The Only 10 NFL Teams With Chance to Reach Super Bowl
Forget the Losers and Also-Rans
My power rankings are a little different than the other two million you see. For example, I do not rank the bottom two/thirds of the league.
Who cares? Who cares about the lousy, the inept, the mediocre and the ho-hum?
Who cares about the losers, other than for entertainment purposes?
These 10 teams in my power rankings are the only teams in the NFL this year with a chance to reach the Super Bowl.
Here they are, in descending order from both conferences.
- Denver Broncos
All this big talk about the Chargers knocking off the Broncos in the AFC West: Don't believe a stinking word of it.
Still, the big question for Denver is: Have we seen the best of Peyton Manning? Is he finally at that inevitable point where his mind and body lose interest?
Remember, he faded during the second half of last season. He's taking mandatory days off from practice to ease his aging body.
And the Broncos are investing more and more in their running game under new coach Gary Kubiak.
As Manning goes, so go the Broncos.
- New England Patriots
The Patriots are the new, old Oakland Raiders, the bad boys of the NFL. Golden Boy Tom Brady has been revealed for what he was all along: A cheater. Bill Bellichick has been all along.
I think the Patriots like their new image. It won them a Super Bowl after all.
Can they defend it? Well, they have a big drawback. Among all the hubbub about Deflategate, there has not been much discussion over their weakened secondary. Losing Darrelle Revis was huge. They'll have to make up for that.
- Pittsburgh Steelers
There are those who say Ben Roethlisberger is the best quarterback in the game, right now. Just look at the numbers, they say: he passed for more yards last year than Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers.
The Steelers will have to catch fire in the second half since they're starting the year missing three key starters, so it may take them a while to jell.
- Indianapolis Colts
The youngbloods are getting impatient, and there is no more talented youngblood than Andrew Luck.
The Colts brought in receivers Andre Johnson and Phillip Dorsett for Luck to throw to, and added running back Frank Gore to give Indy a powerful offense.
They reached the AFC title game last year. They could reach the Big Lollpalooza this year if they can stop somebody on defense occasionally and get some decent offensive line play.
- Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins? Yes, the Dolphins.
Sometimes, the addition of one player can make an enormous difference in the NFL. Sports fans, I submit to you that Ndamukong Suh is such a player. He will instantly transform the Dolphins' defense into a scary unit.
Ryan Tannehill has been steadily improving at quarterback, and had the best season of his career in 2014. The team brought in more offensive talent for him this year.
- Seattle Seahawks
If not for one dunder-headed call, the Seahawks would have won the last two Super Bowls and be heralded as one of the best NFL teams in history.
They have another chance this year, mainly because of the addition of tight end Jimmy Graham. Their offense remains brutally effective and occasionally explosive while their defense alone will win games.
- Arizona Cardinals
This team has enough defensive talent to reach – and win – the Super Bowl with Carson Palmer at quarterback.
But, he's 35 years old and coming off an ACL injury and that type injury has felled younger athletes.
The Cardinals were making some serious noise last year. Unfortunately, when Palmer went down, they only had Drew Stanton and Ryan Lindley as backups.
Oh yeah, they also couldn't run the ball. If Palmer can somehow, miraculously make it through the year and into the playoffs, the Cardinals could reach Valhalla.
- Dallas Cowboys
We all kept wondering last year if the Cowboys were for real. They proved they were, and they will prove it again this year mainly because they have the best offensive line in the NFL.
They did lose DeMarco Murray, and didn't seem to care about replacing him, but I have a feeling even I could rack some impressive yardage behind that line, and I'm 37 years old and have a bad attitude.
Dallas hopes Greg Hardy can help a weakened defense when he comes back from his four-game suspension.
- Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles will always be fun to watch this year because of Chip Kelly's high-octane offense.
If Sam Bradford can stay healthy – a massive "if" – the Eagles offense should be something to behold with the addition of DeMarco Murray at running back.
Then they added the 2013 defensive rookie of the year, Kiko Alonso. No wonder they're everybody's favorites.
- Green Bay Packers
You must have a great quarterback to win in the NFL, and the Packers have one of the best in Aaron Rodgers.
Losing Jordy Nelson for the year was a huge setback, though the team still has enough talent at wide receiver for Rodgers to throw to.
Defensively? Uh-oh. Green Bay gave up 39 points to Philadelphia in the first half of a preseason game. Yeah, I know, preseason games don't count, but 39 points? In one half?
My power rankings are a little different than the other two million you see. For example, I do not rank the bottom two/thirds of the league.
Who cares? Who cares about the lousy, the inept, the mediocre and the ho-hum?
Who cares about the losers, other than for entertainment purposes?
These 10 teams in my power rankings are the only teams in the NFL this year with a chance to reach the Super Bowl.
Here they are, in descending order from both conferences.
- Denver Broncos
All this big talk about the Chargers knocking off the Broncos in the AFC West: Don't believe a stinking word of it.
Still, the big question for Denver is: Have we seen the best of Peyton Manning? Is he finally at that inevitable point where his mind and body lose interest?
Remember, he faded during the second half of last season. He's taking mandatory days off from practice to ease his aging body.
And the Broncos are investing more and more in their running game under new coach Gary Kubiak.
As Manning goes, so go the Broncos.
- New England Patriots
The Patriots are the new, old Oakland Raiders, the bad boys of the NFL. Golden Boy Tom Brady has been revealed for what he was all along: A cheater. Bill Bellichick has been all along.
I think the Patriots like their new image. It won them a Super Bowl after all.
Can they defend it? Well, they have a big drawback. Among all the hubbub about Deflategate, there has not been much discussion over their weakened secondary. Losing Darrelle Revis was huge. They'll have to make up for that.
- Pittsburgh Steelers
There are those who say Ben Roethlisberger is the best quarterback in the game, right now. Just look at the numbers, they say: he passed for more yards last year than Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers.
The Steelers will have to catch fire in the second half since they're starting the year missing three key starters, so it may take them a while to jell.
- Indianapolis Colts
The youngbloods are getting impatient, and there is no more talented youngblood than Andrew Luck.
The Colts brought in receivers Andre Johnson and Phillip Dorsett for Luck to throw to, and added running back Frank Gore to give Indy a powerful offense.
They reached the AFC title game last year. They could reach the Big Lollpalooza this year if they can stop somebody on defense occasionally and get some decent offensive line play.
- Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins? Yes, the Dolphins.
Sometimes, the addition of one player can make an enormous difference in the NFL. Sports fans, I submit to you that Ndamukong Suh is such a player. He will instantly transform the Dolphins' defense into a scary unit.
Ryan Tannehill has been steadily improving at quarterback, and had the best season of his career in 2014. The team brought in more offensive talent for him this year.
- Seattle Seahawks
If not for one dunder-headed call, the Seahawks would have won the last two Super Bowls and be heralded as one of the best NFL teams in history.
They have another chance this year, mainly because of the addition of tight end Jimmy Graham. Their offense remains brutally effective and occasionally explosive while their defense alone will win games.
- Arizona Cardinals
This team has enough defensive talent to reach – and win – the Super Bowl with Carson Palmer at quarterback.
But, he's 35 years old and coming off an ACL injury and that type injury has felled younger athletes.
The Cardinals were making some serious noise last year. Unfortunately, when Palmer went down, they only had Drew Stanton and Ryan Lindley as backups.
Oh yeah, they also couldn't run the ball. If Palmer can somehow, miraculously make it through the year and into the playoffs, the Cardinals could reach Valhalla.
- Dallas Cowboys
We all kept wondering last year if the Cowboys were for real. They proved they were, and they will prove it again this year mainly because they have the best offensive line in the NFL.
They did lose DeMarco Murray, and didn't seem to care about replacing him, but I have a feeling even I could rack some impressive yardage behind that line, and I'm 37 years old and have a bad attitude.
Dallas hopes Greg Hardy can help a weakened defense when he comes back from his four-game suspension.
- Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles will always be fun to watch this year because of Chip Kelly's high-octane offense.
If Sam Bradford can stay healthy – a massive "if" – the Eagles offense should be something to behold with the addition of DeMarco Murray at running back.
Then they added the 2013 defensive rookie of the year, Kiko Alonso. No wonder they're everybody's favorites.
- Green Bay Packers
You must have a great quarterback to win in the NFL, and the Packers have one of the best in Aaron Rodgers.
Losing Jordy Nelson for the year was a huge setback, though the team still has enough talent at wide receiver for Rodgers to throw to.
Defensively? Uh-oh. Green Bay gave up 39 points to Philadelphia in the first half of a preseason game. Yeah, I know, preseason games don't count, but 39 points? In one half?
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