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Football - General
NFL Power Rankings(week 3)
1) INDIANAPOLIS COLTS – To be the best, you have to beat the best and until week 9 when the Colts host New England, this is the best team in football. The coaching staff and general manager are among the elite in the league. Peyton Manning makes this team a contender every single year and the defense appears to back to its ’05 form when the team went 14-2.
2) NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS – Tom Brady is enjoying some of the finest pass blocking that I’ve witnessed. This version of the Brady attack is as potent as it’s ever been. Randy Moss has been a model citizen off the field and a completely new dimension on it. The defense has been very effective, as usual, but the huge difference is the aerial assault that they now possess.
3) PITTSBURGH STEELERS – They’re back again. The Steelers are a first rate franchise that has quality veterans at key positions. They are a deep team and they really have a lot of momentum going. There is no reason to believe the Steelers won’t be a post-season favorite this year. Roethlisberger is enjoying a bounce-back season.
4) DALLAS COWBOYS – They have shown that they’re the class of the NFC East but the Boys do stack up well against the entire conference. I still believe that they were one botched field goal attempt at making a run in the playoffs last year. Terrell Owens is still at the top of his game and Romo has shown amazing poise in the pocket thus far. If Tony Romo continues to play the way he has, teams are going to have to score a LOT of points to compete with Dallas.
5) GREEN BAY PACKERS – The defense is the sole reasoning behind this ranking. The front seven for the Packers is far and away one of the best in the league. Brett Favre is enjoying another stellar year, as the defense continues to force teams to 3 and outs. The only weakness the cheese heads have this year is the running game which continues to struggle but defense wins championships. I think their running back by committee approach will eventually see them through.
6) SEATTLE SEAHAWKS – The Hawks used to be able to take advantage of a soft schedule in the NFC West but the 49ers and Cards aren’t give away games anymore. They are still one of the best teams in a weak conference and their defense has really made strides. Their linebacker corps of Tatupu, Peterson, and Hill is a big strength on that side of the ball. Alexander looks to have his legs back and Hasselbeck is playing extremely well.
7) TENNESSEE TITANS – This defensive unit is playing great. They have been very dominant up front on both sides of the football and that’s exactly the way Jeff Fisher prefers it to be. Keith Bulluck and the LB core have been hustling to the football and will keep games close. Vince Young continues to improve and will keep them in games as well, meaning they won’t be getting blown out anytime soon. This is a very strong team.
8) CAROLINA PANTHERS – Coach John Fox is on the edge of the hot seat but this team is starting to get its identity back. Steve Smith has been playing great, with an exception in the Falcons game, and the Panthers’ rushing attack is really starting to turn it on. The pass defense is still a big question mark but they are a solid bet to make the playoffs in that division, especially with their defensive front. They are and always have been the strength of this team.
9) BALTIMORE RAVENS - Did I mention that defense wins championships? Well they do and Baltimore hasn’t changed their recipe. They are still an ominous task for any offense in the league. They slipped a little bit against the Cards but the offense is still sputtering to start up. This team will only go as far as their defense will take them but that could be a pretty damn long way since they are still on top of their game. The offensive line has to protect better if they want to move the ball.
10) SAN DIEGO CHARGERS – You can’t keep a good man down and this team is too good not to bounce back from a horrid start to the ’07 season. They have a nice stretch of three games before the bye week and I’m confident that they will, once again, win the AFC West. They are still the class of that division and won’t have any problem beating out the rest of the teams in it. That’s saying a lot from a die-hard Broncos fan.
11) JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS – Jack Del Rio is another coach who’s on a short leash but this team is very strong up front. They still have one of the better offensive lines in the league and their stable of running backs is as good as any group in the league. Their passing game is a big question mark but David Garrard has looked very efficient with the defense holding opponents to 34pts total in three weeks.
12) WASHINGTON REDSKINS – This team should be 3-0 but they let the Giants eek out a win on Sunday. The Skins still have a good defensive scheme and group. Their offense won’t scare anybody but they can run the ball and they will keep games close. They will only go as far as the defense takes them however and that is the only reasoning behind this ranking.
13) CHICAGO BEARS – They’re still a damn good team but they need to get their QB situation figured out post-haste. Wrecks Grossman is clearly holding this team back but their defensive unit is still solid. Chicago has a decent offense but it’s still not all there yet. They’ll get it figured out against Detroit. Whoever starts at QB should have a career day against that defense.
14) TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS – Tampa is playing their cover-2 scheme to a “T”. The Bucs have had a lot of people come back healthy on that offensive line and it shows. Garcia has been a free agency find, as he and Gruden seem to share a nice chemistry. If they continue to play defense the way they have, there is no reason they shouldn’t be a worthy wild-card consideration. If Galloway and Garcia stay healthy, they will be in the playoffs.
15) SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS – They couldn’t handle what Pittsburgh had for them but Mike Nolan has this team believing in the scheme. They are a much improved defense but their passing game has struggled mightily. Nate Clements has panned out as a worthwhile move. Nobody is worth that kind of money but he has brought his A-game to the Bay area.
16) PHILADELPHIA EAGLES – They showed major signs of life last week against a terrible defense in Detroit. They have big question marks on defense though and that will be a liability this season. Brian Dawkins could be a huge loss if he’s gone for an extended period. They still have one of the best offensive lines in the league and Andy Reid is a top notch play-caller.
17) DENVER BRONCOS – As much as it pains me to rank my Broncos this low, they deserve it. This team can’t stop the run and will have to outscore everybody they play to have a chance this season. Their 2-1 record is extremely unimpressive since they won both of those games as time expired. The only impressive thing about this team is that they have a star in the making in Brandon Marshall.
18) CINCINNATI BENGALS – They might be the best 1-2 team out there. It’s impossible to have a day as bad as the Bengals had against Cleveland but they did make minimal improvements last week. Their baby-steps on defense need to come quickly because their schedule doesn’t get any easier -playing the Pats next week. Carson Palmer is still one of the best QBs in the league.
19) HOUSTON TEXANS – I can’t dismiss the Texans because they have been playing great defense and they are 2-1, losing a tough one against Indianapolis. Mario Williams is coming to form and DeMeco Ryans is a stud playing the mike linebacker position. They have made real strides on the offensive line and Matt Schaub has proven the doubters wrong. He is a solid quarterback who makes good decisions. The loss of Andre Johnson will hurt them but this team’s strength is on defense.
20) NEW YORK JETS – They got a win finally against Miami but this doesn’t look like the team that went to the playoffs in ’06. I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt because they’re still a solid team that has had some really difficult match ups. This offense will turn it around but the defense needs to step up to the challenge.
21) ARIZONA CARDINALS – Just let Kurt Warner play! The Cards have been playing like gang-busters on the defensive side. Edgerrin James has been running like the ’99 – ‘00 vintage Edge. The Achilles has been Leinart thus far. His footwork has been questionable at best and his mental make-up is starting to come into question. If the Cards can get the passing game back in check they could make a run for the playoffs because they’ve been in every game they have played.
22) DETROIT LIONS – This team shouldn’t be 2-1 but they do have one of the best offenses in the league. Mike Martz is up to his old tricks and it’s been paying off. The down side is that their defense is atrocious. They can’t stop anybody and are the embarrassment of the league after getting thrashed against Philly in those ugly uniforms. If this team can’t figure out how to stop the pass, then it will be another long season in the Motor City.
23) CLEVELAND BROWNS – This is a really funny team. They obviously have a terrible defense but they are showing flashes on offense. Rookie draft pick Joe Thomas has been looking like the gem of this draft. If they can keep a lid on their defense, they have an outside chance at winning some games. Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow are starting to come together and be the leaders that Cleveland drafted them to be. They’re still another awful defensive team that will be held back if they can’t figure it out.
24) NEW YORK GIANTS – This team is going to struggle all year. They never effectively replaced left tackle Mike Rosenthal and are sorely missing Tiki Barber. The defensive secondary is killing them, although their D-line is still effective. Antonio Pierce is still a stud but if they continue to let the deep ball go uncontested, they will be a bottom feeder. Coughlin is gone after this season.
25) MINNESOTA VIKINGS – Why did this team not address the quarterback situation? They will not make the playoffs which is a shame. They have a terrific front defensive line and an up-and-coming LB corps. The defense is playing great but the fact that they have no passing threat is hurting the team. The offensive line is doing a great job of opening holes for rookie sensation Adrian Peterson and he is an early favorite for offensive rookie of the year. If this team doesn’t draft a QB in the 1st round next year, they are crazy.
26) KANSAS CITY CHIEFS – This is a team that has turned to ash before our eyes. The offensive line is only a shadow of what it once was when names like John Tait, Willy Roaf, and Will Shields roamed wild. They are struggling in the passing game and their sub-par offensive line can’t open any lanes for Larry Johnson. The defense has played admirably but not being able to move the ball is hurting the team.
27) OAKLAND RAIDERS – They have been playing much improved ball on the whole. The defense isn’t up to par with the ’06 version but their offense has been able to move the ball behind the excellent running of Lamont Jordan. He has been one of the pleasant surprises on the dark side of the bay. If they can get better QB play, they will be a contender in the AFC west, since all of the teams haven’t been able to get anything going yet.
28) NEW ORLEANS SAINTS – If you missed the entire ’06 season and didn’t hear anything about the Saints offense, you’d think you were looking at a 3-13 bottom feeder team for this season. Unfortunately you would be right. The Saints can’t stop anybody on defense and the much heralded New Orleans aerial assault can’t muster up a 1st down to save their lives. This team’s offensive line has been a huge disappointment in comparison to last year’s version. It’s very strange, especially since they didn’t lose anybody in free agency. They’d better figure something out during the bye week or start planning ahead for next year.
29) ST LOUIS RAMS – Injuries are going to kill what was once a fine-tuned machine of an offense. Their defense is merely a “bend-but-don’t-break” unit and the recent rash of injuries that has broken out won’t do them any good. I fear for Marc Bulger’s safety, as they’ve lost more than half of last year’s starting line. Steven Jackson has been a huge disappointment.
30) BUFFALO BILLS – This is another team that has been bitten by the injury bug and won’t see any improvement this year. The defense has lost a lot of people and will continue struggling to stop the run all year long. The passing game is a joke and the Bills’ high-dollar offensive line isn’t knocking anybody’s socks off. A doomed franchise.
31) ATLANTA FALCONS – This year is going to be a wash and the whole Vick situation wouldn’t have mattered anyway. They can’t stop the run, their wide receivers are still bad, and DeAngelo Hall is losing his mind. I think Petrino has potential in the pros but they have to get this year by them and study really hard for the draft, as chances are they’ll garner a top-5 pick in the 1st round this coming April.
32) MIAMI DOLPHINS – Apologies to “Phins” fans out there but this franchise is completely dysfunctional. They are losing what was once a dominant defensive unit in their prime. The Dolphins continue to struggle, although Ronnie Brown caught fire against the Jets. The drafting of Ted Ginn will prove to be a huge mistake for years to come. I suppose it doesn’t matter since they’ll be giving a lot of teams a run for their money for the number one pick in next year’s draft.
Thanks for reading through this football fan’s take on the best teams in the NFL. Please send any questions, comments, or feedback to: footballjunker@gmail.com
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