Tuesday, September 02, 2008

PFW power rankings

Editors rank the teams heading into Week One
Sept. 2, 2008

PFW’s editors tried their best to sort out all the last-minute happenings before making their picks, and with all the injuries and shake-ups, it proved tough.

1. Dallas Cowboys
Rookie Felix only the third-highest-paid Jones in Dallas, but he’s a keeper.

2. New England Patriots
O-line might be their Achilles’ heel. Anything that doesn’t protect Brady is bad.

3. San Diego Chargers
Shawne Merriman injury could be ­difference between great and very good.

4. Indianapolis Colts
Manning injury underscores the scores of injuries the team already has suffered.

5. Minnesota Vikings
One man could make this team great — Tarvaris Jackson, not Jared Allen.

6. Jacksonville Jaguars
Still in the Colts’ shadow? Hey, wild-card teams have won Super Bowls recently.

7. New York Giants
Don’t forget the name of Dave Tollefson when considering who will replace Umenyiora.

8. Pittsburgh Steelers
Like the Patriots, the offensive line could define the season.

9. Cleveland Browns
One-year wonders or the start of something special? We’ll find out quickly.

10. New Orleans Saints
If Drew Brees throws for 5,000 yards, it just means the defense still stinks.

11. Seattle Seahawks
Being the best out west is like being the president of Eritrea.

12. Carolina Panthers
Julius Peppers should dominate again after snoozing through most of 2007.

13. New York Jets
Brett Favre’s new endorsement should be from the “Just For Men” people.

14. Philadelphia Eagles
Last week, Eagles fans hated Kevin Curtis as a No. 1. Now they wish they had him.

15. Green Bay Packers
Trouble on the O-line is not what any young QB needs, much less this one.

16. Arizona Cardinals
Admit it: You wanted to see Kurt Warner again full time, didn’t you?

17. Cincinnati Bengals
Mike Brown is praying that Chris Henry gets all Pacman and plays nice.

18. Houston Texans
This team might be a few players away from being very interesting.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Nothing mighty about (Donald) Penn at left tackle.

20. Buffalo Bills
Losing big in the Jason Peters battle.

21. Tennessee Titans
Maybe Chris Johnson could have helped the U.S. track and field team in Beijing.

22. Washington Redskins
Spies say Marcus Washington could be on verge of big season.

23. Denver Broncos
Remember when they had such great ­linebackers?

24. Oakland Raiders
They might be an adventure offensively, but there is defensive talent.

25. Detroit Lions
Prediction: Calvin Johnson will catch 90 passes this season.

26. St. Louis Rams
Is Marc Bulger losing his touch, by chance?

27. Baltimore Ravens
The veteran “D” should be able to turn back the clock for at least a few games.

28. Miami Dolphins
Usain Bolt could walk in tomorrow and be this team’s No. 2 wideout.

29. Chicago Bears
Erik Kramer could walk in tomorrow and beat out Kyle Orton.

30. San Francisco 49ers
If J.T. throws for 4K yards, can we agree that Mike Martz is good at what he does?

31. Atlanta Falcons
Team officials opting to let Matt Ryan get killed now, as opposed to in Week Four.

32. Kansas City Chiefs
Tony Gonzalez hopes to get his young teammates all registered to vote by Nov. 4.