Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Packer Plus
POWER RANKINGS
Steelers are back in top group
Here’s a look at NFL power rankings as 2020 training camps lurch forward (previous rank in parentheses):
1. Chiefs (1): Perhaps once regarded as a luxury pick, first-round RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire now looms as major key to repeat bid with Damien Williams opting out.
2. Ravens (2): What does QB Lamar Jackson, 2019’s MVP and recently voted league’s No. 1 player by his peers, do for an encore? Evidently strike downfield more. Should be something to behold.
3. Saints (3): Entering a contract year – apparently back to full health – RB Alvin Kamara is a guy to watch ... and one to draft for your fantasy lineup.
4. 49ers (4): This offense might initially look a touch one-dimensional ... at least as long as WR Deebo Samuel is recovering from his broken foot.
5. Steelers (9): Imagine if they could’ve married their 2018 offense to 2019’s defense. Alas. But Big Ben’s return should restore Pittsburgh to AFC’s elite.
6. Colts (6): Even if you weren’t amped about non-traditional camp look, QB Philip Rivers reporting in a Hickory High shirt had to get you at least a little juiced.
7. Buccaneers (7): TB12, Gronk and BA? What a bummer HBO opted to profile the Bucs in 2017’s fairly forgettable installment of “Hard Knocks.”
8. Titans (8): Ryan Tannehill’s NFLhigh 117.5 QB rating in 2019 topped his six-year average in Miami by 30+ points. Can he possibly maintain that level?
9. Bills (11): Good luck finding a better secondary – one that should help an ever-deeper fleet of pass rushers improve on last season’s total of 44 sacks.
10. Packers (10): After largely sitting out free agency and drafting with an eye toward long-term future, last year’s NFC finalists seem poised to retrograde.
11. Cowboys (13): From talent perspective, hard to argue they’re not class of NFC East. But that was true of last year’s 8-8 squad. Welcome, coach Mike McCarthy.
12. Seahawks (15): They paid top dollar for S Jamal Adams. But an atypically weak Seattle defense needed a boost ... and this team doesn’t draft well in Round 1 anyway.
13. Eagles (12): After promising – and relatively unheralded – rookie year, don’t be surprised if RB Miles Sanders breaks out to catapult offense forward.
14. Vikings (5): Onus for success may lie with QB Kirk Cousins and Co. unless Mike Zimmer can swiftly repair defense which lost quite a few linemen and corners.
15. Patriots (19): QB Cam Newton‘s ability to integrate and generate offense projects as increasingly vital with 2019’s top defense stripped by free agency, COVID-19 opt-outs.
16. Falcons (16): Their outlook could pivot with new defensive boss Raheem Morris’ unit given Atlanta has maintained a top-10 offense six seasons running.
17. Broncos (14): Resurrection seems imminent if QB Drew Lock’s arc doesn’t flatten. However he’ll basically have to adapt to his rookie wideouts on the fly.
18. Browns (26): New coach Kevin Stefanski seemingly fits offensive personnel like a glove and may – eventually – help 2019 preseason darlings fulfill vast promise.
19. Cardinals (18): Even if they’ve successfully bolstered receiving corps following DeAndre Hopkins deal, fortunes may reside with 2019’s leagueworst D.
20. Texans (21): Even if they’ve successfully spackled receiving corps following Hopkins deal, is 28th-ranked defense good enough to sustain AFC South kings?
21. Lions (22): If QB Matthew Stafford remains upright, rookie RB D’Andre Swift thrives and ex-Pats defensive reinforcements deliver, Detroit could surprise.
22. Chargers (17): Rivers’ departure is their primary storyline entering 2020, but offense might be better geared to veteran QB Tyrod Taylor’s style.
23. Raiders (27): Great potential they’re more competitive on field than 2019 edition of Silver and Black ... yet might still ultimately regress in win column.
24. Dolphins (23): We’re all in on Brian Flores’ leadership ... but might be tough to avoid another slow start given mass influx of free agents and rookies.
25. Rams (20): Is bloom coming off the Sean McVay rose? That might be premature, but he’s got something to prove while counting heavily on revived run game and rookie DC Brandon Staley.
26. Bengals (25): Offense is loaded with exciting array of skill players, but this offseason could delay O-line cohesion and rookie QB Joe Burrow’s NFL transition.
27. Bears (29): Though focus is rightly on their unsettled passing game, Chicago’s defense also looking like it might be equally susceptible through the air.
28. Jets (24): Strong 2019 finish tempered by loss of Adams, their best player, LB C.J. Mosley’s opt-out plus apparent lack of bottom feeders on 2020 schedule.
29. Washington (28): RB Derrius Guice’s release the latest chapter to bleak offseason. QB Alex Smith could provide much needed feel-good narrative.
30. Jaguars (32): DE Yannick Ngakoue and RB Leonard Fournette, arguably Jags’ two best players, probably their biggest wild cards aside from QB Gardner Minshew.
31. Panthers (31): New coach. New coordinators. New QB. No Luke Kuechly. Some nice players here, sure, but this is one team that really needed on-field work this spring.
32. Giants (30): Big Blue might just be a gang of green, especially now that LT Nate Solder’s opt-out could thrust pair of rookie tackles into lineup.