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Super StarOur first power rankings of the 2009 season feature a familiar team at the top of the list. Our rankings are a reflection of the success teams experienced in 2008, combined with the moves they made in the offseason and how they have looked in the preseason. To see how all 32 team rank, check out the full article for free at fantasyfootballmaniaxs.com
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) -Until someone dethrones the Super Bowl champions, they start the season No. 1. While the Steelers did not add any big free agents, they return the best defense in the NFL and almost all of the key contributors from the 2008 team that won the Lombardi Trophy.
2. New England Patriots (11-5) - The Patriots, who went 16-0 in the 2007 regular season, had some problems repeating that success in 2008 when Tom Brady suffered a season-ending injury in the opener. Brady and Randy Moss have looked great in the preseason, although Brady did suffer a shoulder injury in the preseason game against Washington. New England has an excellent chance to dominate the AFC this year, but they need Brady to stay healthy.
3. Philadelphia Eagles (9-6-1) - The Eagles have a lot of expectations with the additions of WR Jeremy Maclin and RB LeSean McCoy via the draft, and veteran free agents OTs Jason Peters and Stacey Andrews to the offensive line. They also have a lot of attention since they decided to add QB Michael Vick. If RB Brian Westbrook and McNabb can stay healthy, this team should be in position to win their first Super Bowl and first NFL Championship since 1960.
4. New York Giants (12-4) - The Giants have to find a receiver to replace WR Plaxico Burress, otherwise they are doomed to suffer the same slump they went through at the end of last season without a dependable No. 1 option. If first round pick Hakeem Nicks can have a breakout rookie season, the Giants could easily be playing February football, as their running game and defense are second to none and Eli Manning has the experience at quarterback to win a Super Bowl.
29. Kansas City Chiefs (2-14) - This is a team in turmoil. QB Matt Cassel hurt his knee and is in doubt for the season opener, and coach Todd Haley gave offensive coordinator Chan Gailey a pink slip just two weeks before the season is set to begin. The Chiefs were 2-14 last year and they have the potential to start very slow if their defense doesn't improve and their offense can't get their act together.
30. Denver Broncos (8-8) - This team just keeps plummeting in my rankings. First, they traded QB Jay Cutler to Chicago. Then Kyle Orton looked awful, Chris Simms hurt his ankle and now Orton has a dislocated finger that may keep him out a while. Star WR Brandon Marshall is suspended for the rest of the preseason for being a circus in practice. Josh McDaniels looks to be over his head and incompetent. This looks like a locker room that has already turned against him, as they have looked awful going 0-3 in the preseason. This could become very ugly in Denver and I wouldn't be surprised if they finish last in this terrible division.
31. St Louis Rams (2-14) - It's going to be another long season for the Rams, as they are a rebuilding project in a division without a dominant team. Despite playing in one of the weakest divisions in the NFL, the Rams managed only two wins last season. Marc Bulger and Steven Jackson need to stay healthy and play like they did in 2006. Former Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was hired as coach to turn around a Rams defense that gave up 465 points last season, which was only outdone by the 0-16 Lions.
32. Detroit Lions (0-16) - Until the Lions win a game, they are the worst team in the NFL. The pressure is going to be on them to win early, because the longer that losing streak goes on, the bigger the distraction will become. WR Calvin Johnson and promising second year RB Kevin Smith give them something to work with on offense. Unfortunately, neither QB Daunte Culpepper nor Matthew Stafford have played well enough to win the starting job, but the good news for whoever earns the nod is that there is nowhere to go but up in 2009.
Ruggedest - Thanks for the post. I don't know we've disagreed on some things before. Here are my thoughts on the teams you mentioned.
StreetCred2. New England Patriots - First off, I wrote the article on September 3rd and Seymour was traded on September 6th. That said, I don't think it makes that big of a difference. He made the Pro Bowl 5 times from 2002 to 2006. He has made it zero times the last three seasons, yet the Patriots are 39-9. They'll miss him, but they are not losing one of the top five defensive lineman in football. You say they are a Super Bowl worthy team, so we can argue whether they should be 2nd or 6th, but the point is they are one of the top teams in the NFL. Reasonable minds can disagree exactly where that should be.
3. The reason I like the Eagles is adding Peters and Andrews to the line and Macklin and Mccoy to the offense. If Westbrook is hurt, McCoy can step in. Macklin gives them more options. Dawkins was 36 years old and they replaced him with Sean Jones. Still a great secondary. McNabb probably won't stay healthy all year, but they can bring Vick in, who will be a dropoff, but may be able to help them win a game or two against an average opponent. Every team has question marks, but I think the Eagles are for real.
5. If you don't think Favre is a viable NFL QB anymore, you aren't going to agree with me on that pick. Keep in mind he was 8-3 before the injury took it's toll last year, it is fixed for now, and he is back in a system he is comfortable with. I don't expect him to have a 4,000 yard season again, but I think he will really help Peterson be better than he aleady has been. The team won 10 games with Frerotte and Jackson, I think they can get to 11 or 12 with Favre, which would put them in the top 5.
11. We'll see. Sanders is already hurt and he is a big part of their defense. Donald Brown was a big addition, but I'm not sold on Gonzalez as a number two. You see it with the big time QBs all the time, people forgive the shortcomings of the team, because Manning can win it all. I think this is their worst team since 2003 and we'll see if they can keep up that 12 game win pace. My guess is that they will not.
17. This is what I have been telling everyone about that defense. In the preseason you can create pressure with secondary blitz's, because teams do not gameplan for that. In the regular season you have to generate pressure with four guys. That is why the Giants are so good. That is why the Steelers are so good. They can create pressure with four and blitz when they want to. I haven't seen the Packers consistently create pressure without a blitz package in the regular season and I think that defense will be exposed in the regualr season. The offense will be great and Rodgers will have another big year. But I think the Vikings are superior and the Bears will give them a run. I say 7-9 to 8-8 for the Pack.
26. The Raiders are too unstable to pick to do anything. It's where good players go to die. Players don't respect coaches, ownership doesn't respect coaches. There is an institutional problem that starts from the top and works it's way down. Raiders might get six or seven wins, just because they play in the same division as Denver and KC. Raiders are a mess.
Great comments as always, good to hear from you again, and can't wait for the games to begin. Good luck to your Giants against the Redskins this weekend.
11:30 AM EST