Found June 06, 2008 on FBKid's Sports Minute:
Training camp is almost here so what better time to do my first power rankings of the season. Many teams have improved through the draft while others through free agency. The list should be interesting and my rankings will next be updated after the preseason games. 1.New York Giants: Considering they are the defending Super Bowl champs, until they lose they are my number one team. 2.New England Patriots: All of the offensive fire power returns but the corners are an issue. 3.Indianapolis Colts: Bob Sanders is the leader of the defense and when he and Dwight Freeney get healthy, the Colts can be a scary team. 4.San Diego Chargers: If not for the injuries, they might have been playing for the Super Bowl last February. 5.Dallas Cowboys: On paper this team looks great but will Tony Romo win a playoff game? 6.Jacksonville Jaguars: The media is starting to notice the Jaguars as many people are calling them contenders in the AFC. It all depends on David Garrard's play though. 7.Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks are one of the most consistent teams in the league and should be among the elite in the NFC again. 8.Pittsburgh Steelers: Rashard Mendenhall should help take the load off of Willie Parker but the offensive line is a big concern. 9.Cleveland Browns: We know they can score but with lack of depth at corner will the additions of Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams on the defensive line get them to the playoffs? 10.Green Bay Packers: This team could either go 12-4 or 4-12. We haven't seen much of Aaron Rodgers yet to see if he can lead the Packers back to the playoffs. 11.Minnesota Vikings: Once Tarvaris Jackson or John David Booty develop, this is the team to beat in the NFC. 12.New Orleans Saints: The defense has improved but corner is still a major issue. If the defense gets going the Saints will be marching far into the playoffs. 13.Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles got going late in the season but if Donovan McNabb stays healthy they are in good shape. 14.Houston Texans: If Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson stay healthy, this team is the darkhorse in the AFC. 15.Buffalo Bills: If Trent Edwards improves on his play from last year, they are in very good shape to do some damage. The return of Paul Posluzny will be huge as well. 16.Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs lack depth at running back but in a weak division have a shot at making the playoffs again. 17.Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals are a year or two away from being a legitimate contender in the NFC. The offensive line is still an issue though. 18.Carolina Panthers: If Jake Delhomme is healthy, this team has a good chance of pushing for a wild card spot. 19.Denver Broncos: If Jay Cutler turns into the elite quarterback many think he is, this team could push for a wild card spot. 20.Washington Redskins: This team has lots of question marks with a new coach in Jim Zorn. The only sure thing is that Clinton Portis will have a big year. 21.Tennessee Titans: The Titans made the playoffs last year because of the defense not Vince Young. If the Titans go out and get a big play receiver for Young to throw to, then they could take the next step. Until then the offense will go as far as LenDale White and Chris Johnson will take them. 22.Baltimore Ravens: Troy Smith is looking very impressive in mini camp and should be the guy starting in week one. Expect a big year from Willis McGahee as Cam Cameron loves utilizing his running backs. 23.New York Jets: They spent lots of money this offseason but do they have a quarterback yet? 24.Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals still have an explosive offense but Rudi Johnson is starting to decline. Keith Rivers will be stud at linebacker and will be a force for years to come. 25.Oakland Raiders: The Raiders improved their offense this offseason and with the defense they have in place,this team could be dangerous by the end of the season. 26.Chicago Bears: Can you believe this is the team that won the NFC two years ago? Until they improve at quarterback the Bears should be around this spot for a while. 27.Detroit Lions: The Lions should actually have a running game now with Mike Martz gone. Look for Kevin Smith to be one of the frontrunners for rookie of the year honors. 28.St.Louis Rams: The defense is getting better but the offensive line hasn't been able to protect Marc Bulger. If Bulger stays healthy the Rams could really improve from last year. 29.Atlanta Falcons: Chris Redman played well in relief last year but is only the answer until Matt Ryan is ready. The main question is if Michael Turner can carry the workload? 30.San Francisco 49ers: Alex Smith hasn't been worthy of the number one pick so far and in a Mike Martz offense he will take a beating. On the bright side, Patrick Willis is turning into one of the premiere linebackers in the league. 31.Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs had a great draft but they still don't have a quarterback to get Dwayne Bowe the ball. 32.Miami Dolphins: No matter who they start, it will be a young quarterback. At least the Dolphins are looking towards the future.

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Comments (22)
  • I appreciate the time you took to write all this up, but did you think long and hard about your rankings? Yes, I know that it is a matter of personal opinion. But how can you go as ar as saying the Vikings will become the team to beat in the NFC when Tavaris, or Booty develop!? By the time that happens, the team will be a shell of who they are trying to become. Not to mention, if these are power rankings it should be about what position the team stands to be in right now, not in the future.
    But just to be clear, I do appreciate the time you took to post this article. I'm definately not trying to be Mr. Negative.
    • fbkid15
      Placard_complete_small
      Thanks for the read and I appreciate the feedback. I think that the Vikings will be pretty good this year as they have a great defensive line and obviously a great running game. But even if Jackson or Booty just manage games where they don't make costly mistakes the team will be in very good shape. The ranking for the Vikings though is for this year. Many people have them much higher then I do though as I have seen some people that go as far to say they will be representing the NFC in the Super Bowl.
      • I do agree about their defensive line. It's going to be nasty. But how about their secondary, where does that rank? Also, as far as their running game I do believe Philadelphia shut them down a year ago. The first half Adrian was nowhere to be found. Although new season, new team, and new possibilities. But I can't follow the others as far as where I see the Vikings this season. Thats just me. Anyone else care to throw in their 2 cents?
        • rhcp879
          Placard_complete_small
          The Packers own that division. sorry but no. i agree with everything else though thanx.
        • Love4DaStar
          Placard_complete_small
          I think the entire nfc east is better than minnesota...u can only go so far with jackson at qb...I know he's improving but I still think he can't get it done..but I guess we'll see this season
        • rhcp879
          Placard_complete_small
          Except for the giants... did you see that @ss woopin' last season?
        • FIVERINGS
          Placard_complete_small
          I did see them put two on the Eagles and 12 sacks in a game. Is that what you are talking about. Have a good day.
        • rhcp879
          Placard_complete_small
          true but it wasn't as bad as the 42 points and 4ints, 3 of them for TD's that the vikings got against the giants. We were missing a few players that game, but still 3-12 isn't really the kind of "@ss woopin" i was referring 2.
  • Dewey
    Placard_complete_small
    Way too solid, FB. Glad you have the Ravens down low. I think they're in for a rough year.
  • hiphop
    Solid. Stupid solid.
    Gotta respect what you did with the Giants. They earned the top spot on the field.
    Too high: Steelers. Didn't impress in home playoff game
    Too low: Titans, falling from the playoffs to #21. Then again that's probably the toughest division.
    Is it my imagination or have the Cardinals been "a year or two away" for the past five years?
    • rhcp879
      Placard_complete_small
      haha ya. Cardinals as a whole will improve as Lienart steps up. If Lienart can't produce, the Cards will be two or three years away for a while.
  • 4forfour
    I have to disagree with the Saints being up that high. They may have a better defense, but their offense still has a lot of question marks that need to be answered. I like Brees, but I'm not sure that their O can replicate the playoff year.
  • romorules
    Nice job! I think the top ten is pretty accurate.
  • you didnt write this up, i saw the same explanations and everything on espn
    ur a phony
  • bzr034
    You're completely right about the Vikings. All the QB will have to do is manage the game. The Vikings will be one of the best teams in the league this year if JDB or T Jack don't mess up too badly. In addition, with Favre gone, they're in arguably the weakest division in the game. They could win 14 games next season and it wouldn't surprise me. And someone said something about every team in the East being better than the Vikings, that is a joke. The Cowboys and Eagles are the only teams that might (key word is MIGHT) be able to match what the Vikings will offer this season. I wouldn't put the Super Bowl out of the question, either. It's finally going to be our year and everyone here in Minnesota can't wait for the season to start.
    • Love4DaStar
      Placard_complete_small
      r we talking the same vikings team?...u guys still aren't even the best team in your own division and it's a pretty weak division...sorry but that division just doesn't match the nfc east at all...to say that philly and dallas MIGHT be able to match what the vikings will have to offer is an absolute joke...we have TOO many weapons in dallas so we could shred that secondary b/c u guys r also horrible in pass defense...I'm sure a healthy mcnabb can also do the same...and don't sleep on the skins or giants...I don't generally defend the other teams in the division w/ dallas but in this case minnesota is behind all of them...the skins might be the only one of the nfc east teams u guys could beat...I'm not tryin to put your team down at all but it will be a few years before u can say they truly r a contender...jackson at qb won't cut it
      • fbkid15
        Placard_complete_small
        The whole NFC North is determined by how Aaron Rodgers does. If he does well the Packers are back in the playoffs and competing for a division title. If he doesn't do well, the Vikings will be the only team in the division to make the playoffs.
  • theoneandonly
    Placard_complete_small
    bzr, When you say matching, I think of what the teams look like on paper. And the cowboys are definitely the best in the NFC on paper. Vikings are solid, that's for sure. I want to see if AP can bring what he did last year again, if he can I see the vikings in the NFC title game. I honestly believe that the Cowboys are the team to beat though.

    The titans are in the right spot as well. No WR's, QB with little to no arm, and I am worried about Lendale. Luckily they/we have a good line, and should get holes open for Lendale. Chris Johnson is a good compliment for Lendale. I am all about your number one having a good compliment.(i.e. Lendale power/ johnson speed, Marion Barber power/ felix speed, adrian power&speed/ Taylor power&speed) I am excited about the season to start up. Overall I like the picks.
  • steelcurt
    The offensive line is a big concern in Pittsburgh but I really like their chances.
  • These power rankings are a joke. The Giants lost four key defensive players two of them Pro Bowlers, there is no way they can be 1. The Seahawks at 7 is an even bigger joke, they don't have a good offense or a good defense how are they seven, they aren't consistent either they are up and down year to year. You then have the Packers and the Vikings up high when at the same time you talk about the Jets not having a quarterback guess what neither do these two teams. Most of these ranks are screwy. You have touched on additions to team, but missed all the key losses that teams took. Read up on all the teams before to try to do this next time.
    • fbkid15
      Placard_complete_small
      I stated my reasoning for the Giants being number one and that was due to the fact they earned it by winning the Super Bowl. The Seahawks also actually have a good defense and statiscally a top 10 offense and the team has playoff experience. Plus how are the Seahawks not consistent? The Seahawks have won the NFC west ever since the new division allignment. Then you compare the Vikings and Packers to the Jets? The Vikings and Packers may not have an established quarterback yet but unlike the Jets they have a very strong supporting cast.
    • rhcp879
      Placard_complete_small
      man so much hate comin from people, why don't you guys do your list so all of us can come and tell you all of our opinionated beefs.
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