ESPN's NFL Power Rankings

[Agent_Bond34]

Credit - ESPN.com (duh)

 

ESPN's power rankings

[razazteca]

Is'nt it a little early for this? Damn it looks like ESPN still has nothing but love for the Eagles at #2. Broncos at #4 that is crazy, do they think Plummer will make them a Superbowl team? #7 Falcons still don't have a defense.

[Guest Smues]

It's super early so it's not like it means much, but Atlanta at #7? Yikes. But at least they have Vick to justify that, how in the hell do they put Denver at #4?

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

Wow, what a load of crap this list is. The AFC North is the Bengals to lose this year. There's no way the Ravens should even be considered that high when there's a strong possibility they'll be without Jamal Lewis and they've done nothing to address any issues they had last season.

 

The Broncos being 4th is questionable with the Gardner cut looming in the air and the questions at running back, QB and receiver.

 

The Titans being in the top 10 is the usual McNair suck off. They've lost Jevon Kearse and done nothing else of note to improve the team this offseason.

 

The Falcons in the top 10 is pretty ify as well considering they haven't done much on the defensive side of things.

[razazteca]

I think the Raiders will be the darkhorse this year since they fixed their O-Line problems in the draft.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

I think the Raiders have more problems than their O-Line. The defense is even older than last year with Washington and Sapp. And while I think Washington was a great pick up, Sapp is nowhere near worth what their probably paying him. They still lack a healthy QB and Brown/Rice are slowly down. The rest of the defense is old and injury prone as well.

 

EDIT: I have to sort of say they really underrated the Lions on this too. They've probably filled more holes than any other team. They've greatly improved the secondary and finally have a back and receiving threats on offense.

[razazteca]

The big issue with the Raiders is keeping everybody healthy, they can be the AFC wildcard playoff team.

[MrRant]

Falcons I could maybe see around 18 or so... 15 at the highest but not #7 considering what will happen to them if Vick is injured AT ALL.

[LaParkaMarka]

The Texans are very underrated. They played tough last year, and have a solid core offense with Carr/Johnson/Davis. They also picked up some good D players in Robaire Smith, Dunta Robinson, and Jason Babin. With Tennessee on the decline and the Jags around the same level as them, they could get a playoff spot.

[Cartman]

I have NO complaints

 

Nice to see a New England team getting national respect for a change.

[MarvinisaLunatic]

Wow, what a load of crap this list is. The AFC North is the Bengals to lose this year. There's no way the Ravens should even be considered that high when there's a strong possibility they'll be without Jamal Lewis and they've done nothing to address any issues they had last season.

A) I don't think that Jamal will miss anytime. A big fine probably but no suspension.

 

B) They tried to adress their crappy WRs but it backfired (See the crybaby that wanted to play in Philly). They still got Kevin Johnson although they lost Marcus Robinson. They drafted a couple of nice WR that probably won't do much this year but may step up in subsequent years. 2 WR..er..a WR (Johnson) and a TE (Heap) should be enough. Maybe Travis Taylor will step up and stop droping passes.

 

C) The Defense is still there.

[AlwaysPissedOff]

Man, you Boston/NE fans and your inferiority complexes... sheesh.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

Lewis had better miss some time if Green got suspended for most of the season over much weaker charges.

[nl5xsk1]

Man, you Boston/NE fans and your inferiority complexes... sheesh.

The only Boston/New England team that really gets shortchanged is the Pats. The Sox get more than enough attention & adoration from the national media. The Celtics suck, so don't deserve any. Hockey as a whole gets minimal attention, so a relatively small fish in that small pond gets as much attention as can be expected.

 

But keep in mind that the Pats were riding a months-long unbeaten streak when they were heading into the Colts game last year in the playoffs. And what was the dominating story? Certainly not the nearly unbeaten Patriots. Nope, Payton Manning.

 

I'll agree that most New Englanders like to circle jerk around the notion that we're givin the shaft by the media. But with the Pats, it's normally true.

[Cartman]

Well I guess you can call the contant "Curse of the Bambino" talks, and the infinite "Can they ever beat the Yankees" garbage than usre the Sox get all KINDS of media love.

[Ripper]

Is'nt it a little early for this? Damn it looks like ESPN still has nothing but love for the Eagles at #2. Broncos at #4 that is crazy, do they think Plummer will make them a Superbowl team? #7 Falcons still don't have a defense.

The Falcons revamped defesense(the one that sent Ray Buchanan and all the other starters to the bench in the secondary) played extrememly well for the second half of the year...except against Indy.

[Guest Vitamin X]

I don't get all the AFC love. Of the top 10 teams, 6 are AFC teams, and 1 of the NFC teams didn't even make the playoffs.

 

I think the Rams and Cowboys also got majorly shafted in the Rankings. 14, 16, middle of the pack? I think the Cowboys will keep improving, whereas the Rams will again rely on their offense to win games.

 

Ever since 1999, the top teams from the season before always fall down the following season. I REALLY don't expect the Panthers to be going anywhere next season, I think they got that far because people weren't quite expecting them to be that good. Hell, I thought it was going to be Eagles-Patriots for the superbowl last year, and I was damn close. But now everyone's gunning for the Pats, and although I think they can handle it and get into the playoffs, I don't know much about them repeating.

 

Oh, and expect the Bucs to go back into championship form next season. Even without Lynch.

[USC Wuz Robbed!]

Oh, and expect the Bucs to go back into championship form next season. Even without Lynch.

Doubt it. As much as everyone here are saying the Falcons are overrated, the NFC South is the hottest division right now, and it'd be hard for the Bucs to return to their championship form when they got Vick and the Falcons, Brooks and the Saints, and umm yeah that Delhomme kid who almost led Panthers to a Super Bowl victory.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

The Colts are going to DEVOUR their division this year. That'll be fun to watch.

[The Tino Standard]

Wow, what a load of crap this list is. The AFC North is the Bengals to lose this year. There's no way the Ravens should even be considered that high when there's a strong possibility they'll be without Jamal Lewis and they've done nothing to address any issues they had last season.

 

The Broncos being 4th is questionable with the Gardner cut looming in the air and the questions at running back, QB and receiver.

 

The Titans being in the top 10 is the usual McNair suck off. They've lost Jevon Kearse and done nothing else of note to improve the team this offseason.

 

The Falcons in the top 10 is pretty ify as well considering they haven't done much on the defensive side of things.

I wouldn't hand the Bungles anything yet. They still haven't had a winning season in God knows how long, plus they're starting a quarterback (Palmer) this year with no in-game experience. It would be as easy for them to go 5-11 this year as it would be 11-5.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

The Bengals have had an amazing offseason so far. They've done nothing but upgrade the problem positions from last year and have signed a lot of defensive players. While I don't agree with starting Palmer they still have Kitna to step in if Palmer loses a game or two for them. The Steelers are going to be terrible and probably 3-13, the Browns could be good but I can't see them better than 8-8 and I think the Ravens will be a tough team but without Lewis they have no chance.

[Red Baron]

I'm happy where Seattle sits...

[Guest The Winter Of My Discontent]

I think the Raiders have more problems than their O-Line. The defense is even older than last year with Washington and Sapp.

They have NO problems with their offensive andd defensive lines. AT ALL. In fact, they arguably have the best o-line in the league now with their changes.

[Guest Crazy Dan]

I am just really disapointed that the Niners are ranked so low... but I have the feeling that they are going to have a rough time winning. I see Dorsey taking over midseason, and finding ways to win. Winners just can do that. I have feeling that the Niners might have some ugly years ahead of them, hence the reason I will always say "Bring Eddie back".

 

As for the Raiders, Gallery looks like he is the real deal. Big, talented, and nasty. Heck anytime you see a 6-7 325 pounder with long hair, you know he has that certain mean streak that comes out on the field, but at the same time, the interviews he has given, he has been very classy and appears to have a good head on his shoulders. So the Raiders got a very solid player, who, barring serious injury, will anchor that line for many years. And with Sapp and Washington, the D-line will improve. Sapp might be past his prime, but he will bring leadership and attitude, perfect for the Raiders. Unfortunately, their QB situation is a glaring week point. Gannon looks like his window is slammed shut, and Tuisopo got hurt before we got a chance to see if he is the Raider's QB of the future. But the Raiders are improved.

 

And until proven otherwise, The Patriots should be ranked number one. And I agree that the Eagles at number 2. As for the rest of the rankings, let the season begin and then we can bitch about who should be where. I think this is sort of a preseason rankings based on free agent signings and draft picks. But until they play a game, it is all a crap shoot. But the Niners being ranked second to last, Doh!!! and damn you John York, who I still think can't name at least five players on his team.

[Guest Vitamin X]

I still can't say I agree with the Falcons being ranked that high if it is truly based on free agent signings and draft picks.

[AlwaysPissedOff]

The Colts are going to DEVOUR their division this year. That'll be fun to watch.

Not until they learn how to play defense. Jacksonville and Houston could both put it on Indy at least once with how good their defenses are and how improved the offenses should be.

[2GOLD]

The biggest problem the Eagles will have is how long before Owens snaps at hearing "Donovan McNabb and the Eagles" instead of "TO and the Eagles" ?

 

Kearse is on the downside but he was still a good solid pick-up and if he stays healthy, he'll give them a good blitz end and a strong run stopper. But he hasn't been healthy for awhile. It's a question mark.

 

And Owens won't help the Eagles if they don't quit being so timid on offense. If McNabb is this god like figure ESPN makes him out to be, then open up the offense and let him do something with it. He doesn't have an excuse this year, he has the running backs and he has the receiver he wanted. Now he better get it done.

 

And the Colts might have some competition from the Jags and Texans, but I don't see them being pushed too hard by either. The Texans may be a playoff team, but they might not have enough guns on defense to bring down the Colts just yet.

 

As to the Ravens? They have the defense, it's really that simple. That defense can carry them a long way. But if Ray Lewis goes down, goodnight Baltimore.

[The Tino Standard]

As to the Ravens? They have the defense, it's really that simple. That defense can carry them a long way. But if Ray Lewis goes down, goodnight Baltimore.

... and hello Madden cover boy jinx.