GIANTS 101

Around the office, in bars, and all around the country, NFL fans are debating about which teams will be the powerhouses of the 2010 NFL season, which teams will surprise, and which teams will disappoint. Meanwhile, at training camps all over the country, NFL coaches and players of all 32 teams are giving out reasons to expect improvement over last season, or in the case of the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints, why they will be every bit as good as last season.

Every team feels like it has a shot to have a successful season in August, but the question is – which teams really have the talent and leadership to be real contenders in 2010? Which teams look headed for a top 10 spot in next year’s draft?

POWERHOUSES

1. Colts

Peyton Manning is still the most dominant player in the game, and has plenty of weapons at his disposal. The defense is talented, and this team is as even-keeled and ready for the big spots as any in football.

2. Chargers

Led by Phillip Rivers and a big, physical set of receivers, the Chargers can score with anyone, including the Colts. A weak division gives the Chargers a real shot at home-field advantage in the AFC, and this team has been knocking at the door of a Super Bowl appearance for the last four seasons.

3. Saints

The defending Super Bowl champs go into the 2010 season with everyone gunning for them, but they are well-equipped for the task. The offense is a well-oiled machine that can put seven’s on the board in the blink of an eye. If the defense can have a repeat performance, the Saints should once again contend in the postseason.

VERY CAPABLE OF A SUPER BOWL RUN

4. Packers

Aaron Rodgers is quickly becoming one of the best players in the NFL, and an improved offensive line should make the Packers offense even more difficult to defend than it was last year – which is a scary thought. Expect the Packers to come out of the gates blazing, with the sting of their heartbreaking 2009 postseason loss to the Cardinals still on their minds.

5. Cowboys

The addition of Dez Bryant at wide receiver was huge for this football team. One of the top ten talents in the draft, the Cowboys got a steal in Bryant, who should make the Cowboys passing game a nightmare for the NFC. The defense is very talented and  very well-coached. The question is – will the fact that the Super Bowl is in Dallas this season drive this team, or put a lot of pressure on them late in the season?

6. Patriots

Is Tom Brady still the quarterback? Belichick still the coach? Randy Moss still an elite wide receiver? Check, check, and check. Everybody wants to talk about the potential of the Rex Ryan-led Jets, but you can bet your bottom dollar that this team will be ready to go week in and week out.

7. Vikings

When you mention the Vikings, the two words you’ll usually hear next are Brett and Favre. And with good reason. This ranking is all based on the assumption that Brett Favre will lead this football team in 2010.

DANGEROUS PLAYOFF-CALIBER TEAMS

8. Ravens

Anquan Boldin, Ray Rice and Dante Stallworth give the Ravens something they haven’t had in, well, ever. An explosive offense. Couple that with a vicious front seven on defense, and you have a dangerous football team in the AFC North. The Ravens do have a glaring weakspot at cornerback however, and will need a consistently strong effort from their front line on defense. Then again, haven’t they gotten that almost every year of their existence?

9. GIANTS

Before you start crying homer at the top of your lungs – let’s take a close look at this football team. 8-8 a year ago, the Giants were decimated by injuries in 2009 all across the defense – with Kenny Phillips, Chris Canty, Aaron Ross, and Michael Boley all missing significant time. Justin Tuck played through a torn labrum, and New York played in a division featuring two playoff teams. For a team built on running the football, defense, and an efficient passing game – the Giants were forced to air it out week after week in 2009, and still were in the playoff race up until the final couple of weeks of the season thanks in large part to Eli Manning and his young receivers. With a healthy defense, an elite quarterback at the prime of his career, and Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw a year removed from troublesome leg injuries – would anyone argue that this team can’t add 2-3 wins to its total in 2010? If the Giants can stay healthy, expect them to be a dangerous, under the radar team this season.

10. Jets

The defense is absolutely stacked, and the Jets have brought in a couple of weapons to improve their production on the offensive side of the ball. This group is led by a confident, hard-working head coach that really has this team believing in themselves, and that alone makes them a tough matchup every week. Their success will come down to the development of quarterback Mark Sanchez, who will have to take a significant step forward for this team to be a true Super Bowl contender.

11. Bengals

With a strong defense, physical running game, and now several weapons for Carson Palmer in the passing game – the Bengals are in prime position to make real noise in the AFC this season. If Terrell Owens can stay focused on winning, and Carson Palmer can stay healthy – the Bengals will win double-digit games this year, and be a tough out come the postseason. It goes without saying that those are big if’s.

12. 49ers

You have to love what the 49ers did this off-season. The offensive line is stacked with talent, and the defense is stout and disciplined. The 49ers are the favorites in the NFC west going into the season, and if Alex Smith can just manage games and play efficient football behind a strong running game, the 49ers will have the best season they’ve had in quite some time.

ON THE BRINK OF SERIOUS CONTENTION

13. Texans

It all comes down to their ability to stop teams from passing for 300 yards every week in Houston. If the defense can just be serviceable, the Texans have more than enough offensive ability to win nine or ten games and steal a wild card spot in the AFC.

14. Dolphins

Tough, physical, well-coached, and hard-working – the Dolphins won’t lay down for the Jets and Pats in the AFC East. Brandon Marshall makes them more threatening on offense, and Tony Sparano will make sure his team doesn’t make costly mistakes on Sundays.

15. Falcons

Injuries really hurt Atlanta in 2009, and they go into this season with a chip on their shoulder. They’re playing in a division with the defending Super Bowl champs, but with a healthy Matt Ryan and Michael Turner, the Falcons will do some scoring of their own this season. Don’t write them off as a non-playoff team.

MIDDLE OF THE PACK

16. Steelers

What the Steelers are able to do with Roethlisberger out early in the season will go a long way in determining their fate this season.

17. Eagles

The defense is very solid in Philadelphia, but there are a lot of changes on the offensive side of the ball, and this may be the year Eagles fans start to appreciate what they had in Donovan McNabb. Hard to see them keeping up with Dallas and New York this season.

18. Redskins

Shanahan and McNabb will do all they can to drive this team into a playoff berth this season, but they play in a very tough division and are a few steps behind.

19. Bears

Jay Cutler should have a much better season in 2010, and the defense is improved, and the addition of Julius Peppers should make them formidable again in the front seven. Dangerous football team, but one short on the talent and direction necessary to be able to contend with the NFC’s top teams all season.

20. Cardinals

Beanie Wells is a talented, powerful young back to get excited about, but there are a lot of questions about the ability of this team to keep up with the 49ers in the NFC West with the losses of Kurt Warner and Anquan Boldin on offense, and Karlos Dansby and Antrel Rolle on defense.

STILL A YEAR OR TWO AWAY

21. Panthers

The Panthers played very well when Matt Moore started in 2009, but this is an extremely young football team that will have a lot of ups and downs over the next couple of seasons.

22. Raiders

Jason Campbell gives them a little more legitimacy on offense, and the defensive side of the ball actually looks quite impressive. It’ll be a little tougher for opponents to just laugh them off this season.

23. Titans

Issues on defense, a shaky quarterback situation, and a very tough division will make it hard for Jeff Fisher to keep this team in contention this season.

THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE

24. Seahawks

Contrary to popular belief, Charlie Whitehurst isn’t actually the world’s best kept secret. Seattle had a solid off-season, but the 49ers are a considerably better football team, and there are plenty of question marks on both sides of the ball here.

25. Broncos

Josh McDaniels has essentially traded Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall for Tim Tebow and Demaryius Thomas. An average defense got a lot less formidable when Elvis Dumervil went down for the season.

26. Lions

This is a roster that has really been improved dramatically over the past two seasons. The fact that they are unlikely to win more than six games tells you how far down the NFL food chain the Lions were before that improvement.

27. Jaguars

David Garrard isn’t a franchise quarterback, and they don’t have the talent to contend with Indianapolis and Houston in their division.

28. Chiefs

They had a decent off-season, but even with the addition of Eric Berry, there are a ton of issues on defense that will keep this team from being able to keep up week in and week out.

OH MY GOD, SOMEONE CHANGE THE CHANNEL

29. Browns

The preseason camp battle for the quarterback job features Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace. Yep.

30. Bills

Even with the addition of one of the best young running back prospects to come along over the past few years, this offense will be very painful to watch in 2010.

31. Buccaneers

Very young team on both sides of the football. They are overmatched in terms of talent by just about every team in the NFC.

32. Rams

Six wins in the last three seasons. That’s right I said six. In the last three. Sam Bradford has a ton of pressure on his shoulders. The talent is there with the rookie signal-caller, but what about the toughness, physically and mentally? He’ll get a shot to prove himself quite early in the 2010 season.

Tags: Power Rankings

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