This is how I see the teams going into the NFL regular season. It’s always tough to make judgements on how teams look in preseason and whether or not they’ve improved in the offseason. But my FSR editor says I have to rank em, so here goes:
HEAVYWEIGHTS/STUDS/CONTENDERS
1. Saints – Do I think they’ll stay here all year? Probably not, but hey they’re the defending champs and they get this billing until they show otherwise.
2.Colts –Some things are a given; death, taxes and Manning lighting people up in the regular season. They’ll be strong until the playoffs roll around, like always.
3.Ravens – No excuses for Ray Ray and his band of showboats. They now have all the weapons, its time to put up or hopefully shut up.
4.Cowboys – Talent up the wahzoo, but with Uncle Wade at the wheel, the bus could easily go careening down a ravine.
5.Packers – High octane offense, improving defense and possibly the next star QB in this league. If there is a god, they will finally get payback on Favre this year.
6.Vikings – Still a formidable squad even with the Drama Queen and the Bald Guy having their lover’s quarrels… Injuries are piling up though and can they re-capture last year’s magic?
7.Texans- This is the year they become a factor in the playoff hunt. Still think it will be tough for them to win the division, but they have talent.
8.Patriots – Tough team to handicap but they should contend at least for the division. A lot of young guys will need to play prominent roles.
9.Chargers – Good QB and better just by getting rid of LT. Play in a weak division so they should benefit.
10.Jets – Don’t really get the hype with this team. Yes they have a good defense and running game, but also a slug at QB. My money’s on the Sanchise wilting under the pressure.
11.Bengals – Good defense but their passing game has regressed… Good luck with that TO thing too…. They are a halfway house for tools, clowns & criminals….
12.Steelers- They had a terrible year last year so expect them to get back to normal Steeler football. I’d have them higher if Ben was playing from the get go.
MIDDLEWEIGHTS/JAGS/PRETENDERS
13.Falcons – They need to show they can win away from home if I’m going to move them up.
14.Giants – Which team will show up, the listless team from last year or the physical dominant team of 2 years ago?
15.Eagles – They are explosive in the passing game but still have no running game to speak of. They are at a crossroads…
16.Titans – I can’t see them being more than a .500 team.
17. Dolphins – They need to improve the defense and get away from the gimmicky wildcat to be taken seriously.
18.Niners – Up and coming team. It also helps to play in the crappiest division in football.
19.Broncos- The Tebow watch begins…. don’t look over your shoulder Orton!
20.Cardinals- No Warner, no playoffs….
21.Bears– Counting on Cutler, who is on the All-Over-rated Team and Peppers who only plays when he feels like it, which is 40% of the time.
22.Panthers – Good young quick defense, good running game, Jag QB, Lame Duck coach= mediocre season.
23. Raiders- Might surprise some people with upgrade at QB and playing in a not-so-strong division.
24.Redskins– They’ll at least be professionally coached this year…
LIGHTWEIGHTS/BUMS/ALSO-RANS
25.Browns- I don’t know why I have them this high…
26.Chiefs-Memo to Pioli: You’re not Belichick, okay?
27.Jags- The Jags are, well, Jags….
28.Seahawks– I don’t care how pumped and jacked Pete Carroll is about his team, I’m not.
29.Lions- At least this team is headed in the right direction, unlike our country.
30.Bills– What are these guys doing? The lost decade is now decade(s)..
31.Bucs – The Dollar Store of the NFL
32.Rams – With Bradford, they will be moving up the charts this year. But you sucked last year so you need to start in the toilet and earn your way out.
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