Like NCAA college football, specifically Division I, that ranks each team based on BCS and Coache's polls, I will rank each NFL team by a similar power ranking based on who is playing the best for each week of the season.
A team ranked number one could easily drop big if they are playing poorly. In other words I don't rank teams based on history, but on weekly performance. As we know, in the game of football, as in life, performance matters...
Since the season doesn't offically kick off until September 4, I will make a preseason ranking, based on how teams have improved themselves in the offseason and training camp. Here are teams ranked 1-7. More later....
1) New York Giants - They are the World Champions for a reason. Don't let people tell you that last year was just a fluke, the Giants have a very good defense that can get pressure on any quaterback in the leauge. Offensively, Eli Manning should have a big year, considering he has a title under his belt, and his biggest critic, Jeremy Shockey is off the team.
2) New England Patriots - They will not go undefeated in 2008, but the Pats still posses the most experienced and consistent team in the leauge. Tom Brady's leg injury is a concern, but remeber Bill Belicheck put Brady on the injured list every week last year, and the guy threw 50 touchdowns.
3) San Diego Chargers - Early in 2007, many people questioned the desire and hunger of the Chargers as they stumbled out of the gate. Yet, the Chargers put together an unpredictable run at the end of the year beating the Colts, and giving the Patriots all they could handle in the playoffs. The Chargers still have a very good defense and a great running back in LaDanilan Tomlinson, but with quaterback Phillip Rivers earning the confidence of his teammates after he showed a lot of guts in the playoffs, will go along way to helping the Bolts in 2008.
4) New Orleans Saints - The Saints are coming off a misreable 2007, where an early hole prevented them from making a run late in the year. Sean Peyton should have this team re-foucused for a big run in 2008. The Saints did alot in the offseason to help their club, by adding Shockey and ex-Patriot corner back Randall Gay. Drew Brees is still one of the best QB's in league, which means that the Saints will score at will in 2008.
5) Seattle Seahawks - This is Mike Holmegren's final year as a head coach, or at least his last year coaching in Seattle, and the Seahawks are still one of the top teams in the NFC. Adding Julius Jones to the running back corps as a replacement for the aging Shaun Alexander is sure to be a plus. Jones lost out on the starting job in Dallas, and should be extra motivated to show that the Cowboys made a mistake letting him go. Defensively the Seahawks are solid with veterans at all positions, and quaterback Matt Hasselbeck is one of the leauge's best winners.
6) Indianapolis Colts - Why are the Colts sixth? Because this group is starting to show its age. Dwight Freeney is coming off off-season surgey, Peyton Manning may not be completely ready for the season opener when he returns from knee surgery, and Marvin Harrison was slowed by injuries and distractions last year. Maybe the great run by the Colts is coming to an end.
7) Pittsburgh Steelers - Coach Mike Tomiln and his staff are given the task of replacing guard Allen Faneca, who left via free-agency to the Jets. Replacing offensive linemen is never easy, and it could hurt your entire offensive production. If the Steelers can get past this, they will be fine. They still have Willie Parker, Sanantonio Holmes, Hines Ward and Ben Roethlisberger to lead the way offensively. Their D-line is young, but a strong linebacker corp. and secondary should make up the difference.
A team ranked number one could easily drop big if they are playing poorly. In other words I don't rank teams based on history, but on weekly performance. As we know, in the game of football, as in life, performance matters...
Since the season doesn't offically kick off until September 4, I will make a preseason ranking, based on how teams have improved themselves in the offseason and training camp. Here are teams ranked 1-7. More later....
1) New York Giants - They are the World Champions for a reason. Don't let people tell you that last year was just a fluke, the Giants have a very good defense that can get pressure on any quaterback in the leauge. Offensively, Eli Manning should have a big year, considering he has a title under his belt, and his biggest critic, Jeremy Shockey is off the team.
2) New England Patriots - They will not go undefeated in 2008, but the Pats still posses the most experienced and consistent team in the leauge. Tom Brady's leg injury is a concern, but remeber Bill Belicheck put Brady on the injured list every week last year, and the guy threw 50 touchdowns.
3) San Diego Chargers - Early in 2007, many people questioned the desire and hunger of the Chargers as they stumbled out of the gate. Yet, the Chargers put together an unpredictable run at the end of the year beating the Colts, and giving the Patriots all they could handle in the playoffs. The Chargers still have a very good defense and a great running back in LaDanilan Tomlinson, but with quaterback Phillip Rivers earning the confidence of his teammates after he showed a lot of guts in the playoffs, will go along way to helping the Bolts in 2008.
4) New Orleans Saints - The Saints are coming off a misreable 2007, where an early hole prevented them from making a run late in the year. Sean Peyton should have this team re-foucused for a big run in 2008. The Saints did alot in the offseason to help their club, by adding Shockey and ex-Patriot corner back Randall Gay. Drew Brees is still one of the best QB's in league, which means that the Saints will score at will in 2008.
5) Seattle Seahawks - This is Mike Holmegren's final year as a head coach, or at least his last year coaching in Seattle, and the Seahawks are still one of the top teams in the NFC. Adding Julius Jones to the running back corps as a replacement for the aging Shaun Alexander is sure to be a plus. Jones lost out on the starting job in Dallas, and should be extra motivated to show that the Cowboys made a mistake letting him go. Defensively the Seahawks are solid with veterans at all positions, and quaterback Matt Hasselbeck is one of the leauge's best winners.
6) Indianapolis Colts - Why are the Colts sixth? Because this group is starting to show its age. Dwight Freeney is coming off off-season surgey, Peyton Manning may not be completely ready for the season opener when he returns from knee surgery, and Marvin Harrison was slowed by injuries and distractions last year. Maybe the great run by the Colts is coming to an end.
7) Pittsburgh Steelers - Coach Mike Tomiln and his staff are given the task of replacing guard Allen Faneca, who left via free-agency to the Jets. Replacing offensive linemen is never easy, and it could hurt your entire offensive production. If the Steelers can get past this, they will be fine. They still have Willie Parker, Sanantonio Holmes, Hines Ward and Ben Roethlisberger to lead the way offensively. Their D-line is young, but a strong linebacker corp. and secondary should make up the difference.
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