2014 NFL Power Rankings: Week 1 (and a Really Bold Prediction)

The countdown to the start of the 2014 NFL season is no longer months, weeks or even days. It’s now just a couple of hours until the Seahawks and Packers kick things off.

As long as the wait has been, one thing is certain — the season will fly by and we’ll be wondering how it went so quickly. Another thing that is certain is that there will be plenty of surprises along the way. There always are.

Later in these updated NFL power rankings, I am going to make a (VERY) bold prediction. If I made it here, you’d probably think I’m insane and stop reading. Instead, you’ll have to read some of my power rankings before you think I’m insane.

Without further ado, here are our Week 1 2014 NFL power rankings:

1. Seattle Seahawks – Last Update: No. 1

The defending Super Bowl champions opened our power rankings in the No. 1 spot and they remain there in our updated rankings. As early favorites to repeat (according to Vegas), they could become the first team to do so since Patriots (2004/2005). Not only do the ‘Hawks dominate with their suffocating defense and rushing attack, but Russell Wilson has looked phenomenal in the preseason — 76.9 completion percentage at 9.23 yards per attempt with five TDs (three rushing, two passing) and no INTs — and could be ready to take another step forward in Year 3.

2. Denver Broncos – Last Update: No. 3

The Broncos had a historic offensive season in 2013 as Peyton Manning set NFL single-season passing records (5,477 yards and 55 TDs). With the departures of Eric Decker and Knowshon Moreno via free agency and four-game suspension for Wes Welker, their offense should continue to fire on all cylinders. More importantly, the addition of defensive free agents like Aqib Talib and DeMarcus Ware and drafting of Bradley Roby in the first round should help shore up their defense that will be often defending a lead.

3. New England Patriots – Last Update: No. 5

Since Tom Brady became the team’s starting quarterback in 2001, the Brady and Belichick duo have won double-digit games every season. That’s 11 consecutive seasons with at least 10 wins! Over the past four seasons, they have managed to win a minimum of 12 games every season. Advancing to the AFC Championship Game last year was proof that you can never count out a Brady-led and Belichick-coached squad, but they overachieved given the turnover and injuries among pass-catchers and defensive personal. With better health this year, it’s a clear two-team battle for AFC supremacy between the Patriots and Broncos.

4. Green Bay Packers – Last Update: No. 4

With one of the league’s top offenses, the Packers are legitimate challengers to take it all provided that Aaron Rodgers stays healthy all season. Not only do they have talented playmakers at receiver — Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, etc. — but Eddie Lacy gives them the balance to keep opposing defenses honest and wear them down late in the game. Improvement on defense will be key to how deep of a run they can make in January, but drafting Alabama free safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix at No. 22 addressed one of their bigger needs.

5. San Francisco 49ers – Last Update: No. 2

By season’s end, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the 49ers and Seahawks are the top two teams in the NFC. That said, there are some serious question marks heading into the season. Not only will NaVorro Bowman miss at least six games on the PUP list and Glenn Dorsey miss at least eight games on short-term IR, but Aldon Smith was suspended for nine games. And it’s unclear what will happen with Ray McDonald. And without trying to put too much emphasis on the preseason, their offense looked, well, offensive this preseason.

6. New Orleans Saints – Last Update: No. 6

The Saints offense will continue to fire on all cylinders under Drew Brees, who has three consecutive 5,000-yard seasons, and Sean Payton. As impressively, Rob Ryan turned the league’s worst defense in 2012 into the fourth-ranked defense in 2013.

7. Cincinnati Bengals – Last Update: No. 7

Few teams are as balanced as Cincinnati — 10th in total offense and third in total defense last season. With Hue Jackson taking over the offense, the Bengals will be more run-oriented behind Giovani Bernard and rookie Giovani Bernard, which should in turn limit the turnovers from Andy Dalton. With three consecutive one-and-done postseasons, will this be the year that the Bengals end their 25′ish-year drought of winning a playoff game?

8. Indianapolis Colts – Last Update: No. 8

As the best team in the NFL’s worst division, it is probably not much of a surprise that the Colts have the league’s most favorable strength of schedule in 2014. (Of course, the other three teams have the next three most favorable SOS.) Lucky to be as bad as they were in the right year (2012) to secure the top pick to land Andrew Luck, the Colts should be perennial contenders in the division over the next decade.

9. Philadelphia Eagles – Last Update: No. 9

Even though Peyton Manning won his record fifth MVP while breaking a slew of records, it was Nick Foles — not Manning — that led the NFL in passer rating. While there is no way he plays as efficiently in 2014, Foles posted a 27:2 TD-to-INT ratio in 2013 and had the third-highest passer rating ever. The Eagles appear to be clear favorites to repeat in the NFC East after going from worst to first in Chip Kelly’s first season. For the team to take another step forward, they will need to see a big improvement from their defense in 2014.

10. Chicago Bears – Last Update: No. 10

Only the Broncos scored more points than the Bears last season. Not only will this be one of Jay Cutler‘s few seasons in an offensive scheme for a second year in a row, but the Bears return all 11 starters on offense. The year-over-year continuity and additional familiarity with Trestman’s offense bodes well, but the key will be improvement on defense.

11. Baltimore Ravens – Last Update: No. 13

Missing the playoffs for the first time in his career, Joe Flacco had a horrible season by all accounts. Flacco was sacked a career-high 48 times and threw a career-worst 22 interceptions, which was 10 more than any of his first five seasons. In addition, they averaged a league-worst 3.1 yards per carry With Gary Kubiak running the offense, however, I expect them to improve on that side of the ball and their defense remains solid.

12. San Diego Chargers – Last Update: No. 16

Not only did Philip Rivers have a bounce-back season, but Ryan Mathews played in all 16 games and Keenan Allen established himself as a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver as a rookie. The Chargers made some investments (free agency and draft) on improving their secondary, but that unit’s improvement will be key for them to be a more serious threat to the Broncos in the division.

13. Carolina Panthers – Last Update: No. 12

Coming off ankle surgery, Cam Newton has since suffered a stress fracture in his ribs. While he’s expected to be ready for the start of the season, it has limited his ability to get on the same page with a completely revamped group of wide receivers.

14. Arizona Cardinals – Last Update: No. 11

The Cardinals were a surprise success story last season as they won 10 games in the league’s most-talented division. They will be without a couple of key components to their front seven with Daryl Washington suspended for the season and Darnell Dockett suffering a season-ending injury. Their offense should be good as Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd are joined by dynamic rookie receiver John Brown and Andre Ellington taking over as the team’s featured back.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers – Last Update: No. 15

As I noted in the last update, the Steelers run defense ranked outside of the top three in the league for only the second time since 2004 as they finished 21st in rush defense. The addition of Ryan Shazier and Stephon Tuitt should help turn that around. On offense, the Steelers are expected to use more no-huddle offense and they had a ton of success with it in the second half of last season.

16. Atlanta Falcons – Last Update: No. 16

The Falcons have lost left tackle Sam Baker for the season, but they used the sixth-overall pick on Jake Matthews, who will slide over to the left side. Provided their receivers — Julio Jones and Roddy White — stay healthy, the Falcons should have one of the league’s better offenses in 2014.

-> Continue to Teams 17-32

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