2014 Week 1
Stock up on your Asian Zing and Honey BBQ sauces, Buffalo Wild Wings, because football is back and I'm hungry! My weekly football-watching Sunday meal aside, a number of teams have their own routines to get back to; namely, trying to win football games and a place in my Top 10. Defenses are reigning in the list, which has caused some shuffling from last time, Post-Draft. However, it is offensive play that had me doubting the 49ers, along with previously Top 10 threshold teams like the Panthers, Texans, and Buccaneers. I'm still not giving up on the Texans - my other underdog hope this year with the Falcons - if they don't take too long to figure out Ryan Mallet is their QB of the future. Enough intro talk though, let's get to it; hike!
Nipping at #10's heels:
Lions (#15), Cardinals (#14), Bengals (#13), Ravens (#12), Bears (#11)
10. Atlanta Falcons
Last Time: 10thBest Ranking: 10th (Week 1, Post-Draft)
"Watching receiver Julio Jones cut on a dime while running routes this summer made it easy to believe his game-breaking ability could be in tip-top shape. (Jones' 6.5 yards after catch since 2011 is second to only Percy Harvin among receivers with 150 catches.) 'I feel great,' Jones says. 'I'm back doing the little things that I used to do. I'm back to the old Julio.' Old Julio? The Falcons would prefer that their 25-year-old star be as good as new for the season opener vs. New Orleans." - Vaughn McClure
9. San Diego Chargers
Last Time: --
Best Ranking: 9th (Week 1)
"During most drills this offseason, Chargers QB Philip Rivers could be seen running the no-huddle offense. The scheme tweak is working, specifically in the red zone. In one practice, Rivers found emerging TE Ladarius Green on back-to-back plays for TDs. Rivers will get more freedom to call plays at the line this season. And if more freedom leads to even better production - he set a career high with a 69.5 percent completion rate in 2013 - the Chargers will challenge for another playoff berth." - Eric Williams
Last Time: 8th
Best Ranking: 8th (Week 1, Post-Draft)
"This is QB Nick Foles' job, this is Nick Foles' team, and he's conducting himself accordingly. The reason he's brimmed with confidence this preseason? Foles ran Chip Kelly's high-powered attack to near perfection last season, throwing 27 TDs and only two INTs. "You reflect on 2013 for like five seconds, and then you move on," says Foles. Moving on is the easy part. But if he actually wins the franchise's first playoff game since 2008? Then this is Nick Foles' city." - Phil Sheridan
7. Indianapolis Colts
Last Time: 5th
Best Ranking: 5th (Post-Draft)
"As much as the Colts talk about having a running game, their best offensive set could be when they go with five wide. Receivers T.Y. Hilton, Reggie Wayne and Hakeem Nicks lined up on one side with tight ends Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener lined up on the other side with an empty backfield. Offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton's creativity and QB Andrew Luck's intelligence are a nightmare for opposing coordinators. Allen and Fleener have height, Hilton and Nicks have speed, and Wayne simply knows how to get open." - Mike Wells
Last Time: 7th
Best Ranking: 6th (Week 1)
"From 2009 to 2012, the Packers averaged 11.75 wins per season. They likely would have hit that mark - or higher - the past year had QB Aaron Rodgers not broken his collarbone in Week 9 and missed the next seven games. Rodgers' .750 winning percentage in games he started or finished in 2013 would have put the Packers on a 12-win pace. If he stays healthy this year, they will reach that total and be set up for a deep playoff run, backed up on defense by Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers." - Rob Demovsky
5. San Francisco 49ers
Last Time: 3rd
Best Ranking: 3rd (Post-Draft)
"QB Colin Kaepernick got paid (up to $126 million over seven years). Now it's time for him to earn his green in the red zone. This offseason the 49ers' offense camped out inside the 20 as Kaepernick threw pass after pass - all in an effort to right past wrongs. The 49ers (21st and 11th in red zone efficiency the past two years) lost Super Bowl XLVII and last season's NFC title game when last-second drives died inside the 20. There are 126 million reasons another costly stall won't be so easily forgiven." - Bill Williamson
Last Time: 6th
Best Ranking: 4th (Week 1)
"The Saints allowed just 19 points per game in 2013, fourth in the NFL. The breakout performance in its first year under Ryan was no fluke. Defensive end Cameron Jordan made his first Pro Bowl, and he could be joined soon by defensive backs Keenan Lewis and Kenny Vaccaro, outside linebacker Junior Galette or fellow end Akiem Hicks. Jairus Byrd has been added to force turnovers. And with QB Drew Brees, the Saints are absolutely in the mix for the NFC's top seed and are the clear favorites in the NFC South." - Mike Triplett
3. Denver Broncos
Last Time: 2nd
Best Ranking: 2nd (Post-Draft)
“Most descriptions of the Broncos' offense begin and end with love for their three-wide receiver look. And that grouping will propel this high-powered offense much of the time. But now there may be three- and four-tight end looks to go with the formation of two tight ends and three wide receivers. The Broncos are deep, have Manning in an offense that may have improved, and won 13 games last year despite five defensive starters being on injured reserve by the Super Bowl. Imagine what they could do this year.” - Jeff Legwold
Last Time: 4th
Best Ranking: 2nd (Week 1)
“The Patriots remain the class of the AFC East and should once again be in the playoff mix, posting double-digit wins in the regular season. Then the question becomes whether they're healthy and built to last in the playoffs. With so many resources devoted to defense the past few years, and the possibility of having seven first-round draft picks on D on the field at the same time, the foundation is there to answer that question with authority. Led by coach Bill Belichick and QB Tom Brady, this team has Super Bowl potential.” - Mike Reiss
1. Seattle Seahawks
Last Time: 1st
Best Ranking: 1st (Week 1, Post-Draft)
“Seattle, the avionics capital of the world, should be glad to hear that the Seahawks, whose 420 pass attempts last season ranked 31st, will air it out in 2014. As one offensive lineman says: "We didn't draft two receivers in the first three picks if we didn't plan on throwing it more." Those receivers have the right quarterback on his side: Since 2012, Russell Wilson is one of four with a Total QBR of 99-plus on throws of 20 yards or more. This team has the best chance to win consecutive Super Bowls since the Patriots did it 10 years ago. Let it rain.” - Terry Blount
No comments:
Post a Comment