WEEK ONE

The NFL is back and so are our power rankings as we rank every team from 1 through 32, from top to the bottom. Our rankings is like a crap shoot because every team is zero and zero.

If we have your team at the bottom of the rankings, at least you can say everyone is in first place right now. Very popular answer for you Cardinal fans. We give Patrick Mahomes the cat bird seat going into week one. By next week when the games begin, the musical chairs in our power rankings will be dancing and rotating or down, and eventually by the time regular season ends, we’ll have this figured out. Here’s rolling the dice with our first edition of the 2023 NFL power rankings.

#1.KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (0-0-0) The Chiefs are number in the driver’s seat as they were the champs last season. The Chiefs will be the chief like this season with that offense led by Patrick Mahomes. My one concern is the heart of their defense, Chris Jones, who is still holding out for a better contract.

The Chiefs will be able survive without him but for how long?

#2.CINCINNATI BENGALS (0-0-0)

The Bengals mutant wide receivers can make any corner back and opposing teams cringe. Joe Burrow is dealing with a preseason injury. How will Joe Cool perform on the field when the stakes have risen with that injury? Bengals are a very explosive team that likes to talk the talk, but can they walk the walk and get back to the Superbowl?

#3.PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (0-0-0) The Eagles lost many of their players through free agency. You have to like how the Eagles responded in the NFL draft restocking the shelves with big talent. The losing team in the Superbowl usually suffers a hang over. Will the Eagles need some Tylenol?

#4.SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (0-0-0) The 49ers have solid defense. They now have Christian McCaffrey for a full season. Can McCaffrey put in a consecutive season without an injury? The 49ers scheme is they always have someone unknown in the back field that runs the rock for them if needed. Biggest question… is Brock Purdy the guy behind center?

#5.BUFFALO BILLS (0-0-0) The Bills are not heavily favorited to be that Superbowl team predicted like they have been the last few years. The AFC East is fully loaded with no easy wins like the free ticket to the playoffs Tom Brady’s Patriots had during those dynasty years. Every week will be a grind for the Bills. The differences this season than most is I like Sean McDermott calling the defense over Leslie Frazier. I like the running game this season over than past years. I think Josh Allen will make less mistakes in the red zone.

#6.BALTIMORE RAVENS (0-0-0) This will be a very good year for Lamar Jackson as he has a lot to prove. Jackson has now been paid and has some weapons to throw to. I feel like Jackson will not have to do it all with his legs and rely more on his arm, but still beat you running the ball. He has to stay healthy. I feel less running will be the recipe to keeping him healthy throughout the regular season, and the Ravens will be feasting on road kill in their way.

#7.NEW YORK JETS (0-0-0) The Jets’ young defense was very scary last year. The quarterback has been their problem. In comes Aaron Rodgers, the biggest douche bag behind center since Jay Cutler left the NFL. This is going to go one of two ways. Either Rodgers takes the Jets to the playoffs or he will be like another Green Bay legend quarterback and fail in the big apple.

#8.DALLAS COWBOYS (0-0-0) There are two things that jump out at me with Dallas this season. One, they don’t have to feed the ball to that chubby little bastard, Ezekiel Elliot. Tony Pollard is the one-man wrecking crew with the star on his helmet. I like the fact that Dallas landed former Texan Brandin Cooks, who has been around the league but improves the Cowboys passing attack. The Cowboys defense was the team’s best unit last year. I expect them to be once again hunting the quarterback this season.

#9. MIAMI DOLPHINS (0-0-0) The Dolphins found themselves one of the best defensive coordinators in the game who has come available and they signed Vic Fangio. Fangio had the Bears on the prowl in 2018 with one of the best units in the game. That same defense lost steam when Fangio took the head coaching job in Denver. Fangio coached some great defensive units in San Francisco before he ended up in Chicago. The Dolphins just need to keep Tua Tagovailoa on the field, but we all know the defense will be better than last season.

#10. DETROIT LIONS (0-0-0) I’m jumping on the band wagon with the Lions who are not the kittens of the jungle any more. This Lion team is young, hungry, and ready to roar. The Lions head coach, Dan Campbell, will be coach of the year is my prediction.

Lions last season rookie Defensive end, Aidan Hutchinson, is the real deal and will be a stud in this league for years to come. Last year Hutchinson had 9.5 sacks. I predict he will be in double digits this year. The Lions roster has assembled nice talent on both sides of the ball.

#11. WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (0-0-0) What do we know about Sam Howell as the team’s quarterback?

With only one career start last season, the Commanders coaching staff loves this guy. The Commanders have one of the nastiest defenses in the league that can help a young quarterback like Howell because he does not have to play the perfect game every week. The Commanders have some nice weapons on the offense side of things as well. If Howell can improve his game each week and avoid the bad turnovers, this team can win and find their way to the playoffs.

#12.JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (0-0-0) Not sure what to expect from Jacksonville this season. The Jaguars could gain momentum from how good they did last season getting to the playoffs and winning a game. The Jaguars history shows the few good teams they did have, have fallen quickly on hard times. The Jaguars added Calvin Ridley to the squad in the off-season which gives Trevor Lawrence another dynamic play maker for that aerial attack. I like the fact that the Jaguars play in one of the worst divisions in football.The Jaguars Head coach Doug Pederson has proven he is pretty good at his job.

#13.PITTSBURGH STEELERS (0-0-0) I like a rebound season for the Steelers this year. I feel the Steelers will be all about picket fences this season.

Kenny Pickett is taking another positive step behind center. George Pickens is picking up anything Pickett delivers. Then the D-FENCE. If the defense can stay healthy, this team could be in big trouble in little China.

#14.LA CHARGERS (0-0-0) The Chargers will be the best team in LA. How many bad decisions will the Chargers head coach Brandon Staly make this season to cost this team games? Can former Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore light up the skies with his play calling as the new guy is calling the plays on offense for this Chargers team? Bombs away!!!

#15.SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (0-0-0) Can Geno Smith be that guy once again behind center for the Seahawks?

Last season Smith had a career year and Seattle went to the playoffs. Seattle still has play makers for Smith and they drafted another receiver who’s turning heads in preseason. Jaxson Smith-Njigba, with Tyler Lockett and big DK Metcalf Smith, has an arsenal of weapons to be slinging the ball all over the field. The Seahawks were predicted to be awful last year. Some say they may take a step back. Everyone hates Pete Carol as the team’s head coach, but he is the devil.

#16.MINNESOTA VIKINGS (0-0-0) Can the Vikings make it back to the playoffs with all the subtractions management made? The Vikings lost players on both sides of the ball. Can the replacements the team drafted be enough? Maybe the offense because they still have Justin Jefferson who is the best or one of the top wide receivers in the game. However they still have Kirk Cousins who usually can’t win big games, but he led this Vikings team last year and they won the close games which other years they lost. Cousins can still sling the ball to Jefferson and they have some young guys ready to roll with a solid tight end in place. The defense was not great last year but serviceable. Will the defense fall back on hard times?

#17.NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (0-0-0) Bringing in Derek Carr was the biggest move this team made in the off season. Carr instantly gives them the best quarterback in the division. The Saints defense is still solid as one of the better units in the league. With Carr in place and that defense, the Saints should be in the playoffs. Most likely one and done though because this is not the Saints teams with Drew Brees a few years back. But Carr gets them back to the playoffs.

#18.CLEVELAND BROWNS (0-0-0)

I like the Browns’ move signing Jim Schwartz as the team’s defensive coordinator. Schwartz was a horrible head coach in Detroit. Schwartz was a great defensive coordinator and years ago had the Bills one of the best units in the league at the time, but they did not have a quarterback. Look for the Browns defense to be solid. Not sure the Browns rapist quarterback Deshaun Watson will be solid this season without his regular massages plus more.

#19.NEW YORK GIANTS (0-0-0) The G-Men surprised everyone last year making it to the playoffs in Brian Daboll’s first ever season as a head coach. The Giants had an easier schedule last season. The division they play in is tough. The schedule for the Giants this season is tougher than last year. This Giant team may take a gigantic step backwards this year.

#20.GREEN BAY PACKERS (0-0-0) The quarterback position in Green Bay is finally a question this season. How many decades did Green Bay have the answer behind center with Brett Farve and Aaron Rodgers? Do the Green Bay Packers still have that lucky horseshoe up their rear in inserting a top QB in their offense like a light bulb? Will Jordan Love continue this Green and Gold chain gang at the quarterback position? If Love struggles, this team will be at the bottom of the standings. My problem with that is having Rodgers have the last laugh.

#21.TENNESSEE TITANS (0-0-0) The Titans won the DeAndre Hopkins sweepstakes & landed one of the best receivers in the league. Could Ryan Tannehill have one last gasp of air as the Titans starting quarterback? The Titans still have the beast of running back in Derrick Henry who’s another year older. This team has a shot at the playoffs playing in the dreaded AFC South. This team has holes on the roster. This team is very streaky and the losing streak killed them last season right in the middle after getting off to a good start.

#22.NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (0-0-0) Another disciple of Bill Belichick could not fly on his own when he left home years ago. Can Bill O’Brien be the guy that can tap all the talent the Patriots need from quarterback Mac Jones? O’Brien comes back to the Death Star and will operate the offense and be the new quarterback’s coach for Billy Boy Belichick. It was so easier with Tom Brady back in the day.

#23.DENVER BRONCOS (0-0-0) Can Sean Payton fix Russell Wilson is the million dollar question? What did Aaron Rodgers, offensive coordinator, do to this Bronco team last year? Can Payton fix the entire enchilada in the Rocky Mountain state? Who will have more wins this season: Neon Deon Sanders at the University of Buffalo or Mr. Payton with the Broncos?

#24.CHICAGO BEARS (0-0-0) The Bears filled in the holes of the sinking ship they called a roster last year. Bears added free agents on both sides of the ball. They did well in the draft. They reinforced both sides of the ball in the trenches. Yes, offensive line protection.

The key to the Bears is all about the development of Justin Fields. We know he can run like Forest Gump. Fields throws a nice deep pass. With a line and more play makers, Fields will have to show he’s ready. Especially staying in the pocket throwing a shorter style of passes like slants and skinny posts.

#25.CAROLINA PANTHERS (0-0-0) The Panthers are a very interesting team. First they play in a bad division, the NFC South. The team was streaky last season and seemed to get better after they dealt Christian McCaffrey. They have a young defense that has been battle tested. They drafted the number one quarterback in Bryce Young. They also have a new coaching staff. Stir the pot & I’m not sure what you may end up with. It could be good. It could be bad. It might take some games. Maybe they start off hot. Nothing would shock me with this Panthers team.

#26.TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (0-0-0) No Tom Brady. An aging team. Trying to resurrect Baker Mayfield from the one decent season he had in Cleveland.

I really think they should see what they got in Kyle Trask as they drafted him. The Buccaneers should develop him instead of going with veteran Mayfield whose future will be a back up QB at some point soon.

#27.ATLANTA FALCONS (0-0-0) The Atlanta Falcons quarterback in his second year as a pro, Desmond Ridder, is still unproven. The Falcons drafted a running back in the first round with BiJan Robinson. Last season the Falcons had a slew of running backs that ran the ball well. The defense for the Falcons is another problem not addressed as they’ve been screwed by every Dick and Harry in the league more than the busiest whorehouse in the south. Can you open up your play books to the wishbone offense who needs a passing attack?

#28.HOUSTON TEXANS (0-0-0) Will the Texans ride the same line as other teams of the past with the Ohio State Quarterback curse? The Texans could have a super star in C.J Stroud or a lemon.

What is the measuring stick of great Ohio State Quarterback? Justin Fields? Not exactly as the jury is still out on Fields’ decision. The Texans have a nice solid defense and a young roster. It all depends on how far Stroud will take them.

#29.LA RAMS (0-0-0) It looks like Matthew Stafford is going back in a time warp to his Detroit Lions days only he will still be wearing a Rams uniform. The Rams have been paying the price as they mortgaged their future on those two Superbowl appearances, one of which they won. The Rams roster is depleted with many of the bigger names playing elsewhere. Their top dog receiver, Cooper Kupp, may miss some games to start the season with an injury. I don’t think star defensive tackle Aaron Donald can play offensive too. Stafford missed most of last season with an injury.

#30. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (0-0-0) How long will Jimmy Garoppolo stay on the field for the Raiders? Josh McDaniels is the first head coach that gets the axe.

#31.INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (0-0-0) The Colts are going with a rookie quarterback, Anthony Richardson, and the team will be without their superstar running back, Jonathan Taylor, who is a contract hold out.

#32.ARIZONA CARDINALS (0-0-0) No Kyler Murray for most of the season. Joshua Dobbs is no Roy Hobbs.

Dobbs, a career back up guy in the NFL, just arrived in Arizona in trade and will be playing with basically a younger team. I can’t see the Cardinals season going well.