Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
It’s June, which means that real football won’t be happening for at least a month. To help pass the time, we here at Musket Fire are stirring the pot of NFL content. A few days ago, Cyrus Geller compiled a ranking of every starting quarterback in the league. Today, we’re producing an NFL power rankings.
Before reading through the following pages, you should know a few things. One, this ranking is guided by the final standings from the 2014 regular season—in other words, last year’s win-loss records provide a loose foundation for the list. Two, postseason performances have a major impact on where teams in the top half of ranking land. Lastly, you will see a few teams that struggled last season ranked higher than you might expect because of offseason fortifications they have made.
In short, this power ranking is dictated by last season’s standings, how teams fared in the postseason and how teams improved over the offseason.
Since this is a New England Patriots website, it is noted when a team signed a former Patriots player or lost a player of their own to the Pats over the offseason.
Next: 32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 31. Tennessee Titans
Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 30. Washington Redskins
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 29. Jacksonville Jaguars
Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports
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29
Jacksonville Jaguars
AFC South, 2014: 3-13
The Jaguars inch the Redskins in this ranking because of a couple sly moves they made over the offseason. Julius Thomas, T.J. Yeldon, Dan Skuta and Davon House will give the Jags the upper hand on the Titans in the middling AFC South division. But don’t go betting on the Jaguars making much more noise in 2015, however. The fact remains that the Jacksonville offensive line gave up a whopping 71 sacks in 2014, 13 more than the nearest team. If Blake Bortles can’t breathe in the pocket, it will be another rough season in north Florida.
The Patriots picked up former Jaguars linebacker Dekoda Watson this offseason.
Next: 28. New York Jets
Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 27. Oakland Raiders
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 26. Chicago Bears
Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 25. New York Giants
Steven Ryan-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 24. Atlanta Falcons
Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
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24
Atlanta Falcons
NFC South, 2014: 6-10
Thanks to the laughingstock NFC South last season, the Falcons were pretty darn close to making the playoffs. Even though they nearly played in January, the Falcons posted an ugly 6-10 record and fired Mike Smith. Atlanta’s new head coach, former Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, should turn around a defense that gave up more yards than any other defense in the league last year. With promising rookies Vic Beasley and Jalen Collins on the roster, things are looking up in Atlanta. But that should all be taken with a grain of salt until real football begins.
The Patriots signed former Falcons slot corner Robert McClain during free agency.
Next: 23. Cleveland Browns
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 22. New Orleans Saints
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 21. San Francisco 49ers
Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 20. Minnesota Vikings
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 19. St. Louis Rams
Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
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19
St. Louis Rams
NFC West, 2014: 6-10
You may remember that the Rams defeated both of the players in Super Bowl XLVIII, the Seahawks and the Broncos. It’s about time that this small-market team gets the attention it deserves. Nick Foles has been drawing rave reviews thus far in offseason activities, and he’ll have the one-two punch of Todd Gurley and Tre Mason for support. And don’t forget about reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year, Aaron Donald. The NFC West is the league’s hardest division to play in, but the Rams are tracking upward and could make a run at a wild card spot in 2015.
Akeem Ayers earned a Super Bowl ring with the Patriots in 2014, but signed with the Rams during free agency.
Next: 18. Miami Dolphins
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 17. Kansas City Chiefs
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 16. Philadelphia Eagles
Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 15. Buffalo Bills
Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 14. Carolina Panthers
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 13. Houston Texans
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 12. San Diego Chargers
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 11. Cincinnati Bengals
Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 10. Detroit Lions
Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 9. Arizona Cardinals
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
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9
Arizona Cardinals
NFC West, 2014: 11-5
The Cardinals dominated the NFL in the first 11 weeks of the 2014 season, posting a 9-1 record. But a 2-4 finish in the remaining regular season games gave way to a forgettable Wild Card game in which the Cardinals fell in double digits to the Panthers, who didn’t even have a winning record. A healthy Carson Palmer was the missing piece from last season’s team. A reasonable goal for the Cardinals in 2015 would be winning a playoff game for the first time in six years.
The Cardinals signed cornerback Alfonzo Dennard after the Patriots released him this spring.
Next: 8. Denver Broncos
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 7. Pittsburgh Steelers
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 6. Baltimore Ravens
Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 5. Indianapolis Colts
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 4. Dallas Cowboys
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 3. Green Bay Packers
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 2. Seattle Seahawks
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Next: 1. New England Patriots
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports