First NFL Power Rankings Out with Preseason Underway
First NFL Power Rankings Out with Preseason Underway
For the first time, and with the start of the preseason, the NFL staff has released their official power rankings for all 32 teams and the teams in the top five may surprise you. The NFL staff has ranked the top strongest team as follows:
1. New Orleans Saints
2. New England Patriots
3. Indianapolis Colts
4. Los Angeles Chargers
5. Los Angeles Rams
These are teams that all deserve their spot in any top ten list but some of them I feel have been misplaced. To be included in the top five teams in the power rankings shouldn’t teams have to prove that they can win the big game. Teams like the Colts and the Chargers are always a force to be reckoned with but when they get into the games that matter, they struggle. The Chargers made the playoffs last year for the first time since 2013. But even before that, they have had problems making it past the wildcard game. It seems every preseason the Chargers are considered a threat, and then for some reason come up short. I believe there is always too much stock being put into the Chargers. While Phillip Rivers is an elite quarterback, he seems to have problems getting the team to its full potential.
After Peyton Manning left the team in 2012, the Colts selected Andrew Luck with the first overall pick. The team has shown that under his leadership the Colts have continued its winning traditions. But even though Andrew Luck has proved that he can get it done the team always seems to have something missing. For a long time, it was the defense that people said was the problem in Indianapolis, but the Colts had the number eleven defense in the entire NFL. That isn’t the best defensive ranking but with a team slated on having a great offense, an argument can be made that they leave a lot to be desired.
Of course, teams like the Saints and the Patriots are always ready to make deep playoff runs. They have solid coaching and experienced QB’s who are winners. The Rams, although they had an elite season and went to the Super Bowl, they had a performance in the big game that can only be described as lackluster.
I feel other teams, especially the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles have the coaching, talent and a proven track record to deserve a chance to make this top five list. Doug Pederson and the Eagles have won a Super Bowl and have built a solid team around young QB Carson Wentz. While Andy Reid and the Chiefs have not won the big game, they made great strides last year with second-year QB Patrick Mahomes and should be better this season. I’m sure the next NFL power rankings will look very different.
-By: Ryan Johnson