Updated NFL Power Rankings

The second quarter of the 2013-2014 NFL season is already underway, and now that us football fans have had a handful of games to judge the talent and chemistry of this year's crop of new-look (and familiar) teams, it's time to rank 'em. Here are my updated NFL power rankings:

1. Denver Broncos: Peyton Manning is well on his way to the record books. His offense is clicking on all cylinders, and shows no signs of slowing down. It's only a matter of time before Denver separates itself from the overachieving Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West.

2. New Orleans Saints: We already know about the offense, which is currently putting up more than 400 yards per game. It's the on the other side of the ball, surprisingly, where the team is also making noise. Rob Ryan has done a great job changing the culture of the New Orleans' defense.

3. Seattle Seahawks: Seattle sent a message in week 2 with their 29-3 victory over San Francisco. They followed that up with another blowout against the lowly Jaguars and a hard-fought victory over a solid team from Houston. Now that the Colts have finally handed Seattle their first loss following all such victories, we'll see what kind of resiliency they have.

4. Green Bay Packers: I know they are only 2-2, but don't sleep on the Pack. Though Aaron Rodgers has passed the torch for league's best player back to Peyton Manning, he's still not a guy you want to bet against. Green Bay's offense is 4th in passing yards, and 5th in rushing yards. That's not too shabby.

5. Indianapolis Colts: In his 21 games played thus far in his young NFL career, quarterback Andrew Luck has led his team to 9 come-from-behind victories. He is the real deal, and with wins over Seattle and San Fransisco, he's proven he can beat the best.

6. San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers have gotten back to controlling the line of scrimmage, but they better figure out their passing game. Kaepernick completed only 6 passes in the team's victory over Houston on Sunday.

7. Kansas City Chiefs: Who would have thought KC would be 5-0 at this point? Their unblemished record thus far shows how much of a difference a head coach can make in this league. Well done, Andy Reid.

8. Detroit Lions: Detroit is currently first in the NFC North, and should be favored against the Browns next Sunday. Detroit has some badd men on defense and Reggie Bush and Calvin Johnson are two of the deadliest offensive weapons this league has to offer.

9. New England Patriots: All four of New England's wins have come against bad teams. The offense, which scored only 6 points against Cincinnati, is scarce on playmakers. They do, however, still have Brady and Belichick.

10. Chicago Bears: After starting 3-0, Chicago has been humbled by two high-powered offenses (Detroit and New Orleans). Luckily for them, they get the winless Giants next weekend.

11. Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengal defense held Tom Brady to 6 points on Sunday. The concerns lie with the offense. Is Andy Dalton really their quarterback of the future? His offense has scored only 19 total points in the last two games.

12. Baltimore Ravens: The defending SuperBowl champs are only 27th in the league in rushing yards. They've got to find a way to get Ray Rice going. They'll certainly need him next Sunday against Green Bay.

13. Dallas Cowboys: Dallas was the first team to go toe-to-toe with Manning's Broncos. Romo played the best game of his life, and is still being scrutinized because of his one pick. The timing of the pick was horrific, and although Romo lacks the "clutch gene", he should not be blamed...The defense did NOT force a single punt the entire sixty minutes of game play!

14. Miami Dolphins: Despite losing their last two, the Dolphins have shown the ability to beat good teams. Getting the bye next week will do them good, since injuries seem to be a factor in Miami.


15. Houston Texans: I was too high on Houston coming into the season. They are still a good football team, but if Matt Schaub doesn't change something quickly then a quarterback change is inevitable. Throwing four pick-sixes in four straight games is unheard of.

16. Arizona Cardinals: If you'd have asked me if I thought Arizona would have a winning record through the first five games, I'd have said no. The Cardinals have overachieved thus far, but I'm still not buying Carson Palmer as their quarterback.

17. Cleveland Browns: Cleveland is undefeated since trading Trent Richardson. Willis McGahee owns the backfield now. The former Miami Hurricane needs to up his average of 2.6 yards per carry if Cleveland expects to continue winning games.

18. Tennessee Titans: Tennessee has a solid defense, a winning record, and a formidable rushing attack. Their passing game, however, needs some serious help. They'll be back under .500 soon enough after their upcoming games against the Seahawks and 49ers.

19. The Vikings are currently at the bottom of one of the league's toughest divisions, but finally tasted success in week 4 and should be favored in their next two. It's only a matter of time before recently signed Josh Freeman takes the reigns.

20. Philadelphia Eagles: Even with a sub-.500 record, the Eagles are tied with Dallas for first place atop the surprisingly weak NFC East. Coach Kelly's up-tempo offense leads the NFL in rushing yards and trails only Denver in total yards. All concerns with this team lie on the defensive side of the ball.

21. New York Jets: Rex Ryan's troops are second in the league in yards allowed. Their defense is the real deal. On offense, the team ranks 13th in the NFL in yards per game. That's much better than expected. Well done Geno.

22. Atlanta Falcons: Though only 1-4, I still believe Atlanta is a decent team. This is perhaps the most talented 1-4 team the NFL has seen, and their schedule is about to become much more favorable. Matt Ryan's offense is still third in the league in passing yards. The running game needs to keep up.

23. Oakland Raiders: Terrelle Pryor looks like he did while playing for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He has a free pass to scramble, and consequently, Oakland is in the top ten in rushing yards per game. The Raiders are a below average football team, but with that being said, they are better than previously expected.

24. Philip Rivers and company are 5th in the NFL in yards. While the running game has much room for improvement, the offense is not the problem. The Charger defense is 27th in the league in yards allowed. This needs to change if the team is to find consistent success.

25. Carolina Panthers: Carolina's defense is 3rd in both points and yards allowed. They also have an effective rushing attack on the offensive side of the ball. Cam Newton's inability to get the team's passing attack going, however, remains their biggest problem.

26. Washington Redskins: Hopefully Pierre Garcon is done talking about his quarterback's weaknesses via the media. He should take a page out of the Spring Arbor University men's basketball team's book and give up social media (see my last article). The chemistry in the nation's capitol has been better.

27. Buffalo Bills: C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson are a tough, explosive 1-2 punch out of the backfield. But the reality is Buffalo has both quarterback questions and a nonexistent passing game. Rumor has it a quarterback off the practice squad will be starting next Sunday against a ferocious Cincinnati Bengals defense. Good luck, kid.

28. St. Louis Rams: Prior to playing the bottom-feeders of the league from Jacksonville last week, the Rams were averaging only 17 points and 47 rush yards per contest. Such numbers are pitiful. Nevertheless, with upcoming games against the struggling Texans and Panthers, opportunities for Ram victories will be present.

29. Pittsburgh Steelers: Due to severe offensive lines problems, Pittsburgh cannot run the ball effectively, nor can they stop the run effectively. It is in the trenches where Pittsburgh has always been great, and it is in the trenches where Pittsburgh now struggles.

30. Tamp Bay Buccaneers: Perhaps a change in scenery at the quarterback position could be good for the Bucs. Quite frankly, the available options to replace Josh Freeman don't look too sexy on paper, but it couldn't get much worse in Tampa.

31. New York Giants: In the early going, many of the offensive struggles could be pin-pointed on a weak o-line. But in the last game against Philly, Eli Manning should take much of the blame for a number of the offensive woes. And unfortunately for the G-men, the problems on the defensive side of the ball are equivalent to those of the offense. This team is in trouble!

32. Jacksonville Jaguars: A winless season for the Jags is not out of the question. I am starting the over/under for how much they will lose by in Denver next Sunday at 60 points.

VP's Preseason NFL Power Rankings

The NFL season is just hours away, and I’m ready for some football. While preseason thoughts matter very little, the following list should show how each team will fair in this much anticipated 2013-2014 NFL season. These are my carefully considered power rankings:

1. San Francisco 49ers: In just his third season, Colin Kaepernick is as hungry as any player in the league. Unless someone exposes them early, I’m convinced he’s leading a team of no weaknesses. San Fran’s Superbowl hopes confide in Kap’s health, and whether or not he can remain on the field even after a full 16-game season.          
 
2. Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan finally got a playoff win under his belt. Now that Stephen Jackson and Usi Umenyiora sure up an already talented roster, there should be a lot more of those to come.

3. Denver Broncos: Preseason injuries to the defense are the only thing holding this team back. Manning’s offense should have no problem outscoring others, especially with new acquisition Wes Welker thrown in the mix. Manning’s been known to turn slot receivers into stars, not that Welker needs any help with that.

4. Green Bay Packers: The Green Machine still has something no other team has, and that’s the best player in football. Aaron Rodgers, now catching up to Bill Gates in another category ($$$), could very well lead the league in passing yards this season.

5. Seattle Seahawks: Russell Wilson was dynamite in year one. Year two should be much of the same. New addition Cliff Avril adds depth to the team’s blue collar defense, which can’t afford a day off if Seattle is to give the 49ers a run for their money in the NFC West.

6. Houston Texans: J.J. Watt is quietly becoming the best defensive player in the NFL. Houston is balanced and dangerous on both sides of the ball. If Watt’s teammates pick up on his contagious level of passion and intensity, watch out, because the Texans are for real.

7. Detroit Lions: Stafford has no shortage of pass-catchers. Calvin Johnson and Reggie Bush ought to be fantasy football stat stuffers, and Detroit’s D-line might be the best in football. Whether or not they have discipline, like with most Lions teams, remains the most daunting question facing this team.

8. Chicago Bears: This Cutler-led attack could be the best Bears offense in a decade, and the defense still has Julius Peppers and Lance Briggs. Starting middle linebacker D.J. Williams, however, is no Brian Urlacher.

9. Washington Redskins: RG3 is as talented as they get. The fate of their season depends solely on his health. He has got to stay healthy and on that field. I repeat: HE HAS GOT TO STAY HEALTHY ON THAT FIELD!

10. New York Giants: You never know what you’re going to get with New York, but they always seem to surprise at just the right time. Eli has the necessary offensive weapons to make another playoff push this year. They’ve just got to get there first.

11. New England Patriots: Seeing New England out of the top ten is atypical, but it’s not because of Brady or Belichick, who are the among the few guys on the roster keeping them near a single digit ranking. I wouldn’t be surprised if they made a postseason push just because they are the Patriots, but their lack of weapons on offense is both alarming and tough to ignore.

12. Minnesota Vikings: Last season, Adrian Peterson had 33 runs of 20 yards or more. To put that in perspective, most TEAMS average around 12 per season. The comeback athlete of the year might be enough just by himself to get his guys in purple to the postseason.

13. Baltimore Ravens: The defending Superbowl champs fell out of my top ten because they not only lost the greatest on-the-field leader in football of all time in Ray Lewis, but also big-bodied pass catcher Anquan Boldin. Maybe Joe Flacco could have shared a little of that hard-earned cashflow.

14. Indianapolis Colts: ESPN analyst Mike Greenberg has the Colts in the Superbowl. While I love Andrew Luck as well as the overall youth on this reshaped Indianapolis team, I’m not ready to go that far. If Indy can win the games they ought to, and then pull off some timely upsets, they should be neck and neck with Houston in the AFC South and at least claim a wildcard spot.

15. Cincinnati Bengals: Marvin Lewis’s squad won seven of it’s final eight games last season.  Momentum is certainly on their side. If you’re a fan of young, electric wide receivers, make sure to watch A.J. Greene. He’ll help serve the development of quarterback Andy Dalton.

16. New Orleans Saints: Sean Payton’s a master at his craft, and he’s back. But I don’t know if Payton’s high-powered offense led by Drew Brees will be enough to make up for the many holes of the team’s shaky defense. But certainly, time will tell.            

17. Philadelphia Eagles: Chip Kelly is as unorthodox as they come. No one knows what to expect from him, but I’m buying his ingenuity and inventiveness on offense. Michael Vick is the perfect QB for his system and I’m not sure why there was ever a battle for the position in the first place.

18. Kansas City Chiefs: Former Eagle coach Andy Reid has taken over, and KC is adjusting to a new culture, new head coach, and new starting quarterback. Alex Smith is getting a second chance. Alex, let’s see what you’ve got!

19. Dallas Cowboys: Dallas has talent, but the roster looks much too familiar. They seem to have the same players they’ve had for five seasons now, and Cowboy fans are still waiting on results. I’d say it’s do or die time for Tony Romo, but he just got himself one big fat check. It is, moreover, do or die time for “America’s team”.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Fans of the steel curtain better hope the preseason is no indication of things to come. The Steelers look awful throughout the preseason, and much of that has to do with bumps and bruises. An improved running game and a healthy Roethlisberger are vital keys to Pittsburgh’s success.

21. St. Louis Rams: Coach Fisher’s team is not studded with big name players,  but consists of a bunch of blue collar workman-like guys trying to earn respect for their franchise. It’s been a few years since the Rams flirted with relevancy. Perhaps this could be the year.

22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The clock is ticking on Josh Freeman. It’s about time he lives up to the hype that once preceded him. On the other side of the ball, Darrelle Revis returns to action in hopes of changing the culture of what was a soft-minded secondary.

23. Arizona Cardinals: The Cards have weapons at the skilled positions. But Carson Palmer is on the decline and injuries to the offensive line aren’t helping. Expect mediocrity out of ‘Zona.

24. Carolina Panthers: After starting so poorly, the Panthers finished last season on a four-game winning streak. Could those four meaningless wins be a sign of things to come? If so, Cam Newton must not sustain his skills and abilities, but improve them if he hopes to take his team to the next level.

25. Tennessee Titans: I’m not sold on Jake Locker as an NFL quarterback. But Chris Johnson is the team’s wildcard. Which Chris shows up will have a tremendous impact on the team’s success in one direction or another.

26. San Diego Chargers: On a franchise normally rooted in offensive principles, I see an improving defense and a slowly weakening offense. Phillip Rivers is still a top tier quarterback who can put up numbers, but the players around him (minus Antonio Gates) seem to be getting worse each season.

27. Miami Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill will be an average quarterback at best. Mike Wallace and Brian Hartline will serve as his formidable targets, but the offensive line is the key. The big bruisers up front have to protect their young gun under center.

28. Cleveland Browns: The Cleveland management did a good thing when it reached an agreement with Norv Turner. The offensive-savvy coach should be a good fit for Brandon Weeden’s style of play. But when it’s all said and done, the Browns are still the Browns.

29. Buffalo Bills: I’m convinced the Bills will never be good until they become the New York Bills. E.J. Manuel is being thrown in the wildfire from the get-go. I like his athleticism. Do I like him as a long-time quarterback in this league? Not a chance.

30. New York Jets: For the sake of those who don’t care about the media drama that constantly seems to be surrounding the Jets, let’s hope Mark Sanchez doesn’t see the field this year. While the butt fumble was entertaining, there’s no need for a round two (not that Geno will do much better).

31. Jacksonville Jaguars: Maurice Jones-Drew. Yup, that’s all they’ve got. Somebody should get Gabbert out of there and find the Jags a real quarterback. Shoot, they might as well sign Tebow and give him a shot just so people don’t forget about the organization.

32. Raiders: Terrelle Pryor was just named the team’s starter. His experience as an NFL quarterback is about the same as mine. It’s looking like Oakland will be in for yet another long season.