Pardon My Bias

Brees and the Saints are the team to beat, photo courtesy of http://www.midwestsportsfans.com

1.        New Orleans Saints (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 1

The Saints took care of the Vikings in a low scoring affair for the season opener Thursday night.  Brees was accurate and played well putting up 237 yards and a TD against a solid Vikings defense. Saints are still the team to beat.

2.        Baltimore Ravens (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 2

The Ravens played in a defensive slugfest Monday night and backed up what Ray Lewis was preaching, beating the Jets 10-9 on the road. The Ravens proved they are still one of the best, if not the best, defense in the league. Flacco handled the pressure well aside from the first play. All the critics who though Boldin wouldn’t put the Ravens over the top were dead wrong, he is exactly what the Ravens need. For everyone who thought Ray Lewis was getting slow, he proved he can still light it up.

3.        Green Bay Packers (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 3

The Packers looked a little shaky but were able to come into Philadelphia and take care of business. The score looked a lot closer than the game really was. The Packers lost Ryan Grant for the rest of the season which is a scare. Oh yeah, Clay Mathews is a beast.

4.        New England Patriots (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 9

The Patriots took a big jump this week with an impressive victory over the Bengals. Brady looked good and Wes Welker is back in a big way catching for 2 TDs. This week they Patriots play divisional rival New York Jets which should be a great matchup. Don’t sleep on the Patriots just yet.

5.        Minnesota Vikings (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 5

The Vikings had a tough road game in a season opener against the defending champions. They were in it the whole game and had a chance to win at the end. Favre looked rusty, and I think if he had gone to camp, it would have made a difference. I think the Vikings are still a great team and will rebound from this.

Foster torched the Colts week 1, photo courtesy of http://www.fantasypros.com

6.        Houston Texans (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 16

The Texans finally got the monkey off their back of beating the Colts. This could be the momentum they need to make it a playoff season. They also established quite the running game with Arian Foster who ran for 231 yards and 3 TDs (fantasy stud). Add that to an amazing passing game, the Texans are an offensive force to be reckoning with.

7.        Indianapolis Colts (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 4

Everyone was right about Peyton Manning, he’s still amazing. He got his with 433 yards and 3 TDs, but it was the defense that blew up. The so-called “improved run defense” was anything but that, letting Foster rack up 231 on them. Bob Sanders got hurt again too. This team is great offensively, but will need to step it up on defense to reach their Super Bowl aspirations.

8.        Tennessee Titans (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 13

The Titans dismantled the Raiders and looked good doing it. Chris Johnson picked up where he left off last year rushing for 142 and 2 TDs. The Titans defense looked good as well. The AFC South is going to be one competitive division. Next week will be a test for Young against the Steelers.

9.        New York Jets (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 6

The Jets defense: amazing. The Jets offense: horrible. Sanchez continued to check down the whole night without letting anything develop. Only bright side is he didn’t turn the ball over. Against any other team, Jets probably win, but against the top defense in the league, they lose because of the offense. Only one 3^rd down conversion won’t get it done. Penalties really hurt the Jets as well. Revis looked good but Kyle Wilson and Antonio Cromartie got burned multiple times. Less talk, more play. “Now let’s go get a goddam snack!”

10.    Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 20

The Steelers got the job done. In a FG happy game, Dixon gave the Steelers a chance to win the game, which they did in OT. The defense can still play and keep them in games.

McNabb led the Redskins to a victory against the Cowboys, photo courtesy of http://www.timesleader.com

11.    Washington Redskins (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 18

The Redskins looked pretty good against the Cowboys, and the Cowboys looked pretty bad at the same time. This team has the potential to build chemistry and momentum to make some real noise in D.C.

12.    New York Giants (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 14

Giants found a way to win on Sunday. Eli threw 3 TDs to Nicks, but also 3 picks. The defense had its ups and downs. Consistency is a concern with the G-men. I’m interested to see how they do against the Colts Sunday night.

13.    San Diego Chargers (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 10

The Chargers were shocked by the Chiefs. The rain and the noise really bothered the Chargers, which was made evident by Philip Rivers who was steaming in the 4^th quarter. A couple wide receiver slips hurt the Chargers, and this opened some eyes in San Diego. You can’t sleepwalk through games, and Norv Turner needs to get his troops ready every week. I look for the Chargers to rebound next week.

14.    Dallas Cowboys (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 7

I’m not surprised that the Cowboys lost. Penalties killed them and they buried their own grave Sunday. It was time the Cowboys received a reality check, they are a mediocre team, and Super Bowl hope are far from reality. On the bright side, DeMarcus Ware was everywhere.

15.    Atlanta Falcons (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 8

The Falcons were quite disappointing this past week losing to the Steelers. The Steelers have a good defense but these are the type of games the Falcons have to win if they want to make it to the playoffs. They need to go back to the drawing board.

16.    Seattle Seahawks (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 24

I was not expecting this from Pete Carroll and the Seahawks but they came ready to play on Sunday. The beat the 49ers in a big way and should be proud of it. The NFC West is up for grabs and the Seahawks showed that they are serious about taking it.

17.    Miami Dolphins (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 17

The Dolphins didn’t play great but they got the win. Ronnie Brown still isn’t getting full carries and looks like he will be splitting them with Ricky Williams all season. Brandon Marshall had a decent debut. Dolphins will be middle of the pack all year.

Vick did a good job taking over for Kolb, phot courtesy of http://blog.pennlive.com/

18.    Philadelphia Eagles (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 15

Kevin Kolb got knocked out by Clay Mathews and Vick stepped in and played well. Watch for Sal Palantonio reporting on the QB controversy in Philly for the next few weeks. Please get DeSean Jackson the ball, he’s pretty good.

19.    Cincinnati Bengals (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 12

The Bengals got cleaned out by the Pats at home. The first half was an embarrassment. Even though Batman and Robin got theirs, the Bengals went away from what works. Cedric Benson got them in the playoffs last year and they need to go back to that running game if they want to make it back to the playoff.

20.    San Francisco 49ers (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 11

The 49ers and Bengals were the two biggest disappointments of week 1. There was so much hype in San Fran and they laid a complete egg. Where are Crabtree and Gore? Need to go back to the drawing board. The weak NFC West is now wide open. One more thing, why the hell is Singletary thanking Pete Carroll for “kicking their tails”? Please don’t do that.

21.    Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 26

David Garrard played well throwing for 170 yards and 3 TDs. Consistency is a big factor with Garrard. I wouldn’t get too hyped on the Jags just yet.

22.    Arizona Cardinals (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 21

The Cardinals snuck in a win in St. Louis, but the problems are evident. This is a big drop off from Kurt Warner. Steve Breaston had a nice game and will develop to be a star this season for the Cardinals.

23.    Kansas City Chiefs (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 27

The Chiefs definitely surprised me Monday night. For the first time in a long time, the Chiefs are on top of the AFC West. The crowd was electric and the young guys were full of energy. The Chiefs have a real rushing tandem with Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles.

24.    Chicago Bears (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 23

The Bears got an ugly win on what should have been a TD from Calvin Johnson. Forte played great who Martz is using as a Marshal Faulk type role. The Bears are on the brink of being decent and being horrible.

25.    Carolina Panthers (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 25

The Panthers played hard and gave good effort against the Giants but were not able to capitalize. Moore needs more snaps and hopefully can show some positive things by the end of the season.

26.    Oakland Raiders (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 19

Being a Raiders fan, I’m extremely disappointed. The Raiders came out not ready to play football. They were run off that field by the Titans. The offensive line may be the biggest, but it needs some major work. The only positive out of this was Run DMC who finally had himself a good game. I hope the Raiders don’t let the hype go to waste.

27.    Denver Broncos (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 22

Can we stop with the Tim Tebow stuff now? He’s not going to play. The running game is a big question for the Broncos. Josh McDaniels has dug himself in quite a hole.

Calvin Johnson almost had the game winner, photo courtesy of http://caicogarden.com.

28.    Detroit Lions (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 28

I’m going to give the Lions a little love. They should have won that game and that was a touchdown. That rule needs to be changed. I’m happy to see the Lions playing hard and competing. This attitude will get the Lions some wins this year.

29.    Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0)     Last Week Ranking: 31

Sure the Bucs won, but they beat the Browns. That’s not going to climb them too hype up the chart, but a good win nonetheless.

30.    St. Louis Rams (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 30

The Rams competed, and that’s all you can ask for. They had a chance to win that one , and that is the kind of improvement you look for in a team led by a rookie QB.

31.    Buffalo Bills (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 32

I guess all that C.J. Spiller hype went down the drain. I know fantasy owners were mad, 7 carries for 6 yards will earn you a lot of drops.  The Bills need to run the ball, but they have to give a couple guys the bulk of the carries to be successful.

32.    Cleveland Browns (0-1)     Last Week Ranking: 29

The Browns are really that bad. Losing to the Buccaneers puts you straight to the bottom.

This is just an opinion, so please…Pardon My Bias.

1. New Orleans Saints – The champs are back to defend their title. Having no problems out of training camp is a good sign. I look for the Saints to start strong. They will be tested starting tomorrow with a re-match of the NFC Championship Game.

Flacco has a good receiving core

2. Baltimore Ravens – Baltimore upgraded their roster with Anquan Boldin and added TJ Houshmandzadeh earlier this week to give QB Joe Flacco the receivers he needs to open up the offense downfield. Look for Ray Rice to have another big year on the ground.

3. Green Bay Packers – The Packers look great, and Aaron Rodgers looks like he’s in for an MVP caliber season.  The offense has been clicking on all cylinders during the preseason and I look for the defense to be solid as well. The Packers are my preseason Super Bowl pick.

4. Indianapolis Cots – The Colts once again are amongst the top of the league. They are always dangerous with Peyton Manning under center. Health is the big issue for the Colts; if healthy, they may make another run to the Super Bowl to finish up what was left off last season.

5. Minnesota Vikings – Favre is back if you haven’t heard, and he is coming off a career season. A lot will be determined about this Vikings squad after they visit New Orleans Thursday night. If Adrian Peterson can fix his fumbling problem and Favre can stay consistent, the Vikings are a major threat.

6. New York Jets – I’m not buying the hype that the Jets can win the Super Bowl just yet because I don’t buy Mark Sanchez. He hasn’t looked impressive in the preseason (I know it’s the preseason) and he needs to make huge strides still. The defense gets them this ranking, especially after re-signing Darrelle Revis earlier in the week.

7. Dallas Cowboys – The talent is there and it has been developing. I think Dez Bryant will have a great season, but Romo needs time to throw to him. The offensive line is obviously the big issue here, and will need to show up for Jerry Jones’ dream of the Cowboys playing in the Super Bowl at Cowboys Stadium to come true.

8. Atlanta Falcons – I think the Falcons will ride under the radar all season and sneak into the playoffs with a Wild Card birth. Matt Ryan has developed well, and if Turner can stay healthy this year, the Falcons shouldn’t be overlooked.

9. New England Patriots – Don’t sleep on Bill Belichick and Tom Brady just yet. The defense has a new face, but I’m not convinced they’re done just yet. They are going to put up a fight in the AFC East and Tom Brady in the 4th quarter is unstoppable.

10. San Diego Chargers – The Chargers play in an easy division in the AFC West but will be challenged by the Raiders this year. No LT, no Marcus McNeill, no Vincent Jackson are all concerns. Easy start to the season can ride the Chargers momentum, but it’s the playoffs that are always a concern with the Bolts.

Willis is one of the best LBs in the league.

11. San Francisco 49ers – With Alex Smith finally given the full time starting job, the Niners look dangerous in a weak division. They’ll dominate the NFC West, and we’ll see how far Patrick Willis and the defense take them in the playoffs.

12. Cincinnati Bengals – The Bengals had a good year last year but it will be a lot tougher with a stronger Ravens team in their division. Cincy has a solid defense that will get the job done. The question is if Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco can prove the critics wrong.

13. Tennessee Titans – Sure Vince Young isn’t the best QB in the league, but he can do enough to get by. Chris Johnson looks to repeat on a 2000+ yard season (which has never been done) and the defense is strong again. I don’t see them overtaking the Colt’s choke hold on the AFC South, but a Wild Card spot is possible.

14. New York Giants – The G-men have a lot of questions to answer after last year’s debacle. The talent is there, but can they get it together? The Giants are on the playoff bubble. All eyes are on the defense to lead the Giants again.

15. Philadelphia Eagles – Let the post-McNabb/Westbrook era begin. A lot of new faces in Eagles camp playing big roles. Many say Kevin Kolb is more accurate than Donnovan McNabb and will succeed in the West Coast Offense.

16. Houston Texans – The Texans are right on the brink, but have a tough start to the season opening up with the Colts who they are 1-7 against in franchise history. Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson are the most dangerous passing combination in the league but they have to get past the Colts to be considered a threat.

17. Miami Dolphins – This Dolphins team is a young one with a lot of talent that won the AFC East in 2008. A healthy Ronnie Brown, Chad Henne with the full time job, and Brandon Marshall down field can be dangerous. I’m not fully sold yet, but they got my attention.

18. Washington Redskins – No one is buying the Redskins, but I think Shanahan is a great coach, McNabb is a good QB. With that said, improvement is bound to happen. They play in a tough division but don’t be surprised with a winning season in D.C.

McClain will be an impact palyer for the Raiders.

19. Oakland Raiders – The Raiders finally got rid of the plague of JaMarcus Russell, and finally look good after years. Playing in a weak division, the Raiders show all signs leading to improvement. Look for rookie Ronaldo McClain to tear it up, and the defense to be solid in Oak-town.

20. Pittsburgh Steelers – The Big Ben suspension hurts big time. Sure he will be back week 6 after serving is 4-game suspension + bye week, but everyone else will be in mid-season form by then. No more Santonio Holmes either. Steelers in a big heap of trouble with Dixon, I predict a 1-3 start.

21. Arizona Cardinal – If the QB situation wasn’t bad enough with Leinhart, in my opinion it got worse with Anderson. They cut their ties with Leinhart because of lack of commitment, no performance. Leinhart out-performed Anderson in the preseason. This team will be missing Kurt Warner big time.

22. Denver Broncos – Josh McDaniels has a lot to prove. A hot start fizzled out fast last year. Only bright thing in Denver is the entertainment value of Tim Tebow. Oh yeah, they have no running backs that are fully healthy.

23. Chicago Bears – I’m not sold on the Mike Martz offense yet. Going 0-4 in the preseason is never a good sign. Lovie is on the hot seat.

24. Seattle Seahawks – Pete Carroll did an extreme makeover making roster cuts left and right. He put trust in USC alum Mike Williams as his go to wide out. Can this year be the rebirth of Matt Hasselbeck?

25. Carolina Panthers – Matt Moore is steering the ship now and they have a lot of young talent. It’ll be interesting to see what John Fox’s squad does. They have been the flashy “surprise team” pick by many.

MJD will be the Jags offensive force.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars – Maurice Jones Drew is the offense of the team, with a little help from Mike Sims-Walker. Jack Del Rio definitely on the hot seat this year. Jags have too much to overcome with Saints and Falcons in division.

27. Kansas City Chiefs – Matt Cassel has a lot to prove this year to show he was worth the big money KC spent on him. The Chiefs got some playmakers but they have a long way to go.

28. Detroit Lions – The Lions although on the bottom, have made significant progress. They look like they are actually building to something positive, so hats off to Jim Schwartz. The Lions can easily climb up this list if things pan out right.

29. Cleveland Browns – Cue in the Jake Delhomme era. Although they had a solid preseason, the Browns aren’t going anywhere. Rough time to be a Cleveland sports fan (not that I can remember a good time).

30. St. Louis Rams – Sam Bradford has a lot of pressure on him. They will need big time protection which has been hard to come by in St. Louis. Bradford needs a big fragile sticker on him.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – This team is young, I mean young! They claim they will prove critics wrong. I’ll take the “I’ll believe it when I see it” approach.

32. Buffalo Bills – Rough times in Buffalo, or Toronto, or wherever they’re going to play. Nice pick in C.J. Spiller, but that’s about the only good thing going for the Bills.

This is just an opinion, so please…Pardon My Bias.