packinpatland
02-08-2008, 07:30 PM
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2007-power-rankings.htm
Power rankings: Giants not unanimous No. 1
Updated 5h 21m ago
1 N.Y. GIANTS (14-6) Last rank: 9 Total points: 319
Notes: Fairytale season ends with a surprise champion in New York. Slumped shoulders no more for Eli Manning. (Nine first-place votes.)
2 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (18-1) Last rank: 1 Total points: 311
Notes: Disaster. That's the only description of the Super Bowl loss. The 18-0 start moves from immortality to a footnote. (One first-place vote)
3
TIE GREEN BAY PACKERS (14-4) Last rank: 4 Total points: 291
Notes: Lots of reason to believe Packers can return to playoffs ... with or without Brett Favre.
3
TIE SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (13-6) Last rank: 6 Total points: 291
Notes: Playoff monkey is gone for the Chargers and for Norv Turner. With fewer injuries, they may have been the ones to stop Patriots.
5 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (13-4) Last rank: 2 Total points: 284
Notes: With Peyton Manning under center, the Colts should be ready for playoff games in the new stadium next winter.
6 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (12-6) Last rank: 5 Total points: 269
Notes:David Garrard may have been most surprising player in 2007. Can he repeat the success next season?
7 DALLAS COWBOYS (13-4) Last rank: 3 Total points: 265
Notes: Inglorious end to team that looked like NFC's class for most of the season. Tony Romo still yet to win a playoff game.
8 PITTSBURGH STEELERS (10-7) Last rank: 7 Total points: 242
Notes: Mike Tomlin's crew probably played above their heads for the first three months of the season. Competition will be stiff in AFC North next season.
9 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (11-7) Last rank: 8 Total points: 240
Notes: With Shaun Alexander's demise, the running game must improve next season for a run at a fifth consecutive NFC West title.
10 TENNESSEE TITANS (10-7) Last rank: 11 Total points: 215
Notes: With nine touchdown passes, how did this team earn a playoff spot? Vince Young must improve for next year.
11
TIE CLEVELAND BROWNS (10-6) Last rank: 13 Total points: 214
Notes: When it rains in pours. Last year, the Browns had no quarterback. After a shocking 10-win campaign, the have their pick of Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn.
11
TIE WASHINGTON REDSKINS (9-8) Last rank: 12 Total points: 214
Notes: Joe Gibbs left the skeleton of a playoff team for his successor. Biggest question: Can Jason Campbell lead the team back to the postseason on his own?
13 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (9-8) Last rank: 10 Total points: 206
Notes: The Bucs made the most of a weak division. Whither Chris Simms next year?
14 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (8-8) Last rank: 14 Total points: 178
Notes: Probably the best NFC team not to earn a playoff spot. Will Donovan McNabb be back for another run with Andy Reid?
15 HOUSTON TEXANS (8-8) Last rank: 15 Total points: 171
Notes: Has a team ever gone 7-3 outside of its division and not made the playoffs? If they can survive the AFC South, the Texans could be a contender.
16 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (7-9) Last rank: 18 Total points: 165
Notes: Should be considered one of the biggest disappointments of the season. Virtually impossible to overcome an 0-4 start.
17 MINNESOTA VIKINGS (8-8) Last rank: 16 Total points: 164
Notes: Hard to believe they were position for a playoff bid after the way Tarvaris Jackson began the year. Jury's still out on him, but Adrian Peterson is a stud.
18 ARIZONA CARDINALS (8-8) Last rank: 17 Total points: 160
Notes: The Cardinals didn't have a losing record this year. But Matt Leinart must make a believer of Ken Whisenhunt if this team is to make the playoffs.
19 CHICAGO BEARS (7-9) Last rank: 19 Total points: 132
Notes: Three quarterbacks, no answers from the Bears in 2007. Who will be under center next season? Consider the audition ongoing.
20 BUFFALO BILLS (7-9) Last rank: 18 Total points: 128
Notes: Overachievers in 2007, the future is brighter with Trent Edwards under center and Marshawn Lynch in the backfield.
21 DENVER BRONCOS (7-9) Last rank: 21 Total points: 127
Notes: What went wrong? Can Mike Shanahan's Broncos be considered perennial contenders anymore after two consecutive season out of the playoffs?
22 CINCINNATI BENGALS (7-9) Last rank: 22 Total points: 111
Notes: Stud receivers. Stud quarterback. But Marvin Lewis and Co. can't put the pieces together.
23 CAROLINA PANTHERS (7-9) Last rank: 23 Total points: 100
Notes: Injuries. Ineffectiveness. Those were the themes in Carolina this season. Can Jake Delhomme overcome both in 2008?
24 DETROIT LIONS (7-9) Last rank: 24 Total points: 95
Notes: The 10-win guarantee was too bold for this Lions squad. But they improved from three wins to seven. And there's potential for more.
25 BALTIMORE RAVENS (5-11) Last rank: 26 Total points: 82
Notes: This might be too high of a ranking for a team that looked among the league's very worst in the second half of the season.
26 NY JETS (4-12) Last rank: 25 Total points: 63
Notes: No Mangenius label this year after slump down to 4-12. Jets have many holes that need plugging in the offseason.
27
TIE SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (5-11) Last rank: 25 Total points: 59
Notes: Mike Nolan gets another chance after abysmal campaign. But Alex Smith might not be so lucky.
27
TIE ST. LOUIS RAMS (3-13) Last rank: 26 Total points: 58
Notes: Injuries. Injuries. Injuries. Bitter pill for Rams and fans to swallow in 2007. But team has talent to rebound quickly.
29 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (4-12) Last rank: 28 Total points: 44
Notes: The Chiefs ended 2007 season with same question they had at start: Who is this team's quarterback?
30 OAKLAND RAIDERS (4-12) Last rank: 30 Total points: 38
Notes: Same old story in Oakland: Strife between coach and owner. Team can't muster many wins.
31 ATLANTA FALCONS (4-12) Last rank: 31 Total points: 35
Notes: After a year gone bad for Arthur Blank's crew, the Falcons need some breaks to go their way.
32 MIAMI DOLPHINS (1-15) Last rank: 32 Total points: 10
Notes: Cam Cameron was on the wrong side of a lot of close calls. Bill Parcells, Tony Sparano and crew get a blank slate and low expectations in first year.
Power rankings: Giants not unanimous No. 1
Updated 5h 21m ago
1 N.Y. GIANTS (14-6) Last rank: 9 Total points: 319
Notes: Fairytale season ends with a surprise champion in New York. Slumped shoulders no more for Eli Manning. (Nine first-place votes.)
2 NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (18-1) Last rank: 1 Total points: 311
Notes: Disaster. That's the only description of the Super Bowl loss. The 18-0 start moves from immortality to a footnote. (One first-place vote)
3
TIE GREEN BAY PACKERS (14-4) Last rank: 4 Total points: 291
Notes: Lots of reason to believe Packers can return to playoffs ... with or without Brett Favre.
3
TIE SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (13-6) Last rank: 6 Total points: 291
Notes: Playoff monkey is gone for the Chargers and for Norv Turner. With fewer injuries, they may have been the ones to stop Patriots.
5 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (13-4) Last rank: 2 Total points: 284
Notes: With Peyton Manning under center, the Colts should be ready for playoff games in the new stadium next winter.
6 JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (12-6) Last rank: 5 Total points: 269
Notes:David Garrard may have been most surprising player in 2007. Can he repeat the success next season?
7 DALLAS COWBOYS (13-4) Last rank: 3 Total points: 265
Notes: Inglorious end to team that looked like NFC's class for most of the season. Tony Romo still yet to win a playoff game.
8 PITTSBURGH STEELERS (10-7) Last rank: 7 Total points: 242
Notes: Mike Tomlin's crew probably played above their heads for the first three months of the season. Competition will be stiff in AFC North next season.
9 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (11-7) Last rank: 8 Total points: 240
Notes: With Shaun Alexander's demise, the running game must improve next season for a run at a fifth consecutive NFC West title.
10 TENNESSEE TITANS (10-7) Last rank: 11 Total points: 215
Notes: With nine touchdown passes, how did this team earn a playoff spot? Vince Young must improve for next year.
11
TIE CLEVELAND BROWNS (10-6) Last rank: 13 Total points: 214
Notes: When it rains in pours. Last year, the Browns had no quarterback. After a shocking 10-win campaign, the have their pick of Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn.
11
TIE WASHINGTON REDSKINS (9-8) Last rank: 12 Total points: 214
Notes: Joe Gibbs left the skeleton of a playoff team for his successor. Biggest question: Can Jason Campbell lead the team back to the postseason on his own?
13 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (9-8) Last rank: 10 Total points: 206
Notes: The Bucs made the most of a weak division. Whither Chris Simms next year?
14 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (8-8) Last rank: 14 Total points: 178
Notes: Probably the best NFC team not to earn a playoff spot. Will Donovan McNabb be back for another run with Andy Reid?
15 HOUSTON TEXANS (8-8) Last rank: 15 Total points: 171
Notes: Has a team ever gone 7-3 outside of its division and not made the playoffs? If they can survive the AFC South, the Texans could be a contender.
16 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (7-9) Last rank: 18 Total points: 165
Notes: Should be considered one of the biggest disappointments of the season. Virtually impossible to overcome an 0-4 start.
17 MINNESOTA VIKINGS (8-8) Last rank: 16 Total points: 164
Notes: Hard to believe they were position for a playoff bid after the way Tarvaris Jackson began the year. Jury's still out on him, but Adrian Peterson is a stud.
18 ARIZONA CARDINALS (8-8) Last rank: 17 Total points: 160
Notes: The Cardinals didn't have a losing record this year. But Matt Leinart must make a believer of Ken Whisenhunt if this team is to make the playoffs.
19 CHICAGO BEARS (7-9) Last rank: 19 Total points: 132
Notes: Three quarterbacks, no answers from the Bears in 2007. Who will be under center next season? Consider the audition ongoing.
20 BUFFALO BILLS (7-9) Last rank: 18 Total points: 128
Notes: Overachievers in 2007, the future is brighter with Trent Edwards under center and Marshawn Lynch in the backfield.
21 DENVER BRONCOS (7-9) Last rank: 21 Total points: 127
Notes: What went wrong? Can Mike Shanahan's Broncos be considered perennial contenders anymore after two consecutive season out of the playoffs?
22 CINCINNATI BENGALS (7-9) Last rank: 22 Total points: 111
Notes: Stud receivers. Stud quarterback. But Marvin Lewis and Co. can't put the pieces together.
23 CAROLINA PANTHERS (7-9) Last rank: 23 Total points: 100
Notes: Injuries. Ineffectiveness. Those were the themes in Carolina this season. Can Jake Delhomme overcome both in 2008?
24 DETROIT LIONS (7-9) Last rank: 24 Total points: 95
Notes: The 10-win guarantee was too bold for this Lions squad. But they improved from three wins to seven. And there's potential for more.
25 BALTIMORE RAVENS (5-11) Last rank: 26 Total points: 82
Notes: This might be too high of a ranking for a team that looked among the league's very worst in the second half of the season.
26 NY JETS (4-12) Last rank: 25 Total points: 63
Notes: No Mangenius label this year after slump down to 4-12. Jets have many holes that need plugging in the offseason.
27
TIE SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (5-11) Last rank: 25 Total points: 59
Notes: Mike Nolan gets another chance after abysmal campaign. But Alex Smith might not be so lucky.
27
TIE ST. LOUIS RAMS (3-13) Last rank: 26 Total points: 58
Notes: Injuries. Injuries. Injuries. Bitter pill for Rams and fans to swallow in 2007. But team has talent to rebound quickly.
29 KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (4-12) Last rank: 28 Total points: 44
Notes: The Chiefs ended 2007 season with same question they had at start: Who is this team's quarterback?
30 OAKLAND RAIDERS (4-12) Last rank: 30 Total points: 38
Notes: Same old story in Oakland: Strife between coach and owner. Team can't muster many wins.
31 ATLANTA FALCONS (4-12) Last rank: 31 Total points: 35
Notes: After a year gone bad for Arthur Blank's crew, the Falcons need some breaks to go their way.
32 MIAMI DOLPHINS (1-15) Last rank: 32 Total points: 10
Notes: Cam Cameron was on the wrong side of a lot of close calls. Bill Parcells, Tony Sparano and crew get a blank slate and low expectations in first year.