Our first Power Rankings of the season are here and just like everybody else’s, they’re completely arbitrary. As the weeks go on, it’s likely they’ll all start to line up but here, in the first few weeks of the season, none of us really know anything.
That being said, here’s the criteria that I used to varying degrees; 2014 finish, 2015 roster, 2015 coaches, the eyeball test. And that’s pretty much it The eyeball test comes down to how I think the team’s starters looked in preseason action and while each squad may have kept most of their playbook under wraps, they didn’t hide their talent (or lack thereof). That’s all based on my observations. If you don’t agree, hey, let me know. My email is at the bottom of the page.
1. New England Patriots – I’m a firm believer in the “Ric Flair” philosophy that “to be the man, you gotta beat the man” and since the Patriots are the defending champs, they open No. 1. Like Flair, they got that title using a whole lot of tactics that the likes of Tony Shiavone and Gordon Solie wouldn’t approve of, but here were are. Last year: AFC East Champion*, AFC Champion*, Super Bowl Champion*
2. Seattle Seahawks – The Seahawks had one play to become Ric Flair themselves this season and instead they went full-Mulkey and called the dumbest play in Super Bowl history. They’re still pretty good and when the smoke clears this season, they’ll probably still be close to this spot in the rankings. Last year: NFC West Champion, NFC Champion
3. Green Bay Packers – Of all the missing rings the Green Bay Packers have in their pretend trophy cabinets, last year’s is probably the most frustrating. Cowardly playcalling cost them an NFC Championship and second trip to the Super Bowl, but with Tom Clements now calling plays, that won’t happen again. Last year: NFC North Champion
4. Indianapolis Colts – The Colts helped blow the lid off the Patriots’ latest cheating scandal, but a federal judge all but ruined any real effect it will have on this season. The Colts will have to do the Lord’s work themselves now. Andrew Luck has some all-new weapons on offense and the right arm to use them. Last year: AFC South Champion
5. Pittsburgh Steelers – The Steelers have the chance Thursday night to make some early noise in the power rankings and the league. Ben Roethlisberger is coming off what may have been his best season as a passer. The defense may have a lot of new faces, but it was the old faces that were the problem last season. Last year: AFC North Champion
6. Baltimore Ravens – The Ravens have been the team no one wants to face in the playoffs for years, but this is the season that Joe Flacco and the team becomes just as dangerous in the regular season. Last year: AFC Wildcard
7. Dallas Cowboys – The biggest hits to the Cowboys this offseason were all self-inflicted, as they let one of their best offensive weapons leave and made no significant effort to replace him. Tony Romo took a significant step upward last season and I don’t feel like he’s in for a let-down, but losing DeMarco Murray will show up in their regular season and postseason record. Last year: NFC East Champion
8. Denver Broncos – Peyton Manning will do everything he can to keep his swan song from taking a swan dive off a cliff. I’m not sure how successful he will be at the end of the season, but, as always, he’ll be exciting to watch. Last year: AFC West Champion
9. Philadelphia Eagles – Maybe you’ve noticed this, maybe you haven’t, but I’m going to point it out anyway. Before the Rams traded Sam Bradford to the Eagles, he was the reason they would have issues on offense. Every pundit after last season predicted the Eagles with Foles would be explosive in 2015. After the trade, all the worries about Bradford’s talent were gone and suddenly it was the Rams and Foles that were headed to 8-8, while the Eagles were going back to the postseason. The pundits just like Chip Kelly more than Jeff Fisher and that’s all there is to it. I’ve always liked Sam Bradford so I have no doubt he’ll be incredible in Philadelphia. Last week: 2nd place, NFC East
10. Buffalo Bills – Tyrod Taylor gets to lead what looks like a pretty good Bills offense onto the field, bolstered by what was already one of the best defenses in the league. Remember that Rex Ryan led the New York Jets to the AFC title game his first year as their head coach? Well, now you do. Last week: 2nd place, AFC East
11. San Diego Chargers – The Chargers shored up their quarterback situation for the foreseable future by not being stupid and locking Philip Rivers up for the rest of his career. They then went out and got him more offensive weapons to score points with. It’s getting into “now or never” time with the Chargers. I’d put my money on “now.” Last year: 3rd place, AFC West
12. Detroit Lions – Last year Jim Caldwell lead the Lions to exactly seven more wins and one more playoff berth than I thought he could as their head coach, showing that either I know less than Jon Snow or that last year was just an aberration. I’m going with aberration because I don’t think I can pull off the black fur collar look. Last year: NFC Wildcard
13. Arizona Cardinals – Of all the teams that couldn’t afford to get worse, the Arizona Cardinals are easily the team in the most precarious position. Whether Bruce Arians wants to admit it or not, the Cardinals benefited a lot from just playing teams with mediocre to bad quarterbacks over the last two seasons. With the exception of a couple of games against the 49ers, those days are over. Last year: NFC Wildcard
14. Cincinnati Bengals – The Bengals have made the playoffs for the last four consecutive seasons with Andy Dalton at quarterback so you can see why the fans in Cincinnati hate him so much. Wait, what? Sure, Dalton is a mediocre guy, but he’s a mediocre guy who wins for you. You forget the David Klinglers and Akili Smiths too easily, Cincy. Last year: AFC Wildcard
15. New York Giants – I don’t understand how the Giants are seemingly slipping under anyone’s radar this season. Am I the only person who watched them play in the second half of last season? I can’t be. There are far too many outstanding offensive highlight videos on Youtube. Last year: 3rd place, NFC East
16. St. Louis Rams – As I said earlier, “experts” had the Rams pegged at 8-8 with Bradford or Foles, so this is probably the highest you’ll see them in a preseason power ranking. That’ll change after the first month of the season. Last year: 4th place, NFC West
17. Atlanta Falcons – When the Falcons fired Mike Smith they instantly became the best job opening in football, which makes no sense why it took so long for them to fill it. Dan Quinn takes command of a team already loaded on offense and with new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan running it, Quinn can focus solely on the defense. Last year, 3rd place NFC South
18. New Orleans Saints – The Saints were almost as bad as the Cowboys this year when it came to shedding offensive weapons. Still, they kept the big guns and with an improved defense, should be in the NFC South race until the final week again. Last year: 2nd place, NFC South
19. Houston Texans – Are the Texans better this year? Absolutely. Have they improved enough to catch the Colts? Nope. Are they good enough to make the playoffs? Yes sir, they are, but they have to treat every regular season game like a playoff game because it will be for them. That AFC Wildcard race will be tight Last year: 2nd place, AFC South
20. Kansas City Chiefs – The Chiefs and the Texans are pretty much in the same boat. And if it’s a familiar sailing vessel, it’s because they were both in it last year along with the Chargers, Bengals and Ravens. Somebody’s getting left out of those two Wildcard spots. Kansas City can’t take a single week off. Last year: 2nd place, AFC West
21. Carolina Panthers – Everything conspired to keep the Panthers out of the playoffs last season, even a car wreck with quarterback Cam Newton. The Panthers still made it, and even won their wildcard game. This year’s team may not be so lucky. Last year: NFC South Champion
22. Minnesota Vikings – The Vikings, with the return of Adrian Peterson, are suddenly everybody’s “surprise” pick. I think they surprise is going to be that they’ll be good, just not good enough. Last year: 3rd place, NFC North
23. Miami Dolphins – Another prognosticator favorite and this time even Harvard University students got involved, saying that Miami will represent the AFC in Super Bowl 50. Listen, Harvard kids. You stick with ruining the world’s economy and let me do the football picks. Last year: 3rd place, AFC East
24. New York Jets – Rex Ryan was a good coach undermined by an incompetent front office and the inability to find a quarterback. Todd Bowles doesn’t have either of those issues with a new general manager, Mike Maccagnan, and a big time QB prospect in Baylor’s Bryce Petty. It’s not going to happen this year, though. Last year, 4th place, AFC East
25. Chicago Bears – New head coach John Fox has brought in an elite coaching staff and the Bears are still loaded on the offensive skill positions. It’s the defense they have to keep building. And you can’t discount the issues around Jay Cutler, who will either be NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2015 or out of the league in 2016. Last year: 4th place, NFC North
26. Jacksonville Jaguars – Jacksonville has improved across the board, but not enough to be anything other than competitive in the 2015 season. But when you take the Jaguars’ recent history into consideration, that’s actually saying something. Last year: 3rd place, AFC South
27. Cleveland Browns – As long as Josh McCown is starting, the Browns won’t scare anybody but maybe their own head coach Mike Pettine, who should probably go ahead and lock down a good realtor. Last year: 4th place, AFC North
28. Tennessee Titans – Marcus Mariota has changed the story in Tennessee, but it’s not going to be a story that’s finished this year. There will be flashes of brilliance, but the Titans are just too far behind to catch the elite teams in the AFC South. Last year: 4th place, AFC South
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – The Buccaneers have gone all in on Jameis Winston and after watching the preseason, none of us really know how that’s going to turn out yet. Winston flashed at times, but overall got a “C-” grade at best. It might be another long year in Tampa Bay. Last year: 4th place, NFC South
30. Oakland Raiders – Oakland has quietly put together a dangerous team that could shock some people this year. Win a game or two they shouldn’t? Yes. End the season with a winning record? Let’s not be ridiculous. Last year: 4th place, AFC West
31. San Francisco 49ers – The 49ers have endured an apocalyptic offseason like none any of us has ever seen. Not only are they in worse shape than they were at this time last year, they’re in worse shape than they were when the season ended last year. Last year: 3rd place, NFC West
32. Washington Redskins – If you’re putting together power rankings and don’t have the Redskins at the bottom to start the season, I think you should turn in your press pass right now. You obviously have not been paying attention. Last year: 4th place, NFC East
