– Last Updated on November 20, 2022 10:18 pm
NFL Power Rankings Preseason Edition
Looking for 2016 NFL Power Rankings? The NFL season is just around the corner – it is never too soon to talk about which teams should reign supreme. Offseason player movement, preseason injuries, suspensions and a few teams’ inability to address areas of need all figure to shape the landscape of what promises to be yet another scintillating NFL season.
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So where does your favorite stand as we head into Week 1?
Let’s take a look at Dave B’s Week 4 Preseason 2016 NFL Power Rankings.
1. Arizona Cardinals
– 2015 record: 13-3
The Cardinals were one of/if not the best team in the league – top-to-bottom last season and may have gotten better this past offseason. There are ZERO glaring weaknesses on this team – the offense is sound and the defense is absolutely elite.
Arizona is a scary team – health is the only thing that will hold them back.
2. Seattle Seahawks
– 2015 record: 10-6
The Seahawks enter the season with arguably the best defense in the league… again!
Rest assured that they will hold their opponents down and let their improving offense do their thing. Russell Wilson looks poised to take the next step and Thomas Rawls could be the next big thing.
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The only issue keeping Seattle out of top spot is their lack of a solid O-line.
3. New England Patriots
– 2015 record: 12-4
Ya, ya I know but hear me out. Jimmy Garoppolo has actually looked very good in the preseason – he should be able to keep his team afloat the first four games of the season.
If he can go 2-2 the Pats are still the best team in the AFC at the end of the season. After all the Pats are still the Pats.
4. Carolina Panthers
– 2015 record: 15-1
The Panthers will be hard-pressed to duplicate their 15 win season from last year but there is no doubt that this team enters the season as one of the elite clubs.
CB Josh Norman is gone but the hunger to avenge their Super Bowl loss should be enough for them to absorb that loss.
5. Green Bay Packers
– 2015 record: 10-6
Got a good feeling about the Packers this year – Jordy Nelson is back and healthy and Eddie Lacy looks like he is dedicated.
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Any team with Aaron Rodgers and a Lambeau Field advantage should be a top 5 team – not sure what happened last year!
6. Pittsburgh Steelers
– 2015 record: 10-6
Suspensions have taken a toll on this team – Le’Veon Bell will miss three games and WR Martavis Bryant will miss the entire season. Still with Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown the Steelers offense should be electric again.
Injuries and an average defense could derail their Super Bowl aspirations however.
7. Cincinnati Bengals
– 2015 record: 12-4
The Bengals could have done some serious damage last year if it weren’t for the injury to Andy Dalton.
The Bengals experienced some loss during the offseason however – Hue Jackson and a few key vets left for greener pastures but I have faith that Cincinnati will be a top 5 team sooner than later.
8. Denver Broncos
– 2015 record: 12-4
No team will look more different this year than the defending Champs. But armed with a defense that still looks like one of the best on paper, this team will win some games.
Their quarterback play is a serious mystery however – but it was last year as well!
9. Kansas City Chiefs
– 2015 record: 11-5
The Chiefs were finished off by the Patriots last year but ended the Regular Season on fire! And this year they will have the benefit of a healthy Jamaal Charles. Defense will be the key – Justin Houston’s knee specifically.
10. Oakland Raiders
– 2015 record: 7-9
The arrow is pointing WAY UP on the Raiders this year. And why not with young stud like Derek Carr, Amari Cooper and Khalil Mack.
Jack Del Rio has a serious job teaching his young players a “winning attitude” but if he can accelerate that process a long-awaited playoff spot is almost a certainty.
11. Houston Texans
– 2015 record: 9-7
Although he doesn’t have the longest résumé, Brock Osweiler is certainly an upgrade at QB for a team that won nine games last year. The addition of Lamar Miller in the backfield could prove to be as big a move for this team however.
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Suddenly with a serious defense, the Texans look like a pretty well-balanced team – capable of easily making the playoffs.
12. Minnesota Vikings
– 2015 record: 11-5
Whew – the Vikings got some bad news otherwise they would be in the top 10 for sure. Teddy Bridgewater was lost to a season-ending knee injury! Yikes.
That said Shaun Hill isn’t a tremendous dropoff – he should be more than capable of handing the ball off the Adrian Peterson!
The rest of our 2016 NFL Power Rankings
13. Washington Redskins – 2015 record: 9-7
14. New York Jets – 2015 record: 10-6
15. Indianapolis Colts – 2015 record: 8-8
16. New York Giants – 2015 record: 6-10
17. Baltimore Ravens – 2015 record: 5-11
18. Buffalo Bills – 2015 record: 8-8
19. Jacksonville Jaguars – 2015 record: 5-11
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 2015 record: 6-10
21. Dallas Cowboys – 2015 record: 4-12
22. Chicago Bears – 2015 record: 6-10
23. Atlanta Falcons – 2015 record: 8-8
24. Detroit Lions – 2015 record: 7-9
25. New Orleans Saints – 2015 record: 7-9
26. Miami Dolphins – 2015 record: 6-10
27. Philadelphia Eagles – 2015 record: 7-9
28. San Diego Chargers – 2015 record: 4-12
29. Los Angeles Rams – 2015 record: 7-9
30. Tennessee Titans – 2015 record: 3-13
31. Cleveland Browns – 2015 record: 3-13
32. San Francisco 49ers – 2015 record: 5-11
If you’re looking for more handicapping posts like this edition of our 2016 NFL Power Rankings we’ll be providing 4* free NFL predictions on the blog all season long, and check out our Experts for guaranteed premium & free NFL Football picks!
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