Week 1 power rankings
It's time.
With only two days before the regular season opens, here are the official Glauber Nation power rankings.
They will be a weekly feature every Tuesday. Check back for the weekly NFL Monday Memo as we recap the week's events. And we'll also trot out a "What To Look For Guide" (hopefully we'll have a better name for it; then again, we didn't pull the trigger on a new blog name, mostly because we've thoroughly enjoyed checking out your suggestions) each Friday.
Here goes, people.
It's show time. One of the most widely anticipated weeks in sports is here. Can already smell the fresh-cut grass in the air:
1. Giants: It’s fashionable to write off the champs, but until someone beats them, they’re still the champs, no? Loss of Strahan and Umenyiora definitely hurts, but they’re still an elite team.
2. Colts: Peyton Manning still at the top of his game. Defense led by Bob Sanders and Dwight Freeney is top shelf.
3. Patriots: Is there a better money quarterback than Tom Brady? Don’t think so. There have been some foot problems during the preseason, but he'll be out there, no doubt.
4. Cowboys: Pokes are loaded up for a Super Bowl. Anything less, and Wade Phillips might say bye-bye.
5. Chargers: Shawne Merriman doesn’t want to miss a chance at a Super Bowl, so he’s playing on a bum knee. Offense with Rivers and L.T. is almost as good as it gets.
6. Steelers: Big Ben is rested and ready for a big year.
7. Seahawks: ‘Hawks hope to send Mike Holmgren into retirement with a special season.
8. Eagles: Donovan McNabb says the Eagles are the team to beat. We’ll see what the Giants and Cowboys have to say about that.
9. Jaguars: Can David Garrard & Co. pull off a repeat of last year’s playoff run?
10. Saints: Drew Brees now has Jeremy Shockey in the fold, but it’s the defense that will decide whether N’Awlins is for real.
11. Browns: After 10-6 near miss last year, Browns feels it’s time to break through. Monster schedule, though. Won’t be easy.
12. Titans: Vince Young is good enough to get to the playoffs, but he's got plenty of competition in a brutally competitive AFC South.
13. Vikings: With an improved Tarvaris Jackson back at QB and Jared Allen rushing the passer, this could be the year the Vikes break through for the NFC North title.
14. Panthers: Jake Delhomme is back, but Steve Smith misses the first two games with a suspension. And John Fox’s job is on the line.
15. Jets: Brett Favre has certainly brought plenty of excitement. But it won’t be easy getting to the playoffs, not with New England in the division and a bunch of competition for the wild card.
16. Broncos: If the Broncos don’t make the playoffs, then it’s time to take a long, hard look at Mike Shanahan.
17. Bears: Kyle Orton beats out Rex Grossman. Cedric Benson drinks his way out of the league. The defense doesn’t look very monstrous. Long year in Chicago?
18. Texans: It’s Year 2 for Matt Schaub. If he can stay healthy, and if the Texans can manufacture a running attack, there’s a chance.
19. Bills: Gritty effort last year by injury-riddled Bills. Could be a dark-horse in the AFC wild card chase.
20. Buccaneers: Jeff Garcia got the Bucs to the playoffs last year, but with an aging offense and a weak running game, might not happen this time around.
21. Redskins: Jim Zorn plans to pass, pass, pass. We’ll see if Jason Campbell is up to the task.
22. Packers: Hi, Aaron Rodgers. Welcome to life after Brett Favre.
23. Lions: Rod Marinelli wants to use the old formula that made the Bucs a perennial playoff team: Boring offense that stresses the run and solid defense. We’ll see if he has the horses.
24. Dolphins: Chad Pennington gets a chance at revenge against the Jets right off the bat in Week 1.
25. Cardinals: Kurt Warner beats out Matt Leinart at quarterback. Which shows just how tough it’ll be for this woebegone franchise.
26. Raiders: Will JaMarcus Russell and Darren McFadden translate to a playoff run? No sir.
27. Rams: Scott Linehan was lucky to get a reprieve last year. One more losing season and it will be curtains on his run in St. Loo.
28. 49ers: Mike Nolan on the hot seat. Can the immortal J.T. O’Sullivan save his job?
29. Ravens: Quarterback problems galore. Check back in two-three years when Joe Flacco has a feel for the offense.
30. Bengals: Poor Carson Palmer. He’s a big-time quarterback working for the most dysfunctional organization in the NFL.
31. Chiefs: Herman Edwards got his wish to rebuild the team with young players. Now come the growing pains.
32. Falcons: Matt Ryan will be a really, really good quarterback. Just not now.
End it
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Comments (16)
HEY HEY HEY!!!
I have a BIG problem with your rankings, Mr. Glauber!
Giants first, couldn't agree more.
But what's with your number 5?!?!?
I am personally offended.
This clinches "3rd and Wrong" in my mind.
Boland must have brought back some pierogies from the North Coast.
I think the Bears are one of the worst teams in the league, bar none. The teams down to 23 are better.So are some of the lower ones. I love the Giants, they are my foavorite team but they would lose to the Colts, Patriots and Chargers and split with Cowbells and might not be able to handle Steelers. I think the Bengals should be higher too, just because of the passing game.
yawn...I'm bored with football already...
When can you start waxing nostalgic about hockey?
Hookslide gets my vote for comment of the week
I must second LTmeans... because it does. For a hometown paper, and a writer who covered LT first hand to slip up is inexcusable. Glauber Nation demands perfect execution.
THANK YOU, Craig!
I mean really, Mr. Glauber. You covered LT, hometown paper, and you see my sceenname how many times a week???
What, might we confuse him with some other LaDainian or Mr. Tomlinson?
Lawrence Taylor earned that moniker. He was legendary. Now since it slides off the tongue, others get to use it?
No.
And especially not here.
To echo some of the other comments, when I first was reading the list I said to myself, "I didn't know LT made a comeback on the offensive side of the ball."
I'm gonna have to check the replay on all of this "LT" stuff.
Sounds pretty damn incriminating Mr. Glauber.
Just makes a stronger case for "Third and Wrong".
or at least:
"Upon Further Review".
The Browns at number 11? Puhhhh- LEEESE
The Lions are this years surprise team... (Did I just say that?)
Steelers are ranked about right, but even one injury to that offensive line could spell trouble.
BNG,
I'll be at the home opener and an injury to the O-Line would be a blessing - those 5 guys stink.
Can't help but go to Right Here/Right Now for Bob and say, "are the Giants, RHRN, starting the year as the best team???" They are down Osi, down Strahan, and have lost the surprise factor they had in last year's playoffs. They will be entering the playoffs as a Wild Card again so how can they be #1? "Until someone knocks them off...." blah blah blah...that's the stuff of amateurs. We expect more on this blog .. like an honest assessment of the teams and their rankings. #1 has to be the Pats again with Chargers, Colts, and 'Boys all ahead of the Giants.
Pats #1? Even with Pegleg Brady under center?
BBiB-
Who did the Giants surprise in the playoffs? After that NE in the regular season, everybody knew what was coming at them. Giants played strong D, beat up the passer, and offense came through in the clutch, each game. They deserve #1 because they won it, and 90+% of why they got there are back, another year into the system, and further maturity of young players (remember how many 07 draftees contributed?)
Also, general comment, I know some of us were quite upset with Bob regarding his LT misusage, but he hasn't been on the blog in a while, hope nobody did anything...
No, no one said anything nasty, LTMLT! Just a little hectic in these parts.
You have become my official deputy to defend me from any criticism picking the Giants as the best team in football after coming off a Super Bowl championship. Thank you.
BBiB!
I understand where you're coming from, although there is change on every team in every year in every era. I also factor in the notion that Eli will be a much better QB from the start, and that Kiwi and Tuck are better bookend pass rushers than just about any tandem out there. But I do understand your reservations, and it's not as if I'm shouting off a mountaintop that the Giants will win it all.
BNG:
I am somewhat disappointed that you actually agree with my ranking of the Steelers. It just isn't the same without you berating me for my take on your beloved team.
"Peg-leg" Brady?! Let's not go overboard... Welcome back to the NFL Power Rankings, Mr. Glauber. I think yours are generally more entertaining to read and more accurate (despite the understandable NY teams bias) than even that of the venerable ESPN crews... Nice, look forward to reading all season! Have a great year. Good day.
How can the Packers be that low? Yes they lost Favre but come on, what exactly have Kyle Orton and Trent Edwards done to put the Bears and Bills ahead of Green Bay?