32. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks have the best overall team in the NF L to me. Russell Wilson was fantastic last year and I expect him to keep that up. He doesn’t rely on his legs, though he can use them if needed. They have one of the best trios of running backs in the league with Marshawn Lynch leading the way. Percy Harvin is hurt, but if he can come back at any time this year, he would be a great addition come playoff time. Their defense boasts the best secondary in the league, led by Richard Sherman. Add to that some talented linebackers and a good pass rush and you have a great defense.
31. Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals are a team that is looking to take the next step. They are a young team that has grown together the past two years. They didn’t look great against the Cowboys in this past game, but I didn’t think any other AFC team looked good enough to jump them. On defense they need the pass defense to get better. They have possibly the best defensive line rotation in the NFL and will get a ton of pressure that will help. On offense, Andy Dalton has to take that next step as a quarterback. We saw Joe Flacco do it last year, can Dalton be the one to do it this year?
30. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers have a ton of talent, but they are still relying on a quarterback who hasn’t played a full season of games. You have to worry that once teams get to take on Colin Kaepernick that they will develop a better game plan to stop him. Add to that the lack of weapons at receiver that he has now that Michael Crabtree is hurt, and you could have some problems. Lucky for the 49ers, they have possibly the best offensive line in the league and a great run game. On defense, they have to hope that their pass defense improves, because it was pretty poor down the stretch last year.
29. Denver Broncos
The Broncos have Peyton Manning, they will be in the mix in the playoffs. However, they don’t seem to have a No. 1 running back on the team and that could hurt the offense. On defense, things haven’t gone well this offseason. The Elvis Dumervil fiasco is well known as well as the Von Miller suspension. The Broncos should easily win their division, but if they want to make it to the Super Bowl this year, they have to improve the run game and their secondary.
28. New Orleans Saints
The Saints will be a team that makes a lot of noise this year in my opinion. Drew Brees is still Drew Brees and they have a lot of talent at the running back position. Pierre Thomas, Mark Ingram and Darren Sproles will provide plenty of offense to keep teams from pinning their ears back and going after Brees. On defense, they hired Rob Ryan as their defensive coordinator and switched to a 3-4. Normally I would say that this could be a problem for a team, but I don’t think their defense could be worse than last year.
27. New England Patriots
The Patriots got absolutely man handled by the Lions this week, but let’s not all jump off the ledge yet. This is the preseason and they are still the Patriots. They did seem to have a lot of trouble stopping the passing game of the Lions, but they had trouble against the pass last year. They really need to step up their secondary play. However, worrying about what teams like the Patriots do in the preseason is pointless, come the regular season they will be the same old Patriots.
26. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons have a ton of weapons on offense, but if they can’t keep Matt Ryan upright then those weapons don’t really help. Ryan was sacked five times in his third preseason game against the Titans. On top of the horrible offensive line play, their secondary wasn’t any better. They made Jake Locker and Ryan Fitzpatrick look like good starting quarterbacks. Robert Alford was looking at being the No. 2 cornerback, but he was beaten multiple times. If the line and secondary don’t get significantly better, the Falcons hopes of making the Super Bowl aren’t good.
25. Houston Texans
The Texans have gone from perennial loser to perennial playoff team recently, but they haven’t been able to take that next step. Last year the defense was great, as was the running game. The Texans are going to need Matt Schaub to step up and show he can be the quarterback that can lead them to the Super Bowl. The Texans added a second receiver finally in DeAndre Hopkins in this past draft. They also are going to need Arian Foster healthy, which he hasn’t been this preseason yet. If he goes down, the Texans are in trouble, even with talented backup Ben Tate.
24. Green Bay Packers
The Packers are a team that has to protect the quarterback better. If Aaron Rodgers were to go down to injury, they would be in huge trouble. They also need to find a consistent running game. Rookie Eddie Lacy looks to be the favorite to take the starting job, but hasn’t had a lot of luck running the ball this season. The Packers have to hope their defense can stay healthy. Casey Hayward came back after missing a month with a hamstring injury only to reinjure it against the Seahawks.
23. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts are another team that I think might take a step back this year. Andrew Luck is a great quarterback, but the rest of their roster is lacking in talent. Their offensive line isn’t very good and Ahmad Bradshaw can’t seem to stay healthy. On defense, they don’t have a lot of pass rush and their secondary still needs help. They have looked good in preseason and in a weak AFC may be able to make the playoffs again.
22. Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys are a team that is looking to take that next step and they have the talent to do it. However, can DeMarco Murray stay healthy is a big question. He has had trouble staying on the field and when he isn’t their run game suffers. Also can the offensive line hold up well enough to protect Tony Romo? On defense they switched to a 4-3 from a 3-4 this year. Will their defense come together fast enough that they can win their division? The Cowboys have a lot of questions.
21. Baltimore Ravens
The Super Bowl champions being the first team out of the playoffs? With the losses they suffered this offseason, I think that there is a chance that they miss the playoffs. However, I will give them the benefit of the doubt for now. They need to find another weapon in the passing game for Joe Flacco who lost Anquan Boldin to a trade and Dennis Pitta to injury. On defense they have to replace the leadership that Ray Lewis and Ed Reed gave them.
20. St. Louis Rams (Via Washington Redskins)
The Redskins are a little bit of an enigma right now since we haven’t seen Robert Griffin III on the field so far this year. They will be good on offense with a healthy RGIII under center and they have to keep him healthy. Other than the health of RGIII, the next big question about them is their secondary. It has to improve this year if they want to make the playoffs again. They will be relying a lot on a couple of rookies in Bacarri Rambo and David Amerson.
19. Chicago Bears
The Bears are a team that could easily make the playoffs this year if first year head coach Marc Trestman can get everyone to gel together early. The offensive line has to protect Jay Cutler better this year or he may not live to see next season. The Bears also need Alshon Jeffery to step up and be their No. 2 option. On defense they have to replace one of the all-time greats at middle linebacker with rookie Jon Bostic. Can he hold up in the middle of that defense?
18. Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs are a team that, on paper, is as talented as anyone. However, last year injuries and horrible quarterback play made that a moot point. This year they brought in Alex Smith to be the starting quarterback. If Smith can prove he can make some big plays down the field and not make many mistakes, the Chiefs have a chance to win a lot of games. On defense they need to stay healthy. They have a lot of talent across the board, especially at linebacker with Tamba Hali, Justin Houston and Derrick Johnson.
17. St. Louis Rams
The Rams are in the bad position of being in a very strong NFC. If they were in the AFC, I think they are a playoff team. However, they are in a division with the Seahawks and the 49ers and that makes it difficult on them. If they want to make the playoffs they are going to need that offense to step up. Sam Bradford needs to take the next step and he needs some of his receivers to become viable weapons.
16. New York Giants
The Giants just haven’t looked very good this preseason. Eli Manning has looked pretty bad and if isn’t better in the regular season they may be picking higher than this. David Wilson looks to be their starting running back and will have to prove he can be the bell cow for an entire year. On defense their secondary is still shaky and will have to be helped out by their pass rush.
15. Detroit Lions
The Lions are a team that has a ton of potential on offense, but their offensive line is holding them back. Reggie Bush is a great fit for that team and gives them another pass catching option outside of Calvin Johnson. Their defense is going to be as good as their front four can carry them. Their secondary is still questionable, but if the front four can get a ton of pressure then they can help cover the secondary.
14. Philadelphia Eagles
The offense has looked electric this preseason and Michael Vick has looked like a legitimate starting quarterback. Chip Kelly is receiving a lot of praise for what he has done so far and rightly so. However their defense hasn’t shown it could stop anyone. They have had a lot of trouble stopping the run and if they can’t fix it, it will be a long season for them. The Eagles are in a tough division so they may not be ready to battle for a playoff spot, but Kelley has them on the right track.
13. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are a perennial playoff team, but I think it’s time for a step back. Rookie running back Le’Veon Bell has a lisfranc injury and will be out at least six weeks. Their offensive line just hasn’t gelled and their tackles Mike Adams and Marcus Gilbert just don’t look like they will protect Ben Roethlisberger very well. On defense they are relying on a lot of new starters and aging veterans. If Troy Polamalu were to go down to injury, their defense would be in big trouble.
12. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings are another team that needs a lot of improvement from their quarterback to be in the playoff hunt. The Vikings made the playoffs last year in spite of what Christian Ponder was doing, but you can’t expect another 2,000 yard season from Adrian Peterson. They added Greg Jennings this year to give Ponder a true No. 1 receiver. The Vikings are also going to need their secondary to step up and be better than they have been this preseason.
11. Carolina Panthers
The Panthers offense has looked sloppy all preseason. With Jonathan Stewart and Mike Tolbert hurt and no second receiver, the offense is becoming limited to being the Cam Newton Show. The problem with that is that he can’t do everything, he needs help and he isn’t really getting it. Unless the run game can really step up this year and they can find Newton a reliable second receiver it’s going to be another long year in Carolina.
10. Tennessee Titans
The Titans have a lot of weapons on offense and a good offensive line, but it will all depend on how good Jake Locker can be. He looked pretty good against the Falcons and if he can be anywhere near that good in the regular season, they will have one of the best offenses in the league. On defense, things looked better against the Falcons too. They sacked Matt Ryan five times and also added an interception later in the game. If the defense can step up, the Titans will shock some people
9. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins offense has a lot of questions about it. Will Ryan Tannehill take the next step or experience a sophomore slump? Can Lamar Miller be the number one running back and carry the load? Can Jonathan Martin even resemble an average NFL starting left tackle? If any of those answers are no, then the Dolphins offense could be in a lot of trouble.
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs have one of the most talented teams in the league, but I’m not sure what to think of Josh Freeman. At times he looks amazing, and then he has games like that third preseason game where he completes less than 50 percent of his passes. In his defense, he was sacked five times, but if he is getting hit like that on a consistent basis, the Buccs are in trouble anyways. This is a make or break year for Freeman, he needs to step it up.
7. Buffalo Bills
The Bills quarterback situation just got a bit murkier with the concussion to Kevin Kolb. The Bills are hopeful that E.J. Manuel will be ready for Week 1, but if he isn’t Jeff Tuel or Matt Leinart seem to be next in line to start, neither of which is a good option. The Bills are going to have to hope that C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson can carry a big load for them while Manuel is getting his feet back under him.
6. Cleveland Browns
The Browns had looked good in their first two preseason games, but not so much in the third one. Brandon Weeden still has to make major strides to be an average starting quarterback and they have to hope that the defense gels quickly in their new 3-4 scheme. Josh Gordon is suspended to start the season, so they have to hope that some other receivers step up early. If Trent Richardson can stay healthy, that would be a big boost to this team.
5. San Diego Chargers
The Chargers offense will depend on whether Philip Rivers can be protected or not and whether Ryan Mathews can stay healthy or not. So far the line has been up and down, but Matthews has been impressive. Rivers is also going to have to hope for some kind of miracle and one of his receivers actually step up this year. On defense they have to get to the quarterback, but they are depending on Dwight Freeney to provide that pressure.
4. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals line was bad last year and they were supposed to have improved it this year. However, their top 10 pick from this past draft, offensive guard Jonathan Cooper, broke his leg against the Chargers. On top of Cooper getting hurt, the Cardinals also had several other players that left with injuries. Andre Roberts, Rob Housler and Rashard Mendenhall were all set to get MRIs for various injuries.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars continue the theme of teams who have bad quarterbacks picking near the top of the draft. It’s pretty obvious that neither Blaine Gabbert nor Chad Henne is the answer, but one of them has to start. They have some talent at receiver, though Justin Blackmon is suspended to start the season. They have two talented tackles to help protect the quarterback, but with Gabbert back there I’m not sure it will matter.
2. Oakland Raiders
Stop me if you have heard this story before. Matt Flynn is brought in to be the starting quarterback of a team, only to be beaten out by a young, mobile quarterback who wasn’t supposed to start. Well, you might be hearing it again in Oakland where the Raiders have re-opened the quarterback competition before the fourth game of the preseason. Terrelle Pryor has played well enough and Flynn has played bad enough that the coaches need to take another look at the situation. That is never a good sign for how your season is going to go.
1. New York Jets
Where to start with the Jets? Everyone thought they would be bad and then the third preseason game happened. Geno Smith looked like a quarterback who absolutely wasn’t ready to start, Mark Sanchez is playing in garbage time and goes down with an injury to his throwing shoulder and Rex Ryan again looks stupid. With the lack of real talent at the receiver and running back positions, on top of the poor quarterback play, the Jets could have a historically bad offense.