Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images
Yes, I realize that the Super Bowl is still a week away and that the NFL Draft has not yet taken place. But odds are, your team will be doing the same thing this Sunday; watching what could have been. So, with this being said, why not fantasize for what the future holds? This is obviously just a rough draft, since many teams are still without key parts to their team so far in this offseason, but here is my prediction for next season's power rankings:
32. Carolina Panthers: New head coach Ron Rivera might be biting off a little more than he can chew with this organization. Coming off of the league's worst record for 2010 (2-14), the Panthers don't have much to look forward to in '11. With an offense that ranked dead last in the passing game, and questions surrounding what to do with their first overall pick in the draft last year in Jimmy Claussen, Carolina might be looking at back-to-back first overall draft picks.
31. Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals are desperately missing Kurt Warner's leadership. Will they look to the draft to replace it? This team has talent, they just don't know it yet.
30. Buffalo Bills: Posting one winning record since 1999, the Bills are a given to be a blunder next season until proven otherwise.
29. Tennessee Titans: The Titans are without a quarterback and a head coach. A defense that ranked 29th against the pass doesn't help either.
28. Cleveland Browns: Former Rams offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur is the latest man for the bottomless pit-ah hem, the Browns. Yes, they locked in a few good athletes with Colt McCoy, Peyton Hillis, and Josh Cribbs, but I'm sure they'll figure out a way to screw up once again. The Browns are good for another 4-12 season.
27. Cincinnati Bengals: Mike Brown's organization is lost in the jungle right now. 'Nuff said.
26. Denver Broncos: With arguably the worst defense in the NFL this year, allowing a whopping 29.4 points per contest, the Broncos posted a 4-12 record. However, Tim Tebow provided a spark during the last few games of the season. Now the question is will new head coach John Fox decide to stay with the first round pick from a year ago or move into a different direction?
25. Washington Redskins: Is this where the Cam Newton era begins? Either way, the Redskins have a lot of work to do.
24. San Francisco 49ers: Can Jim Harbough revive the 49ers? San Francisco is 46-82 since their last playoff appearance in 2002, shredding through five quarterbacks and four head coaches in that time.
23. Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks are an average team at best that did just enough to win an abysmal NFC West. If Seattle plans to improve from this year, they had better come up with a plan to awaken a running game; the Seahawks averaged just 89.0 yards a game, which is ranked 31st in the NFL.
22. Detroit Lions: What? The Lions aren't the league's laughing stock anymore? Seven of Detroit's 10 losses this season were by one score, proving that they are beginning to polish. Detroit is riding a four-game winning streak into the 2011 season, and if Matt Stafford can stay healthy, they have a legitimate shot of going .500.
21. Minnesota Vikings: Even if Brett Favre decides to turn in his cane and return for another season, the Vikings have a serious quarterback problem.
20. St. Louis Rams: Rookie Sam Bradford took a previous 1-15 football team to a playoff contender in just one season. With a year under his belt and a healthy Steven Jackson (and hopefully a draft full of receivers, for his sake), look for the Rams to be right back in contention for the NFC West.
19. Houston Texans: The Texans started off hot, but lost eight of ten games to end the season. With Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson and Adrian Foster on the offensive attack, even an average defense could carry Houston to 10 wins. But when you rank dead last against the pass, its hard to compete.
18. Kansas City Chiefs: I hate to be the bad guy, but someone has to say it. FLUKE. I expect the Chiefs to return to their old ways; behind the San Diego Chargers.
17. Oakland Raiders: Darren McFadden rushed for 1,157 yards and seven touchdowns in 2010, being the spark that led Oakland to an 8-8 record. If the Raiders can stick with a quarterback and slow down opponent's running backs, look for them to make a serious run at the playoffs. That is, if Tom Cable's replacement, Hue Jackson, can keep the train rollin'.
16. New York Giants: Tom Coughlin's New York Giants underachieved in 2010 to say the least, but 38 turnovers (25 interceptions thrown by Eli Manning) won't get you into the playoffs.
15. Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins always seem to hang around until the very end of the season, when they fall apart. Despite coach Sparano's new contract, he is on the hot seat this year. Miami needs someone to add to the Williams-Brown Wildcat duo.
14. Jacksonville Jaguars: After a disappointing end to their season, look for David Garrarad to have his Jags right back in contention.
13. Chicago Bears: Chicago averaged just 289.4 yards a game this season, and ranked 28th in passing offense. If the Bears want to find themselves in the playoffs in 2011, Jay Cutler has to step up his game.
12. Baltimore Ravens: The average age of the Raven's D is 29-years-old. Ray Lewis' squad was still very troublesome, but it seems to be getting easier for opposing teams to find success against Baltimore's defense. Greg Mattison is now replaced by Chuck Pagano as defensive coordinator as well. My guess is that Joe Flacco and the Raven offense will have to put up a few more points a game if they want to keep up with the Steelers in the AFC North.
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Quarterback Josh Freeman showed signs of brilliance as he passed for 3,451 yards and 25 touchdowns. Rookie LeGarrette Blount and Cardiac Williams added a solid rushing game, combining for over 1,400 yards. Look out for the Buccaneers and their young talent in 2011.
10. Dallas Cowboys: Remember how the Cowboys were supposed to win the Super Bowl in their home stadium? Well, that didn't happen, but I'm sure head coach Jason Garrett wouldn't mind getting a ring in his first real season.
9. San Diego Chargers: I'm convinced that the whole Vincent Jackson ordeal in the beginning of the year cursed San Diego. They'll be back next season, and I'm sure Phillip Rivers will be in Pro-Bowl form.
8. New Orleans Saints: Injuries plagued the Saints this season, but that's no excuse for the defending Super Bowl Champs to fall to the 7-9 Seattle Seahawks in the first round of the playoffs. Drew Brees can't do it all; New Orleans needs a running game.
7. New York Jets: It's personal. Rex Ryan is determined to win a Super Bowl.. but is Mark Sanchez the guy to get him there?
6. Indianapolis Colts: If the Colts can stay healthy, they're always dangerous. Peyton Manning did his best to work with what he had, but I'm sure he would take his starting offense back any day. The Colts will be back in the upcoming season.
5. Philadelphia Eagles: Two words. Franchise tag. Vick will be an Eagle for another year, and as dynamic as he and DeSean Jackson are together, look for a lot more hook-ups next season.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers: I'm just tired of seeing the same team in the Super Bowl every year. I expect them to be in the AFC Championship game next season, but their aging defense will begin to effect their nose for the big game.
3. Atlanta Falcons: Hotlanta won 13 games this year, and Matt Ryan had an outstanding sophomore year. After a 48-21 embarrassment at the hands of Aaron Rodgers and the Packers in the divisional playoffs, the Falcons will be carrying the bad taste into the 2011 season.
2. Green Bay Packers: The Packers have reached the Super Bowl off of Aaron Rodger's superior play-making and a defense that held opponents to just 15 points per game during the regular season. The running game has came alive during the playoffs, and this should carry on to the next season when Brandon Jackson returns to a healthy state.
1. New England Patriots: There's no surprise here. The Patriots return the league's Offensive Player of the Year in Tom Brady, a young yet athletic defense that progressed throughout the season, and a head coach with five Super Bowl rings (two as the defensive coordinator for the Giants), however, a threat downfield will need to be added to the offense. Bill Belichick will have his troops ready and New England is my number one overall team for next season.
Source:
No comments:
Post a Comment