Tonight the 2009 NFL season kicks with the Pittsburgh Steelers taking on the Tennessee Titans, in what very easily could end up being a preview of the AFC title game this season!
Here are some quick thoughts on how this season teams may stack up, following all the major headlines that have driven this offseason, and gotten us here today at the season opener!
Who will live up to the hype? Who will fail to impress? The pressure is on this season in the NFL, lots of big players making moves to new teams, Farve to Minnesota, Cutler to Chicago, Sanchez to the Jets, T.O. to Buffalo. I'm left wondering if one person can a winning season make, after all football is the ultimate team sport!
Here's my breakdown and rankings going into week 1 of the 2009 NFL season. ENJOY!
1. Steelers - Its the old idea of " Until someone can prove they can beat them, they are still the World Champions!" As much as I have to admit it (being a Seahawk fan) Hines Field is an intimidating place to play. Their defense is pure adrenaline meets talent, and the offense continues to improve. Mike Tomlin is a young and exciting coach.
2. Colts- With a healthy team and a healthy Peyton Manning they have the smoothest operating offense in the league. however injuries are a big concern and if they can't stay healthy they can easily fall out of the top 10
3. Patriots- TOM BRADY'S BACK! however only 3 players remain from the 3 Super Bowl wins this decade. Coach Belichick is the best coach currently in the NFL so they should still have great success with the current players. However, the defense is getting older and I don't forsee another ring this season
4. Giants- (hesitantly) They have a great running game, that really takes the pressure off of Eli Manning under the scope of the New York press. Their defense is improved, it will be interesting to see how the passing games fairs with Plexico behind bars rather than getting behind a secondary.
5. Titans- Last season some people called a breakout season for the Titans, im of the opinion that it was rather the culmination of constant and continual improvement over that last several seasons. If they can get through the first half of their season with a decent record they should coast into the playoffs.
6. Bears- Thats right I said Daaaa Bears! i feel like this team has been so close for so many years and mainly held back by their quarterback position. The addition of Jay Cutler may be the biggest and best move this franchise has made in a long time! After all this is a team who won 9 games last year with a joke of a QB.
7. Chargers- They have all the talent in the world, but is Ladainian Tomlinson on the downside of his career? They need him to have a comeback year if they want to go deep into the playoffs. At this point I just don't see it happening. They will probably face another slow start.
8. Ravens- I love defense..... enough said.
9. Vikings- Honestly they would have been in my top ten prior to Farve's unretirement. In Adrian Peterson I do believe. Lets give some credit to good ol' "Hutch" Seattle fans still woe the day he slipped away! That said, Farve health is always a concern, he is a senior citizen now, but the players like Tavaris Jackson, and if he has to come in to relieve Bret late in the season they will fair just fine.
10. Packers- Aaron Rogers is a good quarter back, but offense isnt where this team struggles. They are attempting to input a new defensive scheme switing to a 3-4 package, and by all accounts seem to be transitioning well. For some reason however I can't seem to think of one WR after Donald Driver...hmmmmm?
NOW THAT THE TOP 10 IS OUT OF THE WAY LETS BREEZE THROUGH THE REMAINING 22 TEAMS.
11. Eagles- They get hyped up every year and Im just not buying it. Vick will prove to have no real value as a back up QB.
12. Carolina- They don't get enough respect, and its because their QB is quietly good. They had a 12-4 last season, I look for a similar showing this year, what it all comes down to is how they play in the playoffs. They need a little bit more swagger if they want to advance.
13. Seahawks- If they can stay healthy they can easily rise up in the ranks. The passing defense was horrible last season! but what this team reall has going for it is a winning mindset last season's bad showing was due greatly to injury and call me a "homer" but I see a bounce back season for the Hawks!
14, Falcons- Unlike Tennessee who have been gradually improving over the last several seasons, the Falcons got good overnight. I need more evidence from Matt Ryan before last season can count as proof of a good football team.
15. Cardinals- Im still baffled by how they made it to the Super bowl last year.... Kurt Warner another year older, and still some bad feeling surrounding #2 WR Boldin. That said they do have the best WR in the NFL is Fitzgerald, Madden curse anyone?
16. Saints- Drew Breeze is the man...and the Saints defense is the woman. No offense to woman, but they need to improve on defense in order to have any real measurable success outside of the fantasy football stats of Breeze. p.s Reggie Bush is a bust!
17. Texans- Frankly they have just been bad long enough. Time to put it together if they want to take a step into the top half of the NFL rankings.
18. Miami- Last season's successes won't hold up in 2009. The wildcat will not have the same effect it did , so unless they can successfully impliment some other college scheme this year i predict a fall from grace.
19. Dallas- Their QB is not a leader, and that's never a formula for success.
20. Jaguars- Tough division games to start the season, if they can come out of the start with atleast one win, they will be in better shape. I like this team to move up in the ranking throughout the seaason.
AND NOW THE BOTTOM FEEDERS AND THE FEW WORD ASSOCIATIONS THEY EVOKE
21. Jets- Sanchez
22. Bengals- Hard knocks
23. Bills- Turf toe T.O.
24. Redskins- Crazy Zorn
25. 49ers- Missing the decades past
26. Lions- #1 pick overall
27. Broncos- Pay up!
28. Cheifs- Hurting and too old
29. Buccaneers- Hate those cannons!!
30. Rams- (blank)
31. Browns- Poop
32. Raiders- Sucker punch themselves
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