NFL Power Rankings: Week 1

Here are the top 5 teams in the NFL after week 1 according to Sportiversity (though I didn't consult Ryan so he may comment and argue or do his own!). For what it's worth, I'm basing the power rankings on a combination of personnel, last year's performance, and the cumulative of all the weeks from this year (which is obviously only one so far).

5. Green Bay Packers

The Packers win wasn't all that impressive. They beat a team that will struggle to find the offensive leadership it takes to win consistently whether it is Kevin Kolb or Michael Vick starting. Aaron Rodgers looked really shaky to start and ended up with an average performance. The Packers might be higher if they hadn't lost Ryan Grant for the season, but Brandon Jackson will be adequate filling in and Grant's rushing has more to do with the scheme than being a superior talent. Look for the Packers to have a more dominating performance this week against the Bills.

4. Tennessee Titans

Only time will tell if the Raiders really are better this year than last as they're expected to be. No matter how good or bad they are, beating any NFL team 38-13 is impressive. Vince Young is a leader on the field and it looks like Chris Johnson will have a chance to live up to his promises of 2500 yards.

3. New Orleans Saints

I don't buy into "they're the best team until someone knocks them off." If Minnesota hadn't been so generous with the football in last year's NFC Championship Game it's likely they wouldn't have made it to the Super Bowl. This year the offense should be good again but only put up 14 against a decimated Vikings secondary. Darren Sharper is a year older and I don't think we can tell much about the defense from their performance against a Vikings offense that was out of sync and looked like they'd rather be watching the game from the couch.

2. New England Patriots

This one surprised me. I am one of the ones who has said the Pats would fall to at least 9-7 this year, but if week 1 was any indication I'll be way off. Brady looked like the Brady who led the Pats to Super Bowls and a perfect regular season. Welker is back and the defense looked more fast and intense than young and inexperienced. Their win also came over a Bengals team who probably thought a little too much of themselves but will still push for the playoffs.

1.Houston Texans

How do you put a team that doesn't even make the playoffs in the #1 spot in the power rankings? Simple--they've been on the verge for the past couple years, Andre Johnson is the most dominant receiver in the game, Matt Schaub is a legit NFL quarterback, Mario Williams is showing why the Texans took him #1 over Reggie Bush, and they may finally have a solid running back in Arian Foster. Foster won't run for 200 yards every game, but Schaub hardly had to do anything and they still beat the Colts--no small task. Don't sleep on the Texans. They're not going away this year.