To top off the Dissecting
the NFL series, I found it appropriate to power rank the teams and show a
playoff picture based off of my personal rankings. While these are personal
opinions, these are also based off of my projected win totals. Throughout the
season, every Tuesday I will release an updated power rankings based off of my
personal opinion and how each team fared that week. I will do a power ranking
to kick off the season the Tuesday before the season begins. Before we do this
ranking, let's dive into so quick points:
-Even with Garopolo starting the first
four games of the season, the Patriots remain a strong case for best team in
the league as well as best overall record. A pissed off Tom Brady is never fun
to go up against and this defense has some serious upside. As Tony Stark a.k.a.
Iron Man once said, "We have a Gronk." or something like that...
-The Brown are simply a mess. I could
honestly see them as bad as 0-16, but the return of Josh Gordon cannot be
understated. After he serves his four game suspension, he joins a young receiving
core including top pick Corey Coleman. Those two present a very bright future
for Cleveland once the quarterback situation gets figured out. And of course
provided Gordon stays clean.
-I don't hate the NFC South. All four
teams could easily challenge for a playoff spot. I feel I can't state this
enough.
-A healthy Ravens team is deadly. A
healthy Cowboys team is deadly. If these teams stay healthy, a big fat if
considering both teams are already suffering injuries, they could both be
serious Super Bowl contenders.
-I don't believe in the 49ers. The team is
a mess starting with the front office and ending with the roster, they are a
few years away from being relevant again. At least the bay area gets the
Giants.
-The Cardinals brass is genius. The team
is bound to be a top free agency landing spot and with smart drafting, the team
could be in serious contention for multiple Super Bowl appearances and titles
provided they can win when it counts. I am looking at you, Carson Palmer.
Arizona has one championship to its name (the Diamondbacks). Give this poor
state another title.
-Finally, this upcoming draft could be
loaded with talent. Don't view it as the worst thing in the world if your team
sucks. Reloading and getting young guys is vital to moving forward and that
should help you get through bad seasons.
Full disclosure, I do not expect these
teams to all finish with their projected record. Especially with two teams in
the NFC (Carolina and Seattle) both boasting 13-3 record plus a head to head
match up. Could it happen? Absolutely. But that's why these are projections and
guesses based of off my opinion. Feel free to use these later in the year to
yell at me and tell me I was wrong. I LOVE being wrong. So to all the fans or
players reading these, by all means prove me wrong.
Without further ado, here are your power
rankings:
32. Cleveland Browns: 2-14 with a 0-6
division record
31. San Francisco 49ers: 3-13 with a
0-6 division record
30. San Diego Chargers: 3-13 with a
1-5 division record
29. New Orleans Saints: 4-12 with a
1-5 division record
28. Miami Dolphins: 5-11 with 1-5 division
record
27. Philadelphia Eagles: 5-11 with a 3-3
division record
26. Tennessee Titans: 6-10 with a
2-4 division record
25. Atlanta Falcons: 6-10 with a 2-4 division
record
24. Chicago Bears: 6-10 with a 2-4
division record
23. Los Angeles Rams: 6-10 with a 3-3
division record
22. New York Jets: 6-10 with a 3-3
division record
21. Detroit Lions: 7-9 with a 1-5
division record
20. Buffalo Bills: 7-9 with 2-4 in
division
19. Washington: 8-8 with a 2-4
division record
18. Indianapolis Colts: 8-8 with a 2-4
division record
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 8-8 with a
3-3 division record
16. Jacksonville Jaguars: 8-8 with a 3-3
division record
15. Denver Broncos: 8-8 with a 4-2
division record
14. Oakland Raiders: 9-7 with a 3-3
division record
13. Dallas Cowboys: 9-7 with a 3-3
division record
12. New York Giants: 9-7 with a 4-2
division record
11. Baltimore Ravens: 10-6 with 4-2
in division
10. Kansas City Chiefs: 10-6 with a
4-2 division record
9. Houston Texans: 10-6 with a 5-1
division record
8. Minnesota Vikings: 11-5 with a 5-1
division record
7. Cincinnati Bengals: 12-4 with a
4-2 division record
6. Green Bay Packers: 12-4 with a 4-2
division record
5. Arizona Cardinals: 12-4 with a 5-1
division record
4. New England Patriots: 12-4 with 6-0
division record
3. Pittsburgh Steelers: 13-3 with a 4-2
division record
2. Seattle Seahawks: 13-3 with a 4-2
division record
1. Carolina Panthers: 13-3 with a 6-0
division record
*If a team tied for record + in
division, I simply picked who I thought would win in a head-to-head matchup and
ranked them ahead of the other*
Playoff Picture:
AFC:
1. Pittsburgh Steelers: 13-3 with a 4-2
division record
2. New England Patriots: 12-4 with a 6-0
division record
3. Houston Texans: 10-6 with a 5-1
division record
4. Kansas City Chiefs: 10-6 with a 4-2
division record
5. Cincinnati Bengals: 12-4 with a 4-2
division record
6. Baltimore Ravens: 10-6 with a 4-2
division record
NFC:
1. Carolina Panthers: 13-3 with a 6-0
division record
2. Seattle Seahawks: 13-3 with a 4-2
division record
3. Green Bay Packers: 12-4 with a 4-2
division record
4. New York Giants: 9-7 with a 4-2
division record
5. Arizona Cardinals: 12-4 with a 5-1
division record
6. Minnesota Vikings: 11-5 with a 5-1
division record
Richard Bradshaw is available to follow on
twitter @RichieBradz36. Thank you for the read.
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