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The NFL draft is done, the training camp is almost over and the pre-season is almost here. After that, the NFL’s 2019-20 season is set to begin. Just like that. Doesn’t it seem like last week when New England won another Super Bowl?
Let’s take a look at the 32 NFL teams in our early Power Rankings:
1. New England Patriots
The Patriots are coming off yet another Super Bowl victory. The Tom Brady and Bill Belichick dynasty continue. However, the Pats didn’t have a great offseason. They lost starting left tackle Trent Brown to free agency. Edge rusher Trey Flowers is also gone. But the most significant loss was the retirement of Rob Gronkowski who retired after nine seasons. We know that Gronk was Brady’s main weapon. Despite the losses, we know how New England has always compensated in the past years. And we know that they will always find ways to win. That’s greatness. No, they don’t have the best team in the league right now. But they have the most hardware and unless someone knocks them off from the top, Pats are numero uno.
2. New Orleans Saints
Center Max Unger and Tailback Mark Ingram are no longer around. But the Saints added Latavious Murray and Nick Easton. Other than those couple of minor changes, this is basically the same New Orleans team we saw last year. But why change it? The Saints were the #1 seed in the NF before losing in the NFC title game. When you look back at that game, you realize how close they were to play in the Super Bowl. 2018-19 was a good year but not their year. Drew Brees is still an elite quarterback.
3. Los Angeles Rams
The Rams came one win short of winning the Super Bowl last season. The defending NFC champions have a dynamic offense led by Jared Goff. The main concern on the offense is Todd Gurley’s arthritic knee but they also drafted Memphis tailback Darrell Henderson, not as his back up but as a potential replacement. With Aaron Donald leading the defensive line, the Rams are good to go on both ends of the field.
4. Los Angeles Chargers
Last season’s team was one of the best Chargers team we’ve seen in years. They won a total of 12 games during the regular season and one in the playoffs. This is a team that has as much firepower as the Kansas City Chiefs on offense but they have a much better defense. With Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram leading one of the league’s best defensive lines, this team doesn’t have too many weaknesses and should be favorites in the AFC West Division.
5. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts became the third team in NFL history to make the playoffs after registering a 1-5 start to the season. Indianapolis finished the 2018-19 season with a 9-1 record and they may be one of the best teams in the league that nobody knows about. They led the NFL in cap space but they didn’t really splurge. Well, they didn’t suffer any major losses also so why fix something that isn’t broke?
6. Chicago Bears
Matt Nagy’s first season in the NFL was a big success. Just forget the “double-doink” that ended Chicago’s 2018-19 season. Nagy got the most out of Mitchell Trubisky in only the young quarterback’s second season. Wide receiver was their weak spot and they shored up that position with their limited picks in the 2019 NFL Draft. On defense, they lost Adrian Amos but the Bears replaced him with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is now gone but the Bears still have plenty of talent left on that defense. There is a lot to be optimistic about in 2019.
7. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles won the Super Bowl the previous season and made a late charge last season to make the playoffs. In each of the last two seasons, Philly had to go to backup Nick Foles to deliver the goods after starter Carson Wentz went down with an injury. Well former Super Bowl MVP Foles is now with Jacksonville and its Carson’s team now. If Wentz’s health holds up this coming season, the Eagles are in a good place. If he gets hurt again, there won’t be a plan B with Foles gone.
8. Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes had a magical season last year and he took the Kansas City Chiefs along with him. Mahomes won the 2019 NFL MVP award and the Chiefs went all the way to the AFC title game. In the end, though, their limitations on defense showed and this cost them a trip to the Super Bowl. Kansas City tried to improve the defense over the summer but considering they also lost names on that defense, I’m not sure how much better they will be on that end of the field. Remember that the Chiefs ranked 31st in total defensive yards allowed. It will be hard to replicate last season’s magic.
9. Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are improving and they are improving at a rate we didn’t expect. The Browns went from 0-16 to 7-8-1 in Baker Mayfield’s rookie season and in GM John Dorsey’s first year as boss. Now, they have added wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and edge rusher Olivier Vernon in a trade with New York. In the draft, they also got some luck. Although they didn’t have any first-round pick, the Browns found LSU cornerback Greedy Williams at #46. The Browns are no longer the NFL clowns. They aren’t to be laughed at anymore.
10. Houston Texans
The Houston Texans won the AFC South Division last season and they remain a very dangerous team right now. With the ultra-talented DeShaun Watson healthy and playing in peak form, the Texans are no doubt a playoff team. DeAndre Hopkins is one of the league’s best receivers while J.J. Watt is one of the NFL’s top defensive players. Houston’s offensive line allowed 62 sacks a year ago but after adding pieces, Watson should have an even better year with better protection.
