National Football League

NFL power rankings: Pre-Week 1

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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NFL power rankings are fun to check out, and here is a look at how all 32 teams stack up as the 2016 season is about to get underway

Are you ready for some football? It’s finally about to be here NFL fans, the regular season is just days away from kicking off.

Sure, we’ve had preseason action to hold us over since August, but it isn’t the same. The exhibition games are a welcomed change from watching reruns of Law and Order and Chopped. But the real entertainment comes from getting together with friends and family and cheering on our favorite teams in games with consequence.

We wear our fandom with pride as our emotions flow for our teams. When they win, we feel like winners. When they lose, we feel like losers.

So with that in mind, let’s take a look at how each team stacks up as the first week approaches. Which teams look like they will be winners? Contrarily, which teams looks like they are in for a rough season?

We try and answer all those questions and more with the pre-Week 1 NFL Power Rankings, starting with the team on the wrong end of the list, No. 32.

August 26, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Quinton Patton (11, center) is congratulated by tight end Garrett Celek (88, left) and quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) for scoring a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the first quarter at Levi

San Francisco 49ers

The fact that the San Francisco 49ers hired Chip Kelly as head coach after he flamed out in Philadelphia is bad. That they have Blaine Gabbert as their starting quarterback after he flamed out in Jacksonville is bad. Throw in that their backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick is still on the team after falling from grace (on the field) there is bad.

Simply put, everything happening in San Francisco is bad right now. Even the relationship with police in the city where the team plays is broken.

A.J. Perez of USA Today spoke of the police union in Santa Clara discussing not working the team’s games thanks to the shade being thrown at police by the aforementioned Kaepernick. The bench-riding quarterback wears socks with pigs in police hats to practice and says cops are getting away with murder. This approach doesn’t really help the team out with trying to get police to run security at a venue that houses 68,500 fans.

Maybe the good news is 68,500 people probably won’t be there because the action on the field will be hard to watch. Kelly is an offensive mind without any offensive weapons. Most of their defense retired over the past couple of seasons. This will be a rough year for San Fran fans.

Sep 1, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Bears head coach John Fox and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (17) congratulate players following their third quarter touchdown against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Bears defeated the Browns 21-7. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Bears

This is the one franchise that can challenge the Niners for the least coveted spot in our rankings. What keeps them from taking over the worst spot? They have a huge advantage at head coach. John Fox will eventually turn the Chicago Bears around. It’s what he does. He won in Carolina and he won in Denver. Right now, he is changing the culture in Chicago and they will eventually be winners.

The franchise messed up firing Lovie Smith a couple of seasons ago and bringing in Mark Trestman. Hiring Fox, who is very similar to Smith in terms of style and demeanor, was a smart move and correction. Unfortunately it will take time because they are now lacking in the talent department.

Quarterback Jay Cutler has regressed, which is bad since he’s long been overrated. Wide receiver Alshon Jeffery is a beast, but injuries slowed him down last season. Now he has to try and get back on track without much help around him.

Defensively they are also still in rebuilding mode after seeing many of their once talented defenders ride off into the sunset. At least they should be able to get some talent very early in the next draft to help rebuild.

Sep 1, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Zac Dysert (2) and quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) both take the field before a game against the Tennessee Titans at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Miami Dolphins

If there was one term to describe the Joe Philbin era in Miami it would have to be “dumpster fire.” Things really couldn’t have gone much worse for the coach who appeared in over his head. He went 24-28 as a coach, but it always felt much worse.

Philbin was finally was fired after a 1-3 start last season and replaced with tight ends coach Dan Campbell. After he had his 12-game audition, Miami decided to hire former Denver Broncos and Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase to coach the team.

After the hire, Mark Maske of the Washington Post posed the question, “Adam Gase helped Peyton Manning. Now, can he fix Ryan Tannehill and the Dolphins?” Without going any further than the title, one can surmise the answer: nope.

Manning and Ryan Tannehill cannot be mentioned together. Ever. Peyton Manning is arguably one of the best two or three quarterbacks to ever step onto an NFL field in history. Tannehill is a converted college receiver who gets mad when practice squad players intercept his passes.

The Dolphins will stay near the bottom of this list as long as they continue the delusional idea that they have a franchise quarterback. Also, they failed majorly in free agency by signing washed up veterans like Arian Foster at running back and Mario Williams at defensive end.

For Foster, his best days are behind him and they will only hinder the progress of the much more promising Jay Ajayi. Williams is at the end as well and cost them a chance to re-sign Olivier Vernon, a 25-year-old stud pass rusher.

Sep 1, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Los Angeles Rams head coach Jeff Fisher looks to the referees during a challenge in the fourth quarter in the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 27-25. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Los Angeles Rams

Jeff Fisher is the Los Angeles Rams head coach as they return to their former home. This is sad because the return to L.A. could have been so great for fans. Since Fisher is there, though, they can look forward to many, many more 7-9 seasons. This can be said so surely because, when you take out the prime of Steve McNair’s career, Fisher is not a winning coach. He rode the exciting coattails of the electric McNair and is still getting NFL jobs because of it.

Fisher coached teams are often dirty, penalty-filled and void of offense. The 2016 version of the Rams will probably fall right in line with this description as well.

They lost cornerback Janoris Jenkins in free agency, cut defensive end Chris Long and linebacker James Laurinaitis, and let tackle Nick Fairley walk. None of these moves were crushing, but the team already wasn’t very good with all those talented players. Now they add a rookie quarterback who, despite costing a handful of picks and being taken first overall, can’t beat out Case Keenum as a starter.

Los Angeles should be glad football is back. They will be even more excited once they get better. Until Fisher leaves though, they won’t.

Sep 1, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) look to pass as Chicago Bears defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard (74) defends during the first half at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Browns

Off the top of my head, Robert Griffin III is roughly the 230th starting quarterback the Cleveland Browns will trotting out since 1999. Maybe that number is a little high, but fans of the team understand how someone can estimate such a high number.

The good news for fans of the “factory of sadness” is that RG3 is at least a talented quarterback and showed signs of life during the preseason. He also is working with a quarterback whisperer and well-respected head coach in Hue Jackson (I believe he is also the 230th coach for the team since 1999, but again, that needs to be checked).

Jackson did great work in Baltimore as a quarterbacks coach and also while serving as an offensive coordinator in Cincinnati. He also went 8-8 in 2011 as the head coach of the Oakland Raiders despite having a subpar team. Oakland fired him after his lone season as a coach and they’ve spent every year since trying to get as good as they were with Jackson. The bad news for Jackson is that he is now coaching the only team that fires coaches quicker than the Raiders do.

Hopefully the executives in Cleveland have some patience, because they now have a solid coach. If he can turn things around with RG3 and the recently reinstated Josh Gordon, Cleveland can climb this list quickly.

Aug 18, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Marvin Jones (11) celebrates after a catch during the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions will be hurt by the loss of one of the best receivers of his time, Calvin Johnson. The dynamic pass catcher headed off into the sunset to enjoy his retirement and Detroit must find offense without him.

Luckily for them they still have Matt Stafford at the helm, who is a solid quarterback. Also, the addition of Marvin Jones was an underrated move. What’s more, the offense started rolling in 2015 under Jim Bob Cooter. Now that he’s back, perhaps they’ll survive to some degree without Megatron on the field.

Still, the one move they should have made was to get rid of head coach Jim Caldwell. Keeping him around will only lead to them plummeting further and further down this list. It’s been proven that every season he stays with a team, their record declines that much more before they just implode. This season may not be a full-on implosion, but it’s coming.

Sep 1, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) stretches before the game against the Los Angeles Rams at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota Vikings

Sure, Sam Bradford is a better option than Shaun Hill. However, they have to start the season with Hill since Bradford will have to learn the system. Unfortunately for Vikings fans, after Bradford learns the system he will still be a crummy quarterback. Bradford struggles with injuries, inconsistency and has never orchestrated a winning season. Somehow his detractors always find a million excuses for why he can’t win. But eventually they have to run out of those, right?

Luckily for Minnesota, there is still some hope thanks to running back Adrian Peterson and their stellar defense. However, overcoming incompetence at the most important position is a tough thing to do. Vikings fans know this all too well and have seen many of Peterson’s best years lost thanks to their lack of talent there.

Vikings fans need to pray Teddy Bridgewater can recover from a devastating injury and regain his form. Unfortunately for them, even that won’t help them this season. That’s why they end up so low in these initial power rankings.

Sep 1, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Doug Pederson on the sidelines against the New York Jets at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles defeated the Jets, 14-6. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles are in full-blown “get the Kelly stank out mode.” After their former head coach went insane with contracts and trades, the Eagles have now dumped off DeMarco Murray, Sam Bradford, Kiko Alonso, and Byron Maxwell. With all the Chip Kelly guys gone, they are headed in the right direction. Unfortunately this season will probably be a season full of growing pains for new head coach Doug Pederson.

Rookie quarterback Carson Wentz will be the starter when healthy, which means there will be some ups and downs for the team. Fans shouldn’t be discouraged though, because this is actually a good thing in the long run. Wentz needs reps and will be much better than Bradford sooner than many might expect.

Offensively they need some better options at running back, although Wendell Smallwood could wind up being a steal. Their move to get Dorial Green-Beckham at wide receiver was brilliant, but receivers usually need quite a while before they truly adapt to a new home. Again, this isn’t a bad thing, just a growing thing.

Defensively they still have a lot of talent and can compete. This just won’t be their year. Make no mistake though, the arrow is pointing up for the long term in Philly after the Chip Kelly error…I mean era…sent such a shockwave through the city.

Aug 28, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; San Diego Chargers running back Melvin Gordon (28) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings in the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings won 23-10. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

San Diego Chargers

The San Diego Chargers have done themselves no favors this offseason. They made a great pick at No. 3 in former Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa, but then they allowed his hold out to escalate to unreal proportions. The team should have never made the public comments they did. While the hold out was bad, the press was worse.

Bosa was in no way innocent here as neither side would budge on guaranteed money and in the end they both lost. Bosa is now behind the eight ball with the season starting in a few days and the Chargers really needed that added element to their defense.

However, the good news for them is that running back Melvin Gordon has looked better in the preseason than he did as a rookie. Of course, his rookie struggles weren’t all his fault as he broke tackles at an alarming rate simply to break even on the ground at times.

The return of injured wide out Keenan Allen will also be a plus for the Chargers as will the added downfield threat of Travis Benjamin. They are improving from last season and could make a climb up these rankings—just not yet.

Sep 1, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) walks off the field after the game against the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Ravens won 23-14. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports

New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints are in a lot of trouble. Quarterback Drew Brees has seen a decline in his play and they have no solid options behind him. They did however improve their offensive line over the past couple of season, but how long until that line is blocking for a lesser quarterback than Brees?

They do still have Mark Ingram at the running back spot, but injuries continue to be an issue for him. Should he stay healthy all year, he could be a real threat for them. Speaking of threats, how about tight end Coby Fleener? He always seemed underutilized in Indianapolis, but it would be shocking to see that trend continue as he moves to New Orleans. Jimmy Graham was an All-Pro tight end for the Saints and journeyman Ben Watson replaced him last season only to have a career year. Look for Fleener to shine on this team.

Sadly though, the real issue will be their defense. This unit has become dreadful and that’s putting it as nicely as possible. Until either the talent improves or unless the absence of Rob Ryan proves to be beneficial, the Saints won’t be doing much climbing.

Aug 20, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills assistant head coach/defense Rob Ryan (left) and head coach Rex Ryan on the field before the game against the New York Giants at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Buffalo Bills

Hey what’s the only thing better than one Ryan? You guessed it: two Ryans!

The Buffalo Bills have doubled down on Ryan brothers by bringing in Rob Ryan to be defesnive coordinator for his twin brother and head coach, Rex Ryan. The problem though is these two don’t have the best track record as of late.

Rex created the world’s worst offense ever as a coach for the New York Jets and then came to Buffalo last season only to make their defense worse somehow. Rob has been the man behind two franchises falling into a defensive abyss as he had historically bad teams in both New Orleans and Dallas before that.

The positive spin on this team is their quarterback Tyrod Taylor was a pleasant surprise in 2015 and should take a step forward in 2016. Running back LeSean McCoy could also have a bounce back season for the Bills as well.

Defensively, though, they need help. Rex has a history of making defenses great. Rob has a history of making them terrible. This could go either way, which should be interesting. Then again, isn’t everything with the Ryan brothers?

Aug 26, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) throws the ball as Cleveland Browns defensive end John Hughes (93) defends during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay is a team on the rise, despite a weird offseason. They hired head coach Lovie Smith a year ago only to fire him after seeing him make some progress with the young men on his team. He was replaced with offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter. Should this move work out, it will look brilliant. If Koetter doesn’t win, the critics and boo-birds will come out to play.

One thing working in the new coaches favor is his relationship with quarterback Jameis Winston. The second-year player took some major steps under the guidance of Koetter last season and should get even better in 2016.

Running back Doug Martin should continue his resurgence as well and wide out Mike Evans keeps getting better every game. They also have veteran Vincent Jackson playing opposite Evans as they boast one of the stronger receiving (and more enormous) groups in the game.

They added veteran Brent Grimes and rookie Vernon Hargreaves III at corner to really bolster their secondary. Moreover, Tampa also got a potential steal in the second round with defensive end Noah Spence. This may not be the season they make a huge jump record-wise, but they’re a team trending undeniably up.

May 6, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New Giants general manger Jerry Reese (back left), corner back Eli Apple (28), wide receiver Sterling Shepard (87), safety Darian Thompson (27), head coach Ben MaCadoo (back right), linebacker B.J. Goodson (93), running back Paul Perkins (39) and tight end Jerrell Adams (89) during rookie minicamp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports

New York Giants

The New York Giants just didn’t seem like a group that was completely in sync. This team looked off in the preseason. Or maybe they just aren’t very good. Last season they struggled mightily and decided to fire their head coach Tom Coughlin. Then they decided the best way to change their culture was to just promote all the other coaches that were on staff in 2015.

After the firing, they still gave access to fired coach Coughlin who kept showing up in the offseason. He would come to the facilities and work out and seemed to have hard feelings about losing his job according to Gary Myers of the New York Post. New head coach Ben McAdoo not only had to endure that, but now has to fix the out-of-sync team that saw the field in the preseason.

Their first-round pick probably won’t help much, as the Giants reached badly for cornerback Eli Apple. Luckily, they were able to redeem themselves with the pick of receiver Sterling Shepard in the following round. That still may not be enough for them to make it to the playoffs, but at least Coughlin finally left the facilities.

Sep 1, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (2) scores a touchdown during the first half against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Tennessee Titans

Second-year quarterback Marcus Mariota looks the part of a legitimate NFL signal-caller. The Tennessee Titans also have one of the deepest running back groups in the league with DeMarco Murray and rookie Derrick Henry. Tight end is just as packed for the Titans as they have Delanie Walker, Anthony Fasano, and recently added Jets cast-off Jace Amaro.

From there the talent could use some improving. They gave up too early on second year receiver Dorial Green-Beckham and have a really thin group there now, assuming rookie Tajae Sharpe doesn’t have a breakout year. Outside of Brian Orakpo, they also have quite the no-name defense, but could get some production from rookie Kevin Dodd, who they selected in Round 2 from Clemson.

The good news is the Titans could win games based on their running game alone, which they may have to do. They will be better than last season and are making some smart moves outside of the DGB trade.

Feb 9, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos general manager John Elway greets the crowd during the Super Bowl 50 championship parade celebration at Civic Center Park. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos could be headed for a massive free fall.

Without question, the defending Super Bowl Champions are very low on this list. And without their stellar defense, they could have been much lower. Pass rushers Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware lead a unit that is to thank for hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. General manager John Elway and head coach Gary Kubiak are to blame for their dip in ranking. After going out of their way to kiss up to now retired quarterback Peyton Manning, they failed to realize how much they were insulting his heir-apparent Brock Osweiler.

First, Osweiler was pulled despite thoroughly outplaying Manning. Then he had to sit and watch the team talk about how they would give Manning all the time he needed to decide if he was coming back. After Manning finally said goodbye, the team decided to try and re-sign Osweiler. Of course, Elway couldn’t leave well enough alone and publicly said Osweiler wasn’t worth as much as he wanted to get paid.

Not surprisingly, Osweiler left and now the Broncos are starting Trevor Siemian at quarterback. This shouldn’t last long as rookie Paxton Lynch should be in the lineup quite soon. Once he is, they will look better.

Denver fans better hope the team pulls the plug on Siemian sooner rather than later. If not, the AFC West will be too far out of reach.

Aug 25, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) scrambles away from pressure against the Seattle Seahawks during the second quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Dallas Cowboys

After yet another Tony Romo injury the Dallas Cowboys could have been as low as anyone on this list. They aren’t in that position because rookie Dak Prescott has inspired hope after looking like the best rookie quarterback in the NFL this preseason.

With his hype at an all-time high, look for Dallas to find a way to stay in the race for the NFC East without their star quarterback. Helping Prescott will be fourth-overall pick running back Ezekiel Elliott, who also looked promising despite only playing in one game. Another coup for America’s Team is the return of the beast, Dez Bryant. The top-flight wide out was not himself last season thanks to foot injuries, but looks healthy now.

Their defense is the only reason there is a lot of concern in Dallas this season. However, this unit isn’t as bad as people think. They held games close in 2015 and six of their 11 losses came by a touchdown or less. Tony Romo is easily worth a touchdown or more per game over what they had in 2015. If Prescott proves that he is as well, 2016 could have a much better ending.

Aug 18, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) dives for the touchdown as he is hit by Cleveland Browns free safety Jordan Poyer (33) during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta Falcons

After a hot start in 2015, the Atlanta Falcons fizzled out and went just  8-8. They feature beasts on offense like running back Devonta Freeman and receiver Julio Jones. However, they don’t have a ton of help on the defensive side of the ball.

The Falcons did draft linebacker Vic Beasley last season and added safety Keanu Neal in 2016 with their first-round picks. Neal will have to wait before he can offer any help following a preseason injury that will cause him to miss games.

Once again the team’s win-loss record will hang on the offense and quarterback Matt Ryan. The man nicknamed Matty Ice for his cool nerves has been under fire for the team’s failure in past seasons. He is a solid quarterback and while he isn’t in the same tier as a Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers, he is good enough to get Atlanta where they want to go. Of course, it would help if head coach Dan Quinn was able to get more production from the other side of the field.

Aug 27, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) throws during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Baltimore Ravens

Joe Flacco played just 10 games at quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens in 2015 due to an ACL injury. He wasn’t great in those games as the team went just 3-7 with him under center.

That’s an anomaly, though, because it was the first time Baltimore has ever had a losing record with Flacco at the helm. This season looks to be better as they return Big Joe as well as some injured playmakers like receivers Steve Smith, Sr. and Breshad Perriman.

They also could find a rejuvenated running game behind Buck Allen and rookie Kenneth Dixon (who could be a dynamic playmaker one day and once he’s healthy). Second-year tight end Maxx Williams is also in line for a big jump.

Head coach John Harbaugh is one of the best in the business. Smart money would be on him getting things straightened out and seeing Baltimore become a much better team this year.

Sep 1, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) looks on from the sidelines in the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals in a preseason NFL football game at Paul Brown Stadium. The Colts won 13-10. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Indianapolis Colts

The Indianapolis Colts are still ranked in a decent spot for one reason: quarterback Andrew Luck. Outside of him it’s hard to find reasons to be excited about this team.

Their defensive unit is full of more holes than swiss cheese and their offensive line resembles a turn style. At running back they have an over-the-hill running back who excels in a power offense. Unfortunately they feature more of a finesse offense.

Also on offense, receiver T.Y. Hilton is a deep threat, but disappeared at an alarming rate last season. And Donte Moncrief catches a lot of passes, but doesn’t do much with them.

The central problem is two fold. General manager Ryan Grigson is not good at his job. Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com points out that the team has just 10 players on their roster that were drafted since 2012. Alper says that other GM’s with a similar track record have lost their jobs.

The second issue is head coach Chuck Pagano. Why is he so bad? Well…he let this happen.

At the very least, Colts fans can hope that debacle doesn’t repeat itself. Even still, they’d look much more promising without Grigson and Pagano in the picture.

Jan 3, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; New York Jets fans surround New York Jets wide receiver Eric Decker (87) after he scored a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

New York Jets

This could have been a ranking of 32 if they would have headed into the season with Geno Smith as their quarterback. In fact, they should be ranked lower just for failing to cut the player who is simply an atrocious football player. Luckily the Jets are turning things back over to Ryan Fitzpatrick after a long contract dispute. Hopefully he can stay healthy and keep Smith where he belongs: off the football field.

New York’s defense is impressive and head coach Todd Bowles is looking to expand upon a 10-win season from last year. This unit has enough talent to help them in this goal—but the strength is their offense.

At wide out they feature a dynamic duo in Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. They also recently added jack-of-all-trades back Matt Forte. He may be on the back-nine of his career, but he is as effective a receiver as he is a runner. The Jets won’t be able to overtake the Patriots in the AFC East. That said, they are the only team that has any chance of coming close.

Aug 26, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) and Washington Redskins huddle against the Buffalo Bills during the first half at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Washington Redskins

The defending NFC Champs have the best shot to repeat as champions in that division. They return their main starters like quarterback Kirk Cousins, running back Matt Jones, and receivers Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson.

The one thing that could hold them back is the issue Cousins has with facing good teams. So far in his career he has been less than stellar against winning teams. Think that doesn’t matter? Well, Washington does because they’ve been hesitant to sign him to a long-term deal.

Even with Cousins’ shortcomings, the team is probably the most complete unit of the four NFC East teams. They can be explosive on offense and do just enough on defense to win games. Although if Cousins keeps struggling against winning teams things could get bad for Washington considering they now will play a tougher first-place schedule.

Aug 20, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Allen Hurns (88) and wide receiver Allen Robinson (15) celebrate after a touchdown in the second quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

Jacksonville Jaguars

Blake Bortles is on the cusp of being one of the elite passers in the NFL. He threw for more than 4,400 yards and had 35 touchdowns last season for the upstart Jacksonville Jaguars. Thus, they’re looking much better than you might think heading into 2016.

They may have been 5-11 last year, but they were an offensive machine by the end of the year. Now they add last season’s top draft pick Dante Fowler (who missed all of 2015) as well as Jalen Ramsey and Myles Jack. All three players were considered top-10 talents and will be huge factors for this incredibly young franchise.

Other players who make them a team to worry about include the beast of a runner in Chris Ivory, second year runner T.J. Yeldon and stud wide outs Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns. The Jags may have just come off a five-win season, but this is surely a team on the rise.

Sep 1, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) stretches before the game Seattle Seahawks at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Oakland Raiders

Speaking of teams on the rise, here we have the Oakland Raiders. This team lucked out in the 2014 NFL Draft when everyone seemed to think Derek Carr wasn’t a first round pick. Thanks to that error in thinking, Oakland snatched him up in round two and they have been rewarded for the pick. In two seasons Carr has tossed 7,257 yards with 53 touchdowns and 25 picks.

He is on his way to being one of the top-tier guys and 2016 will be a season where he makes a huge leap. Helping him do that will be his top wide out, Amari Cooper. The second year receiver was a force as a rookie and will be even better going forward.

What really makes this team good though was the fact that the 2014 draft netted them not just Carr, but also pass rushing extraordinaire Khalil Mack. The defensive end is fresh off a 15-sack season for the Raiders and should only get better. This team is young, talented and ready to break out. They will be in the mix for the AFC West title as early as this season.

Aug 13, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid watches against the Seattle Seahawks in the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. Seattle won the game 17-16. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs have a great opportunity in front of them as they should be the favorites to claim the AFC West title as Denver is licking their wounds following their quarterback issues this offseason. Quarterback Alex Smith is not a dazzling player, but he is efficient. Running back Jamaal Charles will eventually be back, but until that time, players like Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West are solid enough to hold down the fort.

Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin has been a good player for them as well and has help with second-year player Chris Conley and veteran tight end Travis Kelce. Justin Houston, Tamba Hali, Eric Berry, Dee Ford, Dontari Poe and Marcus Peters highlight the strength of their team, the defense. They are a fantastic unit that is adept at rushing the passer as well as creating turnovers.

They started out 1-5 in 2015 and rattled off a shocking win streak to finish 11-5. Don’t expect a 1-5 start this season, but expect a finish somewhere around the double-digit win mark.

Aug 28, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) makes the call at the line during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Houston Texans

Anyone need a dark horse team to make a deep playoff run? Look no further than the Houston Texans. The narrative has been that the team erred in paying Brock Osweiler how much they did, but that’s wrong. They had to overpay some to lure the quarterback away from the Broncos, but the reasoning was brilliant.

Houston has the best defensive player in the NFL in J.J. Watt. However, Watt is in his prime now, and NFL players’ primes don’t last forever. They needed a good quarterback on the team to help take advantage of the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year’s remaining prime years.

Had they decided to draft one, it could have taken roughly three years or so to develop that player. Watt would have been 30 years old by then. Instead, Houston decided to get someone in here who is ready now that they believe in.

So far in the preseason Osweiler has looked like he fits the bill of a winning quarterback. In Houston, he could be much more. Don’t believe that take? Think about this one, the Texans were a winning team with Brian Hoyer as their starter. Who out there thinks Osweiler is not an upgrade over Hoyer?

Sep 1, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals safety Tyrann Mathieu prior to the game against the Denver Broncos during a preseason game at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer looked rough in the preseason. This shouldn’t worry too many people though because he is a seasoned vet that knows his job. Also, they still have beasts at receiver like Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown.

At running back they are just as stacked with David Johnson taking the lead role after a stout rookie season. Behind him is the old man of the group, Chris Johnson, who surprised many with his play in 2015.

The Cards are still going to be a force on defense and thanks to the return of safety Tyrann Mathieu after an injury cut his year short last season. He and cornerback Patrick Peterson make passing on this team tricky.

Even more in their favor, Arizona beefed up their pass rush by getting Chandler Jones from the New England Patriots. They also scored big in drafting defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche out of Ole Miss. Look for this team to stay near the top of power rankings all season long.

Sep 1, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron (5) talks with quarterback Andy Dalton (14) in the second half against the Indianapolis Colts in a preseason NFL football game at Paul Brown Stadium. The Colts won 13-10. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Cincinnati Bengals

Poor Andy Dalton. The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback is a beast during the regular season as all he does is lead the team to wins. Unfortunately, he can’t get a win in the postseason. Those talks looked to be close to getting silenced in 2015 as Dalton and company were firing on all cylinders. Then a broken thumb ended his season and he had to watch backup A.J. McCarron lead the team in the postseason.

McCarron played admirably, but the team came up just short in a game against Pittsburgh and they once again went one-and-done. Now they’re back again, but minus a few weapons on offense as receiver Marvin Jones went to the Detroit Lions and fellow receiver Mohamed Sanu headed to Atlanta. They were able to land Tyler Boyd out of Pitt in the second round of the draft, but he may not be enough to replace all they lost. But they still can destroy defenses with receiver A.J. Green alone.

What keeps them this high though is their defense. This was already the strength of the team and they spent their top pick making it better. Houston’s William Jackson III was their choice at No. 24 and should see significant time as a rookie. This could be the year that Dalton and his crew get a playoff win. He deserves it and it would be nice to see the hate thrown his way die down some.

Aug 26, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) celebrates after a touchdown with wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) during the first half of a preseason game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers looked unstoppable at times in 2015. Wide receiver Antonio Brown was actually unstoppable. Well, at least he was as far as NFL cornerbacks are concerned. Brown was held in check for several games last season thanks to the team turning to backup quarterback Michael Vick when Ben Roethlisberger was injured. Vick was better at slowing Brown than any shutdown corner ever.

Now with a clean bill of health, Big Ben looks poised to get things firing again with the best wideout in the game right now. Of course, Brown isn’t alone as the Steelers have an incredibly talented receiving corps around him, even with Martavis Bryant suspended for the season. Markus Wheaton has been improving every year and Sammie Coates looks ready to take that next step. Second-year tight end Jesse James also is a promising prospect for this high-octane offense.

On the other side of the ball, they are just as imposing. After a rough stretch following an exodus of veterans, the Steelers spent first round picks on linebackers Jarvis Jones, Ryan Shazier and Bud Dupree in consecutive seasons. They improved that side again in 2016 by drafting cornerback Artie Burns out of Miami. This is a team that is surely on the rise. That’s a scary prospect considering they were never on any real decline.

Aug 18, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson (87) during warmups prior to the game against the Oakland Raiders at Lambeau Field. Green Bay won 20-12. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers went 10-6 last season but struggled to get their offense going at times. There were several reasons as to why, but the chief problem was the loss of one of the most underrated receivers in the game, Jordy Nelson.

With him out, everyone else seemed to struggle, leaving all the pressure on quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Of course Rodgers still led the team to double-digit wins and a playoff run, but that’s what happens when you have arguably the best player in the game.

Another issue from last season that looks to be solved was the odd case of running back Eddie Lacy. The bruising running back showed up overweight and was ineffective for much of 2015. He then worked with personal trainer Tony Horton of P90X fame.

The results have been a healthier Lacy, who looked back to himself in the preseason games. With Nelson and Lacy returning or returning to form, look for Mr. Rodgers and company to have another big year.

Aug 26, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) drops back to pass during the first quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

New England Patriots

Tom Brady is suspended for the first four games of the season thanks to Deflategate. After those four games are done look for the world to be upset about “Jimmy-Gate” when people wonder how the Pats still look so good with Jimmy Garoppolo starting at quarterback.

Sure, the Eastern Illinois product is no Brady. But the last time head coach Bill Belichick had to go without Touchdown Tom, all New England did was win 11 games with Matt Cassel. The same Matt Cassel who never even started in college as he sat behind Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart at USC. Also the same Matt Cassel who couldn’t buy a win for the Dallas Cowboys in 2015.

Now the Pats will go Brady-less with a much more talented quarterback in Garoppolo. He will also have a much better supporting cast with tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennet, wide receiver Julian Edelman, and running back LaGarrette Blount.

Another reason the Patriots are up this high is their underrated defense. They return Devin McCourty at safety, who is a beast. They also brought over veteran defensive end Chris Long, who most likely will have his last resurgence in New England.

Then they recently swung a deal for pass rusher Barkevious Mingo, who already looked stellar in his debut with the team. Moves like getting a former bust in Mingo for a fifth-round pick seem to pay off at a high rate for the Patriots, and this one looks like it will as well.

Sep 1, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Troymaine Pope (26) celebrates with quarterback Russell Wilson (3) after scoring a touchdown Oakland Raiders during the fourth quarter at Oakland Coliseum. The Seattle Seahawks defeated the Oakland Raiders 23-21. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Seattle Seahawks

People who hate on quarterback Russell Wilson and call him a “system guy” had to loath the end of the 2015 NFL season. Wilson was on an absolute tear as the team unleashed him following injuries to both running backs Marshawn Lynch and Thomas Rawls.

In 2016, looks for more of the same out of Wilson as Lynch is now retired and Rawls is working back into his role following his season ending injury. Seattle is known as a defensive powerhouse, but Wilson threw for 4,024 yards with 34 touchdowns and just eight interceptions. For good measure, he added another 553 yards rushing on the season.

That kind of leadership on offense is tough enough to deal with, but then when you add the “Legion of Boom” to the mix, you get a nearly unstoppable team.

Oh and for those out there saying there are three phases to the game, you’re right. Unfortunately for Seattle detractors, they excel here as well thanks to the explosive return man Tyler Lockett who averaged more than 27 yards per kick return and 9.5 per punt return. Seattle is just a year removed from back-to-back Super Bowl appearances, which included one win. Look for them to remain one of the top teams in 2016.

Aug 26, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin (13) catches a pass against New England Patriots cornerback Cyrus Jones (24) in the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium. The Patriots defeated the Panthers 19-17. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers get the top spot here as they return most of their starters from last season’s Super Bowl team. They lost the big game, but that is nothing to frown about. Carolina is a young team that made the championship game despite losing their top wide receiver before the season began in Kelvin Benjamin. Now they return with defending MVP Cam Newton at quarterback and an insanely determined Benjamin.

The cast around him and Newton are just as talented as last season since all key starters on offense have returned. Big play threats like Ted Ginn, Jr. and hard nosed runners like Jonathan Stewart and Mike Tolbert will only find more room to operate thanks to the return of their number one wide out.

Defensively, the team returns pretty much everyone outside of cornerback Josh Norman. The team rescinded their offer to him, and let the outspoken corner head to Washington. They are banking on the defensive scheme being good enough to replace him and not miss a beat. Chances are they’ll win that bet.

The biggest reason to be optimistic that the defense will stay dominate is their linebacker Luke Kuechly. The 25-year old heads into 2016 just shy of 600 tackles in only four NFL seasons. He means as much to the defense as Newton means to the offense.

With the reigning MVP and the best linebacker in the league, Carolina has all they need to make just as much noise this season as they did in 2015.

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