2009 NFL Week 1 Power Rankings

NFL 2009 Season Starts Tonight with Thursday Night Football! The Steelers vs the Titans. I highly doubt there will be any dancing on the terrible towel tonight in PA. Start time: 8:30



NFL 2009 Power Rankings: Week 1
according to www.espn.com
1 (1) Steelers 12-4-0 They're loaded with talent and their coach knows how to maximize it. Can you say "repeat"? (Chadiha)
2 (2) Patriots 11-5-0 QB Tom Brady's broad shoulders have to carry an aging defense. (Clayton)
3 (3) Giants 12-4-0 The Giants have concerns on defense, but they buy time with solid ground game. (Clayton)
4 (4) Eagles 9-6-1 QB Donovan McNabb isn't wild about Wildcat, but he's the Eagles wild card to success. (Clayton)
5 (6) Chargers 8-8-0 Even if the Chargers are get caught up in the hype, they will win the division. (Kuharsky)
6 (5) Colts 12-4-0 Left tackle is the one big issue, but they'll work around it as much as possible. (Kuharsky)
7 (7) Titans 13-3-0 Life gets easier after difficult first six games, four of which are on the road. (Kuharsky)
8 (8) Falcons 11-5-0 A year of seasoning for Matt Ryan should put the Falcons in better position. Coach Mike Smith's even keel also seems helpful. (Sando)
9 (9) Vikings 10-6-0 Schism or not, Brett Favre makes this team a championship contender. (Chadiha)
10 (10) Ravens 11-5-0 They're lucky WR Derrick Mason decided to return from retirement. (Chadiha)
11 (13) Bears 9-7-0 I still don't see how Jay Cutler can play his best without proven wide receivers. (Chadiha)
12 (17) Packers 6-10-0 It all comes down to whether that defense can play better with a new 3-4 scheme. (Chadiha)
13 (12) Cardinals 9-7-0 QB Kurt Warner and key veterans sound a bit concerned after a lackluster preseason. The Cardinals still must prove they can be consistent. (Sando)
14 (11) Panthers 12-4-0 It's tough to set expectations for this group after so much staff turnover and the way Carolina faltered in the postseason. (Sando)
15 (18) Seahawks 4-12-0 The Seahawks are rising in the rankings after QB Matt Hasselbeck proved he could take a hit during the preseason. LT Walter Jones' health also key. (Sando)
16 (15) Dolphins 11-5-0 The Dolphins hope to avert the three-game drop that usually hits a team that goes from worst to first in a division. (Clayton)
17 (14) Cowboys 9-7-0 WR Roy Williams is catching everything in practice despite a sore shoulder, but he needs big season for the offense to thrive. (Clayton)
18 (19) Saints 8-8-0 Skepticism seems appropriate until the Saints prove they've finally upgraded their defense. Until then, it's fantasy football with Drew Brees. (Sando)
19 (16) Texans 8-8-0 LB Brian Cushing alone can't solve the defensive issues that lingered through preseason.
20 (20) Redskins 8-8-0 QB Jason Campbell appears improved now that coach Jim Zorn lets him throw more downfield. (Clayton)
21 (21) Bills 7-9-0 Firing offensive coordinator Turk Schonert nine days before the season opener is a sign of total panic in Buffalo. (Clayton)
22 (22) 49ers 7-9-0 Establishing a hard-nosed ground game was the first step for coach Mike Singletary and offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye. Can the passing game catch up? (Sando)
23 (23) Jets 9-7-0 Mark Sanchez continues to appear confident as a starter. He's seemingly more advanced than most rookie QBs.
24 (24) Bengals 4-11-1 Love this year's version of "Hard Knocks." Unfortunately, the Bengals' playoff hopes can be summed up by Chad Ochocinco's trademark saying: "Child, please." (Chadiha)
25 (25) Jaguars 5-11-0 With three division games in first four, the Jags are likely to move down before moving up. (Kuharsky)
26 (26) Buccaneers 9-7-0 A defensive-minded rookie coach plus new starting QB minus the offensive coordinator: I'm not so sure that's a winning equation. (Sando)
27 (27) Broncos 8-8-0 It has to take a while for team to buy in after all the drama surrounding former QB Jay Cutler, and then WR Brandon Marshall. (Kuharsky)
28 (28) Browns 4-12-0 I just can't see new coach Eric Mangini turning this team around in one season. (Chadiha)
29 (29) Chiefs 2-14-0 The Chiefs have a chance to climb if they can separate themselves from the Broncos and Raiders. (Kurharsky)
30 (30) Raiders 5-11-0 Will QB JaMarcus Russell start to quiet critics or give us more fodder? (Kuharsky)
31 (31) Rams 2-14-0 The schedule makers did new coach Steve Spagnuolo no favors by sending the Rams on the road three times in their first four games. (Sando)
32 (32) Lions 0-16-0 New coach Jim Schwartz will make the Lions better. He just won't do it fast enough to make a difference this fall. (Chadiha)


Week 1 Power Rankings
according to www.cbssportsline.com

1 Patriots · Trends -
Good luck stopping their offense. Brady will once again put up some huge numbers. The key for their Super Bowl push will be that defense. It is faster.
2 Steelers · Trends -
This is the same team that won the Super Bowl last February. But trying to repeat, as we've seen over the years, isn't easy. The offensive line has to play better for that to be a reality.
3 Colts · Trends -
It's trendy to think this is a team in decline. They are not. New coach Jim Caldwell will continue the Colts playoff run. The offense will score a lot -- as usual.
4 Giants · Trends -
The talent level is high and coach Tom Coughlin is one of the best coaches in football. The key for them will be developing a deep threat in the passing game.
5 Titans · Trends -
The more I saw them this summer, the more I liked. They are tough and new defensive coordinator Chuck Cecil will keep the defense playing good football. They will be a battle every Sunday -- or Thursday this week.
6 Eagles · Trends -
They just never looked right in the preseason because of injuries. That will push me off picking them to win the NFC.
7 Falcons · Trends -
They will be in a lot of shootouts in 2009. The offense will be better, but there are issues with the defense, especially the secondary.
8 Cardinals · Trends -
Don't let their preseason fool you. It doesn't matter for this team, especially the offense. They will win their division again. Bank on it.
9 Chargers · Trends -
Lock of the season: Chargers in the playoffs. Their division is dreadful. They have the talent to do more than just that, but it's time they exceeded the expectations.
10 Packers · Trends -
Their preseason was as impressive as any, even if it doesn't matter. The most important thing was how well the players took the move to the 3-4. Dom Capers is a defensive wizard.
11 Saints · Trends -
It's all about the defense. With Drew Brees, they will score a lot of points. So it's all on new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams to turn that defense around.
12 Ravens · Trends -
Their key will be how much they turn the offense over to Joe Flacco. I think he's ready for a bigger dose of it, but that's not the usual Ravens way.
13 Bengals · Trends -
Way too high for this team, you say? They are talented. They will score. They will be better on defense than you think. Playoffs? It's possible.
14 Cowboys · Trends -
Their division is brutal, and I see them as the third team in it. They will need to get some big plays from their receivers to have a chance to move up.
15 Bears · Trends -
I like the addition of Jay Cutler, but I'm not sure they have enough weapons to go with him yet. The secondary is also a concern.
16 Vikings · Trends -
Way too low, right? You know how I feel about the Brett Favre move. It doesn't make them that much better.
17 Texans · Trends -
They aren't ready for their playoff breakthrough. Not in their division. I see another 8-8 season.
18 Panthers · Trends -
They have major issues on their defensive line and they don't throw the ball well enough. That's a bad combination.
19 Dolphins · Trends -
They're a year away. The schedule is tougher and they will come back a little to .500. They will be a force in 2010.
20 Redskins · Trends -
If the pass rush is good, they will be really tough on defense. The offense remains a concern, and it doesn't help that they play in the toughest division.
21 Seahawks · Trends -
They've had some injury issues on their offensive line, which is a concern. I just don't see them overtaking the Cardinals in the division.
22 Bills · Trends -
Their woeful play led to the firing of offensive coordinator Turk Schonert last week. It's not a good start for coach Dick Jauron, who must win or he's gone.
23 Jaguars · Trends -
They showed a much-improved pass offense in the preseason. Now comes the tough part: carrying it over to the real games.
24 Jets · Trends -
They made the right decision to start Mark Sanchez, but now they have to be patient. There will be growing pains.
25 Buccaneers · Trends -
It's not a good sign when the offensive coordinator is dismissed eight days before the season. Raheem Morris will face a trying first season.
26 49ers · Trends -
Shaun Hill is the man at quarterback. Does that excite? I'm just not as high on this team as others are.
27 Broncos · Trends -
Josh McDaniels faces a trying first season without Jay Cutler. Then again, it's his fault he's not there.
28 Raiders · Trends -
They were awful in the preseason, but they have better talent than what they showed. They won't be that bad. Will they?
29 Rams · Trends -
The talent level isn't high. They need one or two more good drafts before they can talk playoffs. But Steve Spagnuolo is the right man for the job.
30 Chiefs · Trends -
Matt Cassel has to show that he wasn't a one-hit wonder, but even if he does this team isn't ready to push for a playoff spot.
31 Browns · Trends -
It doesn't matter who plays quarterback. This team is a year or two away. They will be feisty every week, though.
32 Lions · Trends -
They are in the beginning stages of rebuilding mode. They will win three or four games, which will be an improvement.