►Final power rankings,
As voted on by USA TODAY Sports’ NFL staff. End-of-regularseason ranking in parentheses. Comments by Nate Davis.
1. DENVER BRONCOS (4)
Peyton Manning collected his second ring and John Elway his third. Now the latter must focus on moving forward, and that means contracts for Von Miller and Brock Osweiler. Champagne problems.
2. CAROLINA PANTHERS (1)
Assuming they don’t get outbid for CB Josh Norman’s services next month, they should come back strong in 2016 with WR Kelvin Benjamin returning.
3. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (5)
With their first-round pick forfeited by Deflategate, there’s one less opportunity to bolster the rushing attack and an offensive line that was so decisively exposed in the AFC Championship Game.
4. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (3)
The transition was already under way, but it will be interesting to see how this team responds without the grittiness and attitude of retiring RB Marshawn Lynch.
5. PITTSBURGH STEELERS (8)
With RB Le’Veon Bell on the way back, they should be back to winning shootouts in 2016. Shore up the pass defense, and they’ll be winning laughers.
6. ARIZONA CARDINALS (2)
No team in the franchise’s nearly century-long history had a better regular season. The question is whether QB Carson Palmer is the man to take them to the promised land after a shaky January.
7. GREEN BAY PACKERS (11)
A lot more of WR Jordy Nelson in 2016 and a lot less of RB Eddie Lacy — about 30 pounds less — could be all Green Bay needs to get back to the mountaintop.
8. MINNESOTA VIKINGS (7)
Assuming QB Teddy Bridgewater keeps blooming, this team’s title window is just opening, even though Adrian Peterson might be done in a year or two.
9. CINCINNATI BENGALS (9)
They’ll have to spend to keep their secondary and receiving corps fairly intact. The toughest piece to replace likely will be departed offensive coordinator Hue Jackson.
10. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (6)
Imagine how they might have finished if RB Jamaal Charles had been available. But imagine how the defense will look in 2016 if Eric Berry, Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson all leave.
11. NEW YORK JETS (10)
They want free agent QB Ryan Fitzpatrick back, but at what cost — and how far can he take them? DE Mo Wilkerson also needs to be freshly compensated.
12. WASHINGTON REDSKINS (12)
Cutting Robert Griffin III will help pay for Kirk Cousins’ next contract, the top priority this offseason for a franchise that looks to be in its best shape in years.
13. OAKLAND RAIDERS (14)
Their future is in limbo, and the retirements of Charles Woodson and Justin Tuck leave a leadership void. Having close to $70 million to throw at free agents can patch some holes. Just maybe 2016 AFC West champs.
14. NEW YORK GIANTS (17)
Free agency off the field after a free fall on it means this defense will look drastically different in 2016; it better, anyway, for GM Jerry Reese’s sake. Is Buffalo really big enough for the Ryan twins? Is Tyrod Taylor really the answer under center? Is this team really good enough to break its epic playoff drought?
16. HOUSTON TEXANS (13)
Bill O’Brien has done a wonderful job with this team despite being hamstrung at quarterback. Do they make a bold move for a veteran such as Sam Bradford or look to rise up the draft board? Brian Hoyer showed in the playoffs that he isn’t the answer.
17. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (20)
With new leases on life, do GM Ryan Grigson and coach Chuck Pagano continue their splashy free agent pattern or preach more patience? Indy can probably only spend so much anyway with Andrew Luck due a major raise by next year.
18. ATLANTA FALCONS (15)
Their 5-0 start clearly created unrealistic expectations. Still, the season has to be considered an overall success, especially in light of the struggles of QB Matt Ryan and the defense.
19. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (21)
The defense has finished 31st or last in three of the last four seasons. That’s no way for QB Drew Brees to settle into the Peyton Manning mode of doing less on offense as he ages. They have an explosive offense led by ascending QB Blake Bortles. DE Dante Fowler, 2015’s first-rounder, will be ready to go in 2016. And there’s cap room to burn — almost $75 million. Time to go next level, Gus Bradley, and that means the playoffs.
21. BALTIMORE RAVENS (28)
They had 20 players wind up on injured reserve in 2015, including many of their best ones. Expect this proud franchise to rebound forcefully.
22. DETROIT LIONS (19)
A year after losing Ndamukong Suh, Detroit now appears on the verge of life without Calvin Johnson. So do they rebuild around Matthew Stafford or perhaps shop him to the highest bidder?
23. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (24)
Despite a December tailspin, Jameis Winston pretty much exceeded expectations on — and, more important, off — the field. Can coach Dirk Koetter move the Bucs forward in wake of Lovie Smith’s shocking demise?
24. LOS ANGELES RAMS (23)
You need a leading man to get a big-budget production off the ground in Hollywood. If RB Todd Gurley is that guy, the Rams must have a casting call to find a strong supporting sidekick to fill the key
role under center.
25. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (25)
Reuniting QB Philip Rivers with offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt is a nice slice of stability for a franchise apparently hurtling toward another distractionfilled campaign.
26. CHICAGO BEARS (22)
Credit coach John Fox for pulling off another turnaround special. But can the momentum be sustained with offensive coordinator Adam Gase gone and RB Matt Forte and WR Alshon Jeffery poised to follow?
27. MIAMI DOLPHINS (27)
Keep an eye on this team. QB whisperer Gase could be just the guy to maximize the talent of Ryan Tannehill and a receiving corps that could be on the verge of a breakout.
28. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (16)
They have a rookie head coach, unhappy running back, to-bedetermined quarterback and a whole Chip Kelly mess yet to be untangled. There’s always next year ... meaning 2017.
29. DALLAS COWBOYS (29)
Tony Romo’s coming back healthy. Dez Bryant’s coming back healthy. Is DeMarco Murray coming back? Don’t hold your breath. And with little spending room, keeping up with the Redskins could be tough.
30. TENNESSEE TITANS (30)
They have the face of their franchise in Marcus Mariota and should improve the foundation with the draft’s No. 1 pick. Still, it feels like they’re a few years away.
31. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (31)
Now that Kelly doesn’t have to worry about picking the players, he can focus on recalibrating his offense. Just one problem: Kelly really needs GM Trent Baalke to pick up some good players, though $50 million-plus in cap room should help.
32. CLEVELAND BROWNS (32)
“A quarterback carol.” They have the ghost of quarterback past (Johnny Manziel) still on the roster, the ghost of quarterback present (Josh McCown) and the ability to change their future with the No. 2 pick and ghost of quarterback future. (Browns, humbug.)