NFL power rankings
by Dave Gardner
In Playoff Position
1. New York Giants (14-6)
Maybe they don’t have the history of success of the Patriots, the talented roster of the Dallas Cowboys or even the best quarterback named Manning in the league, but the New York Giants are the defending Super Bowl Champions.
Key Question: Forget Michael Strahan. Will Eli Manning continue his stellar performance from the playoffs last season into this year?
2. Indianapolis Colts (13-4)
After flirting with retirement in the offseason, Tony Dungy is back with the Colts for at least one more season. The team will try to wash away the memory of losing their last game in the RCA Dome to a beaten up Chargers team as they open Lucas Oil Stadium on Sept. 7 in a Super Bowl XLI rematch.
Key Question: The Colts have four of ’em. Peyton Manning? Bob Sanders? Marvin Harrison? Dwight Freeney? Who will be ready for the regular season?
3. New England Patriots (18-1)
Last year, the linebackers were old and hurt New England down the stretch. This year, they are younger; but is the secondary now too old? On the other side of the ball, count on Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels featuring more of the run as defensive coordinators try to prevent Tom Brady and Randy Moss from breaking more records.
Key Question: Will last season haunt the Patriots?
4. San Diego Chargers (13-6)
After reaching the AFC Championship game last season, the doubts about Norv Turner’s ability to lead a football team were answered. However, with the talent on this roster, there is no reason the team shouldn’t be headed to the Super Bowl this season. The team is young for the most part, but the window won’t stay open for the Chargers forever.
Key Question: Will LaDanian Tomlinson increase his production without longtime backup Michael Turner, or will he suffer from his absence?
5. Dallas Cowboys (13-4)
The Cowboys are one of the most talented teams in the league, and they have an excellent coaching staff. There just seems to be an odd chemistry with the team. They have two players on the roster who have been suspended by the league for a significant amount of time (Tank Johnson, Adam Jones) and an offensive coordinator who makes the same salary as the head coach.
Key Question: Will the team again slump toward the end of the season and in the playoffs, or will it win its first playoff game since 1996?
6. Green Bay Packers (14-4)
The Packers are going to have a different quarterback under center for the first time in 17 years. Third-year quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who has been impressive in spot duty, will be taking the reins. Luckily for him and for the Packers, he has a good offensive line, the deepest receiving corps in the league and a good crop of receivers.
Key Question: Will the defense be able to repeat its performance from last season with a questionable Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and aging corners Al Harris and Charles Woodson?
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (12-6)
The Jaguars were one of the toughest teams in football last season. They featured a fearsome rushing attack with the double-headed monster of Fred Taylor – who had his best season as a pro – and Maurice Jones-Drew. That, mixed with a surprisingly good passing attack and a tough defense, made the Jaguars a tough team to beat. Unfortunately for them, they compete in the toughest division in the NFL – the AFC South.
Key Question: Can the Jaguars beat out the Colts for the AFC South crown and get a home playoff game for the first time since 1999?
8. Seattle Seahawks (11-7)
Matt Hasselbeck had the best season of his career last year, but injuries to the team’s wide receivers and the loss of D.J. Hackett to free agency are concerns for the team. The Seahawks return most of their starters from last season and even feature a few good new faces like veteran left guard Mike Wahle. The Seahawks have benefited from playing in one of the weakest divisions in the NFL, but the Cardinals are knocking on the door.
Key Question: Will the Mike Holmgren farewell tour be a motivational tool or a distraction?
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
New head coach Mike Tomlin had a good rookie debut with an established team in the Steelers. From top to bottom, the Steelers are the most stable organization in the league. Now, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has a new deal and has been developing excellent chemistry with Santonio Holmes. On defense, the Steelers should incorporate more of the 4-3 front that Tomlin prefers.
Key Question: Will Roethlisberger be able to survive another season behind a lackluster offensive line?
10. New Orleans Saints (7-9)
The Saints will either turn the corner this season and become an annual contender, or they will turn into the Carolina Panthers from a few seasons ago: loads of talent but terrible inconsistency. The defense was poor last season, but don’t discount the effect that Sedrick Ellis will have on the defensive line. With the emergence of Robert Meachem and the addition of Jeremy Shockey, the offense should be scarier.
Key Question: Will the Saints find a go-to running back if Deuce McAllister doesn’t return to form this season?
11. Philadelphia Eagles (8-8)
The Eagles finished 2007 on a three-game winning streak, but, for the third consecutive season, they finished the season without quarterback Donovan McNabb. Although he is one of the most effective quarterbacks in the NFL when healthy – his 12.2 TD:INT ratio is second-best all time – it is becoming difficult for the Eagles to rely on him consistently. If he is injured again this season, the team may make a permanent switch to Kevin Kolb.
Key Question: Will the newcomers on the defensive line and secondary help the pass defense move out of the muddled middle (18 last season) and into the top ten?
12. Cleveland Browns (10-6)
After narrowly missing the playoffs in 2007, they will have to get Pro Bowl seasons from Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams. Derek Anderson was impressive last season leading the powerful Browns offense, but he had trouble with turnovers, with leading the team from behind and with beating quality teams. Without any first-day picks, the team will have to rely on the two aforementioned players, Donte Stallworth, and some second-day picks to push them over the top.
Key Question: Will the defensive line upgrades make up for a depleted secondary?
The Murky Middle
13. Minnesota Vikings (8-8)
Led by the stellar Adrian Peterson on offense and a stifling run defense, the Vikings nearly cracked open the door to the playoffs last season.
Key Question: This one is obvious: Tarvaris Jackson ready to be the guy in Minnesota?
14. Tennessee Titans (10-7)
The Titans stumbled into the playoffs thanks to a meaningless defeat of the Indianapolis Colts in Week 17; their offense was anemic, but their defense was stout.
Key Question: Can the Titans survive another 9-touchdown, 17-interception season from Vince Young?
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8)
The Buccaneers have had a top-10 defense for 11 out of the 12 years of Monte Kiffin’s tenure as defensive coordinator.
Key Question: Will Jon Gruden, the supposed offensive mastermind, guide Tampa’s scoring offense into the top half of the league for the first time since taking over the Bucs in 2002?
16. Buffalo Bills (7-9)
The Bills were in the 30s in total offense and total defense last season, but they managed to grind out a 7-9 season.
Key Question: Can the Bills rely on two second-year players, quarterback Trent Edwards and running back Marshawn Lynch, to guide their offense?
17. Arizona Cardinals (8-8)
Arizona hasn’t won a playoff game since the Truman administration. Yikes.
Key Question: Will Matt Leinart finally overtake Kurt Warner as the undisputed starting quarterback of this team?
18. Houston Texans (8-8)
The Texans 8-8 season was their best since entering the league in 2001; they were led by two quarterbacks, Matt Schaub and Sage Rosenfels on offense, and budding star defensive end Mario Williams on defense.
Key Question: Will Andre Johnson avoid injuries this season and reach his full potential as a wide receiver?
19. Carolina Panthers (7-9)
After Jake Delhomme got off to a hot start, he injured his elbow, and the Panthers suffered a slow finish.
Key Question: Will the offensive line, which features a new starter at every position, be able to gel?
20. New York Jets (4-12)
A year after being labeled the “Mangenious,” Eric Mangini is on the hot seat after a 4-12 season; he responded by spending lavishly in free agency.
Key Question: Brett Favre may look good in Week 1, but how will he hold up down the stretch? And – bonus question! – will he want to play again after this season?
21. Denver Broncos (7-9)
The Broncos were 40-19 under Jake Plummer when Mike Shanahan decided to go with then-rookie Jay Cutler. They are 9-12 since.
Key Question: Will Jay Cutler be able to develop behind an offensive line that features a new starter at every position and without his favorite target, Brandon Marshall, for the first three games?
22. Washington Redskins (9-8)
The Redskins made it the playoffs last season predominantly behind quarterback Todd Collins, but new head coach Jim Zorn – a quarterback guru – is committed to Jason Campbell at quarterback.
Key Question: The team was disappointed with its sack total in 2007 (33), but with injuries at the position, is Jason Taylor enough to bring the number back up?
The Bottom Bunch
<Editor’s Note: These teams only have questions.>
23. Baltimore Ravens (5-11)
Troy Smith or Kyle Boller? Either way, this is going to be a run-first offense.
24. Oakland Raiders (4-12)
How will the team split carries at running back so that each can get into a rhythm?
25. Miami Dolphins (1-15)
Will Ricky Williams overtake Ronnie Brown as the starting running back?
26. Detroit Lions (7-9)
10 wins? Really? Really?
27. St. Louis Rams (3-13)
This may be blasphemy to some, but is Marc Bulger overrated?
28. Chicago Bears (7-9)
Last year, it was clear that the offense had gotten too old. Has the defense passed its prime as well?
29. Cincinnati Bengals (7-9)
If the defense can’t tackle again this year, is Marvin Lewis the first coach out after the season?
30. San Francisco 49ers (5-11)
J.T. O’Sullivan – who has gone from New Orleans to Green Bay to Minnesota to New England to Carolina to Detroit in his six seasons in the NFL – is the answer?
31. Kansas City Chiefs (4-12)
There are many young, talented members of this team. Is Brodie Croyle one of them?
32. Atlanta Falcons (4-12)
How quickly can head coach Mike Smith and G.M. Tom Dimitroff turn this ship around?
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