2012 NFL Power Rankings: Week 1

Welcome to another year of my NFL Power Rankings. Tired of sites like ESPN that basically rank teams based on records and little else for their power rankings? Well you have come to the right place. Mine are by far the best and most accurate on the net, and my analysis and rankings will blow you away! Enjoy!

Records in parenthesis are my predicted 2012 records.

----------

1. New York Giants (11-5). As always, the defending Super Bowl champs open the season as the top team in the power rankings. The Giants have all the elements to repeat.

2. Green Bay Packers (13-3). The Packers defense should bounce back and the offense is as deep and potent as ever. This team will be very tough to stop.

3. Houston Texans (13-3). The best all around roster in the AFC, the only question marks the Texans face is can this group of guys win in the playoffs?

4. New England Patriots (14-2). Stevan Ridley will be a big upgrade over BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Brandon Lloyd represents quite an upgrade as well. If the young defense can be at least average, the Patriots have the best shot in the AFC of representing the conference in the Super Bowl.

5. New Orleans Saints (11-5). I think the whole Bountygate thing is overblown. There is continuity on the coaching staff, some talent on defense and number 9 remains under center with a plethora of weapons around him.

6. San Francisco 49ers (9-7). I picked the Niners to go 9-7 in part because I do not believe in Alex Smith at all. But the team around him is very deep and solid, and Jim Harbaugh showed he belonged as a coach in the NFL.

7. Baltimore Ravens (10-6). Losing Terrell Suggs is a monster blow to a defense that still remains one of the best in the NFL. Baltimore is very balanced on both sides of the ball and are once again in the mix for a Super Bowl appearance.

8. Philadelphia Eagles (10-6). I feel people are underrating the Eagles a bit following the terrible Dream Team start last year. They are so quick and deep on both sides of the ball. If Michael Vick can stay healthy (unlikely) this is a Super Bowl caliber roster.

9. Atlanta Falcons (9-7). I am buying into the hype surrounding the Falcons offense. They should fling the ball all over and play in many shootouts. The defense has some big names, but needs to play better if Atlanta wants to advance in the playoffs.

10. Chicago Bears (12-4). I think Brandon Marshall will wear out his welcome soon, but until then, he and Jay Cutler should put on a show in the Windy City. The defense needs Brian Ulracher to stay healthy, they are just not the same team without him.

11. Detroit Lions (9-7). I worry about the Lions running game and secondary, but there is no question they will put up a ton of points as long as Matthew Stafford stays healthy.

12. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6). Injuries have hit the Steelers hard, especially along the offensive line. The team will have to rely on the passing attack of Ben Roethlisberger and an aging defense if they want to get it done.

13. Seattle Seahawks (9-7). Russell Wilson is currently the NFL's Jeremy Lin. From mid round pick to starting quarterback, his development has been stunning. Seattle has a very good team around him, with talent on offense and a great defensive line. This team could be the surprise of the 2012 NFL season.

14. Dallas Cowboys (8-8). The Cowboys have some studs on both sides of the ball but I just don't see this team as a contender. What they will do though is provide some comical and baffling losses, which makes Dallas a must watch.

15. Kansas City Chiefs (11-5). I think this team could be a Super Bowl contender with a real quarterback. Alas, they are stuck with Matt Cassel.

16. Tennessee Titans (11-5). I may be a year premature in predicting 11 wins, but I love the young talent on this offense, and the defense remains solid.

17. Denver Broncos (8-8). I have to see Peyton Manning show me something during the regular season before I can take the Broncos seriously.

18. San Diego Chargers (7-9). Norv Turner is a loser and this team isn't as talented as they used to be. I don't think they will be able to overcome their annual slow start.

19. Buffalo Bills (9-7). I like how the defense on this team is coming together, but several high priced free agent contracts could blow up in their face. Not to mention Ryan Fitzpatrick used that Harvard education to trick the Bills into giving him a nice long term contract.

20. Cincinnati Bengals (6-10). I think Andy Dalton is due to regress and there is just not much on offense besides AJ Green. The defense will have to carry this team this year.

21. Washington Redskins (7-9). Things could be a struggle for Washington in a cut throat division. The addition of Robert Griffin III and continued development of a strong defense shows this team might finally be on their way.

22. New York Jets (5-11). Tim Tebow Tim Tebow Tim Tebow Tim Tebow Tim Tebow Tim Tebow Tim Tebow Tim Tebow Tim Tebow Tim Tebow Tim Tebow Tim Tebow Tim Tebow Tim Tebow Tim Tebow Tim Tebow Tim Tebow Tim Tebow.

23. Carolina Panthers (7-9). Carolina won one game two years ago but they seem to think that was complete bad luck because they keep on giving monster contracts to their own players. How about adding guys on different teams?

24. Oakland Raiders (6-10). I think Oakland has some talent but thanks to trading away all of their draft picks and salary cap woes there are too many holes on this team to fight for another .500 record.

25. Minnesota Vikings (6-10). Hopefully the Vikings realize they are rebuilding and do not rush Adrian Peterson back from a severe knee injury. That could ruin his career.

26. Indianapolis Colts (4-12). The Colts brought back several veterans, but the offense is pretty much brand new. The Andrew Luck era has begun.

27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-11). Tampa has some talent, but they are transitioning to a different type of offense and are pretty weak all throughout the defense. I also seriously question some personnel moves, especially trading down and passing on Morris Claiborne to take a safety.

28. Arizona Cardinals (2-14). John Skelton and Kevin Kolb are both painfully mediocre. Playing behind the NFL's worst offensive line will make things even worse. Larry Fitzgerald and Calias Campbell may be the best in the league at their respective positions, but that is not nearly enough.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-13). The Jaguars at least get Maurice Jones-Drew back, though he might be a non factor all year. Florida football is just terrible this year.

30. St. Louis Rams (4-12). Jeff Fisher and company are the next group to try to fix what is wrong in St. Louis. Sam Bradford still does not have anyone to block for him or catch passes from him.

31. Miami Dolphins (4-12). This might be the league's least talented offense, and the defense has holes as well.

32. Cleveland Browns (3-13). Mike Holmgren has been a nightmare as president of the Browns. Cleveland has struggled to draft good players and just do not have the talent to compete on most Sundays.

Jonathan Carrano

Phasellus facilisis convallis metus, ut imperdiet augue auctor nec. Duis at velit id augue lobortis porta. Sed varius, enim accumsan aliquam tincidunt, tortor urna vulputate quam, eget finibus urna est in augue.

No comments: