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Although we are roughly four months away from the Giants-Cowboys season opener, the majority of offseason moves have been made (via free agency and NFL draft).

Therefore, it makes sense to release our first consensus power rankings for the upcoming season based on those moves. In a sense, these are our (pre-) preseason rankings. Our next update will occur during the preseason and then weekly throughout the season.

In addition to many sites releasing their power rankings as well, Vegas has odds set for Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans next February. The early favorites are the Packers and Patriots with odds at 5/1 each, according to SportsBook.com. The next lowest odds (10/1) belong to three teams: 49ers, Texans and Eagles.

Another way to look at it is the defending Super Bowl champions (15/1) were not in the top five in best odds and weren't even the top choice in their own division as the Eagles have 10/1 odds. That said, they were one of two teams to tie for the top spot in our power rankings.

On the flip side, there six teams that are tied for the worst odds (100/1): Rams, Vikings, Colts, Browns, Jaguars and Bucs.

With each update, we always all respond to one roundtable question.

This update's roundtable topic: Which team has made the biggest improvement of their roster from last season through offseason moves and draft picks?

Kevin (follow Kevin on Twitter): Philadelphia Eagles

I debated three teams here: Eagles, Bengals and Bears. While the Bengals did not make a ton of splashy offseason moves, I thought they had as strong of a draft as any other team. Not only did they use their two first-rounders on two positions of need -- cornerback (Dre Kirkpatrick) and interior offensive line (Kevin Zeitler), but they got good values later in the draft as well. The Bears added playmakers through the free agency (Michael Bush), trade (Brandon Marshall) and draft (Alshon Jeffery). While I like what the Bears and Bengals have done, I like what the Eagles have done more. By trading a mid-round pick for DeMeco Ryans, a former Defensive Rookie of the Year, they filled a huge void before the draft. In the draft, they got a ton of value. In my opinion, Fletcher Cox was the best defensive tackle prospect in the draft. While they used four of their first five picks on the defensive side of the ball, they got some good values later in the draft on the offensive side in Marvin McNutt, Brandon Washington and Bryce Brown and they added Chris Polk as an undrafted free agent.

John (follow John on Twitter): Denver Broncos

It seems that the Patriots and the Eagles were among the biggest winners of the NFL draft. Still, in terms of impact on next year, it's tough to ignore the big free agent signing in Denver. While the Broncos did make the playoffs last year and even won a playoff game, nobody thought of them as a real contender. They won several fluky games to win the division, and played a great game against the Steelers to advance to the second round. This year, the Broncos will be viewed as a legitimate contender, and rightly so. The addition of Peyton Manning gives them a 2-3 year window where they have a significantly improved chance to win the Super Bowl. Mario Williams will greatly improve Buffalo, a good draft will certainly help fill some deficiencies from last year for teams like the Pats and Eagles, but no team improved from 2011 to 2012 like the Broncos. Looking at the Super Bowl favorites for next year, you'll see all of the usual suspects (Packers, Patriots, Steelers, Ravens, etc), with one exception; Denver will be among the favorites. No other team had a free agent signing or draft that is expected to have the kind of impact that Peyton Manning will have in Denver. With one acquisition, the Broncos made the biggest improvement from last year to next.

Dan (follow Dan on Twitter): New England Patriots

Yes again this may seem like a heavy dose of homerism, but so far I think the New England Patriots have made the biggest improvement to their team with the draft and free agency. The Patriots have added skilled targets in Brandon Lloyd, Jabar Gaffney, and Donte Stallworth. They have also massively bolstered their front seven in the draft in adding two potential blue chippers in Donta Hightower and Chandler Jones. I am loving the Patriots moves so far this year, and most likely there will be more to come.

Sean (follow Sean on Twitter): Buffalo Bills

[Note: I'm still awaiting Sean's rationale for his pick, but presumably the addition of Mario Williams via free agency and drafting of Stephon Gilmore and Cordy Glenn will be factors.]

See how all 32 teams ranked in our post-draft edition of our 2012 NFL consensus power rankings.

Posted by Kevin Hanson at 09:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

With the NFL regular season over, this will be our final Consensus NFL Power Rankings for the 2011 season. From this point, the playoffs determine whether or not the Packers should still be the No. 1 unanimous choice at the top of the power rankings.

Twelve teams have the power to determine their own fate; the other 20 teams can only watch and start rebuilding for 2012 and beyond. And some teams (St. Louis, Tampa Bay and Indianapolis) have already fired their head coach and/or general manager.

Here are some stats on this week's consensus rankings:

- Biggest jump from last week: San Diego Chargers (+4.75)
- Biggest drop from last week: Oakland Raiders (-3.75)
- Team with widest difference between high and low rank: New York Jets and Oakland Raiders (8)

[See this week's full rankings.]

As part of our weekly power rankings, we will feature one question that all four rankers will answer.

Here is this week's question (followed by our responses): Which wild card team has the best shot to get to (and perhaps win) the Super Bowl?

John (follow John on Twitter): I'd love to say that the Falcons have the best chance to get to the Super Bowl as a wild card. They've really come on and have been playing very well down the stretch. However, the NFC is just too strong, and I don't see either Atlanta or Detroit getting through two or possibly all three of the top three seeds (Packers, 49ers and Saints). Realistically, the Steelers are the wild card team with the best chance to go all the way. They have already beaten the top-seeded Patriots and although they have lost twice to the Ravens, historically the Steelers have been very good against them (including knocking them out of last year's playoffs). The Steelers are good offensively and defensively, and they've certainly been there before. If they are healthy enough, they are the wild card team with the best chance to make the Super Bowl.

Sean (visit Sean's website): I am choosing Pittsburgh even without Mendenhall for the playoffs. It was really a process of elimination. The Bengals have only beat one team over .500 this year and that was the Titans. Detroit is playing the Saints, who look really good, and the Falcons (if they win and if the Saints win) have a date in Green Bay next week. New England and Baltimore are both beatable in the AFC.

Dan (follow Dan on Twitter): It seems that lots of wildcard teams have been making moves into the Super Bowl lately, and the team that will have the best shot to get to and win the SuperBowl would be the Steelers. Pittsburgh is battle-tested and they know what it takes to get to and win the championship. All of the AFC teams have question marks, and if there is a team that is built to win three on the road, I trust Roethlisberger and LeBeau's defense over any of the other wildcards.

Kevin (follow Kevin on Twitter): While I don't think any of the wild card teams will actually make it to the Super Bowl this year, the path of least resistance is through the AFC. Along with the Packers last year, the Steelers are the other team in NFL history that has won the Super Bowl despite being a No. 6 seed. If there's a wild card team that can do it, I'd go with the team that has already done it (recently).

See how all 32 teams were ranked in our final 2011 Consensus NFL Power Rankings.

Related: our Consensus NBA Power Rankings

Posted by Kevin Hanson at 06:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Last night, Saints quarterback Drew Brees threw his record-setting 12th 300-yard game this season and broke the single-season passing yards record in the process.

Amazingly enough, the quarterback that has completed more than 70 percent of his passes, thrown for 5,087 yards and 41 touchdowns (with a game to go) is unlikely to win league MVP.

Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers is the likely winner although the Packers have home-field advantage locked up, which means we could see some (or a lot of) Matt Flynn this week.

The Packers are still the consensus No. 1 in our NFL Power Rankings, but the Saints are No. 2. Considering they have a chance to earn a first-round bye, Brees and the starters should play most of the game (or until the outcome is determined) next week.

For the first time this season, however, there is no longer a consensus No. 32 team. In fact, the Colts moved up to No. 31 as the Rams dropped to the bottom of the list.

Here are some stats on this week's consensus rankings:

- Biggest jump from last week: Tennessee Titans (+4.5)
- Biggest drop from last week: New York Jets (-3.5)
- Team with widest difference between high and low rank: New York Jets (8)

[See this week's full rankings.]

As part of our weekly power rankings, we will feature one question that all four rankers will answer. Here is the Week 17 question (followed by our responses): Who will win the NFC East?

John (follow John on Twitter): The NFC East division winner will come down to the final week of the season, and I've got the New York Giants headed to the playoffs. Both the Giants and Cowboys have made a lot of mistakes down the stretch and have failed to take advantage of the situation time and time again. Although their record would not indicate it, I believe the Giants have played better down the stretch. They played the 49ers close on the road, and only lost to the Packers on a last-second field goal. They were sloppy at home against the Redskins, but then played well against the Jets to insure they controlled their own destiny. With the Giants recent success against the Cowboys, the normal December woes for Dallas, and the fact that the Giants do seem to be playing a bit better right now, I believe that New York will come out on top, and just may make some noise in the playoffs. Ok, probably not, but I'm a big Giants fan, so I can hope!

Sean (visit Sean's website): I think the Cowboys will win Sunday's matchup as much as it pains me to say it. The Giants did look decent against the Jets this past week, and the Cowboys looked like they were the worst team in the NFC East, but the Cowboys had nothing to play for after the Giants won. Tony Romo will be back for this one, and I think the Cowboys, behind a big game from Romo, will win this one.

Dan (follow Dan on Twitter): It comes down to one game yet again for the NFC East, and somehow it just had to involve Dallas. I am sold more on the ability of the Giants to get it done in the big game, as they have played the toughest schedule in the league this year. The Cowboys have also been known to choke in this situation; who could forget week 17 2008 Philly 44 Dallas 6?

Kevin (follow Kevin on Twitter): Neither team has inspired much confidence lately. The Giants have lost five of their past seven games although one of their two wins was in Dallas. Then again, many would say the Cowboys lost that game as opposed to the Giants winning it. That's the problem -- the Cowboys have "lost" too many games this season. I think this game goes down to the wire, but the Giants win (or Cowboys lose) at the end.

See how all 32 teams were ranked in our Week 17 Consensus NFL Power Rankings.

Posted by Kevin Hanson at 06:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Well, the possibility of the Packers going 19-0 and/or the Colts going 0-16 is over. That said, both teams are still the consensus No. 1 and 32 teams, respectively.

Two of the more interesting teams to watch over the next couple of weeks will be the San Diego Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles. Both teams have a ton of talent and have been huge disappointments this season. Depending how things break for them, however, they could end up hosting a playoff game in early January.

For whatever reason, the Chargers play their best football in the month of December. After losing six consecutive games, the Chargers have won all three of the December games this month by a margin of at least 20 points every game. The Eagles need a little more help, but if they win their remaining two games this season and the Jets beat the Giants this week and the Giants beat the Cowboys next week, the Eagles will be NFC East champions.

Here are some stats on this week's consensus rankings:

- Biggest jump from last week: Cincinnati Bengals (+3.5)
- Biggest drop from last week: Chicago Bears (6.25)
- Team with widest difference between high and low rank: Philadelphia Eagles (6)

[See this week's full rankings.]

As part of our weekly power rankings, we will feature one question that all four rankers will answer.

Here is the Week 16 question (followed by our responses): Who will be the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs?

John (follow John on Twitter): The Patriots have a one-game lead over the rest of the AFC, and two winnable home games against Buffalo and Miami remaining on their schedule. New England looked a little bit shaky earlier in the season, with some clear defensive problems. They didn't have the same look as the perennial Super Bowl threat that they have had in years past. That was then, this is now. Brady and the Pats have won six in a row, and have faced few challenges in that time. They should have no trouble retaining the number one seed and clinching home field throughout.

Sean (visit Sean's website): New England takes down the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Two games remaining versus non-playoff teams and Tom Brady is rolling. Pittsburgh will get the other bye week in the AFC. Houston and Baltimore looked awful this week and will be in trouble if the playoffs started today.

Dan (follow Dan on Twitter): The New England Partriots will end up with the number one seed this year in the AFC. The Patriots have the easiest schedule by far, as they have only Miami and Buffalo left to play, and they entertain them at home. I just see the Steelers falling at some point, as their offense certainly has not been on par as of lately. Once again the road to Indianapolis runs through Foxboro, well as long as they aren't one-and-done like the last two years.

Kevin (follow Kevin on Twitter): Although they may not need to win out, the Patriots are the No. 1 seed if they do. It's hard to imagine them losing either of their final two games as they will be double-digit favorites at home against the Dolphins this week and the Bills next week. And with the Steelers losing last night, the Packers locked up the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

See how all 32 teams were ranked in our Week 16 Consensus NFL Power Rankings.

Posted by Kevin Hanson at 05:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The Packers and Colts are a perfect 13-0 and imperfect 0-13, respectively, the unanimous No. 1 and No. 32 team, respectively, and the consensus No. 1 and No. 32 teams, respectively, in our NFL Consensus Power Rankings.

Although the Packers lost receiver Greg Jennings to an MCL injury, he is expected to be back in time for the playoffs. His absence may make it harder for the Packers to finish with a perfect regular season, but the Packers need to win only one of their final three games to lock up home-field advantage in the NFC.

Meanwhile, the Colts will almost certainly land the top overall pick in this year's draft and it's a virtual lock that they will draft Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. However, some comments this week from Archie Manning, Peyton's father, have added to the drama in Indy. [See our updated 2012 NFL Mock Draft Database.]

Here are some stats on this week's consensus rankings:

- Biggest jump from last week: New York Giants (+2.75)
- Biggest drop from last week: Miami Dolphins (-3.00)
- Team(s) with widest difference between high and low rank: Denver Broncos and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7)

[See this week's full rankings.]

As part of our weekly power rankings, we will feature one question that all four rankers will answer.

Here is the Week 15 question (followed by our responses): Who will be the best team that you believe will NOT make the playoffs in 2011?

John (follow John on Twitter): The best team that's going to miss the playoffs this year will be the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys are very talented, and at points during the season, have been viewed as a team that could potentially challenge the likes of Green Bay and San Francisco as champions of the NFC. Unfortunately for them, it has just been more of the same December issues, as the Cowboys lost an ugly game to the Cardinals last week, and this past weekend blew a 12-point lead with under six minutes to go to their NFC East rival Giants. The Cowboys are still vying for the division, but they just can't seem to find a way to win the close games that they need to, and I don't expect a different outcome when they go back to New York to play the Giants in Week 17.

Sean (visit Sean's website): Two teams that were considered legit Super Bowl contenders this offseason, the NY Jets and Dallas Cowboys both have tough roads for the playoffs. Since the Cowboys currently are tied record-wise in the NFC East, and the wildcard picture is a mess filled with teams with huge question marks, I am going to go with the Jets as the team that misses the playoffs. The Bengals have an easy road for the last wildcard spot with games vs St. Louis and Arizona still, and Tennessee has games vs Indy and Jacksonville. Both of these teams face teams in Week 17 that may be resting their starters.

Dan (follow Dan on Twitter): For the playoffs, even though they have showed signs of life recently, I think the best team that will miss the playoffs will be the San Diego Chargers. They certainly are one of the most talented teams in the league, and when Philip Rivers is on form, he is one of the hardest quarterbacks to defeat. The Chargers have too many tiebreakers and too many good to decent teams to climb over, as it looks like they started their traditional playoff push one week too late.

Kevin (follow Kevin on Twitter): Losing to the Giants on Sunday Night Football, the Cowboys dropped to second place in the NFC East, which means they would miss the playoffs if the season were to end this week. With only three games to go, I have a feeling that the division will be decided by their Week 17 rematch. Since the Cowboys trail the Lions by one-game and lost their Week 4 matchup, overcoming the deficit to secure a wild card berth will be an uphill battle.

See how all 32 teams were ranked in our Week 15 Consensus NFL Power Rankings.

Posted by Kevin Hanson at 06:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Through Week 13, the Packers and Colts still find themselves as the unanimous No. 1 and No. 32 team, respectively, in our NFL Consensus Power Rankings.

Here are some stats on this week's consensus rankings (see rankings):

- Biggest jump from last week: Seattle Seahawks (+4.00)
- Biggest drop from last week: Philadelphia Eagles (-3.50)
- Team with widest difference between high and low rank: New York Jets (9)

As part of our weekly power rankings, we will feature one question that all four rankers will answer.

In the past couple of weeks, we took a look at whether the Colts will finish 0-16 (three of four said no) and the Packers will finish 19-0 (three of four said yes).

Here is the Week 14 question (followed by our responses): Which team, good or bad, is the biggest surprise of the 2011 NFL season?

John (follow John on Twitter): It's too easy to say that the Eagles crushing disappointment of a season is the biggest surprise, but I'm going to go with the San Francisco 49ers. At the beginning of the season, the NFC West was up for grabs, with most people thinking the Rams, Cardinals, or 49ers could emerge in mediocre fashion to win it. Instead, the 49ers are 10-2, on their way to a first-round bye, and have a legitimate chance to win the NFC. With a team that went 6-10 last season, nobody really saw this kind of turnaround coming. Led by Patrick Willis and a bruising defense, the Niners are my pick for biggest surprise of the season.

Sean (visit Sean's website): The easy choice here is the "Dream Team," but as much as a disappointment they are this year, there is one team that is even more of a shocker to me and that is the St. Louis Rams. Unlike the Eagles, the Rams play in an easy division where I expected them to make that next step and win the division. Boy, was I wrong about them. The Rams have been playing awful, especially QB Sam Bradford, who has looked lost back there at times. Is new OC Josh McIdiot to blame?

Dan (follow Dan on Twitter): I think one of the biggest surprises this year has been the play of the San Diego Chargers. A team that had a roster geared for a few Super Bowl runs, are now in shambles thanks to a heavy-handed GM and an ineffective coach in Norv Turner. The Chargers are disappointing, as they have all the tools to be one of the most explosive offenses in the league. I am certain we will see sweeping changes next year, and hopefully that window has not slammed shut.

Kevin (follow Kevin on Twitter): With plenty of options from which to choose (Eagles, Rams, 49ers, etc.), I'm going to say the winless Colts. A dropoff should have been expected without Peyton Manning, a four-time league MVP, but they should have been more competitive than a team getting outscored by almost 200 points (358-174). Going from nine straight double-digit win seasons to 0-12 (likely 1-15 or 0-16) is insane.

See how all 32 teams were ranked in our Week 14 Consensus NFL Power Rankings.

Posted by Kevin Hanson at 06:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Through Week 12, the Packers and Colts still find themselves as the unanimous No. 1 and No. 32 team, respectively, in our NFL Consensus Power Rankings (see full rankings).

Here are some stats on this week's consensus rankings:

- Biggest jump from last week: Tennessee Titans (+3.75)
- Biggest drop from last week: Chicago Bears (-3.25)
- Team with widest difference between high and low rank: Seattle Seahawks (8)

As part of our weekly power rankings, we will feature one question that all four rankers will answer.

Last week, our question focused on whether the Colts would finish 0-16 or not. This week, we turn our attention to whether the Packers will finish 16-0 or, more importantly, 19-0.

Here is the Week 13 question (followed by our responses): When will the Packers lose their next game? Or will they go a perfect 19-0 this season?

John (follow John on Twitter): Even at 11-0 and as good as the Packers have looked, it's tough to pick a team to go 19-0. That said, if the Packers get by the Giants in New York next week, I'm gonna call for a perfect season. I don't believe they will rest their starters, and their final games against the Bears without Cutler and the Lions, are both at home. As good as the Niners have been (if it comes to them in the NFC championship), I don't think they will go into Lambeau and win. The Patriots are looking more and more like the team to beat in the AFC, and wouldn't it be interesting if they were the team to try and stop GB's perfect season...

Sean (visit Sean's website): When I look at the rest of their schedule, the one game that pops out is next week versus the Giants. The Giants pass rush could give the Packers some problems. They have three games at home vs 7-4 teams (Chicago, Oakland and Detroit) but they should handle all of them as they all have question marks. I don't think McCarthy sits his players with home field locked up, so I am going to go out on a limb and call the perfect 19-0 season, although I do think the Pats undefeated team was better than this team.

Dan (follow Dan on Twitter): The Packers will not go 19-0 this year, I am a Patriots fan so I have a little bit of experience in this matter about rooting for perfection. Just too many things have to fall into place to pull off the perfect season, and I still think the Packers defense is very suspect. I think the Packers will lose to the Giants next week on the road. I think the Packers offensive line is too banged up, and the Giants have the front four to pressure the Pack.

Kevin (follow Kevin on Twitter): It is nearly impossible to run the table in the NFL. That said, the Packers will be the clear favorites in every game they play for the rest of the year including the postseason. Their only road game against a winning team (until the Super Bowl) will be against the NY Giants next week. New York is coming off a tough loss on a short week and the Packers will have had ten days to prepare. While it wouldn't shock me if there is a loss along the way, I'm not banking on it. After all, Aaron Rodgers' worst game this season judged by passer rating was 111.4 (297 yards, three touchdowns and one interception) in Week 3.

See how all 32 teams ranked here.

[Related: Vote on our Packers Poll - Packers Schedule]

Posted by Kevin Hanson at 05:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

With another week of NFL games in the books, it's time for another week's edition of our consensus NFL Power Rankings.

As you would expect, there was no change in the top two spots with the unbeaten Green Bay Packers and the one-loss San Francisco 49ers remaining a consensus No. 1 and No. 2. In addition, the next four teams were unchanged as well: Pittsburgh, New Orleans, New England and Baltimore.

Here are some stats on this week's consensus rankings:

- Biggest jump from last week: Denver Broncos (+4.75)
- Biggest drop from last week: New York Jets and New York Giants (both -4.25)
- Team(s) with widest difference between high and low rank between rankers this week: Carolina Panthers, St. Louis Rams, Tennessee Titans (7)

To see where all 32 teams rank, click here.

As part of our weekly power rankings, we will feature one question that all four rankers will answer.

Here is the Week 12 question (followed by our responses): With six games to go, how many games will the winless Colts win this season? Will Andrew Luck be wearing a Colts' jersey in Week 1 of the 2012 season?

John: The Colts have gotten off to one of the most atrocious starts in NFL history. And believe it or not, I have them winning 2 games this year. They're not going to win at Baltimore or New England, but they are at Jacksonville, play Tennessee with what looks like a rookie QB moving forward (not everyone can be Cam Newton or Andy Dalton), and at home against Carolina next week. Even if they do get the two wins, I still think that they are going to get the number 1 pick next year and take Andrew Luck. This is, of course, massive speculation, but if I had to guess, I would say that the most likely scenario at this point is that the Colts part ways with Manning and Luck will be on the field game 1 next year. Manning to the Jets to play Brady twice/year??? Might be fun ...

Sean (visit Sean's website): The Colts will not win a game this year. Their best chance comes in Week 17 versus Jacksonville. Andrew Luck will be drafted by the Colts and I believe he will sit behind Peyton Manning, as Manning will not be traded in the offseason.

Dan: Oh, this question is right in my wheelhouse since those bandwagon Colts fans are already ready to toss Peyton to the curb. What more could you expect from a team that always rested its starters for the postseason, that they will ensure not winning a game and being able to draft Luck. I do think the Colts will have one win in them this year, the defense is too proud, but they will have won the Suck for Luck sweepstakes.

[Editor's note: If you haven't guessed already, Dan is a Patriots -- and not a Colts -- fan.]

Kevin: The Colts will likely be underdogs in all of their final six games and only two of those are against teams with losing records: Carolina at home this week and Jacksonville on the road in Week 17. While I expect the Colts to finish 1-15, they will hold the first overall pick and will (and should) select Luck. Although the Colts have problems in other positions, the loss of Peyton Manning shows how much a franchise quarterback can cover up other deficiencies and Luck is considered one of the most can't-miss prospects in quite some time.

To see the rankings and where all four rankers ranked all 32 teams, visit our Power Rankings home page.

Posted by Kevin Hanson at 06:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

In the debut of our consensus NFL power rankings, there is no debate as to which team should be No. 1 or No. 2 between our four rankers.

Counting their Super Bowl run, the Packers have won 15 consecutive games going back to last season. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has a 28:3 touchdown-to-interception ratio and has thrown two-plus touchdowns every week this season. His lowest passer rating this season was 111.4 in Week 3 against the Bears.

The scary part is he seems to be getting better as the season progresses. In his past three games, Rodgers has a passer rating of 140.0-plus every week, has an 11:0 touchdown-to-interception ratio and has completed 79.1 percent of his passes during that span.

For the 49ers, who have only one loss (in overtime), they have done it with defense. They lead the NFL in scoring defense (15.3 points per game allowed), rushing defense (73.2 yards allowed per game) and no team has scored a rushing touchdown against them this year.

Based on their remaining schedule, the Niners have the potential to win 13 games (or more). Their two difficult matchups are against Baltimore (in the Battle of the Harbaugh Brothers on Thanksgiving night) and Pittsburgh on Monday Night Football in Week 15. Other than those two games, they have five games left against the rest of the NFC West.

To see how we ranked all 32 teams, click here.

As part of our weekly power rankings, we will feature one question that all four rankers will answer. With the AFC West teams all within one game of each other in the standings (see full standings), the question this week is: "Who will win the AFC West?"

Here are our responses:

John: The AFC West is as mediocre of a division as it gets, but I believe that one team among the bunch is a deserving playoff team: The Oakland Raiders. The two headed rushing attack that they have is prolific enough to keep them in the hunt by itself. Michael Bush has proven that even when Darren Macfadden is hurt, they still have a rushing option that is better than most teams starting backs. But in addition, I also expect Carson Palmer to get more and more comfortable as the season progresses, and he works out the kinks in his game. With Palmer behind the helm, the Raiders offense should have a passing and rushing attack that complement one another nicely, and should be enough to separate themselves from the pack by the end of the year. The Raiders will do as their late owner always said; "Just win baby!"

Sean (visit Sean's website): This division isn't as wide open as people think it is. Denver has no shot when Tim Tebow is only completing 2 passes a game. Kansas City has the hardest scheduling by far remaining (New England, Pittsburgh, Chicago, NY Jets & Green Bay). It comes down to San Diego and Oakland, and they play each other Week 17 in Oakland. This will be for the division and I am sticking with my preseason Super Bowl pick in San Diego. Too much talent to disappoint.

Dan: The AFC West is still up for grabs, and the Chargers are a great closing team. I think this is the year the Raiders claim a playoff berth, however, as they have the tie-breakers with the Chargers and I think the Chiefs and Broncos will fall off the pace.

Kevin: With Matt Cassel (likely) out for the rest of the year and the Broncos winning games by completing only two passes, it's hard for me to buy into either team as a legitimate contender in the division. Of the two remaining teams, the Raiders are the team with a one-game lead on the division and a head-to-head win over the Chargers already. Although I think the Chargers have more talent than Oakland and I have expected the Chargers to turn things around (and although I still do), they continue to disappoint. Therefore, the Raiders will host a playoff game for the first time since 2002.

To see the rankings and where all four rankers ranked all 32 teams, visit our Power Rankings home page.

Posted by Kevin Hanson at 08:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Through three weeks, there are three unbeaten teams in the NFL: Green Bay, Detroit and Buffalo.

Based on odds from Bodog, the Packers, the defending champions, and the Patriots currently have the lowest odds to win the Super Bowl.

The Lions, a popular sleeper team in the preseason, now have 14/1 odds from Bodog to win the Super Bowl. Those are the same odds as the New York Jets, who have reached the AFC Championship Game in back-to-back seasons, and the Philadelphia Eagles, dubbed the "Dream Team" by Vince Young. Detroit is currently the only team in the NFL to rank in the top four in scoring offense (101 points) and defense (46 points).

And the Bills, perhaps the most surprising of all the unbeaten teams, have overcome large deficits in back-to-back games. Last year, the Bills were competitive in many games, but they lost the close ones. This year, they are winning those games.

Where should they rank in our power rankings?

1. Green Bay Packers (3-0): Through three games, Aaron Rodgers has completed 71.8 percent of his passes, thrown for 305.7 yards per game, eight touchdowns and only one interception. Oh, and their next four opponents (before their bye) have a combined record of 2-10.

2. Baltimore Ravens (2-1): The Ravens have allowed the fewest points (13.3 per game) and are tied for the league lead in turnover differential (+6) this season.

3. New England Patriots (2-1): No quarterback in NFL history has thrown for more yards than Tom Brady (1,327) has over a three-game period. On the other hand, the Pats have allowed a league-worst 468.7 yards (and 377 passing yards) per game.

4. New Orleans Saints (2-1): The Saints play four of their next five games on the road, but the collective record of their opponents is 4-11. The Saints could very easily be 7-1 midway through the season.

5. Detroit Lions (3-0): The Lions have a new habit: winning. Going back to the final four games of 2010, the Lions have won seven straight games after they rallied to overcome a 20-point halftime deficit.

6. Buffalo Bills (3-0): After turning large deficits into back-to-back come-from-behind victories, the Bills are the lone unbeaten team remaining in the AFC. Will they suffer a letdown against the Bengals?

7. Houston Texans (2-1): Going for their first-ever 3-0 start in franchise history, the Texans lost in a shootout to the Saints. This week, they will have another tough test as they host the Steelers in Week 4.

8. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1): Through three games, the Steelers were beat down by their main rivals and won against two of the league's worst teams. Perhaps we will get a better look at this team's identity after their Week 4 matchup at Houston.

9. New York Jets (2-1): After losing to Darren McFadden and the Raiders Sunday, the Jets will continue their three-game road trip with two tough matchups: Baltimore and New England.

10. San Diego Chargers (2-1): The Chargers made it through September with a winning record, but they may spend many (or all) of the weeks in October without All-World tight end Antonio Gates.

11. Dallas Cowboys (2-1): It may have not been pretty, but a win is a win and now the Cowboys find themselves in a three-way tie atop the NFC East. Can they avoid any more injuries before their bye in Week 5?

12. Oakland Raiders (2-1): As I tweeted yesterday, Darren McFadden, who missed three games in 2010, has 2,141 yards from scrimmage (1,550 rushing and 591 receiving), 58 receptions and 14 total touchdowns in his past 16 games.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1): Coach Raheem Morris says the Bucs are the best team in the NFC South. He's wrong.

14. Atlanta Falcons (1-2): For the Falcons to turn their season around, one thing they need to fix is their protection of Matt Ryan, who has been sacked 13 times and hit 21 times in three games.

15. New York Giants (2-1): Helped by the Eagles inability to tackle, Giants quarterback Eli Manning threw four touchdowns and no interceptions to win the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 3.

16. Philadelphia Eagles (1-2): For a second straight week, Michael Vick left a game due to injury. While his non-throwing hand is bruised (not broken as initially reported) and it appears Vick will be able to start in Week 4, there is increasing concern about his ability to stay healthy for a 16-game season.

17. Tennessee Titans (2-1): Not only have the Titans lost Kenny Britt for the season, they have struggled mightily to get their ground game going. Running back Chris Johnson has only 98 rushing yards on 46 carries (2.1 yards per carry). On a positive note, they rank second in scoring defense (14.3 points allowed per game) and first in total defense (261.0 yards allowed per game).

18. Cleveland Browns (2-1): Despite Peyton Hillis (strep) arriving at the stadium and turning around to go home, the Browns came from behind to improve to 2-1. The last time they had a winning record was 2007. Here are the starts to their previous three seasons: 0-3 (2008), 0-4 (2009) and 0-3 (2010).

19. Washington Redskins (2-1): In a quarterback-driven league, it's hard to be fully sold on the Redskins with Rex Grossman under center in a division with Michael Vick, Tony Romo and Eli Manning.

20. Chicago Bears (1-2): Chicago started with as tough of a three-game schedule as anyone in the league: Atlanta, New Orelans and then Green Bay. Two things the Bears need to do better is (1) protect Jay Cutler and (2) run the ball effectively.

21. San Francisco 49ers (2-1): While the 49ers' offense leaves a little to be desired, the Niners are tied for the league-lead in turnover differential (+6), return touchdowns (two) and they have allowed the fourth-fewest points (17.3 per game) this season.

22. Carolina Panthers (1-2): Cam Newton and Steve Smith fell short of 400 passing and 100 receiving yards, respectively, but they got their first win of the season.

23. Denver Broncos (1-2): All three of the Broncos games have been decided by three points or less, but they face two tough opponents (Packers and Chargers) before their bye.

24. Cincinnati Bengals (1-2): Should I just assume that the Bengals will be 2-2 (after they beat the Bills) like Marvin Lewis has?

25. Minnesota Vikings (0-3): Three games with double-digit second-half leads. Three losses.

26. Miami Dolphins (0-3): Brazilian super models. Buffalo wings. Tony Sparano's seat. What are things that are (really) hot?

27. Arizona Cardinals (1-2): Here's a glass-half-full view: The five touchdowns thrown by Kevin Kolb in three games is half as many as the total of touchdowns thrown by all of the Cardinals quarterbacks in 2010.

28. Seattle Seahawks (1-2): The good news for the Seahawks is they get to play eight games at home (and three of them against NFC Worst teams).

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-2): Here's a stat I read from ESPN blogger Paul Kuharsky (and the Texans think they struggle in the redzone): Jacksonville has "been in the red zone a grand total of one time, when they kicked a field goal."

30. St. Louis Rams (0-3): The Rams have been outscored by 60 points in their three losses this season. It doesn't get any easier. The Rams next four opponents all have winning records: Washington, Green Bay, Dallas and New Orleans.

31. Indianapolis Colts (0-3): I'm not sure what to make of the fact that the Steelers and Colts were tied 20-20 with five seconds to go on Sunday night. Was it a positive reflection of the Colts? Or a negative reflection of the Steelers?

32. Kansas City Chiefs (0-3): After getting beat by a combined total of 79 points to the Bills and Lions in Weeks 1 and 2, the Chiefs lost by only three points to the Chargers. Although they lost cornerback Brandon Flowers to a high-ankle sprain, at least they didn't lose any players to season-ending injuries like in the previous three weeks.

If interested, here is our free Week 4 fantasy football contest and our waiver wire pickups for Week 4.

Posted by Kevin Hanson at 10:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Since 1990, 64 percent of teams that have started the season with a 2-0 record have gone to the postseason.

There are seven teams that have started 2-0 this year and two of those teams face off in Week 3.

While they have identical 2-0 records, the Patriots and Bills still have different perceptions as Buffalo is nearly a double-digit underdog (8.5 points) at home. Are the Bills for real? We will find out this weekend.

Here are rankings of all 32 NFL teams from best to worst:

1. Green Bay Packers (2-0): The defending Super Bowl champions are 2-0, but they have allowed back-to-back 400-yard passers and the third-most yards in the NFL after the Dolphins and Patriots.

2. New England Patriots (2-0): Only one quarterback in the history of the NFL has thrown for more yards than Tom Brady has in back-to-back games. As mentioned above, however, only the Dolphins have allowed more yards than the Patriots this season.

3. New York Jets (2-0): Overhyped? Maybe. But one of the elite teams in the AFC? Absolutely.

4. Houston Texans (2-0): Last year, the Texans defense was horrible. This year, they have allowed the fewest points (10.0 per game), total yards (271.0 per game) and passing yards (162.5 per game) and are the only team to keep opponents from completing 50 percent of their passes.

5. New Orleans Saints (1-1): The high-powered Saints offense takes on the Texans, the league's top-rated defense (wait, what?!), in Week 3.

6. Atlanta Falcons (1-1): Running back Michael Turner has back-to-back 100-yard games, but more surprisingly, he has already caught four passes for 72 yards. (His career high is 85 receiving yards set last year.)

7. Detroit Lions (2-0): With a dominant defensive line and lethal passing attack, the Lions are a team nobody wants to see on their schedule. Thanksgiving is two months away, but I'm thankful for a Lions-Packers matchup to kickoff the trio of games that day.

8. San Diego Chargers (1-1): My bold preseason prediction was that quarterback Philip Rivers would break the single-season NFL passing yardage record. So far, he's still on pace (but trailing Tom Brady and Cam Newton by a mile).

9. Baltimore Ravens (1-1): After Week 1, I was tempted to put the Ravens at No. 1. After Week 2, the temptation is gone.

10. Philadelphia Eagles (1-1): The biggest question for the Eagles going into the season was: Can Michael Vick stay healthy for 16 games? A concussion, however "slight" it may be, suffered Sunday night puts Vick's Week 3 status in jeopardy.

11. Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1): After getting blown out by their arch rivals in Week 1, the Steelers rebounded and shut out Seattle, 24-0, and face the Peyton-less Colts in Week 3.

12. Buffalo Bills (2-0): One of the most-surprising 2-0 team,s the Bills are league's highest-scoring team and lead the NFL in rushing (190 yards per game) behind Fred Jackson, the NFL's leading rusher.

13. Chicago Bears (1-1): Guess who is the most-sacked quarterback in the league? Some things don't change. Through two games, running back Matt Forte has 324 yards from scrimmage and leads the team in rushing (117 yards) and receiving (207 yards).

14. Washington Redskins (2-0): Aside from perhaps Rex Grossman, who else thought the Redskins would be the only NFC East team to start the season with a 2-0 record?

15. Dallas Cowboys (1-1): Tony Romo went from goat to hero in one week. What is troubling for the Cowboys is all of their injuries: Romo (ribs/lung), Miles Austin (hamstring), Dez Bryant (thigh), Felix Jones (shoulder), etc.

16. Tennessee Titans (1-1): Running back Chris Johnson has 33 rush attempts (tied for 11th in the NFL) and no carries of 10 yards or more. Of the 20 running backs with 27-plus carries, he's the only running back without a single run for double-digit yards.

17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1): Here's an interesting stat about quarterback Josh Freeman: Freeman has completed 18 of 19 passes (94.7 percent) on third or fourth down this season.

18. Oakland Raiders (1-1): Led by Darren McFadden, who ranks second in the NFL in rushing, the Raiders are third in rushing attempts (34.5 per game), fourth in rushing yards (160.5 per game) and first in rushing touchdowns (four).

19. New York Giants (1-1): The Giants lead the NFL in injuries (and fake injuries).

20. Cleveland Browns (1-1): Last year, Browns running Peyton Hillis wore down at the end of the season. Through two games, he ranks third in rushing attempts (44).

21. Arizona Cardinals (1-1): The Cardinals have allowed the fourth-most yards this season. In Week 3, they head to Seattle, who ranks last in total offense, so their defense should get a bit of a breather.

22. Carolina Panthers (0-2): If a team can feel good despite their 0-2 start, it's the Panthers, who rank second in the NFL in total offense (476 yards per game) due almost exclusively to Cam Newton, the first overall pick in 2011.

23. Cincinnati Bengals (1-1): Rookie Andy Dalton is one of four quarterbacks that have thrown 50-plus passes this season without an interception. The other three are Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Sam Bradford.

24. Minnesota Vikings (0-2): Two games. Two second-half leads. Two losses. No matter how you add that up, it's not good.

25. Miami Dolphins (0-2): Going back to Week 16 of the 2009 season, the Dolphins have won only one home game in 12 tries. The glass-half-full view is that the majority of their remaining games are on the road.

26. San Francisco 49ers (1-1): Although the 49ers were on the verge of a 2-0 start before losing in overtime Sunday, the 49ers rank second-to-last in the league in total offense (207.5 yards per game). Only the Seahawks are worse.

27. Denver Broncos (1-1): Some Bronco fans got their wish, sort of. Tim Tebow was on the field, but out wide instead of under center. Speaking of Broncos' "receivers," Eric Decker is one of the names you'll find on our waiver-wire pickups column this week.

28. St. Louis Rams (0-2): The Rams are consistent -- they have started with 0-2 record for five straight seasons. Fortunately, they play in the league's worst division, by far.

29. Indianapolis Colts (0-2): If I had a vote for the 2011 league MVP, I think I would give it to Peyton Manning. Without him, the Colts are so bad that they are double-digit underdogs at home in Week 3.

30. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1): Week 1 was a fluke. This team is bad. Really bad. Can Blaine Gabbert (or anyone) be as bad as Luke McCown was last week?

31. Kansas City Chiefs (0-2): Not only have the Chiefs scored the fewest points (10), they have allowed the most (89). With tight end Tony Moeaki, safety Eric Berry and running back Jamaal Charles all lost for the season, it might not get much better.

32. Seattle Seahawks (0-2): With Tarvaris Jackson under center, Marshawn Lynch leading the team in rushing at 22 yards per game, Sidney Rice dealing with a torn labrum and Robert Gallery out for several weeks, it might be a moral victory in games that the Seahawks score some points.

If you're looking for fantasy football rankings, we will release our Week 3 rankings later today. In addition, our free fantasy football contest for Week 3 is up and running.

Posted by Kevin Hanson at 09:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

With one week's worth of NFL games in the books, it is time for me to rank all 32 teams based on how they played and how I expect them to play for the remainder of the season.

But, of course, it's important not to overreact to one game.

Otherwise, we end up predicting things like: (1) Chad Henne passing for 6,656 yards (416 yards times 16 games) this year, (2) the NFC South collectively finishing 0-64 this season or (3) Bills tight end Scott Chandler scoring 32 touchdowns.

You get the point.

Here are our NFL power rankings:

1. Green Bay Packers (1-0): The Packers offense picked up where it left off, firing on all cylinders. The defense, however, could use a tuneup.

2. Baltimore Ravens (1-0): In the league's most intense rivalry, the Ravens beat down the Steelers by 28 points and caused as many turnovers as they allowed points (seven).

3. New England Patriots (1-0): Tom Brady threw for over 500 yards in Week 1, but I'm guessing Bill Belichick will focus on the 416 passing yards they allowed to Chad Henne.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (1-0): The "Dream Team" was impressive in Week 1 and they can put up points in a hurry. Can Michael Vick stay healthy and will they be able to stop the run?

5. San Diego Chargers (1-0): Their special teams unit continues to be a worry as the Chargers allowed a 103-yard kickoff return on the opening drive of the season. Plus they have lost kicker Nate Kaeding for the season.

6. New York Jets (1-0): Perhaps the Cowboys "lost" more than the Jets "won" their matchup. Either way, the Jets managed to maintain their composure and pull off the victory.

7. New Orleans Saints (0-1): The Saints offense is potent but missing receiver(s) Marques Colston (and possibly Lance Moore) against the tough Bears defense heading into Week 2.

8. Chicago Bears (1-0): The Bears manhandled the Falcons, last year's No. 1 seed, with no problem. A step back in 2011? Says who?

9. Houston Texans (1-0): Without Arian Foster, the Texans looked great (for the majority of the game) against the Peyton-less Colts in Week 1.

10. Atlanta Falcons (0-1): After a surprising beatdown by the Bears, the Falcons have a matchup just as tough, even tougher, in Week 2 in Michael Vick's Atlanta homecoming in prime time.

11. Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1): They aren't nearly as bad as they looked against the Ravens in Week 1, especially in the second half. Right?

12. Detroit Lions (1-0): The Lions bring a five-game winning streak with them into their home opener against the Chiefs, who lost to the Bills by 34 points.

13. Buffalo Bills (1-0): Although I picked the Bills to cover, who thought they would hand out Week 1's most lopsided loss?

14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1): I'm surprised they Bucs did not get LeGarrette Blount and Mike Williams more involved in the offense in Week 1. So was Blount.

15. Washington Redskins (1-0): Just as good as their win Sunday, the team turned down a day off Monday to study film and work out.

16. Oakland Raiders (1-0): The Raiders extended their winning streak against the AFC West to eight games. Not only did Darren McFadden rush for a league-high 150 yards in Week 1, he had three runs of 20-plus yards.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0): Luke McCown, called "Ball Out" by his teammates, played well enough to open up the season with a win.

18. Arizona Cardinals (1-0): The Cardinals allowed 422 passing yards to a rookie in his first-ever regular-season game. What's good about that? They still managed to pull off a victory in Week 1.

19. Dallas Cowboys (0-1): Too often, like on Sunday night, the Cowboys, especially quarterback Tony Romo, shoot themselves in the foot with costly mistakes.

20. New York Giants (0-1): The Giants have been decimated by injuries, and with the better-than-expected showing by the Redskins, might even finish at the bottom of the NFC East.

21. St. Louis Rams (0-1): Not only did the Rams lose to the "Dream Team," they suffered multiple injuries: Sam Bradford, Steven Jackson, Danny Amendola, Jason Smith, etc.

22. Indianapolis Colts (0-1): There is a reason Peyton Manning has won four NFL MVP awards and it was never more apparent than it was after their blowout loss to Houston in Week 1 that he probably deserved more.

23. Miami Dolphins (0-1): Who are these Dolphins? Chad Henne is throwing for 400-plus yards and their running backs rushed for less than 40 yards.

24. Tennessee Titans (0-1): I'm surprised at the limited number of carries (nine) by Chris Johnson. While he should get more work in Week 2, they face the Ravens, who are always tough against the run.

25. San Francisco 49ers (1-0): Trailing by two points with four minutes to go against Seattle, Ted Ginn returned a kickoff and a punt for touchdowns within one minute of each other to seal a victory in Jim Harbaugh's NFL coaching debut.

26. Kansas City Chiefs (0-1):Not only did the Chiefs suffer a loss by the widest margin in Week 1, they lost second-year safety Eric Berry for the season.

27. Cincinnati Bengals (1-0): The Bengals won the Battle of Ohio, but I'm not sure how many other battles they're going to win.

28. Minnesota Vikings (0-1): Pathetic. Is there any other way to describe Donovan McNabb's 39-yard passing performance?

29. Cleveland Browns (0-1): What little bit of optimism I had for the Browns heading into 2011 was wiped out by their loss at home to the Bengals.

30. Denver Broncos (0-1): The fans in Denver are already calling for Tim Tebow although the fans won't get what they want until things become hopeless in Denver.

31. Carolina Panthers (0-1): Despite losing to the Cardinals, Cam Newton gave Panthers fans 422 reasons to feel optimistic about the future.

32. Seattle Seahawks (0-1): Tarvaris Jackson is bad. But you can look at it this way: TJax threw for more than five times more yards than Donovan McNabb. How's that for glass half full?

If you are looking for some ideas on free-agent pickups in fantasy football, check out our waiver wire post from this morning. In addition, we will release our fantasy rankings for Week 2 at The Tip Drill by Wednesday.

Posted by Kevin Hanson at 09:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)