... were not kind to Pittsburgh. I was actaully annoyed that were were ranked so low. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>26 Steelers 6-10-0 Could another playoff miss end Bill Cowher's 12-year run in Pittsburgh?</div> I hope I'm not blinded by my faith in my boys, but 26th?!? That seems awfully low. They picked the Raiders to rebound, but not the Steelers... As a great man once said... "DOH!" - Homer Simpson
ok. the eagles got 2nd, which didnt surprise me, but the falcons got fifth! i know they have michael vick, but seriiously, he is basically the only player on theyre team i wouldnt have ranked them that high, my rank would probably be about 10-15, not top ten. football is a team sport, not the amazing vick show
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (nflfan04)</div><div class='quotemain'>ok. the eagles got 2nd, which didnt surprise me, but the falcons got fifth! i know they have michael vick, but seriiously, he is basically the only player on theyre team i wouldnt have ranked them that high, my rank would probably be about 10-15, not top ten. football is a team sport, not the amazing vick show</div> jenkins and hall abd duckett and dunn are players. and with jenkins on the other side of price that makes both of them better with a great arm under center. thats why they are 5, i think they should be closer to 9 but still in the top 10
I didn't think the rankings were horrible, but there were definitely some teams that were out of place. I guess we'll see. I should post the order here so we can see how the teams finish. 2004 Power Rankings: Offseason Rank Team Rec. Comment 1 Patriots 14-2-0 Corey Dillon might be a pain, but the Patriots have to figure that as long as they're winning, they can get a good season or two out of him. 2 Eagles 12-4-0 With some big offseason acquisitions -- Terrell Owens and Jevon Kearse -- it's Super Bowl or bust for Donovan McNabb and the Eagles. 3 Colts 12-4-0 We're still not sure the defense is good enough to win it all, but with Peyton Manning at QB, the Colts will be in contention at the end of the season. 4 Broncos 10-6-0 We're assuming the Mike Shanahan can find a capable back to replace at least some of Clinton Portis' production. 5 Chiefs 13-3-0 Doesn't look like the defense got any better which isn't a good thing. 6 Seahawks 10-6-0 With solid additions on defense (Bobby Taylor and Grant Wistrom) and a young, explosive offense, the Seahawks enter 2004 as the favorites in the NFC West. 7 Falcons 5-11-0 Ranking is obviously high based on last season, but with a healthy Michael Vick the Falcons should be heading back to the playoffs. 8 Panthers 11-5-0 Another run for the Cats or the next franchise to go from Super Bowl to subpar? 9 Ravens 10-6-0 Terrell Owens would have really helped on a team that still figures to struggle throwing the ball. 10 Titans 12-4-0 One of these years, all the pounding and injuries are going to catch up to Steve McNair. Could this be the year? 11 Dolphins 10-6-0 The Dolphins are still calling Jay Fiedler their starter, but A.J. Feeley was brought in to win the job. 12 Packers 10-6-0 As long as Brett Favre is throwing the football, the Packers will be in contention in the NFC North. 13 Vikings 9-7-0 Vikings players probably still have a bitter taste in their mouths about how last season ended and a trip to the playoffs could be the only thing that will wash it away. 14 Rams 12-4-0 Marc Bulger might have made the Pro Bowl last season, but he has to be better than he was last season when he threw and NFL-high 22 INTs. 15 Cowboys 10-6-0 A veteran could be on the way, but for now, the QB situation has to be a bit of a concern for Cowboys fans. 16 Buccaneers 7-9-0 Some of the big names -- John Lynch and Warren Sapp -- might be gone, but expect the Bucs to be back in the playoff hunt. 17 Bengals 8-8-0 We're still scratching our head a little at the Chris Perry pick. Marvin Lewis is obviously smarter than we are, but it seems like there might have been some other players that would have been more of an immediate help. 18 Redskins 5-11-0 Will this be the season all of Washington's offseason spending finally pays off? 19 Raiders 4-12-0 Warren Sapp and Ted Washington should help turn around that 30th-ranked defense. 20 Jaguars 5-11-0 If the defense can maintain the level it showed last season, the Jags could be fighting for a playoff spot. 21 Bears 7-9-0 Lovie Smith has to be tempted by Kurt Warner, but we're not sure he's the right fit to mentor Rex Grossman, who doesn't need to be looking over his shoulder. 22 Saints 8-8-0 Deuce McAllister is as good as it gets at RB. But that hasn't been enough to get the Saints to the playoffs. 23 Bills 6-10-0 Willis McGahee's progress will be one of the most interesting storylines to watch this offseason. 24 Jets 6-10-0 Added speed on defense should help, but the Jets need Chad Pennington healthy from start to finish or all the speed in the world on defense won't help. 25 Lions 5-11-0 OK Joey Harrington, you've got some weapons now, so people are going to be expecting some results. 26 Steelers 6-10-0 Could another playoff miss end Bill Cowher's 12-year run in Pittsburgh? 27 Texans 5-11-0 They still have some holes, but have a potentially explosive offensive trio in David Carr, Andre Johnson and Domanick Davis. 28 Browns 5-11-0 Kellen Winslow is going to have an impact, but all that talk comparing him to LeBron James by his agents was just silly. 29 Giants 4-12-0 In this scenario the Giants would end up sending the Chargers the No. 4 pick in next year's draft. 30 Cardinals 4-12-0 Their wide receivers will be fun to watch, but the Cardinals still have a long way to go. 31 49ers 7-9-0 49ers could be fighting it out with the Cardinals this year in the NFC West -- and that's not for first place. 32 Chargers 4-12-0 The weather is great and all, but we're not sure we'd want our son playing for the Chargers, either.
The Dolphins were ranked about where I thought they'd be. They will remain between 4 and 12 all season. It is not how you start but how you finish. Do Late spring rankings really count for a game that is played in late summer thru early winter? I don't think so. Lastly, Beef's thoughts on the beat writers in the David Boston thread were spot on. To further that, the National "experts" are lower form of life than the local beat writers
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (blackadder)</div><div class='quotemain'>The Dolphins were ranked about where I thought they'd be. They will remain between 4 and 12 all season.</div> Or so you hope...
Wow...I got a lot of problems with the rankings... --Chiefs - I like this team, but I don't think they can put together anything close to last season. I think they will be mediocre at best this year --Patriots - I know...they deserve the top spot because of the SB, but I think Dillon will be a huge distraction for them. They never had a superstar before, I think this will be their undoing. --Bears - They should actually be ranked higher. They did a lot of good stuff in the offseason and Rex Grossman looks like he's ready to prove himself. --Steelers - I agree SF, they shouldn't be this low. It seems as if the people ranking the teams forgot about the Steelers and just threw them in there as an afterthought. --Cardinals - They are the dark horse...at least as dark as you can be with Boldin and their new draft picks. They will upset a lot of teams this year.
I think the Chiefs will really need to step up on defense if they really want to stay in the hunt. The Pats shouldn't miss a beat, but maybe overconfidence will be their undoing... injuries? The Bears are only a few seasons removed from 13-3. If they can get some consistant Quarterback play, they might be a pretty tough team this year. Thanks VF, we might not be Super Bowl bound just yet, but bottom 6 is just crap. The Cardinals are about 3 seasons of good offseasons away from being very competitive.
ofcourse i dont agree with the giants so low but these analyst keep it safe on every ranking. The obvious first. If i had a link of last years ranking it woulod show that the panthers shouldve been like 5-11. ITS ALL BS
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Steelerfan_2003)</div><div class='quotemain'> The Pats shouldn't miss a beat, but maybe overconfidence will be their undoing... injuries? </div> Overconfidence will never be allowed and if it was going to show up it would have in the playoffs during a 15 game winning streak. Another reason they won't be overconfident is most of the teams core went through the 2002 season in which they didn't make the playoffs so they all truely know your not a lock for the playoffs no matter what you do the season before. As for injuries there are a couple spots where we probably couldn't afford them (safety,QB.Oline) but we did start 42 defferent players last year and had injuries to guys in key positions almost all season long and that didn't slow us down at all. As for dillon he is not a superstar anymore and was always made to be one because of the team he was on. If he played with a QB or an offense that had talant he would be a top back but 1,300 1,400 yards which is about as good as he gets is hardly a great accomplishment these days. This seaosn he will behave and as long as he is the starter he will be fine. The only thing I can see that could set him off is if he gets hurt and Cedric Cobbs comes in running wild the way Rudi Johnson did to him and we all know Belichick could care less who you are he'll play the hot guy 100% of the time. With the veteran leadership throughout our team he will have no other choice but to shut up and play or else he won't play and he'll wind up on the IR for the season Terry Glenn style.
I just wonder how the addition of a helathy R. Colvin will impact the Patriots D? SF; The Dolphins have for years remianed in the top third all season and will continue to do so. Here's a good laugh for all. Peter King of CNNSI dot com predicted a Jaguars/Seahawks Super Bowl in his MMQB article today. Seahawks possibly but J'ville????
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (blackadder)</div><div class='quotemain'>Here's a good laugh for all. Peter King of CNNSI dot com predicted a Jaguars/Seahawks Super Bowl in his MMQB article today. Seahawks possibly but J'ville????</div> I like the prediction...I don't agree with it, but I like it. It shows that at least one of these analysts is willing to go out on a limb.
Sorry to bring it up agian but the falcons cant stand on there own two feet without vick how did they get fith. unbeliveable.
i think that JAX will be good, but not a SB contender, I also think that if michael vick stays healthy that with price and jenkins the falcons could be great
Peter King is okay in my book. He is not afraid to fly in the face of conventional wisdom unlike the nimrods @ ESPN. I wonder about JAX's D, though. I agree that ATL is overrated. What they do on D will be equally as important what Vick does. There will be some struggles as he learns the WCO.
Welcome to the forum staley22... good to have another Steeler fan... Jacksonville will have a great defense... why? Jack Del Rio... he did it in Carolina and will do it Jacksonville.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (blackadder)</div><div class='quotemain'>I just wonder how the addition of a helathy R. Colvin will impact the Patriots D? </div> BA If he is indeed healthy and is able to play to the level he is capable of I'm scared for all the QB's in our division and on our schedule. Colvin played a game and a half for us last season and had 2 sacks. If that was any indication of how he was gonna play for us its just scary. Imagine be able to bring Colvin and Vrabel off the edges. Teams would have no idea where the rush was coming from.
I really think the pats are going to be great next year, although I don't see them winning the superbowl next year I will not be surprised to see them hoist the trophy again within the next 5 years. They have the best organization in the NFL.
I hear ya staley. I'm not to confident that we can win it again next season but I do think we have a much better chance than we did in 2002 both talent wise and schedule wise. As long as Brady keeps his head and belichick keeps putting together dominent defenses we will always be knocking on the door.
