http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/8441273 Pete Brisco CBS Sportsline.com Senior Writer POWER RANKINGS May 3 1 New England Patriots The champs have actually improved in the offseason, adding key veterans like David Terrell and Duane Starks. Taking them down won't be easy. 2 Indianapolis Colts We know the offense will be good, and adding Marlin Jackson in the first round will help upgrade the defense. 3 Philadelphia Eagles A deep, talented team again looks like it will be the class of the NFC. Are there any challengers? 4 Baltimore Ravens This is a team we're really high on this year. If Kyle Boller can develop, watch out. The feeling here is he will. 5 Pittsburgh Steelers They will push for the AFC title again, and the key to getting to the Super Bowl will be the improvement of Ben Roethlisberger. 6 Atlanta Falcons Will Michael Vick improve his passing? If he does, they can unseat the Eagles. 7 Jacksonville Jaguars They were a trendy team to watch last year, but this year they are a legit playoff team. They do need to keep Fred Taylor healthy. 8 San Diego Chargers Was 2004 a fluke? Not likely. But they will be hard-pressed to have the same record in an improved division. 9 Denver Broncos It's time for Jake Plummer to take this team to a playoff victory. If not, the heat gets hotter on The Teflon Coach. 10 Minnesota Vikings They will miss Randy Moss, despite what they may say, but the improvement on defense may make up for that. 11 Carolina Panthers They've made some nice moves in the offseason, but there is still some uncertainty as to who will be the feature back. That's not good for the style of ball their coach prefers. 12 New Orleans Saints This is the year. It's time for this talented group to play as it did in the final four weeks last season. 13 Oakland Raiders Can't wait to watch all the 38-35 games this team plays. Kerry Collins to Randy Moss will be explosive. 14 New York Jets If Chad Pennington's shoulder is fine, they'll be competitive. If not, they'll be drafting in the top 10. 15 Buffalo Bills The defense will be good again, but the team's fate rests with J.P. Losman. Is he this year's Roethlisberger? 16 Kansas City Chiefs Once again the main question is the same: Have they done enough to help the defense? 17 Seattle Seahawks I don't know why, but I have a feeling they will slide some this season. They'll be competitive, but slide just a bit. 18 Green Bay Packers There are a lot of holes on defense, which might force Brett Favre to play like the old Favre. Is that possible? 19 St. Louis Rams Will push the Seahawks and the Cardinals for the NFC West title. If they don't, there will be big changes next year. 20 Arizona Cardinals This team starts here for now, but look for them to be higher as we move closer to the season. Watch out for this group. 21 Dallas Cowboys Can Drew Bledsoe take the offense a notch up from a year ago? The defense will be better with the addition of more talent. 22 New York Giants They will be better than a year ago, but they're still a year away from pushing the Eagles. Look out in 2006. 23 Cincinnati Bengals They are this year's trendy pick. The offense will be fun to watch, but the defense has to make strides for this to be a playoff team. 24 Houston Texans This is a huge year for this franchise in terms of making a playoff push. Have they done enough to do so? 25 Tennessee Titans Coach Jeff Fisher will have this team playing hard and Steve McNair makes them a threat. But they've lost so much the past couple of years. 26 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Carnell Williams will enliven the running game, but the line is still suspect, and is Brian Griese the long-term answer at quarterback? 27 Detroit Lions It's all on Joey Harrington. If he grows as a player, the Lions will be much improved. If Jeff Garcia is playing, they'll be out of it by November. 28 Washington Redskins The staff doesn't believe in Patrick Ramsey, yet he will be the starter at quarterback. The offensive system is also outdated. The defense might have to carry this team again. 29 Chicago Bears They better hope like heck that Rex Grossman is 100 percent healthy. If not, it's going to be a long year. 30 Miami Dolphins Nick Saban will be a heck of a coach. It just won't show for two or three years. 31 Cleveland Browns The last regime left behind a mess that will take time to clean up. But Phil Savage will make that happen. 32 San Francisco 49ers Taking Alex Smith with the first pick was a step in the right direction. Mike Nolan will turn this team around. It will just take time.
Wow, power rankings are meaningless to being with, but this one has to take the award for most irrelevant ever. David Terrell a key veteran? Puhleeze. I stopped reading after that one. Actually, that's a lie. Minnesota should be much higher.
no kidding!! particularly in the NFL where there seems to be big change in performance from year to year.
The Cowboys should be much higher....as should the Texans....I dont think the Texans got worse than the ended up last year.
Wow...KC: "Have they done enough to help the defense?" If Kendrell Bell, Carlos Hall, Patrick Surtain, and Sammy Knight don't qualify as helping the defense, I don't know what does. But yeah, these things are meaningless.
How can the the Jags, Saints, Cowgirls, Giants, and Cardinals be ahead of the Texans? The Jags didn't score a single TD against the Texans last season and IMO the other 4 teams are not better than the Texans.
I'll have a whiff of whatever mr. BRISCO is having... or 24. 24? I mean... 24??? which way, up or down??? FREAKER.
4 overrated signings, I still don't see anyone in the division who can cover Moss, Maybe Champ can, but we saw what JP did with him last year.
The Titans just signed Jason White and he will probably be their starting QB, Left Tackle and Corner by mid November.
The power rating are just for fun. I like reading the comments next to the teams. As for the Texans, why should they be rated higher? They haven't proven anything yet and i still don't see much pass protection....which equals low pass completion percetage.
