Denver Broncos

Week One NFL Power Rankings

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

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Week one NFL Power rankings are finally here. That means football is back in full force. Have the Broncos dropped due to their quarterback situation? Have injuries forced teams down the totem pole? See what has happened to your team since the draft right here!

1. Denver Broncos (1)

Aug 27, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian (13) calls out from the line of scrimmage during the second quarter of a preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Champions are always going to be number one until they lose. Don’t like it?—Sorry. Yes the quarterback situation isn’t as great as a defending champion would hope, but the Broncos themselves feel far more comfortable where they are at with the position than the majority of the country. The fact of the matter is the defense is still incredible, and on that, and behind a bigger emphasis on the run game, the Broncos still should be a top team in the league.

2. Carolina Panthers (2)

Aug 26, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) scrambles to control the ball pressured by New England Patriots middle linebacker Jonathan Freeny (55) during the second half at Bank of America Stadium. Patriots win over the Panthers 19-17. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

The Panthers shouldn’t be good this season. They should be downright dominant—again. Despite how good he was last season, Cam Newton is only getting better. Adding Kelvin Benjamin back in to the mix, combined with the emergence of second year receiver Devin Funchess will only help the Panthers passing game. If there was one concern on this team it would be the youth and inexperience in the secondary, but they have enough veterans in the front seven to make up for that.

3. Seattle Seahawks (5)

Sep 1, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) speaks to teammates in the huddle before a play Oakland Raiders during the first quarter at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Russell Wilson came out and said that this was most talented team he’d been on since 2013. That’s a scary proposition. The Seahawks will once again sport a top-5 defense, and the offense in far more potent then it was in 2013—Wilson can really sling it around these days. After a one year hiatus atop the NFC West, expect to see the Seahawks back on top in that division.

4. Green Bay Packers (3)

January 16, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jeff Janis (83) catches a touchdown pass against Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) and free safety Rashad Johnson (26) during the second half in a NFC Divisional round playoff game at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The Packers had nothing on offense a season ago aside from the best quarterback in the league. Add Jordy Nelson, Jared Cook and subtract 20 pounds of fat from Eddie Lacy and you’ll see the potent offense that we are all used to seeing in Green Bay. There is no way aside from a season ending injury to Aaron Rodgers that the Packers are not winning the NFC North this season.

5. New England Patriots (4)

Sep 1, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA;New York Giants defensive end Owa Odighizuwa (58) chasing down New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) in the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: William Hauser-USA TODAY Sports

It will be an interesting year for the Patriots without a doubt. How will Garoppolo fare in Brady’s absence? The fact remains that Tom Brady for 12 games is better than most quarterback situations in the league, and adding Martellus Bennett just adds another weapon for Brady to utilize. Hard to see them not being there right in the thick of things when it is all said and done.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (6)

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

If Big Ben can stay healthy, and Le’Veon Bell can stay healthy and out of trouble, this will likely be the top offense in the NFL. There isn’t a cornerback in the league that can cover Antonio Brown, and Ben Roethlisberger has turned into one of, if not the best quarterback in the NFL. The defense could drag them down, but this team could be scary good.

7. Arizona Cardinals (7)

Aug 28, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) gestures during a NFL football gameagainst the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Carson Palmer has had a turnover bug going on since the divisional round of the playoffs last year, and it has carried right into the preseason. With that said, the running back stable that Arizona possess’ is simply ridiculous, and Bruce Arians has shown himself to be a great head coach in this league. Expect 10 more wins from the Cards.

8. Cincinnati Bengals (9)

Sep 1, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) looks on from the sidelines 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

Could this be the year that the Bengals finally win a playoff game under Marvin Lewis. Due to some back luck a season ago with an injury to Andy Dalton they failed once again. Dalton is back healthy this year, and they despite losing a few pieces, they should be able to compete for another AFC North title.

9. Kansas City Chiefs (8)

Aug 27, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith (11) directs his team against the Chicago Bears during the first half of the preseason game at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

The Chiefs were one of the hottest teams down the stretch last year. However losing Justin Houston for a minimum of six weeks will hurt. Jamal Charles is also not going to be ready so a slow start could happen for the second year in a row.

10. Baltimore Ravens (12)

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

It’s hard to keep a John Harbaugh team down for long—especially when ALL of his good players are returning from injury. It was a very tough season from an injury standpoint a year ago, but the Ravens in 2016 will be far closer to the Ravens we saw in 2014, which is good news for Baltimore fans.

11. Oakland Raiders (13)

Aug 27, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack (52) attempts to rush past Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) in the second quarter at Oakland Alameda Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

The Raiders won the offseason. If there has one thing that has been a consensus among the NFL world, it is that. Can that translate into success on the field? We shall see. The Raiders haven’t had a team over .500 since 2002 so a 9-7 finish would have to be considered a success.

12. Washington Redskins (14)

Aug 26, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins defensive back Josh Norman (24) celebrates after a tackle against the Buffalo Bills during the first half at FedEx Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Adding Josh Norman was a nice move for the reigning division champs. Kirk Cousins is out to prove he is worth a long term contract. With Tony Romo proving that he cannot stay healthy, the division is once again wide open. Can the Skins take advantage?

13. Indianapolis Colts (16)

Aug 20, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) takes a drink of water against the Baltimore Ravens at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

The Colts aren’t without many flaws, but they have Andrew Luck back and healthy. He just scored himself the richest contract in NFL history, so he should be ready to lead the Colts back to the top of the division and earn his money.

14. New York Jets (17)

Aug 27, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) eludes New York Giants defensive end Olivier Vernon (54) during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Brandon Marshall got his best friend back as Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Jets finally came to terms. In year two, can the duo lead the Jets into the playoffs which would mark the first time either of them have done so in their respected careers?

15. Minnesota Vikings (10)

Aug 28, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (11) during a preseason game against the San Diego Chargers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Chargers 23-10. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

You have got to feel for Teddy Bridgewater after that injury. The good news is he should make a full recovery after a real scare. From a team standpoint this puts them slightly behind the eight ball. The Vikings are less reliant on Bridgewater than the Cowboys are on Romo, mostly in part because they sport a great defense. Picking up Bradford should help some, but he’s no Bridgewater and will have to learn the system in a week. This feels like a panic move from the Vikings who gave up far too much for a one year rental—and not even a very good one at that.

16. Jacksonville Jaguars (18)

Aug 20, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Chad Henne (7) looks to throw under protection from Jaguars offensive lineman Patrick Omameh (77) during the third quarter of a football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

The Jags have looked nice this preseason which goes right along with the nice offseason they had. They may be a year away, but this is a team on the rise—no doubt about it.

17. Dallas Cowboys (11)

Aug 25, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) passes against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half of an NFL football game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

This may be the end of the line for Tony Romo in Dallas. A broken back for a quarterback in his mid-30’s is not good, and with the emergence of rookie Dak Prescott, there may be no coming back. Prescott has looked nice, but is he going to be good enough as a rookie to help lead a squad with a poor defense to the playoffs? We’ll see.

18. Houston Texans (15)

Aug 28, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Brock Osweiler (17) looks for an open receiver during the second quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Houston has done some good things, and done some bad things this preseason. The $18 million question is: Can Brock Osweiler carry the load over the course of 16 games? Time will tell.

19. Buffalo Bills (19)

Aug 20, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy (25) celebrates a touchdown during the first half against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Tyrod Taylor got himself a new deal—kind of. He basically just agreed to up the pay for this season, but will be a free agent next year as there is no way the Bills are going to activate the team option on that contract. Tyrod Taylor in a contract year could be a good thing for the Bills.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (22)

Aug 26, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) throws a pass during the second quarter of a football game against the Cleveland Browns at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Jameis Winston looks like he is ready to put on a show this season. If this defense can be decent, Tampa Bay is going to have a real shot at making it to the playoffs and Winston could be a dark horse MVP candidate.

21. Los Angeles Rams (23)

Aug 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) huddles with his team prior to the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

A lot of this season is going to ride on the shoulders of number 30, Todd Gurley. With Goff not yet ready, Gurley is going to have to shoulder the load on offense. The good news for the Rams is that Aaron Donald may be the defender in the league—maybe.

22. New York Giants (24)

Aug 27, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) passes during the first quarter of the preseason game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

There is a lot to like about the Giants this year, but the biggest thing is that they play in the NFC East. We all know the offense can be potent with Eli Manning, Odell Beckham Jr. and the return of Victor Cruz. But the real question is, how will the additions of Oliver Vernon and Janoris Jenkins benefit this defense, and can JPP return close to the player he was before his accident? If the defense can be above average, this is a playoff team.

23. Miami Dolphins (21)

Sep 1, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (93) prior to a game against the Tennessee Titans at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

If Adam Gase can do for Ryan Tannehill what he did a season ago for Jay Cutler, this could be a good football team. The addition of Arian Foster is very nice, if he can stay healthy that is. Can the Dolphins take advantage of the four game Tom Brady suspension? Sources say doubtful.

24. New Orleans Saints (27)

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

What’s not to like about the Saints? They have Sean Payton, Drew Brees, Brandin Cooks—oh yeah, that’s about it. Brees cap number continually makes it tough for the Saints to build a good team around him.

25. Atlanta Falcons (25)

Aug 25, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) throws a pass during the second half against the Miami Dolphins at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Something just doesn’t feel right with the Falcons. Is Matt Ryan a player in decline? Since 2012, it certainly feels that way. Julio Jones should have another big year, but will anything else be good? Can the Falcons sack a quarterback? Stay tuned to find out.

26. Cleveland Browns (32)

Aug 26, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) runs with the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Believe it or not, the Browns actually have something going for them this year. RGIII has looked like a decent quarterback. They drafted a nice receiver and will also be getting back Josh Gordon sooner rather than later. Side-note on Gordon—he still looks like a beast, even after a year off.

27. Detroit Lions (28)

Aug 27, 2016; Baltimore, MD, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford (9) scrambles to pass during the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

With the Vikings losing Bridgewater, the door may be open for the Lions to make a playoff push. They weren’t as bad as their record a year ago, especially not after Jim Bob Cooter took over the play calling duties. Matt Stafford looked great in the second half of the year last season. Lets see if that carries over to 2016.

28. San Diego Chargers (29)

Aug 28, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; San Diego Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen (13) carries the ball as Minnesota Vikings cornerback Terence Newman (not pictured) and linebacker Anthony Barr (55) defend during the second quarter in a preseason game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

The Chargers just simply aren’t a good football team. They don’t have the defense to be able to feed Melvin Gordon the way he needs the ball. Rivers is declining as he gets older. At least they signed Joey Bosa.

29. Philadelphia Eagles (20)

Aug 11, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) warms up before action against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

The moment the Eagles decided to ship Sam Bradford to the Vikings they essentially called it quits on 2016. This was certainly the right move for the Eagles as they weren’t going to be good even with Bradford. Now they can develop their young quarterback, and somehow got a first rounder back for a quarterback I Bradford that just isn’t any good. Good work Eagles.

30. Chicago Bears (26)

Sep 1, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) stretches before the game between the Cleveland Browns and the Chicago Bears at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

After the Bears took a 22-0 beatdown to open the preseason, John Fox characterized his teams effort as terrific. Okay then…

31. San Francisco 49ers (31)

Sep 1, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) and fullback Bruce Miller (49) applaud as the San Diego Chargers honor military service members during the second quarter at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Chip Kelly, enjoy the mess you have in San Francisco. Blaine Gabbert is the starter, and Colin Kaepernick is doing his thing. Don’t expect a lot of winning along the way.

32. Tennessee Titans (31)

Aug 20, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) during warm up prior to the game against the Carolina Panthers at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Marcus Mariota is a fine young player and should continue to grow as a quarterback. Demarco Murray and Derrick Henry were nice additions to this team. It’s just very hard to picture them winning many games. 2017 will be the growth year, not this season.