SI's Power Rankings for the 2011 Season

DP · May 17, 2010

SI.com Article

1. Green Bay. It's not just the maturation of Aaron Rodgers. It's the carryover from a fluky end to 2009 (the weird playoff loss at Arizona) and the fact that only one team in football -- New Orleans -- had a better point differential than the Pack's plus-164 last year. I like Jermichael Finley to become a great player in his second starting season. I don't trust the pass-rush (where Clay Matthews is the only real thing), and I worry about two of the top three corners coming off ACL surgery, and aging. But the defensive front is formidable, and a very good match for the good run teams of the NFC North. I also like Weeks 2 through 5 on the schedule (Buffalo, at Chicago, Detroit, at Washington), which sets up for a strong start.

2. San Diego. I didn't like how much the Chargers traded to get Ryan Mathews (the 28th and 40th picks in a strong draft) when they probably could have gotten him for less, but that doesn't mean I don't like what Mathews is going to do. I think he'll be the offensive rookie of the year. He has everything a good back needs -- opportunity (he should get 320 carries if healthy), playing from ahead a lot, and a good offensive line. And did I mention Philip Rivers will throw for 4,500 yards and contend strongly for MVP?
As with Green Bay, I don't know where all the pass-rush will come from, but the Chargers are relying heavily on Larry English to break out of his freshman slump and give it to them -- and hope that, in a salary-drive year, Shawne Merriman can give the franchise one last productive year. It's more likely, I think, that Shaun Phillips has seven to 10 sacks and provides cover for English. I like the Chargers to go at least 5-1 in the division, which gives them an edge over the other three division winners, setting them up for home-field in the AFC playoffs.

3. Baltimore. I think the Ravens have hit a few home runs this offseason, and those moves could carry them to the AFC Championship Game. I like the remake of their receiver corps. Anquan Boldin won't make it through 16 games healthy, but he'll give Joe Flacco a good, physical target for 12. Donte' Stallworth will be reborn as an effective third or fourth wideout, with the speed at the position the Ravens haven't had. On defense, I wish I saw something better at cornerback than waiting for Lardarius Webb to come back from knee surgery sometime this summer so that the starting corners opening day aren't Chris Carr and Domonique Foxworth. Defensive coordinator Greg Mattison obviously has to be hoping for it to be third- and-long so often (with a great run-stuffing front) that he doesn't have to worry about the more than occasional coverage error downfield.

4. Indianapolis. I see no reason, either in the competitive level of the division or in the Colts' slippage, for Indy to regress. Manning will be Manning, and he has the young weapons to be good as long as his body will hold up now, even if one of his valuable pieces like Reggie Wayne breaks down. They've backstopped everywhere on the roster pretty effectively, and last year got two kid corners the kind of experience under fire that will serve them well going forward at a position Bill Polian uses interchangeably. Third-round pick Jerraud Powers played as effectively as any other rookie corner in football last year, and Indy's set with him and Kelvin Hayden, with Jacob Lacey in relief there. The Achilles heel, again, could be San Diego. The Chargers are a major matchup problem for Indianapolis, and even with some upheaval in San Diego, the AFC still could come down to Indy having to win at San Diego to make it to the Super Bowl.

5. New Orleans. The Saints face a daunting task: Only four times in the last 20 seasons has a team repeated as Super Bowl champ (San Francisco in 1990, Dallas in 1994, Denver in 1999 and New England in 2005). The Saints will surely score enough to win again. The question is whether defensive coordinator Gregg Williams can tread water in 2010, because I think that's all he's going to have to do. New Orleans doesn't have to be in the top 10 in defense -- the Bills allowed 15 fewer points last year, the 49ers 60 -- but Williams, again, will have to find a way to get pressure with middling front-seven talent and make sure the Saints don't have to score in the 30s every week to win.
I think Carolina will be better, and Atlanta might be, so this is not a mail-it-in division race for New Orleans. But when the Saints had to pick it up last year, they did, in a big way. Will complacency bite them? That's something you can never tell at this point of the offseason, but they're young at enough important positions to make another Super Bowl run.
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Pretty happy to see Green Bay at number 1. Read the rest of the article to see where your team is, and where the Rams are this season.

Big Frame · May 17, 2010

24? Really? Wow.

Moo2K4 · May 17, 2010

I can't say that I understand putting Carolina and Miami over Dallas. Miami still needs consistency from Henne and they need Ronnie Brown to stay healthy for an entire season. And Carolina...I don't know. It really depends on how Moore or Clausen handle the QB position there and how they're able to fill the hole left by Peppers. They've got the running game to be good and a really good coach, but I want to see how one of those young QBs manage the offense before I consider them a top 10 team.

Sex Panther · May 17, 2010

I like where we're put. I think we'll get a top 5 pick this year. But slowly, the pieces are coming into place.

44Thrilla · May 17, 2010

GB #1? hahahahahahahahahaha

DP · May 17, 2010

^^Haha, your funny! Not.

Sex Panther · May 17, 2010

DPGB said: ↑

^^Haha, your funny! Not.
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Ur.

mgb · May 18, 2010

10. Dallas. No other team has a better twin pass-rush threat than DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer, and few teams have the multiplicity of weapons on offense. If Dez Bryant catches on quickly -- that's a big if -- the Cowboys could be the first home team to win a Super Bowl ever. But something always happens in the NFC East, something weird. The Eagles could rebound with the energy of a new quarterback to make the playoffs, but I feel pretty good about a second team making the playoffs out of the division. For five straight years, the East has produced at least one Wild Card.
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It would be sweet if Dallas made it to the SB this year and have HFA. My biggest worry is their OL. They moved the ball well in the Viking game until Adams was injured and then did nothing on offense. Then they cut him? Doesn't make a lot of sense to me, but hopefully they have a plan and will have a solid OL.

Shapecity · May 25, 2010

Is Green Bay even the best team in their division?

44Thrilla · May 25, 2010

Shapecity said: ↑

Is Green Bay even the best team in their division?
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no.

DP · May 25, 2010

Chicago.. no. Minesoota.. Eh, maybe. Favre had another surgery, Detroit, yeah they got a few boosts from players but that doesnt mean anything. -points at the Redskins- Green Bay has youth more than any of the other NFCN teams.

44Thrilla · May 25, 2010

Vikings are better, even without Brett.

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SI's Power Rankings for the 2011 Season

DP He shoots, he scores!

Big Frame Well-Known Member

Moo2K4 NBA West Producer

Sex Panther works every time.

44Thrilla cuatro cuatro

DP He shoots, he scores!

Sex Panther works every time.

mgb Over-Nite Sensation

Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

44Thrilla cuatro cuatro

DP He shoots, he scores!

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SI's Power Rankings for the 2011 Season

DP He shoots, he scores!

Big Frame Well-Known Member

Moo2K4 NBA West Producer

Sex Panther works every time.

44Thrilla cuatro cuatro

DP He shoots, he scores!

Sex Panther works every time.

mgb Over-Nite Sensation

Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

44Thrilla cuatro cuatro

DP He shoots, he scores!

44Thrilla cuatro cuatro

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