{"id":2629,"date":"2009-07-31T12:26:19","date_gmt":"2009-07-31T17:26:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jetnation.com\/?p=2629"},"modified":"2009-07-31T12:26:19","modified_gmt":"2009-07-31T17:26:19","slug":"nfl-bpreseason-09-10-power-rankings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/2009\/07\/31\/nfl-bpreseason-09-10-power-rankings\/","title":{"rendered":"NFL Preseason '09-'10: Power Rankings"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Nick Ferraro<\/strong><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0 Pittsburgh Steelers<\/strong><\/p>\n

The champs head into the season in the top spot.\u00a0 The defense will be ferocious again, and the running game will improve.\u00a0 The only question facing Steel Town is this: do the sexual assault allegations against Big Ben derail the Steelers the way his motorcycle accident did a couple years back?
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\n2.\u00a0 New England Patriots<\/strong><\/p>\n

Brady is back, and prayer sessions for his health have begun throughout New England.\u00a0 There doesn\u2019t appear to be a \u201cplan B\u201d should he go down again.\u00a0 There didn\u2019t appear to be one last year either though, and they still won 11 games.
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\n3.\u00a0 Indianapolis Colts<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is the toughest spot in the rankings to pin down.\u00a0 There are four or five different teams that could land at number three.\u00a0 None are as sure to post 12 or more wins and make a title run as are the Colts.
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\n4.\u00a0 Atlanta Falcons<\/strong><\/p>\n

Surprised?\u00a0 Don\u2019t be.\u00a0 The move to land Tony Gonzalez will be the single biggest free agent addition this season.\u00a0 He will be rejuvenated by joining a contender. Matt Ryan will not only avoid the sophomore slump, he will improve on a big rookie season with a huge running game, underrated receivers, and a security blanket over the middle in the form of the best tight end ever to play the game.
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\n5. Philadelphia Eagles<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Eagles continue to make the right moves despite the wishes of the league\u2019s dumbest fans.\u00a0 McNabb is still a top-tier quarterback, and he gives the Eagles another few years to get back to the big game. An improved offensive line will make him look even better.\u00a0 They need a healthy Westbrook or a huge rookie season from McCoy to play late in January.
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\n6.\u00a0 New York Giants<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Plaxico Burress thing will hang on this team all season.\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t figure to end any time soon, nor have the Giants done anything to address his loss.\u00a0 The defense is still solid and will get to the quarterback more often than any other.\u00a0 How well can they stand up when they spend most of the game on the field?\u00a0 Hakeem Nicks better be good quick.
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\n7. Tennessee Titans<\/strong><\/p>\n

A huge running game will carry the Titans again.\u00a0 They still have a top-ten defense despite the loss of Haynesworth up front.\u00a0 This is a solid team on both sides of the ball.
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\n8. Carolina Panthers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Carolina will again grind teams up on the ground.\u00a0 They have to get better play at quarterback though to be an elite team.\u00a0 The defense also needs to patch some holes each of which were exposed at the end of the year.
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\n9. Baltimore Ravens<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rumors have the Ravens looking to acquire unhappy Bronco receiver Brandon Marshall.\u00a0 That would be a huge upgrade at the position holding this team out of the conversation for the Super Bowl.
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\n10. Dallas Cowboys<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Cowboys need a coach that can manage all of their talent.\u00a0 They will chase the more complete teams in their division all season.\u00a0 The Cowboys will start the 2010 \u2013 2011 preseason power rankings much higher, when Mike Shanahan is their coach.
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\n11. Arizona Cardinals<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Cardinals aren\u2019t getting much respect after nearly stealing the Super Bowl.\u00a0 They have all the pieces in place on offense now with a big-time running back.\u00a0 Coach Whisenhunt will continue to remake the defense into a unit that is good enough to complement their high-octane offense.
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\n12. San Diego Chargers<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Chargers fell hard last season.\u00a0 If Merriman is healthy, it will raise the performance on defense dramatically.\u00a0 The division should make things easier for the Bolts, and I expect a much better season from LT.
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\n13. Chicago Bears<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Bears addressed a huge deficiency with a major talent at QB.\u00a0\u00a0 Cutler will improve things on both sides of the ball as the defense will play under less pressure and spend less time on the field.\u00a0 The Bears defense allowed only 17 more points last season than the Vikings.
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\n14.\u00a0 Miami Dolphins<\/strong><\/p>\n

I hear the argument that the Dolphins benefitted from their schedule last season.\u00a0 I just think they have been put together well, and will post another double-digit win total this year.
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\n15. Minnesota Vikings<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Vikings got a huge break when their starting defensive tackles were made eligible to play to begin the year.\u00a0 Favre isn\u2019t coming, so at least they can focus on the players who are actually in camp.\u00a0 Doesn\u2019t Jackson have to improve a little just through experience?
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\n16. New York Jets<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Jets have a top-ten defense, but they\u2019ll only be as good as their passing game this season.\u00a0 They didn\u2019t do Sanchez any favors letting Coles go without any reasonable replacement.\u00a0 The Jets will need to grind out some low-scoring wins and get some big plays on special teams to do anything more than what most people expect.
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\n17. New Orleans Saints<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s still about stopping people in New Orleans.\u00a0 I will start believing when the defense catches up a little to their explosive offense.\u00a0 Injuries didn\u2019t help, but they enter the season healthy, so there are no excuses.
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\n18. Green Bay Packers<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Pack felt like better than a six-win team, but that\u2019s what they were.\u00a0 They should find some ways to win more of the close ones as Aaron Rodgers matures.
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\n19. Houston Texans<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Texans have a preseason bandwagon going.\u00a0 People like them to be the surprise team this year.\u00a0 They have made some upgrades and they have talent at quarterback, wide receiver, and running back.\u00a0 It\u2019s tough to step forward with the Titans and Colts holding you down though.
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\n20. Denver Broncos<\/strong><\/p>\n

It will be hard for Denver to show any improvement on the eight wins they posted last year after giving up on a franchise quarterback.\u00a0 It\u2019s much easier to imagine them falling into the top ten in the draft.
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\n21. Seattle Seahawks<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hasslebeck\u2019s return gives people some hope in the great Northwest. I don\u2019t think it will make much of a difference.
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\n22. San Francisco 49ers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Can an immortal linebacker and a personal hero of mine coach some decent play out of Alex Smith or Shaun Hill?\u00a0 If so, we have our surprise team for 2009 -2010.
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\n23. Buffalo Bills<\/strong><\/p>\n

Life isn\u2019t easy in the AFC East.\u00a0 It isn\u2019t made any easier when you add Terrell Owens to the mix.\u00a0 Exactly who thought matching Owens with a struggling young quarterback was a good idea?\u00a0 This guy wasn\u2019t able to deal with Garcia, McNabb, or Romo.\u00a0 How can this possibly work?\u00a0 Owens will never win anything, and neither will the Bills until he\u2019s gone.
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\n24. Washington Redskins<\/strong><\/p>\n

Life isn\u2019t easy in the NFC East.\u00a0 The Skins will be an okay team, and nobody will notice because they are still behind their three division rivals.
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\n25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Bucs still have a respectable defense.\u00a0 I\u2019m not and never have been a Byron Leftwich fan though, so the new kid has to be the real deal for Tampa to matter this season.
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\n26. St. Louis Rams<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Rams have done enough this offseason to move back toward respectability.\u00a0 They have a chance, if things go right, to make a bold move upward.
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\n27. Jacksonville Jaguars<\/strong><\/p>\n

This will be Del Rio\u2019s last campaign if the Jags struggle again.\u00a0 There have been some interesting new additions, but it\u2019s likely not enough.
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\n28. Oakland Raiders<\/strong><\/p>\n

I get the feeling that if JaMarcus Russell struggles again, and the Raiders pull the plug, he would go elsewhere and find success.\u00a0 This team has some talent, but they\u2019ll never win with Al Davis in the way.
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\n29. Cincinnati Bengals<\/strong><\/p>\n

Being bad in the AFC North is particularly difficult given the physical nature of the teams at the top of the division.\u00a0 Getting beat usually means getting beat up as well.\u00a0 The Bengals still figure to play the part of punching bag for another year.
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\n30. Kansas City Chiefs<\/strong><\/p>\n

Paying big money to a quarterback who stepped in and played well for a great team without ever taking a snap for you or anybody else for that matter, is a questionable move at best.\u00a0 Cassel better be great or the Chiefs will have ensured several more losing years.
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\n31. Cleveland Browns<\/strong><\/p>\n

What is going on with Braylon Edwards?\u00a0 Now the team\u2019s best player has failed his physical.\u00a0 It\u2019s hard to see anything good happening for the Browns in the near future.
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\n32. Detroit Lions<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s easier to say the Lions will be better.\u00a0 Of course, they will be better.\u00a0 They are still very bad, and they will probably finish the season in the bottom five again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Nick Ferraro 1.\u00a0 Pittsburgh Steelers The champs head into the season in the top spot.\u00a0 The defense will be ferocious again, and the running game will improve.\u00a0 The only question facing Steel Town is this: do the sexual assault allegations against Big Ben derail the Steelers the way his motorcycle accident did a couple […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","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-2629","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-Gp","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2629","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=2629"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2629\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2629"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2629"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/miletestsite.com\/jets\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2629"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}