NFL Power Rankings

With the NFL starting in just 2 months I decided to make a top 12 list. 1. New England Patriots: With the additions of Stallworth and Moss these guys are easily super bowl favorites. Look at how sick this offense is: Brady at QB, Maroney at RB, Moss and Stallworth as the 1 and 2 wide receivers. 2007 Record Prediction: 14-2. 2. Indianapolis Colts: You've got to compare the lineups between the colts and Patriots to see who really has the better team. Here's a point system that will reward one point to the better player in each position. QB: Manning (1 point towards colts). 1st WR: Moss is better when he's at his best but he hasn't showed that in the past few years. Half a point rewarded to both teams. 2nd WR: Reggie Wayne has seemed to progress, and Stallworth cooled down towards the end of the year. RB: Maroney would have been 10x better than addai if he wasn't sharing handoffs with Dillon. (1 point towards patriots). Defense: Patriots have been much more consistent. (1 point towards patriots). Coach: Who has more rings? Thought so. (1 point towards Patriots). Patriots: 3.5. Colts: 2.5. 2007 Prediction: 13-3. 3. San Diego Chargers: Although one of the best coaches in today's game is gone, the Chargers still have the same weapons. LT, Gates, and Rivers. Not to mention if Merriman doesn't get suspended they will have an outstanding defense. Who needs to have a good coach when you have all the weapons the Chargers have? 2007 Prediction: 12-4. 4. Seattle Seahawks: The injury of Alexander deeply hurt these Seahawks in 2006. There offense was out of sync and Hasselbeck also did not have a good year. Look for these Seahawks to make a huge comeback next year, this team is still as good as it was in 2005. 2007 Prediction: 12-4. 5. Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals still have the weapons they did a few years ago, yet some of them got arrested. If these guys can stay in a good flow they won't need any of the people that got arrested last year (I'm not sure of the names of all the people that got arrested). 2007 Prediction: 11-5. 6. Philadelphia Eagles: If Donovan McNabb can stay healthy, who dare test the limits of this talented Eagles team? They have virtually the same offense/defense that they did in 2004, and have Andy Reid on the sidelines. McNabb could easily carry this team on his back when he is healthy and playing well. Yet will see if he gets injured or not. 2007 Prediction: 11-5 (if McNabb stays healthy). 7. Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens returned to championship form in 2006 by only letting 201 points throughout the whole year. Yet no Jamal Lewis? McNair a year older? The Ravens have suffered through worse when they had Kyle Boller. If there's one true fact about the NFL, it's that defense can get you far. Yet don't expect them to get 13 wins without a good RB. 2007 Prediction: 11-5. 8. Pittsburgh Steelers: I know, I know, what happened to the Steelers last year? Although Roethlisbeger refused to make any excuses, you can't have a great year with so many season threatening injuries. Even Joe Montana's game would be thrown off if he almost died, and got concussions that could've ended his season. Without Joey Porter on the defensive side, the Steelers defense isn't that of the 2005 defense, yet it still can be consistent throughout the year and possibly let in less than 300 points on the year. If Ben Roethlisberger can stay mentally stable will be in the playoffs. 2007 Prediction: 11-5. 9. Carolina Panthers: The injury of Steve Smith obviously hurt them at the start of the year, and then Delhomme was injured late in the year. They have a good defense and offense, yet seem to be inconsistent sometimes. They still have great talent, but even when Smith and Delhomme weren't injured they weren't lighting it up like they have before. Look for it to be an up and down year in 2007. 2007 Prediction: 10-6. 10. New Orleans Saints: I hate to say it but these Saints were overrated. The Saints had a fantastic crowd, and without them I doubt they would've gotten to the playoffs. Reggie Bush is not a rookie anymore, and Brees has showed that he can make no-name wide receivers into stars. Yet they have no defense. You cannot bet on a team to get over 10 wins with no defense. 2007 Prediction: 10-6. 11. Chicago Bears: Possibly no Lance Briggs or Tank Johnson, there goes one of the best defenses of all time, but it's still the best in the NFL. Last year there secondary showed that it was one of the best in the game, and they still have a great run stopping defense but will be hurt without Briggs. Benson seems like he has good talent, but not as good as Jones, and I don't even want to get into Grossman. This year could be a tough one for the bears. Yet they'll still get 10 wins because they're in the NFC. 2007 Prediction: 10-6. 12. St. Louis Rams: The "surprise" team this year. Marc Bulger, Steven Jackson, Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, and a decent defense. There offense is set, but how do I figure this team can beat out the Cowboys, Giants, and Vikings for the wild card spot? You can't count on the Cowboys this year because Tony Romo's special powers could always wear off, and they don't have a good defense. Eli Manning can't carry the Giants by himself, and the Vikings have a good run defense but a bad secondary. The Rams have a bad defense yet could muster a 9 win season because of a few additions on the defensive side. 2007 Prediction: 9-7. Recap of my Predictions: NFC Conference Winners: 1. Seattle Seahawks (12-4). 2. Philadelphia Eagles (11-5). 3. Carolina Panthers (11-5). 4. Chicago Bears (10-6). NFC Wild Cards: 1. New Orleans Saints (10-6). 2. St. Louis Rams (9-7). AFC Conference Winners: 1. New England Patriots (14-2). 2. Indianapolis Colts (13-3). 3. San Diego Chargers (12-4). 4. Cincinnati Bengals (11-5). AFC Wild Cards: 1. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5). 2. Baltimore Ravens (11-5). Why no titans? Give it one more years, they might go 9-7 or possibly even 10-6 but the AFC is so strong this year they don't have a chance of getting into the playoffs.