ESPN Power Rankings (football)

[mexicanjunior]

sports.espn.go.com/nfl/powerranking?season=2008&week=0

1 (1) Patriots 16-0-0 The Patriots may have major question marks at CB. But with the NFL's easiest schedule, that shouldn't matter. The key is staying healthy. (JC)
2 (2) Colts 13-3-0 The Colts head to camp with health concerns about Marvin Harrison and Dwight Freeney, but won a lot of games without them in 2007. (PK)
3 (3) Chargers 11-5-0 The Chargers have to make sure the injuries don't mount because this team enters training camp smelling its first Super Bowl visit in 14 seasons. (BW)
4 (4) Cowboys 13-3-0 QB Tony Romo knows the only way he can validate his immense talent is to win a playoff game. With this team, he'll finally break through. (MM)
5 (5) Jaguars 11-5-0 The Jags' draft concentrated on pass-rushers who can give Peyton Manning and Tom Brady a harder time. (PK)
6 (6) Giants 10-6-0 New York didn't have to wait until training camp for the Super Bowl hangover to start. Losing four key players on defense won't help, and Jeremy Shockey's not the type of person to put his ego aside to help the team. (MM)
7 (7) Steelers 10-6-0 Ben Roethlisberger looked awfully good this spring. He might be primed to join the elite QB class of Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. (JW)
8 (10) Packers 13-3-0 Yes, they've had some unexpected drama this summer. With or without Brett Favre, however, the Packers have assembled a deep and talented roster that is built for the long haul. (KS)

I can buy the Cowboys at 4 but not under the Chargers, I would think the Giants would be ranked ahead of us till proven otherwise. I think by midseason, we will be ranked in the top 3 though...

[Sideshow Bob]

4 is too low. Should be either 2 or 3.

[mexicanjunior]

Here are the Fox Sports Power Rankings...

msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/8366366/Super-Bowl-foes-top-offseason-Power-Rankings

After what seems to have been an eternal offseason packed with player movement, off-the-field legal issues, coaching hires and fires, and bizarre media circuses in both New England and Green Bay, it's finally time for some actual football. Yes, real, live football! Well, sorta. Camps open up around the league this week. Before we get down in the trenches, let's check out my offseason edition of the NFL Power Rankings.

1 — New England: The Patriots have no doubt had a tumultuous offseason. Aside from lingering Spygate fallout, there have been the Nick Kaczur, Kevin Faulk and Willie Andrews arrests and a host of key contributors from the '07 team lost to free agency. That said, the Pats bring all the majority of their big dogs back — most importantly Randy Moss — and will be playing with a vengeance in '08. On paper, they have the easiest schedule in the entire league this season. Vegas currently has the Pats listed with 15-1 odds to go undefeated in 2008. It's not a bad bet. New England could be as good as they were last season. This time, they're looking to end the year with a win. Camp: Foxboro, Mass.

2 — New York Giants: It looks as though everyone's crowning Dallas the preseason favorites in the NFC East. Nonsense. The Giants, despite losing Jeremy Shockey and Super Bowl stars Kawika Mitchell, Gibril Wilson and Michael Strahan this offseason, are primed to repeat not only as NFC champions, but Super Bowl kings. Lineman David Diehl told me a few weeks ago, "A lot of people had us picked last in 2007. Where they are picking us now is really nothing new to us. Nobody picked us in the playoffs or the Super Bowl. But we always had high expectation for ourselves. Everyone is committed and dedicated to putting in the hard work it takes to prove ourselves again." In short, this is an angry team, ready to show the world that last year was no fluke. You've got to beat the best to be the best. And until Dallas does that -- New York gets my nod as the NFC favorites. Camp: Albany, N.Y.


3 — San Diego: While discussing FOXSports.com's fantasy football last week, I chatted with LaDainian Tomlinson about the MCL injury that kept him out of the majority of last year's playoffs. He says he's healthy and ready to go. He better be. Backing up L.T. is no longer big-play threat Michael Turner, but rather, a hodgepodge of rookies (Jacob Hester) and unproven backs (Darren Sproles, Marcus Thomas). Lorenzo Neal's gone too, being replaced by fifth-year man Andrew Pinnock. A 100 percent L.T. or not, the Chargers are loaded across the board and start the season with games against five teams that finished under .500 last year. The AFC West isn't quite the division it used to be, either. Unless Denver puts it all together sooner than expected, San Diego should cruise into the playoffs as AFC West champions this season. Camp: San Diego, Calif.

4 — Indianapolis Colts: Peyton Manning's out for 4-6 weeks, Marvin Harrison's future is a bit murky and longtime guard Jake Scott is now with the enemy Tennessee Titans. Reason to worry? Nah. Indy's won five straight AFC South titles and they're going to be near impossible to beat at home in their new stadium. Despite injuries across the board, the defense still ranked tops in the league in '07. As long as Dungy's on that sideline and Manning's under center, the Colts aren't going anywhere but the postseason. Book them for their sixth straight AFC South title and at least one playoff game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Camp: Terre Haute, Ind.

5 — Dallas: For a franchise that hasn't won a playoff game in 12 years, the media sure has a lot of confidence in the Cowboys this off-season. Everywhere you look, pundits are pegging Dallas as the NFC East favorites and the Super Bowl frontrunners out of the NFC. In truth, Jerry Jones did some nice things in the off-season, plucking both Zach Thomas and Adam Jones for 40 cents on the dollar, and re-signing Ken Hamlin to a long-term deal. Wade Phillips is Marty Schottenheimer Lite, though, having never won a playoff game, himself. Anything less than a conference title will be seen as a great disappointment in Big D this season. Is this squad up to the challenge? We'll have to wait and see. Camp: Oxnard, Calif.

6 — Jacksonville: If you listen to everyone else, this is the year Jacksonville's going to end Indianapolis' reign of terror over the AFC South and become the first division champions other than the Colts since 2002. After all, the Jags drafted two top flight pass rushers in Derrick Harvey and Quintin Groves, scooped up Troy Williamson and Jerry Porter via free agency, and bring back the majority of last year's wild-card squad. David Garrard's the quarterback, there are no questions there, and the Jags are certainly poised to return to the playoffs. Don't be shocked if they win 10-12 games in '08. But until they beat Indianapolis on the road, I'm not handing them the AFC South crown. Camp: Jacksonville, Fla.

7 — Seattle: Mike Holmgren's last season has a legitimate chance to end with glory. Of course, there are question marks all over. Are Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett going to serve as upgrades to Shaun Alexander at running back? Will losing D.J. Hackett hurt Matt Hasselbeck more than everyone's letting on? Are Patrick Kerney,32, and Julian Peterson, 30, going to be able to stay healthy and turn in the Pro Bowl caliber seasons they did last year all over again? What's up with Bobby Engram's contract and Deion Branch's health? Seattle should be able to defend their division crown in the soft NFC West, but there's not much room for error or injury. To contend for an NFC title, they'll need to be all systems go for 19 weeks. Camp: Kirkland, Wash.

8 — Cleveland: Everyone's going ga-ga over Cleveland this summer, and with good reason. The Browns, despite missing the postseason, were the surprise of the 2007 season, winning 10 games -- about six more than anyone expected. Over the off-season, they beefed up their defensive line with Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams, and scooped up a first-round talent at linebacker in UNLV's Beau Bell on the draft's second day. Donte Stallworth adds even more big-play ability on an already sizzling offense. The catch? That schedule. It's a nightmare. Anything less than a postseason berth will be a disappointment in Cleveland this season. Camp: Berea, Ohio.

9 — Pittsburgh: Big Ben got big money this off-season, but he also lost his steadiest protector, Alan Faneca. In a seven-week span starting in late October, Pittsburgh takes on the Super Bowl champion Giants, the NFC wild-card qualifying Redskins, the AFC South champion Colts, the AFC West champion Chargers, the rival Bengals, the AFC champion Patriots, and the NFC East champion Cowboys. All in a row. It's the toughest schedule in the league, and arguably the toughest I've ever seen. Pittsburgh's good, but I'm not sure they're good enough to survive that slate. They'll battle Cleveland for the AFC North title this season. It won't be easy. Camp: Latrobe, Pa.

10 — Washington: Everyone's talking about Philly, New York and Dallas in the NFC East, but it's Washington that returns 21 starters from last year's NFC wild-card team. Add in six-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Taylor from Miami, free agent Erasmus James from Minnesota and gritty safety Stuart Schweigert — and a hit-or-miss defense from a year ago suddenly becomes one of the league's most dynamic. On offense, Jim Zorn brings a new offense and a new philosophy, and the bevy of new receiving options selected in April's draft give Jason Campbell some receivers above six feet to pass to. Want to talk sleeper NFC champion contenders? Look no further than the 202. Camp: Ashburn, Va.

I don't see why San Diego is ranked so high, they did a good job in the playoffs last year getting to the AFC Championship game but underachieved throughout the regular season. I see the same thing happening this year...

[Sideshow Bob]

i don't care whether the giants won the super bowl or not, they should NOT be ranked above the cowboys for this season

5 is ridiculous

[mexicanjunior]

If you find more power rankings, post them...

[mexicanjunior]

CBS Sportsline Power Rankings...

www.sportsline.com/nfl/powerrankings

Power Rankings

1 Patriots · Trends 2
Is there any reason to think they won't be sitting here for most of the season? The Super hangover won't bother this group.
2 Colts · Trends 3
I was tempted to put them in the top spot, but Dwight Freeney's health is still a concern. They aren't far behind the Patriots.
3 Giants · Trends 1
How can you not have them as the top NFC team? Too many people are forgetting the tough path they took to the Super Bowl.
4 Cowboys · Trends 4
They have almost the same team back that had the best record in the NFC last year. The one issue they must handle is having Phillips looking over his shoulder at Jason Garrett.
5 Jaguars · Trends 5
This is a deep, talented team that has filled some big holes through the draft and free agency. If David Garrard can prove he's not a one-year wonder, they could be an elite team.
6 Chargers · Trends 7
Here's another loaded team. The main concern is the health of both Philip Rivers and LaDainian Tomlinson. Phillips proved in the AFC Championship Game loss to the Patriots that he's a tough guy, playing on a bad knee.
7 Steelers · Trends 8
Too many experts are counting this team out. The offensive line is an issue, but if that gets sorted out, the Steelers will win the division again. Sorry, Browns fans.
8 Eagles · Trends 10
Andy Reid is too good a coach for the Eagles to be a non-playoff team for another season. They will be the bounce-back team in 2008.
9 Seahawks · Trends 9
This is a tough team to gauge. Are they good or were they a product of a bad division last season? They do have to run the ball better.
10 Packers · Trends 6
I think Aaron Rodgers will be better than most people, which is why I still have the Packers in the top 10. This is a young, talented team with a good head coach.

[mexicanjunior]

USA Today Power Rankings...

www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2008-05-06-power-rankings_N.htm

1 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS Last rank: 2 Total points: 376

Notes: Surprising that 18-1 team receives NFL's easiest schedule. (Four first-place votes)

2 N.Y. GIANTS Last rank: 1 Total points: 362

Notes: Really no superstars, but burgeoning depth is impressive. (Five first-place votes.)

3 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS Last rank: 5 Total points: 357

Notes: Marvin Harrison's health could be least of his worries now. (One first-place vote.)

4 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS Last rank: 3 (tie) Total points: 353

Notes: Title hopes probably hinge on Philip Rivers' knee. (Two first-place votes.)

5 DALLAS COWBOYS Last rank: 7 Total points: 346

Notes: With Jerry, Felix, Pacman and in tow, Dallas loves Joneses. (Sorry, Julius.)

6 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS Last rank: 6 Total points: 325

Notes: Hey, Peyton, they're coming after you on the field and in the standings.

7 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS Last rank: 9 Total points: 288

Notes: Mike Holmgren could return to Super Bowl in his swan song.

8 CLEVELAND BROWNS Last rank: 11 (tie) Total points: 286

Notes: The Browns look primed to make a run at first division title since NFL return.

9 GREEN BAY PACKERS Last rank: 3 (tie) Total points: 271

Notes: Over/under: Is Brett Favre back under center by Week 6?

10 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES Last rank: 14 Total points: 270

Notes: Donovan McNabb reverted to Pro Bowl form at end of '07. Will it continue in '08?

[mexicanjunior]

It looks like 4-5 is the consensus...