kerouac9
Klowned by Keim
1. New England Patriots - Love 'em or hate 'em, they have a Top 3 QB, Top 10 WR, and a defense that just finds ways to get the job done. The Colts won the Super Bowl, but the Pats are again the team to beat.
2. San Diego Chargers - They have the talent to overcome Norv Turner the same way they overcame Marty Schottenheimer. May be the 2007 version of the 2005 Steelers; they just need to overcome some adversity.
3. Indianapolis Colts - Yes, they lost a lot of players this offseason, and yes, Tarik Glenn's retirement is an unexpected blow. But they still have Manning, Harrison, and Freeney, and as long as they have those guys, they're going to be competitive.
4. Denver Broncos - Travis Henry is that good--he could rush for 1800 yards in the Broncos' scheme. If the Front 7 can make plays and someone can step up opposite Javon Walker, the Broncos are going to surpass some expectations.
5. Baltimore Ravens - Willis McGahee has the ability to gain 2000 yards in a single season, and their defense is going to continue to be dominant. Can Steve McNair become more consistent? Because the Ravens will go only as far as he can take them?
6. Chicago Bears - A weak division and improved passing game will help make up for the loss of Thomas Jones. Defense remains the class of the NFC.
7. Seattle Seahawks - A healthy Alexander and Hasselback may mean homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. A defense will be aided with fewer cripping injuries.
8. Cincinnati Bengals - Palmer's going to be all the way back. Can the defense be merely average?
9. New Orleans Saints - They'll have a tough row to hoe, but this team should win the division and will only go as far as their defense can take them.
10. Dallas Cowboys - The most unexamined question of the preseason is what we can expect from Tony Romo. The defense should be very good.
11. Carolina Panthers - Jake Delhomme performs best under pressure and overcoming low expectations. He'll have both this season with David Carr in his rear-view mirror. Look for a breakout season from Thomas Davis.
12. Jacksonville Jaguars - Can Byron Leftwich get anything out of his trio of first-round pass-catchers? That's the only thing holding back this very talented franchise.
13. Philadelphia Eagles - Still a classy organization with a lot of talent. This is a team that could legitimately surprise people this season. No one's talking about them.
14. Minnesota Vikings - Needs to improve the pass rush, but I think people are sleeping on Tavarius Jackson and a passing game that will have windows due to a solid running game.
15. Kansas City Chiefs - A playoff team from 2006 is another year older. The problem is that Herm Edwards never wants to rebuild.
16. New York Jets - Don't get the schedule breaks that they did last season; they face the NFC East and AFC North, along with improved teams inside their division.
17. New York Giants - A chemistry experiment gone horribly awry, but if they can avoid injuries they'll compete for a playoff spot.
18. San Francisco 49ers - Every season you have to be concerned with Frank Gore's knees, because their holding the entire weight of the franchise. Everyone's assuming that the defense will improve with the addition of a top-shelf cornerback, but I'll believe it when I see it.
19. Detroit Lions - This team will have to make a quantum leap on both offense and defense for this team to be competitive in the win-loss column, but they're going to be in every game. The last season of real frustration in Detroit.
20. Houston Texans - Gary Kubiak has to figure out his defense, but the offense has some solid potential.
21. Washington Redskins - Have the talent to be better than this, but I have serious reservations about a coaching staff that seems to have too many chiefs and not enough indians.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers - A talented group that is in a transition year while new coach Mike Tomlin finds out what he has and what he still needs.
23. St. Louis Rams - Absolutely love the offense and its potential, but that defense is cover-your-eyes awful and there's no way to hide it. Mike Tomlin and his quarterback don't have the patience to make every drive 8 minutes long, and they don't have the personnel for it, either.
24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jon Gruden is on the hot seat, which is not a place where he's comfortable. Will look good in Washington next year.
25. Green Bay Packers - The players on this team in their late-20s have to wonder when the Brett Favre farewell tour will end so that they can be competitive again.
26. Arizona Cardinals - A talented team with too many variables to predict success.
27. Tennessee Titans - Are set at Quarterback, but this team seemed more interested in taking itself apart than building around that setpiece this offseason.
28. Buffalo Bills - Needed the defense to carry the load while they break in a running back and settled their offensive line. Unfortunately, all their good defensive players left.
29. Miami Dolphins - Cam Cameron may be successful in Miami, but he's going to need to give his GM time to work out this roster in transition.
30. Oakland Raiders - The team will be good--in three years. For now, it'll be interesting to see their new HC and the development of their QB.
31. Cleveland Browns - Will sneak up and surprise some teams. The pieces are there for an explosive offense, but it will take time to come together.
32. Atlanta Falcons - This team is going to be a disaster. With the distraction of Vick, losing a defensive leader in Kearney, injuries to important playmakers in the defensive front seven, this team could very likely not win a game until December.
2. San Diego Chargers - They have the talent to overcome Norv Turner the same way they overcame Marty Schottenheimer. May be the 2007 version of the 2005 Steelers; they just need to overcome some adversity.
3. Indianapolis Colts - Yes, they lost a lot of players this offseason, and yes, Tarik Glenn's retirement is an unexpected blow. But they still have Manning, Harrison, and Freeney, and as long as they have those guys, they're going to be competitive.
4. Denver Broncos - Travis Henry is that good--he could rush for 1800 yards in the Broncos' scheme. If the Front 7 can make plays and someone can step up opposite Javon Walker, the Broncos are going to surpass some expectations.
5. Baltimore Ravens - Willis McGahee has the ability to gain 2000 yards in a single season, and their defense is going to continue to be dominant. Can Steve McNair become more consistent? Because the Ravens will go only as far as he can take them?
6. Chicago Bears - A weak division and improved passing game will help make up for the loss of Thomas Jones. Defense remains the class of the NFC.
7. Seattle Seahawks - A healthy Alexander and Hasselback may mean homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. A defense will be aided with fewer cripping injuries.
8. Cincinnati Bengals - Palmer's going to be all the way back. Can the defense be merely average?
9. New Orleans Saints - They'll have a tough row to hoe, but this team should win the division and will only go as far as their defense can take them.
10. Dallas Cowboys - The most unexamined question of the preseason is what we can expect from Tony Romo. The defense should be very good.
11. Carolina Panthers - Jake Delhomme performs best under pressure and overcoming low expectations. He'll have both this season with David Carr in his rear-view mirror. Look for a breakout season from Thomas Davis.
12. Jacksonville Jaguars - Can Byron Leftwich get anything out of his trio of first-round pass-catchers? That's the only thing holding back this very talented franchise.
13. Philadelphia Eagles - Still a classy organization with a lot of talent. This is a team that could legitimately surprise people this season. No one's talking about them.
14. Minnesota Vikings - Needs to improve the pass rush, but I think people are sleeping on Tavarius Jackson and a passing game that will have windows due to a solid running game.
15. Kansas City Chiefs - A playoff team from 2006 is another year older. The problem is that Herm Edwards never wants to rebuild.
16. New York Jets - Don't get the schedule breaks that they did last season; they face the NFC East and AFC North, along with improved teams inside their division.
17. New York Giants - A chemistry experiment gone horribly awry, but if they can avoid injuries they'll compete for a playoff spot.
18. San Francisco 49ers - Every season you have to be concerned with Frank Gore's knees, because their holding the entire weight of the franchise. Everyone's assuming that the defense will improve with the addition of a top-shelf cornerback, but I'll believe it when I see it.
19. Detroit Lions - This team will have to make a quantum leap on both offense and defense for this team to be competitive in the win-loss column, but they're going to be in every game. The last season of real frustration in Detroit.
20. Houston Texans - Gary Kubiak has to figure out his defense, but the offense has some solid potential.
21. Washington Redskins - Have the talent to be better than this, but I have serious reservations about a coaching staff that seems to have too many chiefs and not enough indians.
22. Pittsburgh Steelers - A talented group that is in a transition year while new coach Mike Tomlin finds out what he has and what he still needs.
23. St. Louis Rams - Absolutely love the offense and its potential, but that defense is cover-your-eyes awful and there's no way to hide it. Mike Tomlin and his quarterback don't have the patience to make every drive 8 minutes long, and they don't have the personnel for it, either.
24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jon Gruden is on the hot seat, which is not a place where he's comfortable. Will look good in Washington next year.
25. Green Bay Packers - The players on this team in their late-20s have to wonder when the Brett Favre farewell tour will end so that they can be competitive again.
26. Arizona Cardinals - A talented team with too many variables to predict success.
27. Tennessee Titans - Are set at Quarterback, but this team seemed more interested in taking itself apart than building around that setpiece this offseason.
28. Buffalo Bills - Needed the defense to carry the load while they break in a running back and settled their offensive line. Unfortunately, all their good defensive players left.
29. Miami Dolphins - Cam Cameron may be successful in Miami, but he's going to need to give his GM time to work out this roster in transition.
30. Oakland Raiders - The team will be good--in three years. For now, it'll be interesting to see their new HC and the development of their QB.
31. Cleveland Browns - Will sneak up and surprise some teams. The pieces are there for an explosive offense, but it will take time to come together.
32. Atlanta Falcons - This team is going to be a disaster. With the distraction of Vick, losing a defensive leader in Kearney, injuries to important playmakers in the defensive front seven, this team could very likely not win a game until December.
