NFL Power Rankings: Week 1

Power rankings to me  don’t necessarily mean best team. For instance: the Arizona Cardinals or 49ers are one of the 12 most powerful teams in the league because one of them is likely going to the playoffs (or Seahawks, Rams) . The Giants, Lions, Buccaneers, Bears are all teams that are better than the 49ers, but they could be on the outside looking in when the playoffs start.

I try to look at a few things. Where teams are now. Where teams are going. And What their playoff chances are.

Power rankings are just for fun, anyway. I punished a few teams more than I should have for very poor performances (Giants I’m looking at you. Colts too), but don’t take it too seriously. They have every opportunity to bounce back.

32. Cleveland Browns (previously Cincinnati Bengals)

If the Bengals come into your house and you are favored by 7 you better win. They played 17 points worse than Vegas expected them too. The Browns did not look good. I though they weren’t going to be good anyway, and I doubt when all is said and done they are picking 1st in the 2012 N.F.L. draft. But they banished to the bottom of the rankings for their poor performance this past Sunday.

31.  Minnesota Vikings (Previously San Fran 49ers)

Shame on me. I wanted to believe that Mcnabb couldn’t be as bad as he was showing last year. And he was. The Vikings are still higher than this because they have a good supporting cast. Truth is, I started from 1 and worked my way back and skipped over the Vikings, so they get this low ranking because of my oversight. I would say they are actually around the 20 ish best team (or 12th or so worst team) in the league.

30.  Seattle Seahawks (previously Cleveland Browns)

Why aren’t they last? They play in a terrible division. When you play in a bad division you get a little boost. They have easier wins on their scheule than the Browns, who just blew a good chance for a big win.

29. Miami Dolphins (Same)

I don’t think the Dolphins are the 29th most talented team in the league. What I do think is that if they start slow (and they probably will, They don’t have an easy first few games), they will give up on their coach. He’s a lame duck without being a lame duck.  You can’t try to jettison your coach, fail miserably at that and not see a bad after-math from it. Chad Henne looked pretty good tonight, but the Dolphins are still pretty bad.

28. Denver Broncos (Previously Washington Redskins)

They still can’t stop the run. Could be a long season for the Broncos.

This was wrote at half time in the Raiders and Broncos game and then scheduled to post. So if they come back and beat the Radiers (down 16-3 currently) feel free to switch the Raiders and Broncos if it makes you feel better. Even if they win. They still need to improve their run stopping greatly.

27. Cincinnati Bengals  (previously Broncos)

The Bengals will be back further towards the bottom of the list if they lost next weekend, but they won so I have to give them credit for that. I had them as my “lock of the week” this week because they were getting 7 points from the Browns (how are the Browns ever favored by 7 points on anyone?), but I didn’t expect them to win. Great showing by the Bengals.

26.  Indianapolis Colts (previously Panthers)

Only reason they are this high is because Peyton Manning might come back. This is a very reactionary “prisoner of the moment” ranking. I’m sorry Colts fans. They probably deserve to be higher. But wow, was that embarrassing.  the Defense needs to step it up.

25. San Fran 49ers (previously the Buffalo Bills)

The only thing I learned form the 49ers and Seahawks game. Is that the Seahawks are probably worse than I thought. Ted Ginn was impressive. I know the Dolphins were upset with his WR abilities, but they could use that dynamic return ability. Any team could.

24. Carolina Panthers (previously Tennessee Titans)

The Panthers looked pretty good. I think this is a team that is going to push a lot of good teams into a panic during the season. The Panthers are the Lions. They are smartly building they have their core all set up and in two years they’ll be making a serious playoff run.

23. Tennessee Titans (previously Jacksonville Jaguars)

Could be higher. They didn’t look terrible. That Kenny Britt is a player when he focuses on the field.

22. Kansas City Chiefs (previously Minnesota Vikings)

Last year, the Bills were THE worst rush defense in the league. The Chiefs were the best run offense. The Chiefs are great at home, the Bills aren’t great on the road (at home either). Chiefs should win, right? WRONG! They got obliterated. Bad, bad day for the Chiefs and their fans. Oh salt to the wound. Eric Berry is out for the season.

21. St. Louis Rams (Previously Arizona Cardinals)

Yikes. What a terrible week. They lost Steven Jackson for next week (most likely), they lost Danny Amendola for awhile (most likely), Sam Bradford got hurt (most likely to play next week) and they have a brutal early schedule.

20.  New York Giants (Previously Oakland Raiders)

I’m killing the Giants this week. The offensive line looked bad. The Secondary looked really bad. The coaching and special teams weren’t great. Jason Pierre Paul is a Stud. Hakeem Nicks is a stud. And they are talented. I think Coughlin might be wearing his welcome out in New York (from the players standpoint).

19.  Oakland Raiders (Previously Seattle Seahawks)

The clock just struck midnight and the Raiders look like they are on their way to a victory. Even if they beat the Chargers 45-0 I still wouldn’t put them much higher than this. They need to show they can play hard and consistent every week! They went 6-0 last year in the division, played some bad teams (like the entire A.F.C. West) and still could not make the playoffs. I believe they are playoff talented (I’m one of the few), but they are very inconsistent.

18.  Washington Redskins (Previously Dallas Cowboys)

The Redskins had the good Rex Grossman show up vs the Giants on Sunday. When Grossman is good. He’s really good. When Grossman is bad. He’s really bad. The Defense will be pretty good. The running game will be solid. If Grossman is good (and he did take a team to the Superbowl) the the Raiders can be decent.

17. Arizona Cardinals (Previously Kansas City Chiefs)

They look like they could be better than everyone else in the N.F.C. West which gives them a huge advantage. They’re not that good, but Kolb looked pretty good and the defense has some young talent.

16. Buffalo Bills (Previously New York Giants)

Relax people. I live in Rochester, NY. If anyone knows how unlikely this is to happen for a whole season it’s me. But you can’t go into Kansas City (a difficult place to play) and beat the Chiefs 41-7 and not get some love. What an impressive opening weekend for the Bills. They play the Raiders in week two and then they’ll go back to being the Bills after that.