NFL Top 20 Power Rankings
Written by Nolan Thomas, Monday August 31 2009
With all of the important preseason games out of the way, it is time to rank the top 20 teams based on preseason performance going into the season. Granted, preseason wins in reality do not mean a thing. If they did the
These rankings were based on how well the teams performed with their starters in the game, as the rest of the game only consists of players trying to prove themselves and make an impression. However, the majority of them probably will not even be on an NFL roster once the regular season starts.
The first preseason game was not taken into consideration either as most teams played a strictly “vanilla” scheme on both sides of the ball and were basically just getting their feet wet and finding out what they needed to work on. The third preseason game was taken strongly into consideration because it is the game in which the starters played into the second half as a tune up game for the regular season. Overall wins and loses or preseason records were not taken into consideration as they actually mean squat in the total scheme of things.
Last seasons results were not taken into consideration, as last season is in the history books at this point and the parity in the NFL is huge. Bad teams can be good and good teams can be bad from year to year. It happens every year, and I do not see that changing this season. Teams get different players, different coaches, different schemes and sometimes the past winners get complacent while the past losers have a chip on their shoulders. Anything is possible on, that old cliché, any given Sunday, or Monday, or sometimes Thursday, and we cannot forget those late season Saturdays when the networks do not have any college games to broadcast in between the NCAA regular season and the massive amount of bowl games.
So to quote the Joker in the Dark Knight, “And herrrrrrre we go!”
1.
This preseason the Packers have been all out world-beaters. In the second game, QB Aaron Rodgers was 8-9 for 98 yards and two touchdowns and in the third preseason game, he was 14-19 for 258 yards and three touchdowns. Their new 3-4 defensive scheme is flying to the ball in bunches and creating havoc in the backfield.
2.
Drew Brees and the Saints look unstoppable right now. In the second game Brees threw for touchdown and had a 105.4 QB rating. In their third game, the Brees and the Saints scored at will, with 30 points in the first half, while the defense shutout the Raiders. The Saints look like a very potent offense going into the regular season.
3.
The Super Bowl champion Steelers still look like the champions that they are. Even though Big Ben did not play in the second preseason game, the Steelers first string controlled both lines of scrimmage and the offense scored 10 points and only gave up 3 by the starters. In the second game, with Ben back at the helm, they shutout the Bills and scored 17 points.
4.
The Ravens bread and butter has always been their defense and that does not look to change this season either. In the second game, the Raven’s defense dominated and had an interception return for a touchdown. In the third game, quarterback Joe Flacco showed that his rookie season was no fluke in passing 23-28 for 247 yards and a touchdown.
5.
Phillip Rivers seems to be in prime form once again while passing 5-7 for 116 yards and a 113.7 QB rating preseason game number two. In the third game, the Chargers scored 21 points against a tough Falcons defense. Rivers was 10-15 185 yards with a 48-yard TD pass. Darren Sproles also scored on a 10-yard scamper in the first.
6.
This is not the Bears offensive team people are used to seeing, this is Jay Cutler’s offense and even without any true #1 receiver, they look dangerous. Matt Forte is taking over where he left off last season and Cutler is spreading the ball around and getting results. In games two and three, Cutler completed 23 of 34 passes for 265 yards, two touchdowns and a QB rating of 110.5. In those games, he led TD drives of 80, 92, and 98 yards. The third game against his old Broncos team had a playoff type atmosphere and the fans were on him from the get go. The Bears starting defense looks like it may be back to form as well in giving up only 13 total points in the second and third preseason games. Oh and Devin Hester is back too, he had a 54 yard punt return that set up a Forte dive for a TD.
7.
Yes, the Vikings have Brett Favre and some people’s minds we should just forget the season and hand the Vikings the crown. In his first game, he was a meager 1-4, in his second game which was the Vikings third preseason game, Favre looked pretty good going 13-18 for 142 yards, 1 touchdown and a 113.7 QB rating. He did not throw an interception and he had the advantage of an Adrian Peterson 75 yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage.
8.
The Cowboys have a potent running game with Marion Barber and Felix Jones and it looks as if that will not change this season. Tony Romo played in the second game going 18-24 for 192 yards. In the third game,
9.
Yes, Tom Brady is back which means in most publications they are once again favored to win it all this season. However, in the second game, the Pats looked rather mundane and did not impress against a lowly Bengals team. The only reason they are ranked this high on my list is because of game #3 where the offense was clicking once again and Brady and Moss were at it once again. The defense looked under par though for as Pats D.
10.
Matt Hasselbeck looks primed for a big season. In game two he was 16-23 for 171 yards and two touchdowns. In game three he went 19-25 for 216 yards and two TDs. There is no question that Hasselbeck is all the way back from last season’s back injury.
11.
The Colts are the Colts and they do have Peyton Manning under center. In game two, they scored 14 in the first quarter against the Eagles. In game three, the reason they are ranked this low, they had trouble against the Lions, and that is a bad thing in anyone’s book.
12.
Another rookie quarterback with success last season, Matt Ryan is showing he was no fluke either. In game two, he was 7-8 for 81 yards, a touchdown and a 148.4 QB rating. In game three, Ryan went 14-20 with a touchdown pass and 131.3 QB rating. Oh, and they have one of the best running backs in Michael Turner too.
From this point on, none of the teams have done anything extremely stellar for them to stand out from the rest. However, these are the teams that fill out the top 20.
13.
The starters have looked good in the preseason, but the defense has given up a lot of points as well.
14.
Marred in a quarterback controversy most of camp and the preseason, Byron Leftwich has been named the starter.
15.
The big news with the Eagles is Michael Vick. Besides that, the Eagles have not wowed anyone during the preseason.
16.
With Matt Schaub under center and Andre Johnson as a wide receiver and Steve Slaton as a running back, the Texans can be an offensive force and they have had their moments this preseason. However, their defense has let them down on occasion.
17.
The Titans have a great running game and a very consistent quarterback in Kerry Collins. Their defense lost a great player in Haynesworth and it shows.
18. NY Giants
The Giants have not looked like the powerhouse of a couple of years ago and have been somewhat shaky this preseason. In game three they starters did look a lot better though, so that’s a good sign for the G-men.
19.
The Dolphins will most likely come back to earth this season after following a one win season with a 11-5 record and a playoff berth last season.
20. NY Jets
Rookie Mark Sanchez has been named the starter and has looked good in the preseason. It will be interesting to see if he can have the same success as Ryan and Flacco did last season.
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2 comments
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Yah I really, really like the Packers too in a weak NFC. They have a lot of great young players who if they all got better from last year, will together make the leap this year.
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The Eagles at #15? WAY too........high. Just wait until I start really delving into all that is wrong with Andy Reid and the Eagles' roster. By the way, do you ever see your wife anymore? I thought you were just obsessed with your Cubs, but apparently you are an all sports junkie. Nice work.