By Nick Ferraro<\/p>\n
1. New England Patriots<\/strong> 2. San Diego Chargers<\/strong> 3. Dallas Cowboys<\/strong> 6. Jacksonville Jaguars 7. Cleveland Browns 8. Pittsburgh Steelers 10. Green Bay Packers<\/strong> 11. New Orleans Saints<\/strong> 12. Seattle Seahawks<\/strong> 13. Philadelphia Eagles<\/strong> 15. Tennessee Titans<\/strong> 16. Denver Broncos <\/strong> 17. Washington Redskins<\/strong> 19. Buffalo Bills<\/strong> 20. Cincinnati Bengals<\/strong> 21. Houston Texans<\/strong> 24. Arizona Cardinals<\/strong> 25. St Louis Rams<\/strong> 27. San Francisco 49ers<\/strong> 29. Detroit Lions<\/strong> 30. Miami Dolphins<\/strong> 31. Atlanta Falcons<\/strong> 32. Kansas City Chiefs<\/strong> By Nick Ferraro 1. New England Patriots Spygate and a drug bust have complicated the offseason, but this is still the league\u2019s most talented team.\u00a0 Another AFC East crown is a given, but that will do little to cure the hangover the Pats have from last season.\u00a0 It will be about finishing in the post-season.\u00a0 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[33,18],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1340","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-nick-ferraro","7":"category-power-rankings"},"acf":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/peLffi-lC","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1340","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1340"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1340\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1340"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1340"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1340"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nSpygate and a drug bust have complicated the offseason, but this is still the league\u2019s most talented team.\u00a0 Another AFC East crown is a given, but that will do little to cure the hangover the Pats have from last season.\u00a0 It will be about finishing in the post-season.\u00a0 A weaker secondary will make it a bit tougher, but they are the favorites entering the season.\u00a0 Somehow they get to play the league\u2019s easiest schedule.\u00a0 How does that happen?<\/p>\n
\nWe knew Tomlinson was good.\u00a0 Last year we found out he is also indispensable. His health will be even more important with Michael Turner carrying the ball in Atlanta.\u00a0 Philip Rivers made believers out many people by playing with a bad leg in last year\u2019s AFC Championship.\u00a0 Some of those believers are in his locker room.\u00a0 Playing through the pain has solidified this team behind Rivers. With a healthy Tomlinson, Rivers, and Antonio Gates, they are a serious challenger and ready to finally break through and get to the Super Bowl.<\/p>\n
\nWith Brett Favre on the sidelines as of these rankings, the Cowboys enter the season as the clear NFC favorite.\u00a0 If Adam Jones\u2019 head is on straight, he helps to seal one of the few cracks this team had last season.\u00a0 For all the talent this group has, it hasn\u2019t found a way to win a playoff game.\u00a0 That drought should end this season.\u00a0 The question is how far Tony Romo can carry Dallas.\u00a0 Is Romo ready to hold up under true big game pressure, or is he just a fantasy football super star?
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\n4. New York Giants<\/strong>
\nThe champs usually get the honor of my pre-season number one, but this team has lost some considerable talent on defense.\u00a0 Strahan was the unquestioned leader and his retirement leaves a void on the line and more importantly in the locker room.\u00a0 There was depth at DE, but are last year\u2019s part-time players ready to take more of burden this season?\u00a0 Eli should play with more confidence this year after the Super Bowl run.\u00a0 That is big considering his body language at times last year indicated he had serious doubts about himself.
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\n5. Indianapolis Colts<\/strong>
\nColt nation is holding its breath awaiting the recovery of Peyton Manning.\u00a0 I\u2019m less concerned about Manning than I am about Marvin Harrison.\u00a0 Harrison\u2019s age and the fact that he needs his legs more than Manning means he\u2019s the bigger question mark.\u00a0 Dwight Freeney\u2019s health is also a concern.\u00a0 If he can\u2019t play at his former level, this defense takes a big step backward.\u00a0 This team is no longer guaranteed a division championship, and that puts them at a disadvantage behind the Patriots and Chargers.\u00a0 On the bright side Joseph Addai has elevated himself into the top tier of backs in the league.\u00a0 The dual threat of run and pass makes this offense a matchup nightmare and will keep the team in the race again in the AFC.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Jags overall image is that of a smash-mouth grind it out team.\u00a0 Most would be surprised to hear that this team was sixth in the league in points per game.\u00a0 Jack del Rio should have won coach of the year honors after sending Byron Leftwich packing and making David Garrard his starter.\u00a0 This team is ready to take the Colts to the mat for the division.\u00a0 They need more consistent play outside on offense to make a bigger leap in the post-season.\u00a0 They\u2019ve added speed at the position, but the question is if that speed can catch and run with the ball.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Life is rough in the AFC.\u00a0 Move the Browns to the NFC, and they are in the top three.\u00a0 This team will get more respect this year, and will need to play under the burden of high expectations for the first season in quite a long time.\u00a0 If their free-agent acquisitions on defense pay off, they will meet or exceed all of those expectations in 2008.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Steelers are evolving into a passing team.\u00a0 The evolution is one of necessity rather than choice as the offensive line has eroded.\u00a0 Roethlisberger has met the challenge of carrying more of the offense, but the formula doesn\u2019t add up to success in the long term.
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\n9. Minnesota Vikings<\/strong>
\nThe Vikings are on the rise behind super talent Adrian Peterson.\u00a0 They landed a major upgrade at DE in Jarred Allen raising hopes even higher for 2008.\u00a0 The question is Tavaris Jackson.\u00a0 How good can he be and does he need to be?\u00a0 The OL and Peterson will hide his faults to a certain degree, but he needs to make some plays for this team to break through.<\/p>\n
\nCan anyone remember a team with this much chaos in the offseason doing anything positive?\u00a0 Even if Favre is allowed to return and the love returns with his coach and general manger, can this end well?\u00a0 The team has talent, which is a big reason for Favre\u2019s resurgence in 2007.\u00a0 They will be good with or without Favre, but it\u2019s hard to expect a return to the NFC Championship with a first-time starter or the divisive presence of a future hall of famer under center.<\/p>\n
\nThe Saints have had as good an offseason as any team.\u00a0 They\u2019ve been able to make solid upgrades to a porous defense through free agency and the draft.\u00a0 They need someone to find the tough yards between the tackles on offense, but points shouldn\u2019t be a problem.\u00a0 The Saints are ready to take two steps up after a slide backwards in 2007.<\/p>\n
\nThe Seahawks will be considered little more than an also-ran unless they can recharge the running game.\u00a0 There are fresh legs in camp, but the issue is up front where not enough has been done to make this team a contender in 2008.<\/p>\n
\nThe Eagles are the team with the most up or down potential in the league.\u00a0 It\u2019s not out of the question for this team to perform as title contender or fall apart into the bottom ten of the league.\u00a0 Donovan McNabb\u2019s health and head coach Andy Reid\u2019s focus are the two biggest question marks.
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\n14. New York Jets<\/strong>
\nThe Jets are rising after an offseason of big name, free-agent additions.\u00a0 Alan Faneca was the biggest at the position of greatest need.\u00a0 He should allow the Jets to take the pressure off a weak quarterback position.\u00a0 The Jets will grind out wins with an improved defense.\u00a0 The front office has finally reshaped the personnel to fit the 3-4 scheme they want to run. Kris Jenkins level of motivation will be a big factor.\u00a0 His talent is not a question.\u00a0 The Jets should be able to generate a vastly improved pass rush that results in some short field opportunities for the offense.\u00a0 They are a still a couple of steps behind the pace in the AFC, but it should add up to a wildcard run for New York.<\/p>\n
\nThe Titans have a solid defense and running game.\u00a0 That\u2019s been a good formula in the NFL for a long time.\u00a0 They should get some more plays out of the passing game and be a tough spot on the schedule for everyone this season.<\/p>\n
\nThe heat has been turned up on head coach Mike Shanahan at least in the media.\u00a0 He has coach for life status as far as the owner is concerned.\u00a0 Denver is counting on their young guns on the defensive line to key their return to the playoffs.\u00a0 Jay Cutler will take a big step up in his third year, and improvements have been made on the offensive line.\u00a0 Denver will find running yards as they always do and vie for a wild card in the AFC.<\/p>\n
\nThe Redskins are coming together and figure to get better quarterback play out of Jason Campbell.\u00a0 The addition of Jason Taylor will improve the defense.\u00a0 The Skins have a chance to make some noise in the NFC.
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\n18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/strong>
\nHow dangerous this team would be with a quarterback.\u00a0 The Bucs are a passing game away from a Super Bowl team.\u00a0 They will grind out some wins but fall short of the playoffs.<\/p>\n
\nThe Bills don\u2019t have anything on the roster that would make you envious.\u00a0 There isn\u2019t enough offensive or defensive line talent yet.<\/p>\n
\nThe Bengals might play better after setting themselves up as underdogs with low expectations.\u00a0 That us-against-the-world attitude seems to work.\u00a0 They haven\u2019t done enough on defense to make me a believer though.<\/p>\n
\nThe Texans start out in the hole with four games against the Colts and Jaguars.\u00a0 This team is improving though and is probably just a year away from being a factor.
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\n22. Baltimore Ravens<\/strong>
\nThe Ravens have injected just enough youth to stave off Father Time on defense.\u00a0 The front office has now had how many years to find a quarterback?\u00a0 If Joe Flacco isn\u2019t the answer somebody should pay with their job.
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\n23. Carolina Panthers<\/strong>
\nJonathan Stewart is my preseason pick for rookie of the year.\u00a0 His chances are better if Jake Delhomme can play like he did before his arm problems.\u00a0 If both of those things work out John Fox might keep Bill Cowher from taking his job, and the Panthers will contend in the NFC playoff race.<\/p>\n
\nI\u2019m trying a new approach with the Cardinals:\u00a0 I am expecting them to stink.\u00a0 Now maybe they will play well.\u00a0 They seem to always do whatever I think they aren\u2019t going to do.\u00a0 I need to see something from this defense to feel like they can win their weak division.<\/p>\n
\nThe Rams have to be low to start out the season, but I think this team is on the rise.\u00a0 Stephen Jackson is a stud and should be back at full strength.\u00a0 The defensive line will be better after plugging in two first-round picks.\u00a0 If the offensive line can play a little bit, the Rams could win a weak NFC West.
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\n26. Chicago Bears<\/strong>
\nWow, the Bears have slipped quickly.\u00a0 The defense has spent too much time on the field covering for an offense without a quarterback or a running game.\u00a0 Nothing changes in 2008.<\/p>\n
\nI thought Alex Smith would be a good one.\u00a0 I was wrong.\u00a0 Mike Martz is his last hope.\u00a0 I don\u2019t see it happening for the Niners.
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\n28.\u00a0 Oakland Raiders<\/strong>
\nThe Jamarcus Russell era is here.\u00a0 There will be excitement in Oakland with he and McFadden in the backfield.\u00a0 What there will not be much of in Oakland is wins.<\/p>\n
\nThis is finally going to be Matt Millen\u2019s final year as GM.<\/p>\n
\nThere will be much more pain in Miami before there is any kind of pleasure.<\/p>\n
\nThe quarterback of the future is in place.\u00a0 Now they need the offensive line, TE, and wide receivers of the future.<\/p>\n
\nThe single hardest thing to find in the NFL is a dominant pass rusher.\u00a0 The Chiefs had one and let him go.\u00a0 They don\u2019t have a quarterback and their offensive line has fallen apart.\u00a0 The Kansas City Chiefs are on the clock.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"