Sensible ESPN Preseason Power Rankings

[coupdayta]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/powerrankings?year=2010&week=0

Sounds about right to me.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Yeah, I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of stupid there.

I think the Dolphins, Cards, and Texans are a bit too high. I think the Bucs, Lions, and *gulp* Raiders (especially) are too low. I thought the Redskins were dead on, and give them credit for realizing that 1) McNabb isn't that good, and 2) he still has no one to throw to.

[ArmyBengal]

Here you go...

1 (1) Colts 14-2-0 Their fate might depend on what others have done to narrow the gap. (Kuharsky)

2 (5) Saints 13-3-0 The Saints should not expect another magical season because every team is different, but they can still contend for the Super Bowl. (Sando)

3 (3) Vikings 12-4-0 Brett Favre is waiting for a two-hour TV special to announce his return. (Walker)

4 (4) Cowboys 11-5-0 The Cowboys are loaded and will be looking to secure a Super Bowl "home game." (Clayton)

5 (11) Ravens 9-7-0 The defense-heavy Ravens finally believe they have a high-powered offense. Scary thought. (Walker)

6 (6) Packers 11-5-0 Improved pass protection for QB Aaron Rodgers could go a long way. (Walker)

7 (12) Jets 9-7-0 With 12 Pro Bowl position players, the Jets are loaded to challenge the Pats. (Clayton)

8 (15) Falcons 9-7-0 The fortunes are looking up again now that RB Michael Turner is healthy and apparently in great condition. (Sando)

9 (10) Patriots 10-6-0 Who keeps the Patriots ahead of every other AFC East team? Tom Brady. (Clayton)

10 (2) Chargers 13-3-0 I'd like the Chargers a lot more with WR Vincent Jackson than without him. (Kuharsky)

11 (9) Bengals 10-6-0 This is the deepest Bengals team of the Marvin Lewis era. But can it handle a first-place schedule? (Walker)

12 (19) 49ers 8-8-0 The defense is already strong and the offense is finally in position to improve -- if QB Alex Smith is ready. (Sando)

13 (21) Dolphins 7-9-0 It's up to QB Chad Henne to see if he can compete against the big boys in the AFC East. (Clayton)

14 (14) Texans 9-7-0 Pass defense might determine the Texans' fate more than anything else. (Kuharsky)

15 (8) Cardinals 10-6-0 Keep an eye on youngsters Beanie Wells (RB) and Early Doucet (WR) this season. Arizona needs them. (Sando)

16 (20) Giants 8-8-0 Tom Coughlin must sort out the defensive problems to keep the Giants in contention. (Clayton)

17 (7) Eagles 11-5-0 Even though the Eagles have tons of talent, their schedule pulls them down. (Clayton)

18 (16) Titans 8-8-0 The Titans are going to be an offensive football team. (Kuharsky)

19 (13) Steelers 9-7-0 The first 4-6 games without QB Ben Roethlisberger could make or break their season. (Walker)

20 (29) Redskins 4-12-0 New QB Donovan McNabb should add a TD per game to the Redskins' offense. (Clayton)

21 (22) Bears 7-9-0 Do people realize QB Jay Cutler is just 24-29 as a starter? (Walker)

22 (18) Panthers 8-8-0 Carolina has the NFL's youngest roster and a head coach entering the final year of his deal. (Sando)

23 (17) Broncos 8-8-0 I'm betting QB Tim Tebow scores a TD on opening day in Jacksonville. (Kuharsky)

24 (26) Raiders 5-11-0 Did the Raiders build a pretty good defense? (Kuharsky)

25 (27) Seahawks 5-11-0 Immediate expectations for QB Charlie Whitehurst subsided pretty quickly once Seattle hit the practice field. (Sando)

26 (23) Jaguars 7-9-0 If only the Jaguars resided in the AFC West ... or the NFC West.(Kuharsky)

27 (28) Chiefs 4-12-0 The Chiefs are hoping safety Eric Berry will provide immediate help. KC's defense ranked 30th in 2009. (Kuharsky)

28 (25) Browns 5-11-0 The first year of the Mike Holmgren era could be rough. This team lacks talent across the board. (Walker)

29 (31) Lions 2-14-0 After the 2009 season, the Lions have nowhere to go but up. So does the pass defense, which ranked 32nd last season and allowed 266 yards per game.(Walker)

30 (30) Buccaneers 3-13-0 How well can a young head coach with a defensive background manage Josh Freeman, a franchise QB entering his first full season as an NFL starter? (Sando)

31 (24) Bills 6-10-0 The only thing the Bills can look forward to is the 2011 draft and a new quarterback. (Clayton)

32 (32) Rams 1-15-0 The big question heading into camp is whether rookie QB Sam Bradford can earn the starting job by Week 1. (Sando)

[Kazkal]

Yeah, I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of stupid there.

I think the Dolphins, Cards, and Texans are a bit too high. I think the Bucs, Lions, and *gulp* Raiders (especially) are too low. I thought the Redskins were dead on, and give them credit for realizing that 1) McNabb isn't that good, and 2) he still has no one to throw to.

Phins I agree,Cardinals probably because of QB issues...BUt I think Texans thats fair their offense was pretty sick last year.

[Stripes]

I won't complain. I definitely think the Bengals are better than the Jets, Chargers, and Falcons (number eight?!) though.

[BengalPimp]

I'm good with a #11 Pre-Season Ranking. Keep in mind it's early still and they haven't seen the Bengals in any pre-season games. I think we will move up the rankings before Week 1 (maybe top 8). Ravens at #5 is waaaaay too high. Their Offense is improved, but their Defense has declined, especially in the Secondary, which will make games against teams like the Saints, Pats and Texans tough.....so.....

[HairOnFire]

I won't complain. I definitely think the Bengals are better than the Jets, Chargers, and Falcons (number eight?!) though.

Funny, but I didn't have a complaint with those teams being ranked higher.

My gripe was seeing the Ravens and Patriots ranked higher.

[ArmyBengal]

I don't really give a sh*t where they put the Bengals on that list and don't care if they continue to be overlooked.

Play the next team on the schedule and in the words of Hair, "BE THE BULLY" !!!

[johnswahoo]

There are three teams that will place higher on that chart at the end of the year....Jacksonville, Chicago and Tennessee. This is a very bold prediction but all three will make the playoffs.

[ArmyBengal]

The Titans defense is going to suck monkey balls with the further loss of Vandenbosch.

[DesperateDerelict]

There are three teams that will place higher on that chart at the end of the year....Jacksonville, Chicago and Tennessee. This is a very bold prediction but all three will make the playoffs.

I can't see it.

1) Jax is a one man team, which coincides with their average attendance.

2) Mike Martz is going to get Jay Cutler killed.

3) I can't see Vince Young repeating his magic, and Chris Johnson is way over-worked.

The Titans defense is going to suck monkey balls with the further loss of Vandenbosch.

A very disturbing visual....thanks for the image.

[ArmyBengal]

Disturbing or not, it's true.

Glad I could help out with the visual though !!!

[coupdayta]

And on that note, here are some garbage SI.com rankings:

/>http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/don_banks/07/27/precamp.1/index.html

Yeah Don Banks. Way to rank two teams we beat TWICE last year ahead of us, especially when one's rapist QB is going to miss the first 4-6 games.

[NJ29]

And on that note, here are some garbage SI.com rankings:

/>http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/don_banks/07/27/precamp.1/index.html

Yeah Don Banks. Way to rank two teams we beat TWICE last year ahead of us, especially when one's rapist QB is going to miss the first 4-6 games.

Pure goofiness.

I tend to dismiss claims that say we're "primed for a drop to 7-9" based on nothing. Saying that we won't sneak up on anyone isn't founded on any football information, it's quackery.

[Kazkal]

ESPN.com kicked off this week by revealing its training camp power rankings.

But something interesting that stood out for our division was AFC South blogger Paul Kuharsky's placement of the Cincinnati Bengals. He rated the defending AFC North champions No. 19, which I noticed raised some eyebrows in our community. (Overall, the Bengals were No. 11.)

So we checked in with Kuharsky to get his explanation:

"I think the Bengals were a bit of a fluke last year. I think Baltimore is going to be really good. I have a hard time seeing the Steelers finishing behind Cincinnati two years in a row. Teams that win divisions by surprise often disappear the next year. I won't be surprised at all if that's the case with the 2010 Bengals."

[HairOnFire]

A hyped up Don Banks channels his inner Chickster before ranking two 9-7 teams in his Top Three.....including the Jets as first overall.

Pfffttttt.....

[Kazkal]

Disturbing or not, it's true.

Glad I could help out with the visual though !!!

this thread lacks visual aid.

[Wraith]

CNNSi's Don Banks has us at 16 http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/don_banks/07/27/precamp.1/index.html

[jjakq27]

Ravens at #5 is waaaaay too high. Their Offense is improved, but their Defense has declined, especially in the Secondary, which will make games against teams like the Saints, Pats and Texans tough.....so.....

It amazes my how people still want to ride Ray Lewis' jock. Schlereth and his partner were taking the Ravens in the AFCN this year and the first picture they showed was 52's. They were swayed by their playoff win in NE last year.

However here are some comparative stats over the five previous seasons. Not a huge difference if you ask me yet we are usually dismissed in favor of them.

Since 2005

Bengals

40-39-1

2 divisions championships ('05, '09)

2 sub-500 seasons ('07, '08)

Ravens

44-36

1 division championship ('06)

2 sub-500 seasons ('05, '07)

Head-to-head

Bengals 7W-3L

Sweep wins ('05, '07, '09)

Sweep losses ('08)

[Kazkal]

Ravens at #5 is waaaaay too high. Their Offense is improved, but their Defense has declined, especially in the Secondary, which will make games against teams like the Saints, Pats and Texans tough.....so.....

It amazes my how people still want to ride Ray Lewis' jock. Schlereth and his partner were taking the Ravens in the AFCN this year and the first picture they showed was 52's. They were swayed by their playoff win in NE last year.

However here are some comparative stats over the five previous seasons. Not a huge difference if you ask me yet we are usually dismissed in favor of them.

Since 2005

Bengals

40-39-1

2 divisions championships ('05, '09)

2 sub-500 seasons ('07, '08)

Ravens

44-36

1 division championship ('06)

2 sub-500 seasons ('05, '07)

Head-to-head

Bengals 7W-3L

Sweep wins ('05, '07, '09)

Sweep losses ('08)

yup We've always seemed to have ravens number yet its something the talking heads like to ignore.