Power Rankings: Giants are champs, but every team has big questions
Updated Feb. 7
Best offseason phrase for 2012: No NFL lockout.
Last year was tough to take as the NFL's owners and players squabbled trying to get a new collective-bargaining agreement, even putting the season in jeopardy.
Who didn't grow tired of all the legalese?
| More on NFL |
| Analysis |
 |
| Related links |
| NFL coverage on the go |
Without free agency this past spring -- in its normal spot -- fans went into detox. The insatiable appetite for NFL information didn't get fulfilled.
In its place were lawyers, union chiefs and arbitrators. Yecch.
But now that there is labor peace again, the NFL will be back to stealing the headlines with every free-agent move and all the offseason decisions that are made.
The calendar can be set again:
February: Scouting combine.
March: Free agency.
April: Draft.
That's the way we like it.
Remember all that talk last year about how the lockout and the labor strife would turn the fans against the NFL? Not a chance. The NFL is a big, bad, money-making machine that grows more powerful by the year.
That little lockout only made you want it more. The television ratings soared this season. The playoff ratings and those for Sunday's Super Bowl XLVI, won by the New York Giants, were better than ever.
That's why the next three months will be so much fun. There are a ton of issues facing teams in the coming week.
What will the Colts do with
When does Drew Brees get a new contract?
Can Robert Griffin III push Andrew Luck for the top spot in the draft?
What do the Texans do with
When does the arbitrator hear the case?
Oops, that was from last year. Just seeing if you're paying attention.
When the Giants beat the Patriots on Sunday night, it brought to an end a season that opened with shortened camps and a hectic free-agency period, spawning the idea that the football wouldn't be as good.
Bad thinking. The football was every bit as good as it has been -- even if the old-timers who yearn for the fullback to be in vogue again hated it.
As we close the books on 2011 with our final CBSSports.com Power Rankings, we do so knowing full well that things will be normal this offseason.
Your insatiable appetite will be fulfilled.
Who wants to talk free agency?
| Power Rankings | |||
| Current | Team | Previous | |
 | 1 | Giants · Trends | 1 |
| They are a young team and need to improve in some areas, but why can't they repeat? | |||
 | 2 | Packers · Trends | 2 |
| Deep down, you know they feel they blew a good chance to repeat in 2011. But that defense has to show more in 2012 if they are to bounce back. | |||
 | 3 | Texans · Trends | 8 |
| The health of Matt Schaub is the key, but they might have been the best team in the AFC before he went down last season. They say he's ahead of schedule in his rehab. | |||
 | 4 | Patriots · Trends | 3 |
| Improving the defense and the speed outside in the passing game makes them an improved team. That's scary for the rest of the AFC East. | |||
 | 5 | Steelers · Trends | 7 |
| They did a nice job with their draft of trying to improve the offensive line, but there are some concerns on defense. | |||
 | 6 | 49ers · Trends | 4 |
| Why am I the only one who thinks this team will slip some in 2012? Maybe it's because I don't believe in the passing game. | |||
 | 7 | Falcons · Trends | 9 |
| The change in offensive styles will make this a much better team in 2012. Matt Ryan will have his best season. | |||
 | 8 | Eagles · Trends | 14 |
| If somebody says Dream Team this summer, they just may get cut. The Eagles have a talented roster, which means it's all on Mike Vick. | |||
 | 9 | Saints · Trends | 6 |
| How do you lose an offensive wizard like Sean Payton and just keep on moving forward? When does Drew Brees show up? | |||
 | 10 | Lions · Trends | 11 |
| They will once again be a high-scoring team, but have they done enough to fix a defense that wasn't very good last season? | |||
 | 11 | Ravens · Trends | 5 |
| Losing Terrell Suggs with a torn Achilles tendon is a huge hit. They better hope Courtney Upshaw is the real deal. | |||
 | 12 | Bengals · Trends | 10 |
| They had a great draft to add to a young, talented team. They aren't going anywhere. They will push for a playoff spot -- and maybe more -- again. | |||
 | 13 | Broncos · Trends | 13 |
| I'm not ready to rush the Broncos into the Super Bowl just because Manning is on board. And who knows if the neck will be an issue? | |||
 | 14 | Cowboys · Trends | 12 |
| To say this is a huge year for Tony Romo is an understatement. Even if the criticism he gets is sometimes unwarranted. | |||
 | 15 | Bears · Trends | 21 |
| Jay Cutler is back healthy, which is the big thing for this team. What happens with Matt Forte? | |||
 | 16 | Cardinals · Trends | 17 |
| If John Skelton or Kevin Kolb can take a major step forward, the Cardinals can win the NFC West. That is a big if. | |||
 | 17 | Chargers · Trends | 18 |
| Is this the bounce-back year for the Chargers when all the focus is on the Broncos? | |||
 | 18 | Bills · Trends | 26 |
| Adding Mario Williams in free agency really helps upgrade the pass rush. If Ryan Fitzpatrick can revert to his pre-injury form of 2011, the Bills could get to .500. | |||
 | 19 | Jets · Trends | 16 |
| The worst thing they did was bring in Tim Tebow to a situation where Mark Sanchez has to become the guy. This is going to be a tough season. | |||
 | 20 | Seahawks · Trends | 20 |
| Matt Flynn has to be improved over Tarvaris Jackson, or the Seahawks' talented defense will have to win a lot of games. | |||
 | 21 | Raiders · Trends | 19 |
| New coach Dennis Allen inherits a team with a lot of speed. Look for a big year from Carson Palmer. | |||
 | 22 | Chiefs · Trends | 22 |
| It's all about Matt Cassel. Can he show that he's the long-term answer for a talented young team? | |||
 | 23 | Titans · Trends | 15 |
| For the sake of the franchise, it has to be Jake Locker time in Nashville. What's the point of delaying the inevitable? | |||
 | 24 | Panthers · Trends | 25 |
| With Cam Newton, the offense will be special again. He does need to cut down on the mistakes. Did they do enough to improve the defense? | |||
 | 25 | Jaguars · Trends | 27 |
| It's all on quarterback Blaine Gabbert. If he progresses, they can be good. If not, some heads might roll. | |||
 | 26 | Buccaneers · Trends | 28 |
| They spent big in free agency and did some good things in the draft. But the division is tough and they might be a year away. | |||
 | 27 | Redskins · Trends | 24 |
| Robert Griffin III will start from the get-go, which might make for some tough spots early. But by season's end, watch out for this team. | |||
 | 28 | Dolphins · Trends | 23 |
| I expect them to play Ryan Tannehill early to get the process started. That would be the right thing to do, even if it means it's a clear rebuilding year. | |||
 | 29 | Rams · Trends | 32 |
| Jeff Fisher has a lot of work to get this team back to playoff ready. But having Sam Bradford will make it a lot easier to do. | |||
 | 30 | Vikings · Trends | 30 |
| There are a lot of holes, and how will Adrian Peterson bounce back? The secondary has to be improved for the Vikings to make any strides. | |||
 | 31 | Browns · Trends | 29 |
| They will likely be starting a rookie runner and a rookie quarterback in the backfield. That spells a long season. | |||
 | 32 | Colts · Trends | 31 |
| It's rebuilding time now. There will be growing pains with a young team and a rookie starting at quarterback. | |||
