Each week, I will take the time to go through all 32 NFL teams and rank them from best to worst as I see it. These rankings will change week to week depending on how teams perform this week, but don't predict too many drastic changes, even good teams have to lose sometimes. These power rankings are supposed to reflect which team I think would win on a neutral site at the point in time I write them (thus, some teams may experience power ranking fluctuation due to injuries, or suspensions). The one I will churn out today, the preseason edition, is made to reflect the order I think these teams will end up once the 2013 season is over and done, so it'll be interesting to compare my lists once the season is up! So for now, enjoy, and if your teams isn't ranked as highly as you would like right now, don't worry! They still have a full season to change my mind.
1. San Francisco 49ers
My prediction to win the Super Bowl, the 49ers have the most complete team right now in the NFL, at least on paper. A bout with the Green Bay Packers week one will be a large litmus test for both teams, and the 49ers will need to make sure they don't get complacent to keep the top spot here.
2. Seattle Seahawks
The NFC West is going to be an absolute nail-biter this year, with the two best teams in football (in my opinion) fighting for playoff seeding. One of my top two teams at the beginning of the year will be, at best, the number five seed in the NFC playoffs. The battle to decide who gets home field advantage in January will be a huge factor in deciding the fate of these two teams (and don't overlook the Rams either!).
3. Denver Broncos
The Broncos will be scary good on offense this year, as Peyton Manning's up-tempo attack and three headed monster at receiver will be extremely difficult to keep up with. The Broncos pass rush needs to weather the storm for the first six games without All-Pro linebacker Von Miller, but Peyton and the offense should score enough points to keep the Broncos still trending in the right direction by the time they reach full strength during week seven.
4. Green Bay Packers
While the Packers have a major weakness at offensive line, they also have the best quarterback in the game right now in Aaron Rodgers, and for that reason alone you can't discount them in any game they play this year. The Packers and going to try to show the NFL their defense has improved enough this year to have Rodgers' back, and if they can slow down Kaepernick and the 49ers the outlook looks very good for this team.
5. New England Patriots
Another year, another MVP-caliber season for Tom Brady as he and coach Bill Belichick show they will be the class of the AFC no matter what talent you put around them. While everyone worries about how Brady will adapt to his many new targets, the running game has quietly become a strength for this team and this defense has become a pretty solid unit as well.
6. Houston Texans
The Texans were on top of the world for most of last season until stumbling down the stretch and causing their stock to crash. They open up at number six here and have room to rise if key figures on this team like Matt Schaub can step up and their defense remains healthy, but they still have to prove they belong up here with the big boys.
7. Cincinnati Bengals
Like the Texans, the Bengals are a team that needs to prove to everyone this year they can be legitimate AFC contenders for a full sixteen game schedule. The Bengals, featured on HBO's "Hard Knocks" this season, are a young team that will need to show poise and maturity if they want to make it out of the deadly AFC North on top.
8. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons rolled through their regular season schedule last year, but their schedule got much tougher this year and they figure to experience a few more bumps on the road this time. While this offense is perhaps for stacked than any other team at the skill positions, there are a lot of unknowns on defense and that unit needs to show they will be capable of keeping the Falcons in games, rather than relying on the offense to win shootouts.
9. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens are a very different team this year than the one who won the Super Bowl, and everyone will be watching to see how their rebuilt roster comes together when they open their season tomorrow against the Broncos. Will Joe Flacco be able to live up to his massive new contract with seemingly fewer weapons around him?
10. St. Louis Rams
As I have previously said, I think the Rams will be a surprise sleeper team this year that somehow fights through a tough schedule in the NFC West to become a wild card team. In order for that to become a reality, however, Sam Bradford needs to take a big leap in his play and this offensive line needs to make sure he is confident standing in the pocket.
11. New York Giants
The Giants are battling injuries in their secondary and at running back, but to me they are still the team to bet on in the NFC East because they contend each and every year (no losing seasons since 2004) and will have a fighting chance come December. Their defense needs to be stout against the run and their secondary can't give up big yardage if they want to achieve their goals this year. Beating their main rival, the Dallas Cowboys, week one would be a good start.
12. Washington Redskins
The Redskins have a solid team in place, but there is still a lot of uncertainty in regards to how well Robert Griffin III will play right away. If he go and lights up the Eagles' defense on Monday Night Football the 'Skins could rocket up the rankings. If he and their shaky secondary struggle out of the gate it might be hard for them to repeat as division champions.
13. New Orleans Saints
Any questions about how the Saints offense will perform this year are almost absurd now that Sean Payton has returned to the fold, the big question is will Rob Ryan's defense be solid enough to protect any leads the offense might give them? Starting the season at home against the Falcons will be a great test for this team.
14. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts' defense and offensive line still look sub-par compared to the rest of the league, but expect Andrew Luck to make sure this team is in contention all year. Year two should be a huge breakout year for Luck as now he's playing in a familiar system and everyone around the organization has raved about his leadership abilities.
15. Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys enter the season right around the middle of the pack because that's where they always seem to finish recently, regardless of where their expectation levels are at before the season. The Cowboys need to prove this year is different by starting off with ending their losing streak at home to the rival Giants. If they can do that and Monte Kiffin's new defense seems functional, this could finally be a big year for big D.
16. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings open up the season in the middle of the pack as Ponder tries to step up and show he can hang with the high echelon of the NFL. The Vikings will face many of the teams ranked above them this season so how they perform in those contests will be huge in determining their final spot. That young secondary needs to quiet the doubters too.
17. Chicago Bears
The Bears will remain around the middle of the NFL until Jay Cutler learns to make the right decisions and their defense shows age is but a number. Cutler will face a tall task in week one against the fierce Bengal defense, but if he shows he can execute Marc Trestman's system against top tier defenders a lot more people will be jumping on da Bears' bandwagon.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers once were the class of the AFC North and many people think it's impossible for them to have two down years in a row, but looking at the roster I think it might happen. This defense could use some extra speed in the secondary and the offensive line and running game don't look like they'll be able to offer up much support for Big Ben and the offense. Some pundits are predicting a big year for Big Ben, but if he isn't protected the injury-prone quarterback might not have a chance to.
19. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins were this year's big offseason spenders, but the odds aren't good that it will translate to many more wins in 2013. For all their spending they ignored dealing with their left tackle situation, and now it looks like starter Jonathan Martin could be a possible revolving door at the position. Ryan Tanehill won't be able to develop if he's on his back, and the Dolphins may wish they had use their resources elsewhere.
20. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers have the chance to be a breakout team this year, but so far this offense hasn't showed enough consistency in the offseason for this team to be taken as a serious contender. Cam Newton still has things to work on but without many weapons around him it'll be hard for him to take the next step. Watch out for this front seven on defense though, expect a big year from them.
21. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs are also a potential sleeper, just in the AFC, but they need to earn their way further up the rankings, rather than being handed it for a solid offseason. Alex Smith should be a solid new starter for KC, but don't expect him to wow you with his play, and the Chiefs might lose some tight ballgames just because Smith isn't really known for making big plays.
22. Detroit Lions
The Lions are trying to bounce back after a dismal 4-12 year that season, and the odds look good that they'll be able to avoid that kind of disappointment again. They need to show they can stay disciplined though, as several of their starters tend to go through hot and cold streaks in their play. The running game may also disappoint again, as Reggie Bush may be a great option in the passing game but nobody has looked good for the Lions going between the tackles.
23. Cleveland Browns
The Browns have a solid group of young core players but almost all of them come with enough question marks to hold this team back for the forseeable future. Brandon Weeden is most likely not their future franchise quarterback as he didn't show us much last year and he's already 29. Leading receiver Josh Gordon is suspended two games, and running back Trent Richardson has to show he can stay healthy for a full season. This team has a chance to be sneaky good, but I don't know if their trustworthy yet.
24. Tennessee Titans
The Titans should somewhat rebound on offense with a new interior of their offensive line ready to clear holes for running back Chris Johnson. The emphasis on the ground attack should help quarterback Jake Locker, but he might not be accurate enough to consistently keep the chains moving. This defense also doesn't look like it will be doing the offense any favors.
25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs main weakness from last year, their secondary, may in fact be a strength on this team now, but other questions have taken prominence and it does not bode well for this team's chances in 2013. Josh Freeman needs to be a reliable prescence under center, but at this point he may simply never get there. His offensive line won't do him any favors either, as they looked a little shaky during the preseason.
26. Philadelphia Eagles
Chip Kelly and his new up-tempo offense have been the talk of the NFL during the offseason, but it most likely won't translate into many wins for the Eagles right away. The defense still has a ways to go to catch up to the offense, so expect the Eagles to lose a few shootouts this year.
27. Arizona Cardinals
While the Cardinals may actually have some stability at quarterback this year, the state of their offensive line and the fact that they play in the toughest division in football will be just too much for them to overcome. The loss of rookie guard Jonathan Cooper for the year is huge for this team, and they just aren't deep enough to survive without him.
28. San Diego Chargers
Philip Rivers won't even admit that he needs fixing, and if you're a Chargers fan that should worry you. Rivers has been a turnover machine the last two seasons and if he's still in denial, there may not be much new head coach Mike McCoy can do for him. Of course, even if Rivers is honest about his shortcomings there's not guarantee his injured group of receivers will be able to catch his passes or that his weak offensive line will offer him protection.
29. Buffalo Bills
Bills fans received some great news this morning when head coach Doug Marrone announced that EJ Manuel would be ready to start week one against the Patriots. While that may be great for the franchise's future it may set their 2013 season back somewhat as Manuel will go through some ups and downs his rookie year, as he comes into the league not nearly as highly touted as the rookies who set the league on fire last year.
30. New York Jets
The organization seems to have agreed to move forward with Geno Smith as their starter, the problem will be that it does not look like Geno is NFL-ready yet. Geno will undergo a painful transition to the NFL, while coach Rex Ryan doesn't seem to be on the same page as everyone else in the organization and that will likely cost him his job.
31. Jacksonville Jaguars
Expect the Jaguars and the Raiders to go head to head all season for the bottom spot in these rankings in the official Down-y for Clowney Bowl. The Jaguars are stuck living with Blaine Gabbert under center for at least another season, and this roster offers virtually no pass rush to speak of. Take some comfort Jaguar fans, at least you're not the....
32. Oakland Raiders
By far the worst roster in the NFL this season. I could go into detail, but that just seems mean.
This is how I see things stacking up throughout the 2013 season, though as always, things are subject to change. Just one more day until kickoff!
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