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With no records for the 2014 Season yet, you the fan are still in need of a POWER RANKING. Does it matter? Well, of course it does! You have the need to walk into your job, go to the water-cooler and tell your biased co-workers to shove it, because your team is ranked higher than theirs. However, if you are a Browns, Jaguars or Raiders fan, just tell your friends you saw the list and that it means nothing because the games have not been played yet. Either way, here we go! The number one team in my book is:
No. 1 San Francisco 49ers – I was looking at the world champs and thought, they are the team to beat but look at the Niners’ Offseason moves. The addition of Stevie Johnson makes the WR Corps Elite. Add that to an immaculate run game, Pat Willis and the gang, on the other side of the ball and they are the most stacked team in the NFL.
No 2. Denver Broncos – Peyton Manning was absolutely terrible in the Super Bowl; however, he is the smartest QB of all time and one game should not take away from the masterful tactician he is at the helm. Denver brought in help on Defense to help Peyton on Offense. Such a powerful team deserves a high spot.
No. 3 Kansas City Chiefs – Alex Smith had a solid year working with Andy Reid in both their first years with the Chiefs. They did a lot more than everyone expected. A healthy Jamal Charles and an intimidating Defense puts them at my No. 3 spot.
No. 4 Seattle Seahawks – Yes I get it. They are the champs! However, this is my list and if you don’t like it, please dial 1-800-D.I.L.L.I.G.A.F (please sub in “flip” for the “F”) and I will be with you shortly. The Legion of Boom is great and all but even they can’t make up for this pedestrian receiving corps and the fact that Beast-Mode aka Marshawn Lynch is not “about that action boss”, as he is holding out of camp. With that said, I had to bump them down a bit.
No. 5 Cincinnati Bengals – You’re probably thinking this list is about as screwed up as the NFL 100 Players of 2014; however there is a method to my madness. A.J Green and Andy Dalton with the combination of what will be the best 1-2 punch Running Back tandem in football will surely make the once frowned-upon Bungles wait for it…legendary!
No. 6 New England Patriots – You people had to see this coming, “Timeless” Tom Brady has been to the AFC Championship the last 3 years and managed to get there with scraps last year. Now a healthy Red Bull chugging Rob Gronkowski combined with men who can actually catch, are why this promising unit is at No. 6. The upgrades at CB with Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner make this team a force to be reckoned with.
No. 7 Arizona Cardinals – Scratch that head all you want, but 10-6 (last year’s record) is nothing to turn your nose up at. The NFC West is one extremely talented tough Division and this phenomenal unit is hard to overlook. These Cards have the proclivity to be the top unit in football.
No. 8 Indianapolis Colts – Andrew Luck has a fight in him that cannot be denied; however when a team has a porous run-game and give up real estate to Running Backs on a regular basis, its hard to put them in the top five of teams.
No. 9 New Orleans Saints – No Darren Sproles? No problem! Brandon Cooks will bring plenty of speed to this already talented unit and will take some attention off of Jimmy Graham. Rob Ryan will continue to build on his success and you should see this team high on the boards soon.
No. 10 Baltimore Ravens – This 8-8 team does not stay down for long and owner Ozzie Newsome always finds a way to bring in the talent to ensure they stay up. Steve Smith aids a broken receiving corps post Anquan Boldin. Question is: can they run the ball?
No. 11 Philadelphia Eagles – These are not your dad’s Eagles folks. This Chip Kelly lead squad is highflying, fast-paced excitement. If Nick Foles can have a solid encore performance to follow up his 27 TD, 2 INT season in 2013, I may have to push this team way up the list. With DeSean Jackson no longer with the team, can Foles still light up the scoreboard? I’m curious to see what Rookie WR Jordan Matthews brings to the table as well.
No. 12 Green Bay Packers – After missing 7 games last year due to injury, Aaron Rodgers will return with a vengeance. Do they have a fill at TE for Jermichael Finley? They managed to get one of the best Safeties out of the Draft in Ha Ha Clinton-Dix but will that help lower the number of TD trips given up? They gave up 30 TDs via air in 2013
No. 13 Pittsburgh Steelers – Black and Yellow are no-longer the bullies of the yard as the Ravens and Bengals have finally made themselves into respectable opponents. However, when Mike Tomlin is not tripping up return men, he is teaching championship football. Look for the Steelers to come back big this season.
No. 14 Chicago Bears – Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffrey are the most dangerous WR duo in football. Add that to a Division that gives up TDs like free candy on Halloween and you can see why they are in the top 16.
No. 15 Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Yes they are this high. Lovie Smith immediately makes this team better. The Dynamic Duo of Rookie Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson combined with seasoned vet Josh McCown and you may be looking at a potential NFC South Division Champion.
No. 16 San Diego Chargers – There was a five-year trend of whoever played in the Eagles Opener would win the Super Bowl. San Diego screwed up the urban legend in 2013. They still have some upside with Phillip Rivers in my opinion, still being a top-tier QB and the ascension of Keenan Allen in his first year.
No. 17 Dallas Cowboys – Here we go again. Same old Offseason song, fans believe this is their year, while haters continue to laugh at a team that hasn’t won more than one playoff game since 1996. They appear to have everything except an MLB and a solid FS to cover the backend.
No. 18 Carolina Panthers – They lost their WR corps this Offseason, but what did they really lose? One star on the backend of his career and a couple of backup dancers that are easily replaceable. They may have Cam Newton, but this Luke Kuechly led Defense is the reason they will have life in 2014.
No. 19 New York Giants – I don’t care about the LeBron James losing finals/Giants win SB alleged trend. Something happening twice is just luck. 3 times is a trend and The Giants are in no position to make a run. However, the last time everyone doubted Eli Manning, he one a second Super Bowl. Just saying…
No. 20 Atlanta Falcons – Having a superb receiving corps with a history of injuries, a QB with occasional tunnel vision and a poor Defense is the reason for such a low spot. This team will be up and down all year and I believe we are staring at the bottom of the AFC South. They should just get their scouts on the horn now.
No. 21 Houston Texans – Ryan Fitzpatrick? Seriously? This is your QB solution? They fell for the overrated Jadeveon Clowney pick and neglected the QB issue. Terrible. Did I mention they managed to tick off the #3 receiver in football? No bueno!
No. 22 Buffalo Bills – Potential means you haven’t done anything yet, but I see a lot of it in this team. EJ Manuel is a promising young talent and has options around him to make things happen.
No. 23 St. Louis Rams – Defense? Check. RB? Check. TE? Check. Kicker? Check. Almost everything else? No check. This has got to be a big year for Sam Bradford or it is curtains for the overpaid QB.
No. 24 Detroit Lions – A bolstered Offense is great but first year Head Coach Jim Caldwell may not see the success he had in years past with the Colts and Ravens; this is because he is walking into the 24th ranked passing Defense from 2013.
No. 25 Washington Redskins – Not even DeSean Jackson and a healthy Robert Griffin III could bring my view of these Offseason warriors up. They win in Free-Agency and the Draft every year, for what? I project them 3rd place finishers in the NFC East.
No. 26 New York Jets – Starting Geno Smith over the injury prone but electric Michael Vick would be a major mistake for this team but does it matter? Eric Decker is their only solid receiving option. CJ2K aka Chris Johnson will have to carry this team, in order for them to rise from the circus reputation that Rex Ryan has built here.
No. 27 Minnesota Vikings – Even with the number one HB in the league, this team still tanks in my opinion. Teddy Bridgewater has some growing to do before this team will be considered a contender. They have some upside as “Mr. Flashy” aka Cordarrelle Patterson looks to build on an impressive rookie year.
No. 28 Miami Dolphins – I have this team slated for the bottom of the AFC East. Being 27th in total yards last season they went into the Draft with an Offensive approach. I love that they care enough about Ryan Tannehill, that they got him 2 quality OTs out of the draft. I am interested in seeing what Rookie WR Matt Hazel can bring to this team. I would definitely like to be proved wrong about this team, after a couple of week of the regular season.
No. 29 Tennessee Titans – Putting Jake Locker back in the driver seat is the reason they are down this low. With the Texans back on track and Indy straight “ballin”, they will be in a fight with Jacksonville just for third place.
No. 30 Cleveland Browns – No Josh Gordon? No prob…never mind, huge problem. Ben Tate will have to show up big, to get this team rolling on Offense. Is this the return of Miles Austin’s career? Only time will tell.
No. 31 Oakland Raiders – Matt Schaub or Derek Carr? Doesn’t matter. With an injury-prone Darren McFadden and a declining “Pocket Hercules” aka Maurice Jones-Drew, unless their refurbished receiving corps has a significant jump in production, this team will be a depressing site in a tough AFC West in 2014. But it’s ok Oakland if all else fails you can always go hide in your “black hole”.
No. 32 Jacksonville Jaguars – With no Justin Blackmon, Cecil Shorts is not enough to shoulder the load for Rookie Blake Bortles. Congratulations Jags, you are the weakest link! With that said, I am a huge fan of Safety, Jonathan Cyprien and I hope he can bring a spark to this Defense.
Jermaine Lockett is a Writer and CEO for Couch Rider Report. Follow us on Facebook or twitter.
