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Pete Prisco

Power Rankings: AFC opens with familiar top knot

By | CBSSports.com Senior Writer

Updated Sept. 8

NFL rules to live by: Don't wear a New York Giants jersey to Philadelphia, don't single cover Larry Fitzgerald, don't blitz Peyton Manning and leave zero coverage and, whatever you do, don't put much stock in the preseason.

Power Rankings: AFC opens with familiar top knot - NFL - CBSSports.com News, Rumors, Scores, Stats, Fantasy Advice

Aside from injuries, which do matter, the preseason tells us very little about what might happen in the regular season.

Yet every year we hear the whispers of evaluations based on what happened in the preseason.

It doesn't matter.

So as I sat down to put together our first week's power rankings, I did so by ignoring the preseason. What I didn't ignore were some of the things I picked up on my training camp trips and some of the things scouts and personnel people are saying as we head to the open of the season.

Take the Tennessee Titans. When I set out on my camp tour, I thought I would get to Nashville and see a Titans team ready for a slide. When I left, I thought they were significantly improved.

That's why they are No. 5 in these rankings, up six spots from where I had them in the pre-camp rankings.

The Titans have no holes. If Kerry Collins plays as expected, they will push for the Super Bowl.

The New England Patriots are in the top spot, a perch they've owned since Tom Brady got his knee right. The defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers are second with the Indianapolis Colts in the third spot.

That means three AFC teams at the top and four of the top five come from that conference.

The highest-rated NFC team is the New York Giants at No. 4. I moved them up two spots mainly because the Philadelphia Eagles have had injuries. I did have the Eagles in the third spot of the pre-camp rankings, but losing Stewart Bradley and having injury issues on the offensive line have dropped them down some.

See, injuries matter. The preseason does not. Even for the Oakland Raiders.

Power Rankings
CurrentTeamPrevious
Giants1Giants · Trends8
With a young team, an elite quarterback and a coach who knows how to make these playoff runs, they will be a Super factor again.
Packers2Packers · Trends1
They have to do a better job on the defensive side of the ball in 2012. There was a major regress by a lot of defensive players in 2011.
Patriots3Patriots · Trends3
Bad drafting is starting to catch up with this team. It's time to fix that. And one has to ask: Has Tom Brady lost his postseason magic?
49ers449ers · Trends4
Alex Smith is a free agent, but don't expect him to go anywhere. But if the 49ers are going to stay a good team, they have to throw it better.
Ravens5Ravens · Trends5
This is a team getting up in years at some spots, which might mean the window is closing.
Saints6Saints · Trends2
Biggest offseason priority: Getting Drew Brees signed to a long-term deal. You can bet it will happen soon.
Steelers7Steelers · Trends6
They face a lot of uncertainty on the defensive side of the ball. What veterans won't be back? Who shouldn't be?
Texans8Texans · Trends10
If Matt Schaub comes back healthy, this could be the team to beat in the AFC next season. They have a tough decision on Mario Williams in free agency.
Falcons9Falcons · Trends7
They have two new coordinators, and that might be a good thing. Dirk Koetter will bring more down-the-field stuff to the offense.
Bengals10Bengals · Trends11
This is a young team on the rise. As the young players mature, especially Andy Dalton, they will be a Super contender.
Lions11Lions · Trends9
It's all about improving the defense and getting more out of the running game on offense. Cliff Avril is a priority free agent.
Cowboys12Cowboys · Trends13
We think they underachieve every year, but are they really as good as we think?
Broncos13Broncos · Trends12
The entire offseason will be devoted to making Tim Tebow a better passer. Good luck with that.
Eagles14Eagles · Trends14
The Eagles' big splash last year didn't pay any dividends. Now they have to regroup and try and get back to playoff football. If not, Andy Reid could be gone after the 2012 season.
Titans15Titans · Trends15
Jake Locker needs to be the starter in 2012. It's time to move forward.
Jets16Jets · Trends16
How do they fix that broken team? The locker room seems to be a mess. There is a lack of discipline.
Cardinals17Cardinals · Trends17
There is talk they will get into the Manning derby? If that's true, what's that say about Kevin Kolb?
Chargers18Chargers · Trends18
Was keeping Norv Turner the right move? Philip Rivers thinks so. But we know he has to win in 2012.
Raiders19Raiders · Trends19
Dennis Allen takes over the NFL's most dysfunctional franchise. Is Greg Knapp the right guy to lead that talented offense?
Seahawks20Seahawks · Trends20
Who will be the starting quarterback in 2012? Do they make a push for Matt Flynn?
Bears21Bears · Trends21
With Mike Martz out, and Mike Tice in, it appears they will move more to a running offense. Is that a good thing? Matt Forte is a top offseason priority.
Chiefs22Chiefs · Trends22
Romeo Crennel gets his second chance to be a head coach. Better sweep the office for bugs first.
Dolphins23Dolphins · Trends23
I like the hire of Joe Philbin, a bright offensive mind. Now they need to get him a quarterback. Peyton Manning?
Redskins24Redskins · Trends24
Here's another team that is expected to be in the Manning sweepstakes. They have to do something there.
Panthers25Panthers · Trends25
Cam Newton fixed the offense. Now it's time for the defense to be addressed this offseason.
Bills26Bills · Trends26
They are switching to a 4-3 front. That means they have to find some ends to help the pass rush.
Jaguars27Jaguars · Trends27
Mike Mularkey is the new coach, but the key will be how much of new owner Shad Kahn's money they are willing to spend in free agency.
Buccaneers28Buccaneers · Trends28
New coach Greg Schiano's first order of duty has to be to get Josh Freeman playing to his 2010 levels again.
Browns29Browns · Trends29
They have to decide if Colt McCoy is the long-term answer. He didn't look like it in 2011.
Vikings30Vikings · Trends30
They need to get better players around Christian Ponder. He needs weapons, especially with Adrian Peterson coming off a torn ACL.
Colts31Colts · Trends31
The Peyton Manning saga is getting old. The team needs to make a decision soon and move on. New coach Chuck Pagano has a lot of work to do.
Rams32Rams · Trends32
Jeff Fisher takes over a team with a lot of holes. They have to get Sam Bradford some weapons.
 
 
 
 
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