Pre-Season NFL Power Rankings

With the primary wave of free-agency complete, and the draft in the books, I want to release my initial 2009 NFL Power Rankings. Of course the June 1st cuts and signings could have an impact on this, as well as injuries during mini-camps and the pre season, but for now, here is how I see the teams in terms of overall power.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers are the defending champs and with good reason. I think this team has very few weaknesses, and an ecellent coaching staff who keeps them hungry. The define "Blue Collar Work Ethic" and I can easily see them repeating next season.


2. New York Giants

Sure, the Giants are not the same team they were, even when they won it all two years ago, but they are still the class of the NFC. If first round pick Hakeem Nicks can replace even some of what Plaxico brought to the table the Giants could make a return engagement to the Super Bowl net season.


3. New England Patriots

Just returning Tom Brady to the lineup will make this team much better than the playoff miss of last season. They did a good job in the draft filling holes, and their coaching staff alone will keep them in every game.


4. Atlanta Falcons

How about this turnaround. This time last year I had these same Falcons as the worst in the league. Now with the addition of Tony Gonzalez, they could challenge the Giants in the NFC title game.


5. Green Bay Packers

I know that a lot of people are going to think I am crazy for rating the Pack so high, but the truth is theyare going to be better than you expect. Aaron Rodgers was real good last year, and now he has a season under his belt. Greg Jennings is an outstanding young receiver, and they additions made in the draft on the defensive side of the ball can make this team very dangerous.


6. Indianapolis Colts

The Colts are going to be in an interesting spot this season. Tony Dungy has retired, so it is possible to see the team slide a bit, but Jim Caldwell seems like he is holding it all together well. The offense will still be stellar, but the defense has some question marks. How well Manning and Caldwell hold things together will determine how far this team goes.


7. Tennessee Titans

The Titans were a nice surprise last year, and I think they are a real good team again. They have some aging vets at some key spots though, and how much they fall off will impact how far this team can go next season.


8. Philadelphia Eagles

As many of you already know, I love what the Eagles did on draft day. Unfortunately, I think the loss of Brian Dawkins to the Broncos will hurt this franchise a bit, and as a result they fall to the 8th spot on my power rankings.


9. San Diego Chargers

Quite possibily the most comple 8-8 story last year, the Chargers were really hurt by the absence of Shawne Merriman. He is back this year, and if he can bring the Merriman of old to the field, this team should be the class of the AFC West.


10. Arizona Cardinals

The Cards are a talented bunch, on both sides of the ball, but they have two disgruntled players in Anquan Boldin and Darnell Dockett. How the team handles these situations will have a huge impact on the team's progress this year.


11. Miami Dolphins

Miami surprised a lot of folks by winning the AFC East last year. This year they should be even better, as the team did a good job between the draft and free agency reloading their secondary. Now if only they had a true number one wideout.


12. Chicago Bears

Sports Illustrated's, Peter King, really like Chicago because they addded Jay Cutler. My problem is that he has no targets to throw to. Also, this Bears defense is not as scary as it was two years ago, so despite the Cutler addition, I still see them finishing second in their division to the Pack.


13. Baltimore Ravens

I wonder how much the departure of Rex Ryan is going to hurt this defense. It could be a lot, and if it is, the Ravens will take a step back from last year's sucess. I am also not certain who sophmore QB Joe Flacco is going to be throwing the ball to this season either.


14. Minnesota Vikings

The Vikes made the playoffs last season on the back of Adrian Peterson. He is a phenom. However, to be sucessful in this league you need to have more than 1 superstud back. Their are question marks behind center, and on the defense, and the Vikes play in a tough division.


15. Dallas Cowboys

How good the Cowboys will be is going to be dependant on how OC Jason Garrett runs this offense. If he lest the horses loose, and runs the ball, the Boys will challenge the Giants and Eagles for the division. If Garrett continues to put all his eggs in the passing game basket, he will find his team fighting with the Redskins to stay out of the cellar.


16. Carolina Panthers

The Panthers kept Peppers in the mi and added Everette Brown on draft day. This should keep their defense competitive. Their offense is where the question marks lie. How Jake Delhomme comes back from last years playoff disaster remains to be seen, and this could impact the Panthers as they kickoff the 09 season.


17. Washington Redskins

The Skins came out like gang busters last year, then came down to Earth. Jason Campbell has got to be feeling the pressure as the Washington signal caller, and how he responds to this pressure could make or break Washington's season.


18. New York Jets

With Farve playing well last season, the Jets started 8-3. When he cooled off, so did the Jets and they missed the playoffs. Now they will start either a rookie, or an unproven vet at QB, and I am just not sure how this will work out. You also have to remember Thomas Jones is now on the wrong side of 30 and in a contract battle. The addition of Bart Scott to the defense could be good though.


19. New Orleans Saints

The Saints will be alright as long a Drew Brees is at the helm. Their high powered offense should be just as good, and this means a lot of points. The question for this team will be how will Greg Williams reshape this defense. They have added some talent, and that could help, but they are simply going to have to be tougher if they want to challenge in the division.


20. Houston Texans

I am tired of being burned by the "in" pick, the Texans. Each year they get more talented, and then each year they go 8-8. Shaub has been a relative disappointment since comming over from Atlanta, and I am just not sure if this team can get over the hump this season. A nice compliment to Andre Johnson would have gone a long way, but they are still without.


21. San Francisco 49ers
The Niners defense really repsonded at the end of last season to new Head Coach, Mike Singletary. No surprise there. Now about the offense, they still are a one trick pony. They can only go as far as the legs of Frank Gore will take them. They have some holes on the o-line and they have question marks at both reciever and QB. Not a great way to start the year.


22. Jacksonville Jaguars

Since David garrard has taken over as the starting QB this team has been in a nose dive. They continually miss on wideouts, and their defense has gotten old in the wrong places. I like Maurice Jone Drew, but I wonder if he will be as effective being the only back in the stable.


23. Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals improved their team through the draft this year, but I expect it to take a year or two to show dividends. With TJ leaving town, a returning Carson Palmer will have fewer weapons to take advantage of and that could spell trouble for the team that invented the word trouble.


24. Seattle Seahawks
Despite having the second best draft, this team still needs improvement. Matt Hasslebeck is strong willed and strong armed, but he has a weakening o-line, no running game, and only one real throwing target. This team is going to have to rely on its defense to keep them in games this comming season, and that could mean another high draft choice next year.


25. Buffalo Bills

The Bills are a team in a rut. They still don't have a real answer behind center. The added Terrell Ownes at wideout, and that includes the sideshow that comes with him. They are not an overpowering defense, and all said they will lose more games than they win.


26. Kansas City Chiefs

The Cheifs are in rebuilding mode. They had a wonderful draft a year ago, and it will start to pay for the team that was the youngest in football a year ago. They have a new coach and a new front office, and despit the hopes in KC, I don't see a Miami type turn around this season.


27. Cleveland Browns

The simple truth is the Browns have too many holes to be competitive. They have two QBs, but not one dominating one. They have Jamal Lewis but he is 107 in running back years. Braylon Edwards didn't step up the his game last year when the team needed him, and is now trade fodder. The defense has holes and questions all over, and the draft did nothing to help them. Should be another long season in Cleveland.


28. Denver Broncos

The Josh McDaniels show is underway in Denver, and he has to already be waering out his welcome with the Denver faithful. He chased pro-bowl QB Jay Cutler out of town, then wasted his first draft pick on the teams 39th running back. The addition of Brian Dawkins to the defense plugs one hole, but what about the 9 others that remain?


29. Detroit Lions

What do you have to look forward to after an 0-16 season. How about a four spot jump in the power rankings. The Lions have a talent in Calvin Johnson, and depending on how quickly first round pick Matt Stafford acclimates, they could be a dangerous combo for years to come. There are still a lot of holes on this team to fill however, so don't expect to see the Lions pushing for a division title just yet.


30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

If you look up "rebuilding" in the dictionary, you will now see no definition, just a picture of One Buc Place. When these guys do something, they do it big. Fire the Head Coach and GM. Cut two team Captains. Cut two starting linebackers and two starting wideouts. Trade up in the draft for a huge risk at QB. This may all work out in the end for Tampa, but it is going to be a long '09 in the process.


31. Oakland Raiders

It is so sad to see this proud franchise this dismal, for this long, but this is wht happens when your owner and your GM went to high school with President Hoover. In his 4000 years as leader of the Raiders, it is no surprise to see that the game has passed Al Davis by. The only problem is he hasn't figured that out yet. The Raiders continue to botch post season after post season, draft after draft, and thus they are again going to be of football worst.


32. St Louis Rams

How bad are things in St Louis? Well they are looking up at teams like the Raiders and the Lions right now. But in all seriousness, the Rams are currently the worst team in football, but not for long. Coach Spags was the right guy for the job in St Louis, and they have some very talented young pieces to build around. Adam Carriker, Chris Long, Jason Smith, and James Laurinaitis are all going to be great long term pieces, and Stephen Jackson is still young enough to be a piece of the rebuilding puzzle. Unfortunately that is about all this team has left. No receivers, no secondary, and aging QB, and too many holes on the o-line for their running back to really make noise. This team is down now, but I wouldn't expect them to stay down for long.