NFL 2008 Power Ranker: Based on the draft, performance down the stretch, past records, and schedule.
1.
Indianapolis Colts: Consistently elite, with Peyton, Wayne, Harrison, and Gonzalez the passing attack is still the best of the best, maybe some inter division competition from the Jags will help them.
2.
San Diego Chargers: L.T. is too good to stay out unless he's really hurt, I think he'll be back to lead the bolts with a vengeance. The weak link Rivers, similar situation to the Giants as long as he doesn't hurt the team they will be fine.
3.
New England Patriots:This was the hardest one and they could be at 17 the way the off season played out so far. I know they lost the SB but I just couldn't find a spot lower then three for a team that has Brady and Moss.
4.
Cleveland Browns: On paper the Browns look like the division champs hands down but I don't know if last year was a fluke, but with the plethora of off season additions this team has reached elite status if they live up to the hype.
5.
Pittsburgh Steelers: They won the SB a while ago, have a pro-bowl QB and WR, and a stout defense that while aging is still one of the best in the NFL. Mike Tomlin held down the fort well enough for his first year and the team should only adjust to him better so that's why there top five material.
6.
Philadelphia Eagles: Donovan McNabb's play towards the end of the year was top notch, and it translated through the team making them as good as any off the playoff teams down the stretch, the weak receiving corps is overshadowed by Westbrook and the offensive line. The addition of Asante to an already potent secondary helps put them in the top ten.
7.
Dallas Cowboys: Romo's performance may be padded by the outstanding corps of Owens, Glenn, and Whiten, so I'm not sold on his ability yet, and being the only number 1 seed to lose in their first game of the playoffs doesn't help their cause. But 13-3 is still 13-3 so they make the top ten.
8.
New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees is still slinging, and with a healthy backfield of Bush, Duece, and Stecker this offense has great potential.
9.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Not quite sold on them and Garrard but you cannot count out the playoff appearances, or Garrads' three picks in the regular season and Fred Taylors long awaited pro-bowl appearance.
10.
Seattle Seahawks: The NFC West is arguably the weakest division in the NFL next to the AFC East if you exclude the Pats. The Seahawks have the division title to lose at this point and the only competition I see may be the Rams or the Cardinals and their high powered offenses, but their defenses are just to easy to score on so don't count on it.
11.
New York Giants: They won the SB but I'm not sold on Eli yet it just didn't feel right. Their defense, along with their running game keeps them in the top 15.
12.
Cincinnati Bengals: We'll see how the Ocho Cinco situation pans out, then we'll talk top ten. Carson Palmer still has Chad and TJ so until they go this is still a highly explosive offense. Bottom line: Don't count them out.
13.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Garcia is aging and back injuries may hold his tenacious style of play back, Ronde Barber is no spring chicken either, but the division is still up for grabs.
14.
Arizona Cardinals: What's there to say, Fitzgerald and Boldin at WR and Kurt Warner at QB.
15.
Green Bay Packers: Without Brett I don't think the Packers' hearts will be with Green Bay for at least a year.
16.
Washington Redskins: I'm not sold on Campbell yet but he played well enough with the WR's he had so I think the draftees will only improve their chances. Losses of Sean Taylor and Joe Gibbs will hurt the team in the long run.
17
St. Louis Rams: On paper the offense looks great but their record was horrible and I just don't know how they will come out of the gates after last year.
18
Denver Broncos: Looking to improve on a decent season with a more mature Jay Cutler and a solid defense they should improve. Brandon Marshall's health is the only question.
19.
Minnesota Vikings: ADRIAN PETERSON - VERY GOOD, TRAVARIS JACKSON - VERY BAD. Final result same as last year give or take a few games.
20.
Tennessee Titans: Vince Young has some weapons lets see how he uses them.
21.
Detroit Lions: John Kitna should stop making promises he cannot keep. Look for some friction in the locker room from the star wide outs this year.
22.
Carolina Panthers: Steve Smith is in a tough place he's the shining star in a lackluster offense. Jake Delhomme will probably need time to get back to his usual level.
23.
Houston Texans: Hey, they had their first non-losing season in franchise history they can only get better but I'm not betting on it.
24.
New York Jets: QB controversy will hurt this team and someone needs to be named the starter before the beginning of the season or the Jets don't have much of a chance.
25.
Buffalo Bills: Bright spots Marshawn Lynch and Trent Edwards, and that's about it, good news is it's not a hard division to get second place in, bad news is you get to play the Patriots twice a year.
26.
Baltimore Ravens: Great secondary and LB core but the offense is in flux and a new head coach and a QB situation don't help the process of stabilizing for another run.
27.
Miami Dolphins: Will only be better then last year but not by much. The rebuilding project will take a while to reap it's rewards.
28.
Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan is the key. If he can turn the franchise around much like Donovan McNabb did for the Eagles and Tom Brady did for the Patriots in 2000 he may very well be an elite QB.
29.
San Francisco 49ers: I really don't want to talk about them because it makes me nauseous. Good news is Isaac Bruce that's it.
30.
Chicago Bears: Rex Grossman has one more chance and with the loss of his starting WRs and an aging defense I don't see them being very good. Just pray Devin Hester touches the ball every time.
31.
Kansas City Chiefs: No QB, Larry Johnson may be overrated or he's just overworked, and they don't have a Dante Hall to help them out of the mess they're in. Bright spot Tony Gonzalez.
32.
Oakland Raiders: Until Al Davis leaves they are stuck at the bottom for a while.
1.
Indianapolis Colts: Consistently elite, with Peyton, Wayne, Harrison, and Gonzalez the passing attack is still the best of the best, maybe some inter division competition from the Jags will help them.
2.
San Diego Chargers: L.T. is too good to stay out unless he's really hurt, I think he'll be back to lead the bolts with a vengeance. The weak link Rivers, similar situation to the Giants as long as he doesn't hurt the team they will be fine.
3.
New England Patriots:This was the hardest one and they could be at 17 the way the off season played out so far. I know they lost the SB but I just couldn't find a spot lower then three for a team that has Brady and Moss.
4.
Cleveland Browns: On paper the Browns look like the division champs hands down but I don't know if last year was a fluke, but with the plethora of off season additions this team has reached elite status if they live up to the hype.
5.
Pittsburgh Steelers: They won the SB a while ago, have a pro-bowl QB and WR, and a stout defense that while aging is still one of the best in the NFL. Mike Tomlin held down the fort well enough for his first year and the team should only adjust to him better so that's why there top five material.
6.
Philadelphia Eagles: Donovan McNabb's play towards the end of the year was top notch, and it translated through the team making them as good as any off the playoff teams down the stretch, the weak receiving corps is overshadowed by Westbrook and the offensive line. The addition of Asante to an already potent secondary helps put them in the top ten.
7.
Dallas Cowboys: Romo's performance may be padded by the outstanding corps of Owens, Glenn, and Whiten, so I'm not sold on his ability yet, and being the only number 1 seed to lose in their first game of the playoffs doesn't help their cause. But 13-3 is still 13-3 so they make the top ten.
8.
New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees is still slinging, and with a healthy backfield of Bush, Duece, and Stecker this offense has great potential.
9.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Not quite sold on them and Garrard but you cannot count out the playoff appearances, or Garrads' three picks in the regular season and Fred Taylors long awaited pro-bowl appearance.
10.
Seattle Seahawks: The NFC West is arguably the weakest division in the NFL next to the AFC East if you exclude the Pats. The Seahawks have the division title to lose at this point and the only competition I see may be the Rams or the Cardinals and their high powered offenses, but their defenses are just to easy to score on so don't count on it.
11.
New York Giants: They won the SB but I'm not sold on Eli yet it just didn't feel right. Their defense, along with their running game keeps them in the top 15.
12.
Cincinnati Bengals: We'll see how the Ocho Cinco situation pans out, then we'll talk top ten. Carson Palmer still has Chad and TJ so until they go this is still a highly explosive offense. Bottom line: Don't count them out.
13.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Garcia is aging and back injuries may hold his tenacious style of play back, Ronde Barber is no spring chicken either, but the division is still up for grabs.
14.
Arizona Cardinals: What's there to say, Fitzgerald and Boldin at WR and Kurt Warner at QB.
15.
Green Bay Packers: Without Brett I don't think the Packers' hearts will be with Green Bay for at least a year.
16.
Washington Redskins: I'm not sold on Campbell yet but he played well enough with the WR's he had so I think the draftees will only improve their chances. Losses of Sean Taylor and Joe Gibbs will hurt the team in the long run.
17
St. Louis Rams: On paper the offense looks great but their record was horrible and I just don't know how they will come out of the gates after last year.
18
Denver Broncos: Looking to improve on a decent season with a more mature Jay Cutler and a solid defense they should improve. Brandon Marshall's health is the only question.
19.
Minnesota Vikings: ADRIAN PETERSON - VERY GOOD, TRAVARIS JACKSON - VERY BAD. Final result same as last year give or take a few games.
20.
Tennessee Titans: Vince Young has some weapons lets see how he uses them.
21.
Detroit Lions: John Kitna should stop making promises he cannot keep. Look for some friction in the locker room from the star wide outs this year.
22.
Carolina Panthers: Steve Smith is in a tough place he's the shining star in a lackluster offense. Jake Delhomme will probably need time to get back to his usual level.
23.
Houston Texans: Hey, they had their first non-losing season in franchise history they can only get better but I'm not betting on it.
24.
New York Jets: QB controversy will hurt this team and someone needs to be named the starter before the beginning of the season or the Jets don't have much of a chance.
25.
Buffalo Bills: Bright spots Marshawn Lynch and Trent Edwards, and that's about it, good news is it's not a hard division to get second place in, bad news is you get to play the Patriots twice a year.
26.
Baltimore Ravens: Great secondary and LB core but the offense is in flux and a new head coach and a QB situation don't help the process of stabilizing for another run.
27.
Miami Dolphins: Will only be better then last year but not by much. The rebuilding project will take a while to reap it's rewards.
28.
Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan is the key. If he can turn the franchise around much like Donovan McNabb did for the Eagles and Tom Brady did for the Patriots in 2000 he may very well be an elite QB.
29.
San Francisco 49ers: I really don't want to talk about them because it makes me nauseous. Good news is Isaac Bruce that's it.
30.
Chicago Bears: Rex Grossman has one more chance and with the loss of his starting WRs and an aging defense I don't see them being very good. Just pray Devin Hester touches the ball every time.
31.
Kansas City Chiefs: No QB, Larry Johnson may be overrated or he's just overworked, and they don't have a Dante Hall to help them out of the mess they're in. Bright spot Tony Gonzalez.
32.
Oakland Raiders: Until Al Davis leaves they are stuck at the bottom for a while.
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