Major props to Patrick Allen for being the point man on this.  Thanks Patrick!   -Chris and Primetime

Welcome to the first ever Arrowhead Pride Power Rankings!  

I want to thank everyone who participated this time around. I am interested in making this a reoccurring thing if that is ok with Chris and Prime. I'm thinking we could do another after the conclusion of Training Camp then another after the Pre Season games. After that I think it would be fun to have weekly rankings just like ESPN during the season. Some of our Blurbs are longer than others. Moving forward I think we should keep it to three sentences or under. As for the panel, we had 10 guys on board this go round. 8 of us took a division, ranked all 32 teams and blurbed about our division. Some blurbs are longer than others. I chose not to edit any because I did not want to take away from the work the guys put in. In the future we will have things more uniform.  Rounding out the panel were Chris and Prime to give us an even 10 opinions.

 I look forward to hearing everyone’s thoughts moving forward. More on the process and of course, the rankings, after the jump!

The first ever AP Power Rankings are in! It was quite an interesting process comparing each panelist’s rankings. Some rankings widely agreed upon while others were all over the board. The Pittsburgh Steelers squeaked by the New England Patriots to grab the first ever #1 slot in our rankings. The Giants were not far behind as well, coming in with an average ranking of 2.9. All together your top three looked like this; Steelers 1.9, Pats 2.2 and Giants 2.9. After that the drop off was pretty significant with the Baltimore Ravens averaging a ranking of 6.1. Other notables are the defending NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals coming in at #13 and the Wild Cat running Miami Dolphins at a lowly 18. One thing we seemed to agree on was that the addition of Jay Cutler will make Chicago a formidable opponent this year as the Bears come in at # 7. We also agreed that Cutlers departure hurt the Denver Broncos considerably, putting them just ahead of the Cleveland Browns at #28.

Where did we rank our beloved Chiefs? Did we manage to stay as impartial as possible or did we become the biggest group of ranking homers on the net? I'll let you scroll down and find out for yourselves. I think we did a pretty good job on the Chiefs. The outlook is optimistic, but not too optimistic. Yet...

Comments Provided By:

AFC West; Patrick Allen

AFC North; Tomahawk44

AFC South; Helmets

AFC East; Steve_Chiefs

NFC East; Farmerboy

NFC West; Stagdsp

NFC North; Spiderwomn69

NFC South; Cawksrawks

Enjoy!

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers didn’t do much in free agency but they had a solid draft and picked up Ziggy Hood (Missouri) to help on the defensive line. The Steelers only notable loss of the off-season was when they cut Larry Foote who signed with the Detroit Lions. The Steelers are ranked 29th in strength of schedule and are a solid team all around and should make a solid run towards the Super Bowl.

 via www.steelersonly.com

2. New England Patriots

Is Bellicheck still HC? Check. Is Brady healthy and still QB? Check. The Patriots had 12 draft picks in 2009 NFL draft. They selected 2 DB's, a NT and 3 OL and oh yeah, Julian Edelman as their NEW 3rd string QB. They even had time to draft a LS for shits and grins.

3. New York Giants

That defense is going to be scary and the loss of Plaxico is not going to hurt them as much as many people think.

4. Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens are a solid team that may challenge the Steelers for the division but will have there work cut out for them after losing linebacker Bart Scott to the Jets and cutting Chris McCallister. The Ravens offense should continue to improve after adding Michael Oher and the above par play by the second year Qb Joe Flacco. The Ravens are also being helped out with the strength of schedule being ranked at 28th.

5.  Indianapolis Colts

The Colts have established themselves as one of the NFL's       best teams. However, with the loss of Harrison and Dungy I feel that is going to hurt them.  Peyton will catch on to any changes, and is too good of a quarterback to allow them to lose.  The addition of Donald Brown will help their rushing attack.  Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark give Manning some targets, but they need to fine a secondary receiver.  Their defense is steadily improving and the addition of Fili Moala and Terrance Taylor will help the defensive line.  Barring any injuries the Colts should reach the playoffs once again.

6. Philadelphia Eagles

The eagles finally got some help for Mcnabb and he has a chip on his shoulder. Their offensive line will be much improved and the defense will be good as always.

7. Chicago Bears

Last year the NFC North was close, Cutler should easily help the Bears win the division. Forte will put up bigger numbers with a solid passing game and Cutler will make a big name out of at least one of the rookie WRs.

8. Atlanta Falcons

Well we all know the Falcons big pick up this off season, all pro tight end Tony Gonzalez, and boy will he help them on offense. Matt Ryan coming off a great rookie season will love the new toy he got in Gonzalez, and it should really help solidify them on offense. Another move that I believe should work out great for Atlanta is the pickup of Missouri safety William Moore. His stock dropped with an injury plagued senior season, but if he plays to his potential he could end up being a great pick. I want to put Atlanta higher, I really thing they could play well, but they struggled in the secondary last year ranking in the bottom half of the league. After that they had a few losses in their secondary through free agency, picked up a veteran in Peterson who should help out, but just have a lot of young guys beyond that that will need to step in and play well.

9. Tennessee Titans

There could be a drop-off here. Albert Haynesworth is gone and Kerry Collins is now 36. They drafted Kenny Britt to help the offense, but is it enough.  The Colts will still be       around and the Texans will be much more competitive. Plus, only five of Tennessee's regular season games in 2008 were against playoff teams. This year, five of the Titans' first six games are against the Steelers, Colts, Patriots, Texans and Jets.

10. San Diego Chargers

I personally don’t buy the Chargers anymore. It seems like every season all I hear is that they are a good team underachieving. 8-8 in the AFC West is nothing to write home about. Norv better get some real results this season or he could be looking for a job.

11. Carolina Panthers

The Panthers should remain strong without too much happening major in the offseason. Their running game will still be the strength of the offense with Williams racking up the yards and Stewart backing him up well. It looks like their secondary could still struggle some, but they drafted a couple of young guys that could help down the road. Everyone knows that they kept Peppers, which was great for the team. Then they got a steal in Everette Brown with the 43rd pick who was thought by many to be a good first round prospect. Look for the panthers to play it much like they did last year, and do well.

12. Minnesota Vikings

With a strong defense and Adrian Peterson the Vikings will again challenge Chicago for the division title but without a solid QB they will fall short.

13. Arizona Cardinals

The defending NFC Champs were relatively quiet this offseason when it came to free agency.  They focused instead on retaining their own players, and building through the draft.  Questions still remain about the contract of Boldin, but it’s likely that he remains a Cardinal.It is yet to be seen how losing both their Offensive and Defensive Coordinators will affect the team, but first time Head Coach Ken Wisenhunt has been a huge success in the desert. From the Draft:  Beanie Wells should provide an immediate spark at RB, something that’s been lacking a bit in Arizona.

2008 regular season record 9-7. Power rankings vary a lot, from 5th to 15th in the NFL for 2009. I think this could be a down year for this team.  I see them in the middle of the pack, with a QB that has to show his age sometime, and a defense that was subpar until the playoff run last year.  They may still win the division, but it’s not as sure of a bet as people may think.My predictions: 8-8, 2nd in the NFC West, 15th overall

 via www4.pictures.gi.zimbio.com

14. New Orleans Saints

The Saints look to have a decent off-season with some good upgrades to their secondary with their first round pick Malcolm Jenkins, and their fourth rounder Vaughn who should see some immediate playing time at safety. Then through free agency they also picked up Darren Sharper to play safety. This should help out a secondary that struggled last year. On the D-Line though they’ll be struggling right off the bat with their 2 starting DE’s suspended the first four games, they are going to be big games also because the slow start they had last year really hurt them the rest of the season. Look for Philly to really challenge their new secondary in week 2, and for new Defensive Coordinator Greg Williams to be trying to put a lot of pressure on up front. As always their offense should shine with Drew Brees at the helm, even with the loss of Deuce. If they can start off well, they can pull out a better record than I’ve predicted.

15. Dallas Cowboys

I don’t trust Tony Romo, but more importantly I don’t trust Wade Philips. This team has a lot of potential but even with TO gone their locker room is going to be a mess. They may look great until December but then the implosion will come.

16. Houston Texans

This could be the year that the Texans make the playoffs for the first time in franchise   history.  The team doesn't have very many needs and the roster is full of impact players, like Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson, Steve Slaton, Owen Daniels, Mario Williams and DeMeco Ryans.  They added some good defensive players through free agency and the draft (Cato June, Antonio Smith, Brian Cushing and Conner Barwin) to help out a defense that needed it.  The problem is they are in a tough division and have a pretty tough schedule. If they can pull off some wins in their division they could get over the 500 hump.        

17.Green Bay Packers

A solid offense with everything new on defense, the Packers made all the right moves in the offseason to shore up their defense but it will be another year or two before they can make it back to the top of the NFC North.

18. Miami Dolphins

The defending AFC East Champions. Did someone tell them that Brady is Back? The Dolphins scored 21.6 pts per game and allowed 19.8, a slim line indeed. They drafted 2 CB's and a FS, they were the 25th ranked in passing allowed. They drafted 2 WR, a TE, and Pat White to pump up the Offense.

19. Washington Redskins

This is my surprise pick. Their defense is going to be BEASTLY with Albert Haynsworth up front. Jason Campbell will not lack for motivation and will manage the game well. I pick the redskins to make the playoffs this year.

20. New York Jets

New Head Coach Rex Ryan will bring some aggressive D.The Jets have Clemens, Ainge, Sanchez, and Pizzoti as Roster QB's. Nuff Said.

21. Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks added the prize WR of the free agency period, when they picked up rock-solid TJ Houshmandzadeh.   They also added Justin Griffith, Ken Lucas and traded Julian Peterson to the Detroit Lions for Cory Redding. From the Draft:  Aaron Curry falling to the hawks at #4 was a big boost for the Seahawks defense.  Adding with Max Unger in the 2nd round, Seattle had a very strong draft (and 2 of the players I really wish the Chiefs would have drafted!) Jim Mora replaces a legend in Mike Holmgren as the head coach of the Seahawks QB Matt Hasselbeck hasn’t been this healthy in a while, and could have a tremendous year with the new and returning weapons around him. Last year they were 4-12.  I think this team will be vastly improved over last season, and should quietly win the division and make it into the playoffs once again. My predictions:  10-6, NFC West Champs, 8th best team in the NFL, first round playoff loss.

22. Buffalo Bills

The Bills drafted Maybin DE, Wood C, Levitre G, and Nick Harris OLB.Some draft goodness right there I might say!The Bills OL will have Woods and Levitre at STARTING Guards. Maybin and Harris are 3rd string at present. Good luck with Wilfork I say.

23. Kansas City Chiefs

Our beloved Kansas City Chiefs may be ranked a little higher than they should be in this poll. However, the new regime brings with it high expectations. Let’s hope the Chiefs live up to the hopes of their fans.

 via multimedia.heraldinteractive.com

24. San Francisco 49ers

Mike Singletary was retained as the head coach, his intensity and football IQ could push this team into becoming a contender.

From the Draft:  Crabtree could be a steal at #10, and Coffee and Nate Davis provide intriguing future prospects and potentially good value in the draft.

The QB competition between Hill and Smith is one to watch.  Hill has been the more consistent guy, but it’s hard to count out the former #1 pick. 2008 record 7-9

Most other power rankings are picking SF around 25-27 overall.  I think this is a team that should be on the upswing… maybe just not yet this year.  Like KC, there is a lot of young talent that just needs to reach their potential and put it all together.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jags were plagued with injuries last season. They had a solid draft and upgraded the offensive line. Will Jones Drew be able to carry the load with Fred Taylor gone? Watch out for Torry Holt...he's got something to prove and was a good pickup for the Jags. They had a good draft by most people’s thoughts drafting two linemen to solidify their line for years to come.  Main problem is they are in one of the toughest division, and could be lucky to get a win or two within the division. This team could be better than their record will show.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs are hurting this off-season. They lost their Head Coach and their D. Coordinator went to the college ranks. They don’t currently have the QB position solidified, but made a solid pick in Josh Freeman, but I don’t think he can help out immediately. Look for McCown to start them off for the season. Their running back core is lacking with Dunn being released, they signed Derrick Ward who also is a veteran. He could help out but never carried more than 20 times last season, so don’t look for him to carry the load. Overall the team is getting old, and a good draft won’t help them soon enough. Their 4 losses at the end of last season were a sign of what’s to come.

27.  Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals are a team that may suprise some people this season but I dont think I can rank them highly until I see what they can do. The Bengals will have some advantages they did not have last year because Qb Carson Palmer is going to be back and they have added players such as Tank Johnson, Roy Williams and Laveranues Coles. Coles would seem to be a big addition but he was brought in to replace TJ Houshmandzadeh. The Bengals are ranked 22nd in strength of schedule.

28. Denver Broncos

How the mighty have fallen. Josh McDaniels traded in a winning lottery ticket (Jay Cutler) for a potential winning lottery ticket (Matt Cassel) and ended up with a losing lottery ticket (Mr. Kyle Orton) McDaniels of all people should know the importance of the QB position. Tough season in Mile High.

29. Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns look to be a team that is going to have a lot of ups and downs in the 2009 season. The Browns are facing new challenges such as a Qb battle between Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn. The Browns also have a new coach in Eric Mangini and traded away one of the leagues best Tight Ends Kellen Winslow to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  The biggest advantage the Browns will have this year is being ranked 25th in strenght of schedule so they should have a chance in some games.

30. Detroit

Although the Lions look to finally be heading in the right direction, it's going to take a lot of time and hard work to climb up from the bottom.

31. Oakland Raiders

After that draft it is amazing these guys aren’t ranked dead last. However, the Raiders did win more games than the Chiefs last year…but that won’t happen this year. Next off season the Raiders will be searching for a QB.

32. St. Louis Rams

The St Louis (for now) Rams are rebuilding.  They let the last of their Super Bowl players go, when releasing Tory Holt and Orlando Pace.  New head coach Steve Spagnuolo has his work cut out for him with this 2-14 team.There is some good young talent on both sides of the ball, namely Chris Long and Donnie Avery. From the Draft:  Jason Smith should help replace Pace on what is now a pretty young offensive line, and James Laurinaitis should help solidify the LB corps in the future.

Most power rankings see the Rams competing for the #1 draft pick, as opposed to the division title.  I can’t find too many reasons to believe otherwise.  This team is several pieces away from being .500.My predictions:  4-12, 4th in the NFC West, 30th overall.

 via www.footballbabble.com