NFL Power Rankings – Saints Begin Title Defense On Top Of Power Rankings
Online betting players are getting ready for the most wonderful time of the year: the beginning of football betting season. It’s only right that the defending Super Bowl champions kick off this season’s Power Rankings in the top spot, but the team they beat in the big game last year is right on their heels.
1. New Orleans Saints – The league’s best offense could be even better if everyone stays healthy. They still have to be more consistent on defense, though.
2. Indianapolis Colts – The Colts are the team every organization everyone should hope to aspire to be, and it’s as easy as drafting a guy like Peyton Manning, right?
3. Dallas Cowboys – If Brett Favre decides to stay away from football, watch the Cowboys’ NFL betting odds go up.
4. Cincinnati Bengals – It’s not just Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens; Carson Palmer has a lot of weapons at his disposal.
5. New York Jets – With Darrelle Revis, the Jets could go to the Super Bowl. Without him, they can make the playoffs, but that’s about it, unless Antonio Cromartie reverts back to his 2007 form.
6. Green Bay Packers – Seriously, this offensive line keeps Aaron Rodgers on his feet, and they Packers could be staring down the barrel of an NFC championship game appearance.
7. Baltimore Ravens – The Ravens improved their offense, but we saw how much it hurt them not to have Ed Reed at the back of their defense.
8. New England Patriots – You don’t think the Patriots hear everyone saying that they’re done? This group has at least two more years of challenging in the AFC left.
9. Minnesota Vikings – I had no idea where to put them, because we don’t know what Mr. Favre is going to do. Without him though, the Vikings are lucky to stay in the top 15.
10. San Diego Chargers – The Chargers are fortunate to play in the AFC West. Any other division, and their NFL betting odds could be shot due to holdouts.
11. Denver Broncos – But if the Chargers stumble (and we think they will), the Broncos will be right there to pick up the pieces.
12. Atlanta Falcons – The talent is there on offense, but can the Falcons survive in the NFC with a soft defense?
13. Philadelphia Eagles – Well, Philly fans, you complained about Donovan McNabb? Get ready for the Kevin Kolb era. Andy Reid’s job depends on its success.
14. Washington Redskins – And if the Redskins finish higher than the Eagles, that could definitely be Reid’s job. You don’t give away a quarterback like McNabb to a division rival for practically nothing.
15. New York Giants – And for all that has gone on in the NFC East, the Giants can leapfrog both of these teams, but Brandon Jacobs needs to get his act together.
16. San Francisco 49ers – The trendy breakout pick of the season, the 49ers still need a top-shelf quarterback, because Alex Smith is not going to lead you to the promised land.
17. Miami Dolphins
18. Chicago Bears
19. Pittsburgh Steelers
20. Houston Texans
21. Arizona Cardinals
22. Carolina Panthers
23. Tennessee Titans
24. Kansas City Chiefs
25. Jacksonville Jaguars
26. Oakland Raiders
27. Detroit Lions
28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
29. Cleveland Browns
30. Buffalo Bills
31. Seattle Seahawks
32. St. Louis Rams
In the bottom half of the rankings, Miami and Chicago could break through, and Houston will take a step backwards this year. However, the team to watch could be Kansas City, a team with a bunch of good, young players, and coach Todd Haley hired Charlie Weis (offense) and Romeo Crennel (defense). They weren’t good head coaches at all (Weis at Notre Dame, Crennel in Cleveland), but they were great coordinators for the Patriots at one point, and they should help boost the Chiefs’ sports betting odds.
