NFL Power Rankings: The Exemplary X - Russakoff Rules Sports

The Exemplary X is for top tier NFL teams.

The elite. The best of the best.

These top 10 teams are instruments in a war for the right to be called No. 1.

In case some of you wonder, who the best is...they're on this post.

Enjoy.

10. Seattle Seahawks – Why there’s hope: It’s Holmgren’s last hurrah. He’ll charge into the abyss with his follicle-challenged QB in tow. Hasselbeck is solid and knows how not to lose games, which is what you need in the NFL more often than not. The defense is underrated. Kerney, Tapp, Trufant, and the three LBs (Peterson, Tatupu, and Hill) are all Pro-Bowl caliber.  

Why there’s doubt: Who is going to catch the ball? Deion Branch can’t stay on the field. Bobby Engram won’t be back until October. D.J. Hackett is gone. That’s a big burden to put on Nate Burleson, Ben Obomanu, and Courtney Taylor…especially in a West Coast offense. And the running game probably won’t be able to diffuse the pressure. Sorry, Seattle. But when you have three starting RBs, that means you don’t have any.

9. Minnesota Vikings – Why there’s hope: No team is “sexier” than the Vikings this year. They added Jared Allen to an already dominant D-line (the best Williams tandem that hasn’t “played doubles” with Common).  As for the offense, there will be huge holes to run through on the left side behind McKinnie and Hutchinson…and we saw last year what A. Pete can do with huge holes (insert boat party joke here).

Why there’s doubt: Brett Favre wanted to play for the Vikings…the Vikings wanted Brett Favre. Neither will admit that, but that doesn’t make it untrue. Instead, the Vikes’ season rests on Tavaris Jackson’s right shoulder. He’ll see a ton of eight-man fronts, and he needs to be a lot better than he was last year (28th ranked passer rating of 70.8) if Minnesota is going to prove the pundits right.

8. New Orleans Saints – Why there’s hope: Brees has thrown for over 8,800 yards in his first two seasons behind the Saints’ fantastic pass-blocking OL. Colston has become an elite NFL wideout and the addition of Shockey should make him harder to defend (not to mention what putting Shockey in the middle of Bourbon Street will do for my blogging career). Look for Robert Meachem to emerge as the team’s second WR.

Why there’s doubt: The running game, a strength in ’06, was not good enough last year. McCallister has had two knee surgeries in three years, and Reggie Bush has yet to prove he can stay on the field and “be the guy.” But the real question mark is D. If Vilma, McCray, Ellis, and Gay can’t fuse a backbone onto the Saints’ D, this bounce back year will fall flat.

7. New York Giants – Why there’s hope: They won the Super Bowl last year (it’s true, I looked it up), Eli has beaten Peyton in 87 out of 97 Jenga games this summer, and I’m sure Tiki will say something soon to fire the team up. Considering N.Y. played better without Shockey last year, losing him can’t be considered a minus.

Why there’s doubt: The Giants’ incredible run last season was based on great line play on both sides of the ball. The surprisingly good OL is back, but the D-line has been decimated—25 of the Giants’ 53 sacks from ’07 are now gone (Strahan, Umenyiora, Mitchell). Plus, Plaxico Burress is banged up and unhappy, Super Bowl hero David Tyree has been PUPed, and Eli being whipped off-the-field can’t be good for his on-field presence.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers – Why there’s hope: Can we talk about Big Ben’s quietly excellent ’07 season?  He threw for 3,154 yards, 32 TDs, and amassed 104.1 passer rating. Throw in Fast Willie Parker, a hopefully-clothed Santonio Holmes (warning: if you have a weak stomach, don't click), Heath Miller, and Hines Ward and you have a lot of talent on offense. On D, the LBs—including preseason standout Lawrence Timmons—should be a strength.

Why there’s doubt: The Steelers have a brutal schedule that has them playing the best division in each conference (NFC East, AFC South). Losing Faneca will hurt an already eroding offensive line, and the once-proud defensive line could be exposed as a weakness.

5. Indianapolis Colts – Why there’s hope: Peyton is back to gunning down United Way kids. Reggie Wayne is one of the best receivers in the league, and Joseph Addai has proven he is capable of the No. 1 RB role.

Why there’s doubt: Jeff Saturday may be done, Freeney, Manning, and Sanders are all banged up, and Marvin Harrison is in his twilight. The Colts need all five of those guys healthy and making plays if they are thinking about a February trip to Tampa. That’s a lot of ifs. Look for the Colts’ string of five straight seasons with at least 12 wins to end this year.

4. San Diego Chargers – Why there’s hope: LT Jr. led the league in rushing again and shows no real signs of slowing down (unless you count not playing in the playoffs). Chambers and Jackson are the best WR duo San Diego has had in a decade, and Gates, if healthy, has no equal at his position. The defense, like Gates, is the best in the NFL when healthy. Cromrartie catches more balls than the Titans’ top three receivers combined.

Why there’s doubt: A week ago, I was contemplating ranking the Chargers No. 1 overall.  But now Merriman’s knee is causing trouble, and that changes everything. When you add in the loss of Stephen Cooper for the start of the season, question marks emerge in the middle of that defense. Plus, center Nick Hardwick is hurt, and sooner or later, Tomlinson has to run out of gas. Will this be the year?

3. Jacksonville Jaguars – Why there’s hope: It’s starting to feel like this is the year the Jags finally break through the Colts’ ceiling. Adding Maurice Jones-Drew to the RB mix has turned Fred Taylor into Mr. Fantastic. David Garrard threw 18 TDs and only three picks last year. If he can stay away from mistakes the Jags will win a ton of games behind the fastest (and maybe best) defense in the league.

Why there’s doubt: People still don’t believe in Garrard. He isn’t a game-breaker, he’s a game manager, and that may limit what the Jags can do offensively. The receiving corps is still a weakness—there are a lot of questions about what free agent signee Jerry Porter has left, Troy Williamson has never been able to take full advantage of his speed, and Matt Jones…nah, I can’t; too easy.

2. New England Patriots – Why there’s hope: I’m not buying this Brady injury at all. He’s fine. Along with Moss, Welker, and an impenetrable offensive line, the Pats’ offense was virtually unstoppable for most of last year. Belichick and Brady still must have the taste of last year’s Super Bowl loss in their mouths, and when those two feel cheated (irony duly noted), they will stop at nothing on the path to redemption.

Why there’s doubt: I know…how can I rank a team that went 18-1 last year No. 2? Before you call me a hater, remember I was the guy who picked them to go 19-0 at the start of last season. The reason I’m a bit down on the dynasty is simple: NFL Dogma. In the history of this league, every so often new offenses pop up and dominate (Pardee’s Oilers, Martz’s Rams, even Reid’s Eagles). But eventually, defenses figure them out and slow them down. That’s what happened toward the end of the season. Pressure was applied to Brady, and Moss was taken out of games. The offense slowed down…and Welker caught 40 balls per game. Surely, Belichick will adjust this year. He’s a great coach. But unless the Pats buck NFL history, this offense will never be as dominant.

1. Dallas Cowboys – Why there’s hope: Diva girlfriends and porn cameos aside, there is a ton of talent on this team. Romo, Owens, Witten, Barber, Jones, Canty, Ware, Ellis…the list goes on and on. Say what you want about Jerry Jones, but he has gathered some off-the-charts skill. In close contests, playmakers win games—and no one has more playmakers than Dallas.

Why there’s doubt: Despite all those ballers, the Cowboys haven’t won a playoff game since 1996. And no one believes in Wade Philips. But America’s team has amassed the most talent in the NFL and plays in the weaker of the two conferences…and to my lament, I see the ’Boys leaving Tampa with some Vince Lombardi-endorsed hardware.


Am I crazy for ranking the Cowboys No. 1? Who is going to win the Super Bowl this year? Add your own comment here.





Message Edited by Lee_Russakoff on 08-27-2008 04:55 PM