Power Rankings

1. Steelers – Didn’t lose anyone important and still the team to beat. Let’s see if Rashard Mendehall can make an impact.
2. Patriots – 11 – 5 last season without Brady. They only got better this offseason. The secondary might be a concern though.
3. Eagles – A very strong offseason combined with a team that reached the NFC Championship. The sky’s the limit for the Eagles.
4. Chargers – Could be ranked high for a team that went 8 – 8 last season, but the Chargers have a very talented team and an excellent QB in Phillip Rivers. They also have the luxury of playing in the AFC West.
5. Giants – Fortified an already very strong defense. The receiving crew is the biggest question heading into next season. They have the potential, but its the production that matters.
6. Colts – They still have Peyton Manning and that alone makes them a contender. They also drafted Donald Brown in the first round and that should bring explosiveness back to their running game.
7. Cardinals – They had a nice offseason signing some important players to extensions and drafting Beanie Wells in the first round should definitely help the running game. Playing in the NFC West helps too.
8. Titans – With an explosive running game and upgraded receiving corps, the Titans will remain contenders. The loss of Albert Haynesworth will be felt though. Look for either Jason Jones or Jovan Haye to step up this year.
9. Ravens – Despite losing Rex Ryan, Bart Scott, and some others, the Ravens defense should still be a top 5 unit. It remains to be seen who will be the top RB in Baltimore, but the ground game should be good regardless. Look for Joe Flacco to improve in his second season.
10. Bears – They had an excellent offseason in which they added Jay Cutler, Orlando Pace, and more. If some veterans return to form, look for this team to go far. The receiving corps and FS position remain question marks, though.
11. Panthers – With a very strong running game and a stingy defense, look for the Panthers to compete in the tough NFC South. Can Jake Delhomme be trusted, though?
12. Falcons – A very good offense got better when the Falcons added Tony Gonzalez. They dedicated their entire draft to defense, so let’s see how the rookies do this season. If they can make an impact, the Falcons should go far.
13. Vikings – We already know they have the best RB in the NFL today, but the quarterback position remains a question mark. Their defense remains one of the best in the NFC.
14. Texans – They’ve been close for 2 seasons now, but its up to their defense to improve. If the Texans reach the playoffs, they can make some serious damage. Matt Shaub must stay healthy though, unless they want Dan Orlovsky running out of the end zone again.
15. Saints – They have an explosive offense and they upgraded their defense this offseason. Look for Gregg Williams to bring the talent together on defense. If he does, the Saints can be a dangerous team.
16. Packers – They have a productive offense led by Aaron Rodgers, but the defense remains a question. Look for the Packers defense to have some hick-ups in their transition from a 4-3 to a 3-4.
17. Dolphins – The Dolphins offense doesn’t function without the WildCat offense. With defenses working hard this offseason to stop the gimmick offense, look for the Dolphins to fall a bit this season.
18. Cowboys – The talent is there, but the Cowboys just haven’t been able to capitalize on opportunities. They don’t have very good receivers save for Roy Williams, and the secondary could be a question mark. Playing in the NFC East doesn’t help either. If the Cowboys don’t get a playoff win next season, look for Wade Phillips to be coaching elsewhere in 2010.
19. Bills – If TO can step in and produce, this offense could be great. TO and Lee Evans should form a nice tandem. There are some questions on defense though, so look for some rookies to get a lot of playing time. They play in a tough division though.
20. Redskins – They upgraded an already good defense by adding Albert Haynesworth and Brian Orakpo. Its the offense that is a question mark. Clinton Portis looks like he could break down at any moment and the second year receivers need to step up before the Redskins contend in the very tough NFC East. Jason Campbell’s confidence could be a problem too, after an offseason of showing that they are trying to replace him.
21. Jaguars – At this time last year, the Jaguars were ranked much higher. If the Jaguars defense plays better, then they could shoot up. They upgraded their offensive line and that should give David Garrard a lot more time in the pocket. Look for Maurice Jones Drew to make a big impact in his first season as a starter.
22. Bengals – They get Carson Palmer back, and they have some good receivers. Look for Chad Ochocinco to return to form. The defense is also a lot better than people give them credit for. The Bengals might sneak into the playoffs if all goes well for them.
23. Jets – They have a good roster, but they don’t have any established WRs other than Jerricho Cotchery. If Mark Sanchez can perform as well as last year’s rookie QBs, then the Jets can make an impact. Look for Rex Ryan to make the defense into a top 10 unit, as well.
24. Seahawks – Despite having a healthy defense last season, the Seahawks ranked close to the bottom in almost all categories. Unless the defense improves, the Seahawks are going nowhere. The offense relies heavily on Matt Hasselbeck, so if he must stay healthy.
25. 49ers – I like what Mike Singletary has done with this team, but I don’t think they have enough talent on either side of the ball to do too much. If Michael Crabtree makes an impact and some defensive players step up, though, the 49ers could sneak into the playoffs.
26. Raiders – I expect Jeff Garcia to win the starting job at some point during the season,and when this happens the Raiders should win some games. They have a very good running game and an improving defense led by the best corner in the game, Nnamdi Asomugha.
27. Broncos – The offense should do decent under Josh McDaniels, but the Broncos still have no defense to speak of. If Robert Ayers makes an impact, he could make everyone around him look better, though. Look for Kyle Orton to have a solid season with his new weapons.
28. Buccaneers – With no quarterback standing out in Tampa Bay, it looks like it could be a long season for the Bucs. The offense could be good with the additions of Kellen Winslow and Derrick Ward, but they play in a very hard division and it doesn’t seem like the Broncos are going to do much this season.
29. Chiefs – Their offense should be solid under Todd Haley, but there are too many questions on defense. Not only are the Chiefs transitioning from a 4-3 to a 3-4, but they really don’t have the proper personnel to play the 3-4. Look for the Chiefs to have a lot of growing pains this year, but they could be decent next year.
30. Lions – Though they went winless last season, they lost a lot of close games. I like what the team has done this offseason, but look for this team to still have a top 5 pick next season. Starting Matthew Stafford could be a big mistake.
31. Rams – They need a lot of help on both sides of the ball. Steven Jackson will be the centerpiece of an otherwise average offense. Marc Bulger could be in jeopardy of losing his starting job if he doesn’t produce this season. Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo should help the defense a bit, but they really don’t have much talent on that side of the ball.
32. Browns – If you’re looking for the definition of a rebuilding team, this is it. The Browns went from playoff contenders to top overall pick contenders in less than 2 years. The offense will focus on a RB that will be 30 when the season starts (Jamal Lewis) and Brady Quinn seems to be proving to the teams that passed on him that they made the right choice. The defense also has many question marks, especially the pass rush. Hiring Mangini was a mistake, too.

I’ll be updating these rankings throughout the season, so stay tuned! Feel free to ask me questions or make comments.