Too early for the Power Rankings? Cinci 19th

[jjakq27]

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/8195805

Power Rankings: Boldly peeking ahead at new season

By Pete Prisco

SportsLine.com Senior Writer

Updated Feb. 15

The paint isn't even dry on the New England Patriots' 2004 masterpiece, but it's time to look at a new, blank canvas and wonder if any other team can produce a work of art of its own in 2005.

With the Super Bowl clock hitting zeroes less than two weeks ago, it might seem a bit odd to peak ahead to next season, especially since pitchers and catchers are reporting this week and the NBA All-Star Game isn't even here.

But we live in a world where looking ahead is a way of life, so it's only natural that it's time for our first 2005 Power Rankings.

Plus, you asked for them. My bosses wanted them. And I love doing them.

How else can I fill the e-mail void this time of the year?

I can't question the Patriots anymore. I promised I wouldn't again. Well, at least not until August.

The batch of rankings was a tough undertaking. We had to take into account the 2004 season, but also with an eye on the 2005 season. In looking ahead, it's hard to account for the upcoming free agency period, trade possibilities as well as the April draft.

For example, how do we factor in Randy Moss? Will he be with the Vikings? What about Drew Brees? And who will quarterback the Cowboys? The Bills? The Bucs?

So for now, we're doing these rankings with the idea that players like Moss and Brees will be staying put and most teams will re-sign their key free agents. That includes places like Seattle where Walter Jones, Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander are among a group of key free agents. Some will be gone, which makes it a challenge to do these rankings, but we'll assume most will be back.

The easy part for now is the top and bottom. We know the Patriots will start on top in 2005 and the other top teams look to be the same ones from a year ago -- the Colts, Eagles, Steelers and Falcons. A team we like heading toward next season is the Ravens, so they're ranked higher than most would think.

Kyle Boller will be better under new coordinator Jim Fassel, who won't restrict him as much as Matt Cavanaugh did. A little improvement will make this a strong Super Bowl contender.

On the bottom of the rankings sit the San Francisco 49ers with the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins right there with them. It's not a coincidence that all three teams have new coaches. They all have plenty of holes to fill -- quarterback for all three being the big one -- which is why 2005 will be nothing more than a stepping-stone season for them.

And somewhere in that bottom third of the league is a team that could be this year's San Diego Chargers, a team that comes from nowhere to win a division.

Now you see the challenge of these first rankings of the year. We'll have another batch after the draft, and then another sometime in the summer.

Here's a prediction: There will be a major shakeup when the summer rankings come out. Here's another prediction: It won't be the top team. The Patriots are at No. 1 until they lose. That's a lesson we've learned here the hard way.

The rankings for Feb. 15:

POWER RANKINGS

Current Team Previous

1 New England Patriots -

There is no way this team can be anywhere but in this top spot. Losing two coordinators won't stop the Patriots from being the 2005 favorite.

2 Indianapolis Colts -

The main goal of the offseason will be to improve the defense. They have to add more players on that side of the ball somehow.

3 Philadelphia Eagles -

They took the next step, but now it's time to take the biggest step. The running game has to get better.

4 Pittsburgh Steelers -

They will again be a factor in the AFC, but there has to be some concern about the way Ben Roethlisberger played late in the season.

5 Baltimore Ravens -

This is a team that should make a major leap forward. If they somehow get Randy Moss, it could be a Super leap.

6 Atlanta Falcons -

That was a heck of a first year for coach Jim Mora, but the passing game has to improve if this is going to be a Super Bowl team.

7 San Diego Chargers -

They made a big move this year, but was it a fluke or can it be sustained? That's a big question.

8 New York Jets -

The uncertainty surrounding Chad Pennington's rotator cuff problems make it tough to gauge this team for 2005. That's a serious injury. They will be lower if he can't go for some time.

9 Seattle Seahawks -

Their offseason will be filled with lots of work with so many pending free agents, including Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander.

10 Jacksonville Jaguars -

They have a few holes to fill, but they will push the Colts for the division title next year.

11 Denver Broncos -

Mike Shanahan has not won a playoff game since John Elway retired. So is the heat on?

12 Green Bay Packers -

This ranking is based on Brett Favre returning. If he doesn't, they will be in the bottom 10.

13 New Orleans Saints -

They came on strong in the last four weeks, saving coach Jim Haslett's job. Now they need to find a way to carry it over to 2005.

14 Buffalo Bills -

They have a lot of the pieces in place, so it all could be on rookie passer J.P. Losman, who is expected to take over as the starter.

15 Carolina Panthers -

They fought through a ton of injuries in 2004 and almost made the playoffs, so they have to feel good going into 2005.

16 Minnesota Vikings -

They have the Randy Moss issue to resolve. If he is traded, what will that do to this team?

17 Kansas City Chiefs -

The offense again played at a high level in 2004, but it's time for the defense to do something in 2005 in what should be Dick Vermeil's last year.

18 Houston Texans -

It's time for this team to take the next step and compete for a playoff spot. It's year four of the five-year plan.

19 Cincinnati Bengals -

Carson Palmer has the offense in good hands, so now it's time for the defense to show some improvement.

20 Tennessee Titans -

This is a franchise moving in the wrong direction, proof the salary cap is a crippler if you don't manage it right.

21 St. Louis Rams -

Does anybody get the feeling they are ready to push for a Super Bowl? Didn't think so. Could 2005 be the end for Mike Martz?

22 Washington Redskins -

It's time for Patrick Ramsey to step up and show he's the guy the Redskins thought he was when they used a first-round pick on him.

23 Tampa Bay Buccaneers -

Jon Gruden is taking a lot of heat in Tampa, and some of his personnel decisions warrant it. But he's too good a coach for this team to stay down for long.

24 Detroit Lions -

Is Joey Harrington good enough to take this young team to the next level? We really don't know, but it's doubtful.

25 Oakland Raiders -

That defense has to get better if the Raiders are to compete for a playoff spot in 2005.

26 Dallas Cowboys -

They have two first-round picks, which will help, but who will be the quarterback?

27 Arizona Cardinals -

Dennis Green gets a lot of respect as a coach, but if he really thinks Josh McCown is the answer at quarterback he's mistaken.

28 Chicago Bears -

They will get Rex Grossman back at quarterback, but is that enough to move the Bears to a playoff-caliber team? Doubtful.

29 New York Giants -

Eli Manning showed enough as a rookie to give this franchise hope. Now he has to get some help at other positions.

30 Miami Dolphins -

The Dolphins are two or three years away. Nick Saban is the right man for the job, even if the way he goes about things can grate on people.

31 Cleveland Browns -

Can Romeo Crennel bring the New England magic to Cleveland? It will take time.

32 San Francisco 49ers -

New coach Mike Nolan has loads of work to do. At least he has the No. 1 pick to get it started.

[DontPushMe]

Tagging Rudi Johnson probly dropped us down a few spots, 19 seems about right.

[WHO DEY AGAIN?]

And now an opinion from someone not in Corey's jock:

The Bengals before FA and the draft should be ahead of the Ravens, Broncs, Bills, and Texans. A lot will happen before next year but we are better off at this point than we were last year.

[BengalsOwn]

This was written before Rudi was tagged

[San Antonio Bengal]

I wonder how much of this list was based on what *might* happen in the offseason rather than what each team currently has. There's no way Baltimore can be as high as 5th. There several are other mistakes, but that one is the most glaring.

[BengalNation1281]

I was shocked (SHOCKED!) to see the Ravens ranked that high. The Ravens/Randy Moss talk has cooled within the last month or so, there are still big questions at WR, and Kyle Boller hasn't shown anything that should lead anyone to believe that he will be dramatically better than he was last year.

I don't see how the Saints and Texans are both ranked ahead of us, but the ranking for the Ravens is a frikkin' joke. I would have had the Ravens somewhere in the mid-teens and us somewhere around 14 or 15. Dammit, I hate the Ravens.

BN1281

[jjakq27]

Tagging Rudi Johnson probly dropped us down a few spots, 19 seems about right.

We would have been 15th but they found out that you are a so called Bengals fan and that dropped us down a few spots. Thanks.

[turningpoint]

ravens deserve #5....

they got a probowl corner...best safety, best LB, and probably about the 4th best LB Terrell Suggs is gonnna be a monster.

great TE and Great RB.....Great O line...

they're only problem is there inept QB and crap core of Wr's...we all know the'll draft 1 or get on in FA. They won the superbowl withthere amazing D....they could do it again easily.

[ckj414]

Those are some whacked out rankings. I see the rankings far differently, including the Bengals being closer to 12-16, and the Ravens down around the same level. The two teams were about equal last season, and it seems to me that the Bengals have more upside at this point.

In the NFC, I was suprised to see my Giants at 29, below division rivals Washington and Dallas, both of whom New York finished ahead of in the regular season and end of season sportsline.com Power Rankings. And unlike most teams, the Giants are bringing back *everyone*. Thats usually a sure sign that a team is going to improve.

But I guess thats all Power Rankings at this time of the year are worth....

[ckj414]

They won the superbowl withthere amazing D....they could do it again easily.

One problem with that - they don't have Marvin Lewis anymore .

I really don't see the Ravens having Super Bowl potential in 2005. I think I heard they were switching their defense back to a 4-3, which means a season wasted as players learn a new system. But if they get some WR help in the draft, perhaps 2006 could be the year.

[membengal]

ravens deserve #5....

they got a probowl corner...best safety, best LB, and probably about the 4th best LB Terrell Suggs is gonnna be a monster.

great TE and Great RB.....Great O line...

they're only problem is there inept QB and crap core of Wr's...we all know the'll draft 1 or get on in FA. They won the superbowl withthere amazing D....they could do it again easily.

That's like saying you have a great car but the only problem is your crap engine. The Ravens QB situation (and WR situation) demands that they be no higher than 10th or 11th at this time.

[turningpoint]

In the NFC, I was suprised to see my Giants at 29, below division rivals Washington and Dallas, both of whom New York finished ahead of in the regular season and end of season sportsline.com Power Rankings. And unlike most teams, the Giants are bringing back *everyone*. Thats usually a sure sign that a team is going to improve.

But I guess thats all Power Rankings at this time of the year are worth....

yeah but ur team needs Wr's and o line badly....and no 1st round pick hurts.

[ckj414]

yeah but ur team needs Wr's and o line badly....and no 1st round pick hurts.

O-Line? Not as much as is popularly thought. They only gave up 9 sacks the 2nd half of the season, 45 in the first half - and I'll tell you why that number was so high in the first half - the molasses-slow release of Kurt Warner. WR help would be nice, but there are plenty on the market, I'd be suprised if the Giants didn't sign one. One more decent WR and a healthy Amani Toomer to go with Shockey and Barber, I think thats a team you can go to battle with.

No first round pick may help - I'm hoping they make a play for Kendrell Bell. I just hope he can stay healthy. If they had to pay a 1st rounder, no chance they could afford him.

[BengalNation1281]

I don't think that the G-Men will be awful, but they certainly won't be good. Then again, I always hope for the failure of Eli Manning, so I might be biased on the subject.

The Giants definitely have a good foundation, but they shouldn't be in a position to contend with the Iggles until 2006. That and they have this thing about 8-game losing streaks that always seems to pose a problem. But they aren't as bad as the Cowboys.

[BengalszoneBilly]

That's like saying you have a great car but the only problem is your crap engine. The Ravens QB situation (and WR situation) demands that they be no higher than 10th or 11th at this time.

Exactly! It all begins with the QB on offense. They have none. Period. The Ravens shouldn't be ranked any higher than 1 or 2 positions above the Bengals.

[Dan2330]

Way too early for power rankings- free agency has not kicked in, the draft is still a month out.

[ckj414]

I don't think that the G-Men will be awful, but they certainly won't be good. Then again, I always hope for the failure of Eli Manning, so I might be biased on the subject.

The Giants definitely have a good foundation, but they shouldn't be in a position to contend with the Iggles until 2006. That and they have this thing about 8-game losing streaks that always seems to pose a problem. But they aren't as bad as the Cowboys.

Yeah, you're far from the only one rooting for the failure of Eli. But, if the last few games of the year are any indication, you won't get what you wished for.

...or as poorly run as the Redskins. Now thats a franchise in disarray. Points for effort, but someone needs to tell Dan Snyder that this isn't a fantasy football league...

[turningpoint]

I don't think that the G-Men will be awful, but they certainly won't be good.  Then again, I always hope for the failure of Eli Manning, so I might be biased on the subject.

The Giants definitely have a good foundation, but they shouldn't be in a position to contend with the Iggles until 2006.  That and they have this thing about 8-game losing streaks that always seems to pose a problem.  But they aren't as bad as the Cowboys.

Yeah, you're far from the only one rooting for the failure of Eli. But, if the last few games of the year are any indication, you won't get what you wished for.

...or as poorly run as the Redskins. Now thats a franchise in disarray. Points for effort, but someone needs to tell Dan Snyder that this isn't a fantasy football league...

i wouldn;t quite say disarray, there defense is stacked.

If they get that offense going, with a little Wr help, and a qb that isn't inept, they could esily sneak themselves into a 10-6 season in the NFC.

[ckj414]

i wouldn;t quite say disarray, there defense is stacked.

If they get that offense going, with a little Wr help, and a qb that isn't inept, they could esily sneak themselves into a 10-6 season in the NFC.

But virtually everyone has been saying the same thing for the last five years. Washington is proof positive that cap management matters. They could have the best 22 starters in the NFL, but their depth is incredibly suspect thanks to all those huge contracts Snyder has been giving out like candy. The only way they make the playoffs is if they have an injury free season, like San Diego and the Jets enjoyed in 2004.