DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum ESPN's First 08 Power Rankings

1 (1) Patriots 16-0-0 A healthy Tom Brady and a happy Randy Moss make the Patriots championship contenders this season and for years to come. (MS)
2 (2) Colts 13-3-0 They haven't had a lot of offseason turnover and they already were very good. Continuity means a lot. (PY)
3 (6) Chargers 11-5-0 If the Chargers can get over their injury issues, they could be in the Super Bowl mix all the way to Tampa. (BW)
4 (3) Cowboys 13-3-0 Felix Jones should help the running game immediately. But who will emerge as the No. 2 receiver? Patrick Crayton wasn't up to the task in late '07. (MM)
5 (4) Jaguars 11-5-0 They sometimes get overshadowed by division rival Indianapolis, but the Jaguars have an elite roster and an elite coach in Jack Del Rio. (PY)
6 (9) Giants 10-6-0 Teams other than the Patriots aren't supposed to repeat as Super Bowl champions. Will Michael Strahan retire? Can they compensate for free-agent losses at LB? (MM)
7 (8) Steelers 10-6-0 A very strong draft catapults the Steelers into Super Bowl contenders. RBs Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall should be one of the best 1-2 punches. (JW)
8 (7) Seahawks 10-6-0 New O-line coach Mike Solari stands out as the Seahawks' top offseason acquisition, perhaps allowing them to keep their edge in the NFC West. (MS)
9 (13) Browns 10-6-0 The 2007 darlings face high expectations. The offense will score. Can the D, anchored by additions Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams, hold up its end? (JW)
10 (5) Packers 13-3-0 This is an unpredictable team in the wake of the retirement of Brett Favre. Who will step up and make the big plays this year? (JW)
11 (18) Saints 7-9-0 The offense already was very good. Defensive improvements will make the Saints one of this year's biggest turnarounds. (PY)
12 (15) Vikings 8-8-0 If they settle on a QB, the Vikes could become a playoff team. RB Adrian Peterson is at the top of the list for MVP candidates. (JW)
13 (14) Eagles 8-8-0 Last season, they hit their stride when it was too late. With a fully healed Donovan McNabb and an improved secondary, the Eagles could be dangerous. (MM)
14 (10) Redskins 9-7-0 Too many questions: a new coach, young QB and a pair of rookie WRs. Hard to get a good read. (MM)
15 (12) Buccaneers 9-7-0 They didn't make any splash offseason moves. But RB Warrick Dunn's return is going to help more than many recognize. (PY)
16 (11) Titans 10-6-0 They didn't get as much help from QB Vince Young as they should have. But he's going to become good enough to carry the offense. (PY)
17 (17) Cardinals 8-8-0 Ken Whisenhunt and staff changed the culture in Arizona. Kurt Warner provides top-notch insurance at QB. Depth along the O-line and on defense in general remain the question. (MS)
18 (23) Panthers 7-9-0 The return of QB Jake Delhomme might be enough to get them to the playoffs. But there are no guarantees with Tommy John surgery. (PY)
19 (19) Bills 7-9-0 Marcus Stroud turns 30 this summer and his starts have declined over three seasons. Will he be healthy enough to help the Bills in December? (MS)
20 (16) Texans 8-8-0 They reached respectability in 2007. Improving will be difficult because their division is so tough. (PY)
21 (30) Jets 4-12-0 An offseason spending spree upgraded the roster without answering the Jets' most pressing question: Do they have the right QB? (MS)
22 (25) Ravens 5-11-0 Are the 2008 Ravens more like the 13-3 team in 2006, or the 5-11 unit last season? This is certain: QB play is key. (JW)
23 (21) Broncos 7-9-0 This is the second-best team in the AFC West. That is an indictment of the division, not a pat on the back for this team, which has many holes. (BW)
24 (20) Bears 7-9-0 Seems like ages ago the Bears were NFC champs. For better or worse, fans will have to endure another season of good Rex Grossman and bad Rex Grossman. (JW)
25 (22) Bengals 7-9-0 If WR Chad Johnson sits out, the Bengals will suffer. If Johnson shows, he's a distraction. Neither situation is good. (JW)
26 (27) Raiders 4-12-0 The Raiders' offense won't make people sick anymore, but their defense might. (BW)
27 (26) 49ers 5-11-0 New offensive coordinator Mike Martz provides credibility on offense, but head coach Mike Nolan still must prove he can manage the team more smoothly. (MS)
28 (29) Rams 3-13-0 Quietly, Jim Haslett has turned the defense into a respectable unit. The Rams could contend for a playoff spot if their offensive line can keep Marc Bulger healthy. (MS)
29 (24) Lions 7-9-0 QB Jon Kitna says it will be a disappointment if the Lions don't win 10 games this season. Perhaps he doesn't realize Detroit hasn't won 10 games since 1995. (JW)
30 (28) Chiefs 4-12-0 The Chiefs' rebuilding project has begun, but it's unrealistic to believe they will become contenders anytime soon. (BW)
31 (32) Dolphins 1-15-0 A rookie head coach and an unsettled QB situation add up to growing pains, even though the Dolphins have upgraded their talent base. (MS)
32 (31) Falcons 4-12-0 New coach Mike Smith is the right guy to turn this team around, but it's going to take a few years. (PY)

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/powerranking?season=2008&week=0

JMHO, but I trashed power rankings when we were ranked 30, so I'll trash them again when we're ranked 9. You don't know how things are going to happen until the games start.

Yeah, we improved on paper, but the game's not played on paper. I fear we'll be this year's Saints.

But, I will say it's nice to see us continue getting some love!

i hope they are right, at least about the offence, our production was lacking the last few games.

For the sake of conversation, and standing by my earlier statement, I figured I'd lay out our opponents this year:

We play the following teams:

2, 4, 5, 6, 7 (twice), 13, 14, 16, 19, 20, 22 (twice), 23, 25 (twice)

I agree - Giants beat Pats. They're #1 hands down. Anyone notice the Rams, ranked 28 on this list, contend for the playoffs while ranked 28 on this list below 49ers and Raiders? Hmm...

I don't get why the Ravens move up, the Titans move down and the Seahags rank above us. I don't figure their draft catapults Pit to contender status either. Oh well, JMHO

it's nice to see the Browns get some respect for the good season they had last year but they will need to earn any further respect by playing well this season. I think beating the Steelers, playing well on the prime time games, winning the division should gain us a whole lot more respect.

Why complain about Power Rankings when you can create your own here...

fan rankings

I really don't think the Seahawks should be at #8. They are going backwords IMO

After last year, I give absolutely no weight to power rankings.

The Jaguars at #5 is about right, They have a tough team and will be in the playoffs again.

Last years pre-season power rankings... giggle. Translation: power rankings are silly. They do thier best but they're pretty close to right about 50% of the time. Wrong about 50%. Which makes it almost 100% useless.
2007 PreSeason Power Rankings

Besides the Browns, check out where the Ravens, Bengals, Giants, 49ers, Saints, Bears, Packers, and Bucs are.

Didn't believe in Power rankings before, don't believe in them now.. But still, it's always nice to see the team you follow get a little love...

LOL @ 4-8.

I wish I shared your optimism Purple!

I hope you're right.

I was right about it last year around this time

2 vs. Pittsburgh
1 vs Cinci (they'll get lucky)
2 vs. Balt.


Giants
Skins
Broncos
Bills
Titans
Eagles
Texans


even if you take away one Pitt game and the Giants, that is still 10 wins right there... and a VERY realistic 10.

We could easily beat all of those teams. The only one I'm not sure about is at Pittsburgh.

Truthfully, I think I'm starting to believe it more and more... When I first saw the schedule, I thought 7-8 wins seemed more realistic, but with the additions of Rogers, Williams, Dante, Rucker & Bell, and given the continuity on offense, etc, I'm starting to come around. I love what Chud is doing, he really did a miracle job of turning around that aspect of the team last year and with another year in the system, the guys working together, building off each other, the sky's the limit. Also, it seems our revamped D-line could seriously be a power house, and with our STs we may actually have a complete team now. I know we still have some holes, but man, there is some real talent on this team.

Ranking NFL's top teams after minicamps
Sunday, June 15, 2008
BY Steve Doerschuk
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER



With minicamps wrapping up and rosters all but set heading into training camps, we give you our first 2008 NFL power rankings:

1, Patriots

Key point: Asante Samuel, Randall Gay and Donte Stallworth — key players on the 18-1 team — were lost in free agency. Yet losing at the wire in the Super Bowl didn't exactly suggest there's a glaring crack in Bill Belichick's armor.

Key arrivals: Tennessee linebacker Jerod Mayo (draft, No. 10 overall); Michigan linebacker Shawn Crable (draft, No. 78 overall).

Last three years: 10-6, 12-4, 15-1

Last playoff win: 2007.


2, Giants

Key point: Eli Manning comes in with a Super Bowl ring and is ascending; new backup David Carr, likewise a former No. 1 overall pick, is back with Chris Palmer, the Giants QB coach who was Carr's head coach in Texas. Losing Michael Strahan and Kawika Mitchell hurts a dynamic defense.

Key arrivals: Safety Sammy Knight (free agent, Jaguars); safety Kenny Phillips (draft, Miami, Fla., No. 31 overall).

Last three years: 11-5, 8-8, 10-6

Last playoff win: 2007.


3, Jaguars

Key point: They didn't just slip into the playoffs; they barged in, beating Pittsburgh during a 6-2 second half and then punching out the Steelers in the opening round. David Garrard's 102.2 passer rating was helped by the fact he isn't asked to — and doesn't need to — throw that much.

Key arrivals: CB Drayton Florence (free agent, Chargers); Florida DE Derrick Harvey (draft, No. 8 overall).

Last three years: 12-4, 8-8, 11-5

Last playoff win: 2007.


4, Chargers

Key point: QB Philip Rivers is coming off a torn ACL, LaDainian Tomlinson is going on 29 and has more career carries than Earl Campbell and Jim Brown made in their Hall of Fame careers.

Key arrivals: Arizona CB Antoine Cason (draft, No. 27 overall); OT L.J. Shelton (free agent, Dolphins).

Last three years: 9-7, 14-2, 11-5

Last playoff win: 2007.


5, Colts

Key point: There were signs of slippage in 2007. Peyton Manning posted his second-lowest passing yardage total of the decade and put up a passer rating below 100 for the first time in five years. Back-to-back midseason losses to the Patriots and Chargers were instructive.

Key arrivals: RB Dominic Rhodes (free agent, Raiders); Michigan RB Mike Hart (Round 6, draft; 5,189 rushing yards in college).


6, Cowboys

Key point: These hombres were over-rated, judging from the second half of last season (28-23 win over Washington, 28-27 win over Detroit, 10-6 loss to Philadelphia, 27-6 loss to Washington). Jerry's boys are 0-5 in the postseason since 1997.

Key arrivals: RB Felix Jones (draft, No. 22 overall; 1,225 and 1,199 rushing yards in last two years at Arkansas); South Florida CB Mike Jenkins (draft, No. 25 overall); CB Pacman Jones (trade, Titans).

Last three years: 9-7, 9-7, 13-3

Last playoff win: 1996.


7, Browns

Key point: New defensive linemen Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams aren't good enough to turn the Browns into Supermen if the team doesn't keep growing at QB.

Key arrivals: WR Donte Stallworth (free agent, Patriots; 31 career TDs); center-guard Rex Hadnot (free agent, Dolphins).

Last three years: 6-10, 4-12, 10-6

Last playoff win: 1994.


8, Seahawks

Key point: Likely Hall of Fame coach Mike Holmgren led his team on a 6-1 tear when it was time to prove playoff worthiness last year, but the running game hasn't been the same since Shaun Alexander's 2005 Super Bowl season, and he's no longer a Seahawk.

Key arrivals: Southern Cal defensive end Lawrence Jackson (draft, No. 28 overall); RB Julius Jones (free agent, Cowboys).

Last three years: 13-3, 9-7, 10-6

Last playoff win: 2007.


9, Steelers

Key point: Since winning the Super Bowl in the 2005 season, the Steelers have lost Pro Bowlers Jeff Hartings and Alan Faneca from an offensive line that used to set the tone for the franchise. That makes it tricky for Ben Roethlisberger to get to his weapons.

Key arrivals: Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall (Draft, No. 23 overall; 1,742 yards in 2007); 6-foot-4 Texas WR Limas Sweed (draft, No. 53 overall).

Last three years: 11-5, 8-8, 10-6

Last playoff win: 2006.


10, Vikings

Key point: Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell says quarterback Tarvaris Jackson has made "tremendous progress." We'll believe that when we see it, but when we see Adrian Peterson, we believe, no questions asked.

Key arrivals: DE Jared Allen (free agent, Chiefs, NFL-best 15.5 sacks in 2007); safety Madieu Williams (free agent, Bengals).

Last three years: 9-7, 6-10, 8-8

Last playoff win: 2004.

You can reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail: steve.doerschuk@cantonrep.com

Holy crap...#7? we are so up there...if we fall now it will be a big time blow