First ESPN Power Rankings out

John Clayton should avoid humor. REAL TALK!

I think it's low, but I pay these things little mind. One thing to note though is that we have five games against teams ranked lower than us. That's not bad at all.

Yeah, I'd say anywhere from 15-18 at this stage would be fair objectively speaking. 24 is too low, especially with 3 count them THREE NFC West teams ranked ahead of us. Mark it down folks, we finish with a better record than all NFC West Teams. One of them might match us, and in that division, that will be good enough for the playoffs.

"SCall13 wrote:

They have us at #24. Don't get me wrong, I certainly don't think we should be top ten, but I feel that is a bit low. Look at several of the teams just above us: Cardinals? Raiders? LIONS? Om my!

http://espn.go.com/nfl/powerrankings/_/year/2011/week/0

Detroit is pretty good. I would not be shocked if they are a playoff team. And if Kolb is at all good the Cardinals should win that division.

We're better than the Raiders I think, but I don;t now if its a huge leap

"Frayser wrote:

I think it's low, but I pay these things little mind. One thing to note though is that we have five games against teams ranked lower than us. That's not bad at all.

Oh I definitely don't put any stock in it, other than curiosity of what others think of our team. They obviously think very little of us...for now.

If you ask me, just about everything outside the Top 10 is completely arbitrary and up for grabs.

Excellent. Everytime we start the season ranked high we tank.. Remember the TOP10 rankings after we acquired Dante?

These ranking mean absolutely nothing to me, especially in the NFL when one significant injury can change the balance of power in a division.. For all I care these experts could rank us 32. If we take care of business on the field and exceed these imaginative and made up expectation we will rise in the rankings.. Which will still be meaningless.. The only ranking that matters is where you stand after the Super Bowl is over.

The only rankings that matter are the records at the end of the season. I like it when we're ranked low to start the season. Might put a little fire in their bellies to go out and get their respect.

Besides, it's more "fun" to start low and watch your team climb up the power rankings than it is to see them start up high, only to drop faster than the stock market.

Meh...I can see the argument for any of the 23 teams ranked higher than us that they deserve to be.

However...they have the Jets ahead of the Ravens, Colts, Chargers, and Giants? lol..What a bunch of crap! Is the blind love by the media for the Jets only about ratings due to Fat Rex's mouth and the rest of those inbred morons or is it something else?

I bet the Jets are 2-5 when they get to their bye week with those wins coming against the Patriots and Jags.

I dont get his remarks...

Minnesota actually got younger at QB...signed Donovan McNabb.....

Didnt they also draft Ponder? Clayton can be a tool at times...

"Aqua4Ever04 wrote:

They got a year older. They've killed the last couple of drafts. Jahvid Best, Brandon Pettigrew, Matt Stafford, Suh, all these guys are older, more developed. They finished the year strong last year, even had a three game winning streak, and they brought in Justin Durant at linebacker (very under-rated player.)

They'll be on the cusp and just miss out on the playoffs but only because the NFC is so good this year.

And yes, we are way too low. But I think the Lions are a better team.

I think the Lions are probably the most overrated team in the league, but I can see why people like them.

Pre-season power rankings should be taken with a grain of salt. That being said, I think the Jets at 7 is a stretch. I think they tail off this year and don't make the playoffs. Colts at 8 could be too high if Manning is going to miss any significant time with the neck injury. I think the Dolphins at 24 is a bit low. People over exaggerate the QB issues. Browns at 28 is a bit too low as well, McCoy played well last year and Hillis will be good for another 2 years or so. St. Louis and KC are both way over-ranked as well.

"Aqua4Ever04 wrote:

They got a year older. They've killed the last couple of drafts. Jahvid Best, Brandon Pettigrew, Matt Stafford, Suh, all these guys are older, more developed. They finished the year strong last year, even had a three game winning streak, and they brought in Justin Durant at linebacker (very under-rated player.)

They'll be on the cusp and just miss out on the playoffs but only because the NFC is so good this year.

And yes, we are way too low. But I think the Lions are a better team.

The NFC isn't good. The NFC is top heavy.

We really don't deserve to be ranked high with all the questions we have on offense. Specifically quarterback. But the OL and RB's are also question marks. Basically WR is the only area we're strong.

When you take that into consideration, it's hard to put us much higher even with a championship caliber defense.

How nice of them to start pulling stuff out of their asses this early on.

"Aqua4Ever04 wrote:

Philadelphia, NY Giants, Green Bay, Atlanta, New Orleans are all elite teams.

Dallas, Tampa Bay and St. Louis are damn good football teams.

They are the superior conference.

Green Bay is an elite team. Philly spent a lot in free agency but the players have to produce before you can call them elite. New York didn't even make the playoffs last year. New Orleans lost to the worst team to ever make the playoffs last year. Atlanta is a good team that will challenge for the conference. Dallas is a big jumble of mis-managed talent with a new coaching staff, hard to tell what they'll do. St. Louis is young, no depth, and barely serviceable starting talent at some positions.

As for Tampa, this is a point I've been making a lot because so many people seem sold on them. Yes they went 10-6 last year but those 10 wins came against the Browns, Panthers x2, Bengals, Rams, Cardinals, 49ers, Redskins, Seahawks and Saints. There's only one quality win that bunch. Their 6 losses came against the Saints, Falcons x2, Ravens, Steelers and Lions. They can't beat the good teams and got dealt an easy schedule. They'll come back to Earth this year.

20 would be about right mainly due to defense, 24 seems low. But back to back 7-9 seasons, with a lot of the same offense returning except RBs, with one an unproven rookie doesn't make us anywhere above 18-20.

The Cardinals are way high. Lions are right, they've been improving and should be even better. I say the Lions finish 8-8 or 9-7 and in 2nd place in NFC North.

"MarinePhinFan wrote:

Meh...I can see the argument for any of the 23 teams ranked higher than us that they deserve to be.

However...they have the Jets ahead of the Ravens, Colts, Chargers, and Giants? lol..What a bunch of crap! Is the blind love by the media for the Jets only about ratings due to Fat Rex's mouth and the rest of those inbred morons or is it something else?

I bet the Jets are 2-5 when they get to their bye week with those wins coming against the Patriots and Jags.

I think I've heard that somewhere before ;)

One cure for the low ranking would be to win some freakin' games. If the team is any good the better rankings will follow. None of it really matters though, except for our collective ego.

"Aqua4Ever04 wrote:

Philadelphia, NY Giants, Green Bay, Atlanta, New Orleans are all elite teams.

Dallas, Tampa Bay and St. Louis are damn good football teams.

They are the superior conference.

The Giants are certainly not an elite team. Aside their SB run, when have they won a playoff game? Their secondary doesn't look good, and their QB threw 25 INTs last season.

In regards to Atlanta, can you be considered an elite team when you gave up 48 points on defense, at home, in your dome?

"Aqua4Ever04 wrote:

Philadelphia, NY Giants, Green Bay, Atlanta, New Orleans are all elite teams.

Dallas, Tampa Bay and St. Louis are damn good football teams.

They are the superior conference.

hmm...NFC was 27-37 against the AFC in 2009 and 30-34 against the AFC in 2010.

Well, the Lions did beat us last year....

"Aqua4Ever04 wrote:

Philadelphia, NY Giants, Green Bay, Atlanta, New Orleans are all elite teams.

Dallas, Tampa Bay and St. Louis are damn good football teams.

They are the superior conference.

They don't have the easiest schedule this year.

"AdamC13 wrote:

hmm...NFC was 27-37 against the AFC in 2009 and 30-34 against the AFC in 2010.

Yup, I believe the AFC is the better conference and has been.