggle without a running game this year. The Falcons are the worst team heading into this year, for obvious reasons.