NFL Power Rankings: Eagles rule, Seahawks in unfamiliar territory entering preseason
The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors, including Mike Alessandrini, Jack Browne, Michael McClymont, and Arun Srinivasan.
1. Philadelphia Eagles| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Underdogs no more, the Eagles won't be underestimated in 2018. And they have four weeks left to ensure Carson Wentz is right for the season opener. - McClymont
2. Minnesota Vikings| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
The Vikings have no weaknesses on their roster and upgraded at quarterback by signing Kirk Cousins. Translation: Watch out, NFL. - Alessandrini
3. Los Angeles Rams| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 |
The Rams are all-in on winning a Super Bowl. The only thing left for them to do is pay Aaron Donald what he's demanding. This could be the NFL's most fun team - again! - Srinivasan
4. New England Patriots| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
Julian Edelman's suspended, wideouts are dropping like flies, and first-round draft pick Sony Michel will miss the preseason with an injury. Uncharacteristically, the Patriots have too much offseason drama to warrant a top-three spot. - McClymont
5. New Orleans Saints| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
Mark Ingram's four-game ban stings, as it might require either Drew Brees or Alvin Kamara to shoulder more work early on than the Saints would prefer. Still, New Orleans should survive and then thrive with one of the league's best rosters. - Browne
6. Atlanta Falcons| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 5 | 8 | 5 |
With the Julio Jones contract saga in the rear-view mirror, the Falcons can focus on dethroning the Saints. That'll require a big leap in performance, particularly from second-year offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian. - Browne
7. Pittsburgh Steelers| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
The Triple Bs are back for what could be their final year together. Pittsburgh's defense has to improve, though. Allowing 45 points to Jacksonville won't cut it. - Alessandrini
8. Jacksonville Jaguars| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 8 | 4 | 8 |
The Jaguars are arguably the most talented AFC squad, but as they displayed in the second half of the conference title game, all the great defensive plays in the world won't make up for a QB who can't get it done in critical situations. - Browne
9. Kansas City Chiefs| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 11 | 13 | 10 |
Kansas City's bid for a fourth consecutive playoff appearance relies on the arm of second-year quarterback Patrick Mahomes, a talented but volatile prospect. - Srinivasan
10. Green Bay Packers| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 9 | 11 | 12 |
After missing nine games in 2017, Aaron Rodgers is ready to unleash his anger in the form of elite quarterbacking. That's terrifying news for opponents. - Alessandrini
11. Carolina Panthers| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 12 | 9 | 9 |
Kelvin Benjamin's criticism of Cam Newton was harsh, but it is fair to question how the former MVP's skill set will mesh with new OC Norv Turner's system. - Browne
12. Los Angeles Chargers| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 10 | 15 | 11 |
The Chargers have all the tools to become Super Bowl contenders, but they need to finally be better than the sum of their parts. - Srinivasan
13. Houston Texans| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 13 | 10 | 13 |
The Texans may be the biggest boom-or-bust team in the league. If Deshaun Watson, J.J. Watt, and Jadeveon Clowney are all fully healthy, Houston's ceiling is title contention. If they're not, though, this top-heavy roster could struggle. - Browne
14. Tennessee Titans| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 14 | 12 | 14 |
Marcus Mariota is finally free of Mike Mularkey's ill-fitting system. The time is now for the exciting young pivot to show the rest of the league his talent. - Browne
15. Detroit Lions| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 16 | 14 | 16 |
After adding LeGarrette Blount and Kerryon Johnson, a Detroit running back may surpass 100 yards in a game for the first time since Nov. 28, 2013. - Alessandrini
16. San Francisco 49ers| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 15 | 20 | 17 |
Arguably the most polarizing team in the NFL, the Jimmy Garoppolo-led 49ers need to prove that last season's late surge wasn't a fluke. - Srinivasan
17. Dallas Cowboys| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 19 | 17 | 15 |
If everyone stopped talking about the anthem for a minute, the Cowboys might realize they're about to open the preseason with perhaps the worst receiving corps this side of Buffalo. - McClymont
18. Baltimore Ravens| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 17 | 16 | 18 |
Baltimore's future is in Lamar Jackson's hands. Its present, however, remains in Joe Flacco's. Hang in there, Ravens fans. - Alessandrini
19. Washington Redskins| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
There are plenty of new faces in D.C. - first and foremost, Alex Smith - making Washington a team to watch this preseason to see how all the new parts meld with the old guard. - McClymont
20. New York Giants| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 18 | 18 | 23 |
The pain of 2017 has been washed away like a bad Ben McAdoo hairstyle. Odell's healthy, Eli's revitalized, and Saquon's the savior for what's been a perennially poor running game. - McClymont
21. Denver Broncos| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 24 | 22 | 20 |
Von Miller can steal games by himself and the Broncos' defense remains star-studded. Until the offense shows signs of life, though, Denver can't move further up. - Srinivasan
22. Oakland Raiders| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 23 | 19 | 21 |
Can the $100-million man lead the Raiders back to glory? It's certainly an uphill battle after an offseason of negativity. - Srinivasan
23. Seattle Seahawks| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | 22 | 23 | 19 |
These aren't the dominant Seahawks of yesteryear and the defense will have to adjust to several new pieces, but Russell Wilson is good enough to keep the team somewhat competitive. - Srinivasan
24. Chicago Bears| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 21 | 24 | 24 |
Old-school John Fox is out. Enter new-school Matt Nagy. Chicago's 2018 success, however, lies squarely on second-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky's shoulders. - Alessandrini
25. Arizona Cardinals| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 |
There isn't much to look forward to, but Larry Fitzgerald remains one of the NFL's true delights. - Srinivasan
26. Miami Dolphins| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 27 | 28 | 26 |
Head coach Adam Gase messed with the media this week when he listed both Kenyan Drake and Frank Gore as his starting RB. No, you're not an a------, Adam. You're simply as confused as we are by this roster. - McClymont
27. Indianapolis Colts| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 26 | 26 | 28 |
If you haven't heard, Andrew Luck is practicing again. The Colts lack talent all over the field, but a fully functioning Luck has masked that in years past. Can his shoulders bear that weight after more than 18 months on the sidelines? - Browne
28. Cincinnati Bengals| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 |
Death, taxes, and a Marvin Lewis/Andy Dalton-led Bengals team. - Alessandrini
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 30 | 29 | 30 |
Teams that start 0-3 almost always miss the playoffs, and the Jameis Winston-less Bucs begin the year against the Saints, Steelers, and Eagles. Tampa could be looking to 2019 before the QB even steps back onto the field. - Browne
30. Cleveland Browns| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 29 | 30 | 32 |
With a plethora of changes this offseason, Cleveland may finally be ready to emerge from the NFL's basement. We'll have to see it to believe it, though. - Alessandrini
31. Buffalo Bills| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 32 | 31 | 29 |
The Bills' QB competition cleared up a little last week when Johnny Manziel was traded east of Buffalo to Montreal. - McClymont
32. New York Jets| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | 31 | 32 | 31 |
The Jets' three-way quarterback battle will be one to watch in preseason - that is, if you want to see whose passes Terrelle Pryor is dropping. - McClymont
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