NFL Power Rankings - Week 1: Giants top Cowboys, Colts tumble without Luck
The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's NFL Editors, including Jack Browne, Michael McClymont, Mitch Sanderson, and Arun Srinivasan.
1. New England Patriots| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1st | 1st | 1st |
Preseason Rank: 1st
The Patriots lost Julian Edelman for the season, then added Phillip Dorsett via trade. 16-0 is still on the table. - McClymont
2. Pittsburgh Steelers| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd |
Preseason Rank: 2nd
The Steelers upgraded in all the right areas this offseason after finishing strong in 2016. The AFC North rivalries will still carry some interest, but Pittsburgh could come away with a rare division sweep. - Sanderson
3. Atlanta Falcons| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5th | 3rd | 4th | 4th |
Preseason Rank: 4th
If the Falcons can re-establish themselves as the open-air fireworks show that dazzled the NFL last year, they'll be among the league's most captivating teams, in search of an elusive Super Bowl victory. - Srinivasan
4. Seattle Seahawks| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd | 6th | 5th | 3rd |
Preseason Rank: 7th
Russell Wilson has looked red-hot during the preseason, and, more importantly, fully healthy. And adding Sheldon Richardson? Just unfair. - Browne
5. Green Bay Packers| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4th | 7th | 3rd | 6th |
Preseason Rank: 6th
The weapons are loaded and Aaron Rodgers is ready to fire. The Packers have their sights set on a Super Bowl return after a solid offseason. - Sanderson
6. Oakland Raiders| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7th | 4th | 6th | 5th |
Preseason Rank: 5th
Oakland won't surprise anyone this season. They have been firmly stamped as a Super Bowl contender, so can their young roster and defense live up to the challenge? - Browne
7. New York Giants| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th | 5th | 7th | 8th |
Preseason Rank: 7th
The preseason was a disappointment. The running game and O-line worries persist, and Odell Beckham Jr. isn't 100 percent. - McClymont
8. Dallas Cowboys| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8th | 8th | 9th | 7th |
Preseason Rank: 3rd
It's time to find out if Dak Prescott is great, or just very good, with his running mate's six-game suspension upheld. - Browne
9. Kansas City Chiefs| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9th | 10th | 8th | 9th |
Preseason Rank: 9th
Alex Smith is still the starter, regardless of how much fun it would be to see gunslinging rookie Patrick Mahomes. Another rookie, Kareem Hunt, will be the real key to KC's season. - Browne
10. Arizona Cardinals| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12th | 9th | 10th | 11th |
Preseason Rank: 11th
Can Arizona's aging roster come together one final time to get Larry Fitzgerald a ring before he walks off into the sunset? - Browne
11. Denver Broncos| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11th | 15th | 12th | 10th |
Preseason Rank: 10th
Going into another season with Trevor Siemian as the starter will excite few, but Broncos nation will surely enjoy seeing Brock Osweiler sit forlornly on the bench as the backup once again after their unceremonious breakup 18 months ago. - Browne
12. Tennessee Titans| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13th | 11th | 11th | 13th |
Preseason Rank: 13th
Like his draft mate Jameis Winston, it's on Marcus Mariota to take another step onto the path to superstardom by winning an anemic AFC South. - Srinivasan
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 14th | 13th | 12th |
Preseason Rank: 12th
Entering his third season, it's time for Jameis Winston to take the next step in his development by propelling the Buccaneers to the NFC South title. A prodigious talent, Winston can no longer hide behind his star potential. - Srinivasan
14. Houston Texans| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14th | 12th | 16th | 14th |
Preseason Rank: 14th
A healthy J.J. Watt in tandem with Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus makes the Texans arguably the toughest out in the AFC South. - Srinivasan
15. Carolina Panthers| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16th | 17th | 14th | 15th |
Preseason Rank: 15th
Which Panthers team will show up this fall? The one that went 15-1 en route to Super Bowl 50 with Cam Newton dabbing his way into our hearts, or last year's tire fire? - Srinivasan
16. Detroit Lions| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17th | 16th | 17th | 17th |
Preseason Rank: 16th
Detroit had high hopes following its O-line reclamation project, but an injury to left tackle Taylor Decker has seemed to put a damper on expectations. - Sanderson
17. Baltimore Ravens| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15th | 18th | 20th | 16th |
Preseason Rank: 17th
It's been injury after injury for the Ravens so far. While their defense should be as stout as usual, medical issues along the offensive line and in the backfield will put heavy pressure on the team to allow less than two touchdowns a game. - Sanderson
18. New Orleans Saints| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19th | 20th | 18th | 19th |
Preseason Rank: 20th
As always, the Saints will go as far as Drew Brees takes them. Whether they can capitalize in a division with no clear-cut favorite remains as compelling a storyline as ever. - Srinivasan
19. Miami Dolphins| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th | 13th | 21st | 18th |
Preseason Rank: 19th
Jay Cutler just might be exactly what the Dolphins needed all along. - McClymont
20. Philadelphia Eagles| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20th | 24th | 15th | 20th |
Preseason Rank: 22nd
The Eagles' offense quietly put up 77 points this preseason while division foes soaked up all the headlines. - McClymont
21. Los Angeles Chargers| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18th | 22nd | 19th | 22nd |
Preseason Rank: 23rd
Injuries and bad luck almost always seem to doom the Chargers' playoff chances. Will a change of scenery break the curse? - Browne
22. Indianapolis Colts| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21st | 23rd | 22nd | 23rd |
Preseason Rank: 18th
The days of the Colts being prohibitive favorites in the AFC South are over, with Andrew Luck's painstakingly slow recovery from shoulder surgery looming large over the franchise's fortunes. - Srinivasan
23. Minnesota Vikings| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23rd | 19th | 24th | 24th |
Preseason Rank: 24th
The offensive line was the Achilles' heel in Minnesota a year ago, and while the faces have changed up front, the talent level hasn't. - Sanderson
24. Washington Redskins| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22nd | 25th | 23rd | 21st |
Preseason Rank: 21st
None of their rushers could average 4 yards per carry in the preseason. It may be all on Kirk Cousins' arm again. - McClymont
25. Cincinnati Bengals| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24th | 21st | 25th | 25h |
Preseason Rank: 26th
A lot will be on Andy Dalton's shoulders with a downgraded offensive line and an improved set of weapons in a crucial contract year, but any time the Red Rocket has the pressure put on him, he generally disappoints. - Sanderson
26. Jacksonville Jaguars| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27th | 26th | 27th | 26th |
Preseason Rank: 27th
Leonard Fournette's pro debut has been waited upon since he starred as a New Orleans high school prodigy. Can he rescue the Jaguars on the sheer volume of carries alone? - Srinivasan
27. Buffalo Bills| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28th | 27th | 26th | 28th |
Preseason Rank: 25th
The Bills are already circling the wagons for 2018, but they're not even the best in their division at tanking. - McClymont
28. Cleveland Browns| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26th | 30th | 29th | 27th |
Preseason Rank: 29th
Cleveland deserves some kudos for the improvements it's undergone since last season, but when the bar starts at 1-15, it doesn't need to come up very high to be considered a success. - Sanderson
29. San Francisco 49ers| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29th | 28th | 30th | 29th |
Preseason Rank: 28th
If Kyle Shanahan can get the offense rolling, it could be a fun season for San Francisco, though likely with few wins. If not, it will be a long year for 49er nation. - Browne
30. Los Angeles Rams| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31st | 29th | 28th | 30th |
Preseason Rank: 30th
The Rams have made strong moves to help Jared Goff progress, but it will all be for naught if they allow Aaron Donald, their best player, to continue his contract holdout. - Browne
31. Chicago Bears| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30th | 31st | 31st | 31st |
Preseason Rank: 31st
The future with Mitch Trubisky looks bright, but the present is dark and full of terrors with Mike Glennon. - Sanderson
32. New York Jets| Browne | McClymont | Sanderson | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32nd | 32nd | 32nd | 32nd |
Preseason Rank: 32nd
Poor, poor Matt Forte. - McClymont
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