Packers still atop AP Pro32 as season begins
NEW YORK (AP) -- The Green Bay Packers remained the top-rated team in The Associated Press NFL power rankings heading into the regular season, while the Indianapolis Colts escaped the bottom spot in the AP Pro32.
Green Bay earned five first-place votes from a panel of 12 media members who regularly cover the league, and had 373 points overall to edge New England and the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants. The Patriots got two first-place votes and 367 points, while the Giants were No. 1 on five ballots and totaled 363 points.
The top eight are the same as in the previous poll conducted just before preseason games. San Francisco, Baltimore, Houston, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia followed the Giants.
Indianapolis was the bottom-feeder in the first-ever AP Pro32, but moved up to No. 27 this time. Cleveland dropped to No. 32.