Week 1 Sweet 16

[ivanvamp]

My top 16 teams in the NFL, as of today:

1. Green Bay - IMO, they were the best team in the league last year and I think their defense will be closer to what it was in 2010 than it was in 2011. Offensively, they're an absolute machine.

2. New England - Best team in the AFC, and right in the same class as GB.

3. New Orleans - Losing Payton will hurt, but this team is still absolutely loaded.

4. NY Giants - Gotta put the defending champs in the top 5 somewhere. They're pretty good.

5. Houston - If Schaub stays healthy, they cruise to the division title and should give the Pats a run for #1 seed in the AFC.

6. Denver - There. I said it. Look at it this way: last year they had a pretty solid defense, an excellent running game, and top-notch special teams. And they still have all that, but they just upgraded at QB from Tim Tebow to Peyton Manning. They're going to be very, very good.

7. Philadelphia - It all depends on Vick's health. He stays healthy and productive, and this team will be tough. He goes down and they'll struggle, obviously. Unfortunately, he never can seem to stay healthy.

8. Pittsburgh - I know they have OL issues, but they have lots of weapons and their D is always excellent.

9. Baltimore - Should be a dogfight in the AFC North once again. Losing Suggs is a blow though.

10. San Francisco - I'm not as high on them as some folks are. I am still not a big believer in Alex Smith, though he will have some nice receiving help this year. I think their D is very good, but I don't know that it's as good as it played last year, which relied heavily on turnovers. Still, a good team for sure.

11. Atlanta - We know they're a good regular season team. Can they win in the playoffs? We'll see.

12. Detroit - Up and coming team won't sneak up on anyone this year. Still, if Stafford stays healthy, they're solid.

13. Chicago - If Cutler stays healthy, this team is dangerous. That's a big if, though, behind that OL.

14. Buffalo - I think Fitzpatrick is a decent QB and they have improved their team considerably. #2 team in the AFC East.

15. Dallas - Some years they're overrated, other years they're underrated. This is one of those underrated years. I think they can play.

16. Kansas City - The return of Jamaal Charles will be huge. I think this team will make a run at a Wild Card spot.

 

[PatsGirl2011]

Denver defense was garbage last year. Every good team they faced last year they got smashed.They will be better on offense, but top 10 team? Nope! They are more of a 10-6 or 9-7 team if everything goes perfect. I think the Eagles and Cowboys will be better than the Giants. NO will take a step back. Their defense is putrid, and I don't think Brees will have the same year since he got his money. In the AFC, I think Buffalo Bills are overrated and the Chargers and Jets will be better than some people think.

The Packers defense will be better, but I don't think their offense will be as good. They were more of a 12-4 team last year that happened to have an easy schedule to go 15-1. I don't think any team will win more than 13 games this year though.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Your list is pretty good. I would have SF higher, they are a team that's built for the playoffs. Even though the Giants outplayed us in the SB and deserved that win, I really thought they deserved to lose to SF and would have if not for 2 muffed punts. Playing in a weak division, they're all but guaranteed another 1st round bye(EDIT: referring to SF here). Giants I'm not sure if they'll win their division.

Denver I'm not as high on as you, but credit for a ballsy prediction. I'd also switch Houston and NO, I see the Saints doing okay but not as well as last year. Houston is scary with Schaub coming back instead of a third stringer. The rest I pretty much agree with.

 

[Gronkandez]

I don't like the Saints that high. Don't like their defense. I'm not a believer in Denver either.

There are always sleeper teams that have good records out of no where. I'm guessing one of the Bills or Titans will be that team this year. As we know, the Bills schedule is easy this year and they really solidified their defense in the offseason. As for the Titans, if CJ2K returns to form and Britt can return to close to 100% by the second half of the year, they will have some serious weapons on offense.

 

[brdmaverick]

Good list, OP.

Anytime someone posts any sort of rankings everyone (including myself) will open the thread looking to find a contrarion point of view.

This is one of those cases, however, where I'd say you did well. THere are no glaring oversights.

 

[mgteich]

Why do the Giants need to be somewhere in the top 5? Most folks do not have them even winning their division. I tend to agree with that analysis. They also have the toughest schedule in the nfl.

My top 16 teams in the NFL, as of today:

1. Green Bay - IMO, they were the best team in the league last year and I think their defense will be closer to what it was in 2010 than it was in 2011. Offensively, they're an absolute machine.

2. New England - Best team in the AFC, and right in the same class as GB.

3. New Orleans - Losing Payton will hurt, but this team is still absolutely loaded.

4. NY Giants - Gotta put the defending champs in the top 5 somewhere. They're pretty good.

5. Houston - If Schaub stays healthy, they cruise to the division title and should give the Pats a run for #1 seed in the AFC.

6. Denver - There. I said it. Look at it this way: last year they had a pretty solid defense, an excellent running game, and top-notch special teams. And they still have all that, but they just upgraded at QB from Tim Tebow to Peyton Manning. They're going to be very, very good.

7. Philadelphia - It all depends on Vick's health. He stays healthy and productive, and this team will be tough. He goes down and they'll struggle, obviously. Unfortunately, he never can seem to stay healthy.

8. Pittsburgh - I know they have OL issues, but they have lots of weapons and their D is always excellent.

9. Baltimore - Should be a dogfight in the AFC North once again. Losing Suggs is a blow though.

10. San Francisco - I'm not as high on them as some folks are. I am still not a big believer in Alex Smith, though he will have some nice receiving help this year. I think their D is very good, but I don't know that it's as good as it played last year, which relied heavily on turnovers. Still, a good team for sure.

11. Atlanta - We know they're a good regular season team. Can they win in the playoffs? We'll see.

12. Detroit - Up and coming team won't sneak up on anyone this year. Still, if Stafford stays healthy, they're solid.

13. Chicago - If Cutler stays healthy, this team is dangerous. That's a big if, though, behind that OL.

14. Buffalo - I think Fitzpatrick is a decent QB and they have improved their team considerably. #2 team in the AFC East.

15. Dallas - Some years they're overrated, other years they're underrated. This is one of those underrated years. I think they can play.

16. Kansas City - The return of Jamaal Charles will be huge. I think this team will make a run at a Wild Card spot.

 

[JJDChE]

For some reason I have a feeling that the wheels are going to fall off in Denver.

 

[Gronkandez]

Why do the Giants need to be somewhere in the top 5? Most folks do not have them even winning their division. I tend to agree with that analysis. They also have the toughest schedule in the nfl.

They looked pretty good the last time I watched them play (not the preaseason). What has changed?

 

[ivanvamp]

For some reason I have a feeling that the wheels are going to fall off in Denver.

I hope you're right. I fear you'll be wrong and we'll be hearing all season long about Peyton Manning and another MVP award.

 

[ATippett56]

Denver and Buffalo don't belong in the top 16.

 

[Deus Irae]

Interesting list. While I don't agree with the entire list (I'm starting the season off thinking Chiefs > Broncos, for example), you've given legit reasons for it.

I'd just like to add a note at the end, about the Bengals, Seahawks and Chargers also being teams to watch. IMO, they all have the potential to be dangerous, and they all have the potential to implode.