Comments on: PFT’s Week Zero power rankings

By: thommyberlin

thommyberlin — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 19:54:29 +0000

See… that’s the thing. Had you been watching the Jags, you’d have seen significant improvement…

I have no idea where they end up this year, my guess is 8-8 to 10-6 if moderately healthy.

But hey! I’m getting great odds, so keep it up

By: florio4prez

florio4prez — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 06:32:10 +0000

Steelers turmoil? Already the national press (sic) has started with this stuff?

Let’s see. IR’d TE David Johnson and rookie LB Spence. OG DeCastro will be back for the stretch drive. A few other nicks and bangs. Wallace held out until the last minute but looks great and knows the playbook. #2 TE Saunders serving 4 games.

That’s turmoil? What am I missing here?

Good bye Arians. Hello Haley.

OL is in much better shape this season. Big Ben looks ready for a big year. WRs Wallace, Brown, Sanders and Cotchery stand to be scary good. You’ve seen RB/KR/PR Rainey, right? RB stable is simply loaded.

When isn’t the Steelers D the best or one of the best in the league? This year won’t be an exception.

Reasonably tough schedule but we’ll compete for #7 this year.

By: crackbubba

crackbubba — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 15:01:05 +0000

Am I the only one that thinks the Browns won’t be the worst team in the NFL? As long as Richardson is in 50% of their games, I think they have a legitimate chance at an improved record. Last season they lost only 2 games by more than 2 touchdowns, and that was with an erratic passing game and no semblance of a running game. I think that if their offense can produce a few points, their defense can win them some games. They almost always surprise the Steelers with a close game (with 2010 being an aberration) or a win. With a decent offense, that close game could be a win. Or 2. I think 6-10 is definitely doable by them. Games vs the Bengals (who lost any semblance of a run game they had) Steelers, Ravens (who are also prone to playing down to competition, see Jacksonville last season) could produce up to 3 or 4 wins, Colts can be a win Raiders can flop with the best of them, And the Cowboys are destined to be mediocre again. Toss in an upset or 2 (probably due to a major injury…) and they can easily reach that mark. That being said, they have potential to totally flop too. And I’m not even a Browns fan. The Cardinals will be the worst team in football, just in time to snatch up Matt Barkley to be their QB of the future only to watch him turn out to be another Matt Leinart. Who will play the Kurt Warner part though?

By: dallascowboysdishingthereal

dallascowboysdishingthereal — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 03:15:05 +0000

Very close to the one I did on my site. In my opinion, Eagles are ranked too high and 49ers too low.

By: texmexdeux

texmexdeux — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 22:49:27 +0000

Putting the Giants at #2 seems odd. They should either be #1 before any games have been played, because they are the defending champions, whether I like it or not; or you should put them somewhere further down the list, if we’re playing the ever-elusive “best team on paper” game. But not #2.

By: derklempner

derklempner — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 21:04:38 +0000

“east96st says:
Sep 4, 2012 8:54 AM
I can handle the Giants not being number one. Truth is, I prefer it that way. But Green Bay? Giants crushed GB in the playoffs and if it wasn’t for a blind/or crooked ref, it would have been a complete blowout. At least put San Fran ahead of the Giants. They gave a NY a REAL football game. GB got exposed in Lambeau by NY, just like the Giants exposed the “unbeatable” Pats during Super Bowl XLII. I would put San Fran, the Saints, and, it pains me to say this, even Philly, all before Green Bay. Great QB, maybe the best out there today, but pretenders on defense.”

————————–

It’s a shame that whatever happened last year has nothing to do with the rankings this year, right? Or else the Redskins would be ranked ahead of the Giants for beating them twice. And the Packers would be TIED with the Giants for beating them once before the playoff loss.

It’s a NEW season. It’s the NEW power rankings. Try to remember that.

By: nodaclu

nodaclu — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 20:04:41 +0000

My gut says it’s probably close, but I can’t help but feel that the Raiders at 23 are a little low.

Yes, they needed to shed salary and the team is scary thin behind its starting cast, but this team essentially returns the same core on offense the got them to 8-8 last year (including a healthy McFadden, a full off season for Palmer, and more experience for the young WR’s).

The defense couldn’t possibly be any worse than last years, with some serviceable vets being added to the secondary to replace young DB’s who looked overmatched at times last year.

I don’t see this team as any worse than 7-9, and 8-8 for a third straight year is a distinct possibility if they stay reasonably healthy.

Call it a ceiling of #16, and a likelihood of about #20.

By: millerhour

millerhour — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 18:08:20 +0000

egetto says: Sep 4, 2012 7:26 AM

As we expected, spin the London thing, and thanks, we will work on “building a fan base” Jacksonville averages 62,000 fans a game as a losing team, wonder what happens when they start winning…..

—————————————————-

How many of them are Jags fans and how many are opposing team fans? I am going to the Bears game just because it is cheaper for me to go to a game in Jax than in Chicago, including the flight down there. Season ticket holders are getting rid of their tickets at face value and businesses and the Jags are buying up the rest. Don’t fool yourself.

By: brenenostler

brenenostler — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 17:19:38 +0000

Not at all a Chargers fan, but I’m pretty sure they’re better than Seattle.

By: sicklnick121

sicklnick121 — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 17:14:44 +0000

RAIDERS WIN THE WEST!!!!!!!!!!!!

I find it amusing that the Broncos, Chiefs and the Chargers are ranked higher then the Raiders. We controlled that division the last two years.. And what step back did we take? Getting better Linebackers? A better Defensive system? Or wait Maybe its the Better wide receivers? Palmer threw for almost 3,000 yards without McFadden, In a half a season. Yea he throws picks but Jackson never called any short passes after Palmer started it was all 10 yard or better routes

By: jimbrashear

jimbrashear — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 17:04:13 +0000

“renaissanceman87 says:
Sep 4, 2012 11:19 AM
God am I spoiled. I’m a Packers fan, and rather than be happy that we’re #1, I merely ‘expect’ us to be #1…”

Closet Bears fan alert.

By: thankheavenfornumberseven

thankheavenfornumberseven — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 16:56:51 +0000

jimmysee says:Sep 4, 2012 8:13 AM

The Packers went wire-to-wire at #1 last season and open right there again.

Has any other team ever done that?
______

Congratulations on winning the PFT Power Rankings Championship last season. Obviously, the power rankings didn’t continue into the playoffs.

By: ceschatz

ceschatz — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 16:27:22 +0000

Giants will be lucky to get 3rd place in The East.

By: ceschatz

ceschatz — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 16:24:51 +0000

Awwwww, I guess youre allowed to complain about these rankings unless it’s against the Eagles. This site is getting pretty pathetic when it comes to deleteling comments for no reason.

By: glenne81

glenne81 — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 16:12:32 +0000

Lets be clear. I am a Vikings.

But, you can put the Jets and the Seahawks on any field in the world and there is no question who would win. Get real.

By: denverdude7

denverdude7 — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 16:12:31 +0000

Weren’t there at least 3 Canadian League teams between the #31 Dolphins and the #32 Browns?

By: glazed61

glazed61 — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 15:48:57 +0000

Bucs high. Jags low.

By: kingpel

kingpel — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 15:33:56 +0000

Jump on that Rams bandwagon while you can! NFC WEST CHAMPIONS!

By: fuzzynuts55

fuzzynuts55 — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 15:29:09 +0000

Looks good other then gaints.. they should be 8 or 9..

By: renaissanceman87

renaissanceman87 — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 15:19:18 +0000

God am I spoiled. I’m a Packers fan, and rather than be happy that we’re #1, I merely ‘expect’ us to be #1. What’s going to happen in a few years when the Packers are ranked 9th going into a season and predictions are “Packers might make some noise in the North, potentially a 10-6/11-5 type season and maybe a playoff run?” I should be happy for such a talented team, but damn, are we Packer fans spoiled.

By: ripseau

ripseau — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 14:55:59 +0000

Alll it takes is a clever wrinkle and a bad team turns good and a good team turns superbowl champs. See: Dolphins wildcat and 85a Bears 46 defense.
You NEVER know in the NFL.

By: hatesycophants

hatesycophants — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 14:52:38 +0000

The Packers are not the best team on paper.

By: bigbrad184

bigbrad184 — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 14:48:19 +0000

Man the NFC is loaded this year. I know it’s just preseason rankings, but 11 of the top 16 teams are from the NFC. That’s going to be a tough road to the Super Bowl for all of those teams.

By: gosuhgo

gosuhgo — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 14:24:59 +0000

Good thing the Bears were a playoff team except for their injuries. It’s not like the Lions had similar issues with every DB or anything. Never had to put 5th string wideouts in as corners in some games. Every team has injuries. Some deal better.

By: cnote94

cnote94 — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 14:22:51 +0000

Note sure if your Seahawk one-liner is tongue-in-cheek, but let’s let Russell Wilson play a regular season game against defenses gameplanning for him before we start talking about him in the same vein as Newton.

By: classactcalvin81

classactcalvin81 — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 14:10:02 +0000

Let’s go D we will take #12 and SMILE!! Stafford plays another 16 and Calvin beats the curse we def find the playoffs!!!!

By: howiehandles

howiehandles — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 14:01:48 +0000

Why is everyone getting worked up over this?

“The Eagles go 4-0 in the preseason for the first time in 17 years, and they drop a spot from the preseason rankings? Uh, OK”

The preseason doesn’t mean squat, unless you’re trying to make the team.

By: kidpresentable

kidpresentable — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 14:00:50 +0000

“Giants crushed GB in the playoffs and if it wasn’t for a blind/or crooked ref, it would have been a complete blowout… GB got exposed in Lambeau by NY, just like the Giants exposed the “unbeatable” Pats during Super Bowl XLII. I would put San Fran, the Saints, and, it pains me to say this, even Philly, all before Green Bay. Great QB, maybe the best out there today, but pretenders on defense.”

By your logic, the Redskins should outrank the Giants then. After all, the Redskins were 2-0 and outscored the Giants 51-24 in their match-ups last year. Good teams have bad games. If it happens in the playoffs, you go home. The Packers had a top 5 defense in ’09 and in ’10. Last year they were 32nd. Nick Collins and Cullen Jenkins were good, but they’re not exactly Ronnie Lott and Reggie White.

In sports, if you see drastic swings in stats, there’s usually some market correction or regression towards the mean the following season. Even if the regression towards the mean puts the Packers as the 15th ranked defense, with that offense (which now has a decent running back), that’s enough for a 12-13 win team and home field advantage.

Also, the easiest schedules in the league belong to the Patriots and Packers. There’s nothing like stacking the deck. The toughest schedule: NY Giants.

By: louisvillepride

louisvillepride — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 13:31:50 +0000

I agree w/ the gentlman that said that this is more of a ‘tier system’ than anything else. With that being said, I think where the Raiders are ranked is respectable. They can go either way at this point. Carson Palmer didn’t look too bad in the preseason but needs to improve on his decision making. Some of the interceptions were on his receivers & some he should’ve just taken a sack (the back peddling screen pass that the d-lineman intercepted comes to mind). McFadden is in ‘beast mode’ but can he stay healthy for entire season? I think the ‘line will hold it’s own although I rather we go back to the power blocking scheme. There will not be too much of a drop off w/ Taiwan Jones backing up McFadden but, after that, Mike Goodson doesn’t give me much confidence. WR depth are hurting & Louis Murphy could’ve helped but Reggie made the right call being he wasn’t in Oakland’s future & got a 7th off him. D-line is our strength w/ Shaugnessy, Kelly, Seymour, & Houston. LB. is a little shaky but I think McClain will prosper in the new scheme. Phillip Wheeler looks like a steal & there will be some growing pains w/ Miles but in the end, he’ll grow & contribute. Secondary is the biggest concern! Bartel looks like he will be solid, Spencer is just here because he was a bargain, this will be Huff’s last year in Silver & Black (or if he is back, they’ll draft his replacement & battle it out in the preseason), & Branch is the only player that will be here for the long run! ST outside Seabass & Lechler also worry me too. They looked awful in the preseason. Overall depth behind the starters will come back & bite us in the *** if the starters (outside of DL) get injured. All in all if Palmer cuts down on the turnovers & McFadden stays healthy, we can sneak in as a wildcard because the division is up for grabs & NO ONE is a lock to win it!

By: m1000be

m1000be — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 13:31:29 +0000

Giants should be number one. They actually have a defense unlike Green Bay.

The Colts will win at LEAST eight games this season. Mark my words.