MY NEW 2018 NFL POWER RANKINGS

TRAINING CAMPS GETTING UNDERWAY

Let’s take a look at the 2018 NFL Power Rankings heading into the start of many training camps around the league.

It’s hard to believe that training camp will officially get underway this week after months of anticipation, meaning it’s time for the 2018 NFL Power Rankings to come back into play with plenty to discuss from now until Week 1. Throughout the offseason, one of the biggest debates has been whether the Eagles deserve to be on top over teams like the New England Patriots or Minnesota Vikings, but it’s honestly tough to pick against them at this point.

What the Eagles were able to accomplish last season on their way to winning their first Super Bowl in franchise history despite numerous injuries was truly amazing, as this shows just how great of a head coach Doug Pederson truly is. Even when looking at all of the questions surrounding the defending champions this offseason whether it was the status of Carson Wentz or the chances of Brandon Graham being ready to go for Week 1, Pederson has done an unbelievable job at keeping the Eagles focused on what’s in store for 2018.

For the first time ever, Philadelphia will be forced to deal with a new kind of pressure as a team playing with targets on their back after hoisting the Lombardi Trophy last February, although it’s safe to assume they don’t mind since it was clearly all worth it. Only time will tell when it comes to seeing if the Eagles have what it takes to live up to the hype, but before getting into more details over where they deserve to be on this list, let’s take a look at the other 31 teams as well in the latest NFL Power Rankings heading into camp.

32. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

No matter what questions may sound the Indianapolis Colts throughout the 2018 season, nothing will top whether Andrew Luck can manage to stay healthy after missing all of last year due to a shoulder injury. Originally, Luck was only expected to miss the beginning of the year, but as bad as it sounds, there seemed to be times in which the Colts didn’t even know what was going on with their quarterback’s shoulder.

Seeing Luck throw this offseason was a huge relief for Indianapolis since one can only imagine what they would have to do at quarterback if the shoulder continued to be an issue, but now comes the tough part for the former No. 1 pick by proving there’s no reason for concern. Until Luck actually steps first on the football field, and shows he is capable of taking a hit, there’s always going to be a little concern from the Colts and their fans.

If Luck can impress over the next couple of weeks, this will make Indianapolis feel much better about heading into their first game of the season against the Cincinnati Bengals. The AFC South turned out to be quite the competitive division in 2017, and if Luck can help the Colts get back on track, it could make things even more interesting.

31. NEW YORK JETS

Finally, the New York Jets decided to take advantage of having a solid pick in the first round to address their need at quarterback, as all eyes will be on Sam Darnold in training camp to see if the rookie has what it takes to win the starting job. Then again, when considering the Jets have nothing to lose during the 2018 season, starting Darnold right away could end up working wonders down the road from an experience perspective.

In fact, New York kind of considers themselves lucky for landing the former USC star since the argument can be made they assumed he would be off the board before the No. 3 pick. So if Darnold shines enough throughout training camp since all he has to do is beat out Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater, there’s every reason to believe he could end up starting as a rookie.

Whether this means the Jets would actually have what it takes to be a surprise contender in the AFC, well that’s a different story since beyond Darnold; this team is still a work in progress. But at least if Darnold does in fact start as a rookie, the early experience will benefit him even more in the long run.

30. MIAMI DOLPHINS

Disaster doesn’t even begin to describe what kind of year 2017 was like for the Miami Dolphins after the team was hoping to pick up where they left off the year before as a playoff contender in the AFC, only to end up being one of the league’s biggest disappointments. Losing Ryan Tannehill early on for the season was obviously a crushing blow, but the Dolphins convincing Jay Cutler to come out of retirement was one of the worst decisions the organization could have made.

After making the easy decision not to give Cutler another chance, Miami is willing to give Tannehill another chance to prove himself worthy at quarterback, which of course is always easier said than done. Plus, Tannehill and the Dolphins will be adjusting to Jarvis Landry no longer being in the picture after the wideout was traded to the Cleveland Browns this offseason for a fresh start after some frustration towards the organization.

New players like Danny Amendola will still make Tannehill’s job a little easier, but also let’s not forget the defense lost another key player in Ndamukong Suh after releasing the defender in the offseason to save some salary cap space. In other words, it will be interesting to see how Miami adjusts to all these key changes, as they could be in for a rude awakening in 2018.

29. CLEVELAND BROWNS

Speaking of the Browns, all the team has to do in 2018 is win two games, and it will already be considered an improvement from the last two seasons, in which they have gone with a horrendous 1-31 record. Keeping Hue Jackson around for a third season may have seemed like a questionable move, but with his history of quarterback development, it’s easy to understand Cleveland’s interest in seeing what he can get out of Baker Mayfield.

Just like the situation with the Jets, the Browns were another team expected to finally find a potential franchise quarterback in this year’s draft, and they even had an extra advantage over the rest of the league with two picks in the top four. Some fans were surprised to see Cleveland go with the former Oklahoma star at No. 1 since many believed Darnold would be end up being the first quarterback selected, but if his time with the Sooners is any indication, the Browns may finally have found their future quarterback.

At the moment, Jackson seems convinced on going with Tyrod Taylor as the starter for 2018, but this would only continue to hold Cleveland back. If they really want to make Mayfield the quarterback of the future, why not just let him start right away to gain that early rookie experience?

28. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

The argument can be made that if Jameis Winston weren’t going to miss the first three games of the 2018 season as a result of a suspension, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would be a few spots higher on this list. For now, the Buccaneers will enter the new season at a major disadvantage while playing those first three games without Winston, which unfortunately all happen to be against playoff teams from last season.

Ryan Fitzpatrick certainly has plenty of talent to work with on offense since Tampa Bay appears to be stacked on paper with receivers like Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson, but nothing is guaranteed for the veteran quarterback. As if the Buccaneers weren’t already facing enough pressure after winning just five games all of last year despite high expectations, Winston’s suspension takes everything to a whole new level.

Tampa Bay knows that another season like 2017 could result in numerous changes once the offseason rolls around, especially when it comes to the coaching staff. Training camp is always important for each team in the NFL, but these next few weeks will be even more important to see how Fitzpatrick looks with the starters to see if there will be hope come September.

27. CINCINNATI BENGALS

Another team facing plenty of pressure to get back on the winning track after failing to miss the playoffs in each of the last two seasons will be Marvin Lewis and the Bengals, who for some reason continue to reward their head coach with extensions he doesn’t deserve. As if watching the team fail to make the playoffs in each of the last two seasons wasn’t already frustrating enough, Cincinnati fans are well aware that Lewis and his 0-7 career playoff record are an embarrassment as well.

Even more frustrating, the Bengals were loaded with enough talent on both sides of the football to at least make a run for a Wild Card spot, which obviously didn’t happen. Now, the question becomes whether Cincinnati has what it takes to return to their winning ways to become a contender in the AFC once again, and if that’s going to happen, it will be up to Andy Dalton to lead the way on offense.

The Bengals quarterback has taken some heat over the years for his inconsistent play, but at least having players like A.J. Green and Joe Mixon to work with will hopefully help Dalton out in 2018. If not, Cincinnati may be looking at a third year in a row consisting of watching the playoffs from home.

26. CHICAGO BEARS

All eyes will be on Mitch Trubisky during training camp for the Chicago Bears since whether this team has what it takes to become a surprise contender in the NFC will come down to how the North Carolina product performs under center. Last year, the Bears pulled off one of the biggest surprises from the draft after trading up a spot to land Trubisky at No. 2, mainly due to the fact they had spent all of that money on Mike Glennon in free agency.

Numbers wise, Trubisky’s rookie season wasn’t all that great on paper, but also keep in mind that Chicago didn’t exactly provide him with the best offense to work with since all he really had was Jordan Howard. This time around, however, the Bears have brought in new weapons on offense such as Allen Robinson and Trey Burton, meaning there will be no excuses for Trubisky if the struggles continue under center.

Plus, when looking at some of the impressive performances displayed by the defenses during the 2017 season, it’s no wonder Chicago is being built up as a potential sleeper team. But until they prove themselves worthy, the Bears will begin the new season near the bottom of these rankings.

25. NEW YORK GIANTS

It’s crazy to think how the New York Giants were hyped up to be a serious Super Bowl contender around this time last year, only to head into 2018 as a team looking to bounce back from a 3-13 season. Between Ben McAdoo turning out to be an awful head coach to Odell Beckham Jr. missing most of the year due to a fractured ankle, there were a lot of factors that played into last year’s disappointing season by the Giants.

Luckily, McAdoo is no longer part of the picture, and Beckham seems healthy enough to return to his normal ways of being one of the league’s most dangerous receivers, which New York would obviously love to see. Not to mention, the Giants have high expectations for rookie Saquon Barkley at running back after seeing the kind of impact he made throughout his career at Penn State since he can be used in multiple ways.

Eli Manning can’t even remember the last time he had a reliable running back like Barkley, and if the rookie follows the footsteps of Ezekiel Elliott and Leonard Fournette from their first seasons in the NFL, the Giants will be in great shape on offense. A veteran like Manning getting up there in age can use all the extra help he can get under center, and Barkley’s presence will certainly help take away some of that unnecessary pressure he normally deals with under center.

24. BUFFALO BILLS

As the Buffalo Bills continue to wait and see how the situation with LeSean McCoy plays out, at least the team should feel confident over where their defense stands heading into 2018 after last year’s surprise success. Without question, the Bills’ defense was the main reason behind the team earning a Wild Card in the AFC last season, and while the unit will be the major strength once again this year, how far this team goes in 2018 will come down to the offense, especially at quarterback.

Moving from Taylor was the best decision Buffalo could have made when looking at the quarterback’s inconsistency from the last three years, and while AJ McCarron seems to be the short-term answer, keep in mind he’s not all that experienced. Even with the selection of Josh Allen in the first round, the Bills know there are no guarantees to either of these quarterbacks succeeding in 2018, meaning the offense will be facing some extra pressure.

One can only imagine what would have gone down on Wild Card Weekend last January if Buffalo had an offense to rely on since the defense held the Jacksonville Jaguars to scoring just 10 points. Then again, at least the Bills finally put an end to that overdue playoff drought after all of those seasons coming up short.

23. ARIZONA CARDINALS

As if finding a replacement for Bruce Arians wasn’t already a difficult challenge for the Arizona Cardinals, the team also had to put together a game plan at quarterback since Carson Palmer decided to call it a career as well. Drafting Josh Rosen in the first during April’s draft seemed necessary to put the Cardinals in better shape to find a potential new quarterback to build the franchise around, but whether paying Sam Bradford all that money for one season will be worth it is a different story.

When looking at Bradford’s history of struggling to remain healthy, it’s tough for Arizona not to be slightly worried about what could be in store for 2018, but at least no matter who ends up playing quarterback, their job will be easier with teammates like David Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald. While Johnson looks to bounce back after only appearing in one game last year due to an injury, Fitzgerald knows his time to try winning a Super Bowl is closing in.

Missing out on the playoffs over the last two seasons has been beyond frustrating for the Cardinals, but if key players can remain healthy, this team may have a shot to be a sleeper in the NFC. Playing in the NFC West won’t be easy, but Arizona better be ready for the challenge.

22. WASHINGTON REDSKINS

Instead of waiting around to see what would happen in free agency with Kirk Cousins, the Washington Redskins wasted no time figuring out their quarterback for 2018 after agreeing to a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs to acquire Alex Smith. At the time, the trade came as quite the surprise since it didn’t seem like the Chiefs were ready to move on from Smith so fast after drafting Patrick Mahomes II in 2017, but at least his veteran experience will benefit some of the younger players.

Along with his new group of young receivers, Smith hopes to benefit from the selection of Derrius Guice in the backfield after Washington decided to take advantage of the former LSU star falling to the second round, even if there were some concerns. If Guice can stay focused on football, this could turn out to be a huge steal for the Redskins, and give them a much better chance in what is expected to be a competitive NFC East.

Plus, if Smith ends up playing with an extra chip on his shoulder to prove Kansas City made a huge mistake, this could work out even better for Washington. There are plenty of questions heading into training camp, but Jay Gruden has to like the potential surrounding this team.

21. DETROIT LIONS

Throughout his career, Matthew Stafford has always been the kind of quarterback that makes the players around him better, and now that he has a decent backfield to work with, the Detroit Lions quarterback should have a much easier time running the offense. As great of a quarterback Stafford has been working with receivers like Golden Tate, the former No. 1 pick always seemed to be at a disadvantage with the lack of support he had in the backfield.

Not only did the Lions bring in a key veteran in free agency with LeGarrette Blount, but the selection of Kerryon Johnson in the second round of this year’s draft could result in a surprise impact from the rookie. Also, the Lions hope to see Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick contribute enough to give the team plenty to work with at running back.

Falling short of the playoffs last season was frustrating for Detroit to deal with since they were in position to earn a Wild Card spot late in the season, only to end up falling short. Playing in the NFC North isn’t going to be easy during the 2018 season, and every game is going to be extremely important when it comes to the division standings.

20. BALTIMORE RAVENS

Defense has always been a major strength of the Baltimore Ravens over the years, as it’s played a key role in helping them be one of the top contenders in the AFC, although it has been disappointing to seem them miss out on the playoffs in each of the last three seasons. Unfortunately, the Ravens’ offense has been the main area holding them back over the last two seasons since Joe Flacco and company have struggled to play consistent enough to win key games, but hopefully things will change for the better in 2018.

With two new rookie tight ends to work with in Hayden Hurst and Mark Andrews along with the surprise signing of Michael Crabtree when he became available, Flacco should benefit from his new weapons right away in the passing game.

Talent wise, Baltimore seems to have the potential to compete with some of the best in the AFC, and let’s not forget this was a team that was on the verge of making the playoffs last year before their epic Week 17 collapse. One can only imagine what would have gone down in the playoffs if the Ravens had earned one of those Wild Card spots, but all they can do now is focus on 2018.

19. HOUSTON TEXANS

Speaking of what could have been, there’s a good chance Deshaun Watson would have ended up winning Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2017 if he didn’t suffer a torn ACL in the middle of his amazing campaign. For years, the Houston Texans were arguably a franchise quarterback away from being a true contender in the AFC since their defense was already in great shape, and it looks like Watson is the answer they’ve patiently been waiting for.

Assuming all continues to go well for Watson during his recovery process, the Texans look like a team on a mission for the 2018 season to get back on the winning track to hopefully compete for one of the playoff spots. Recovering from a torn ACL is never to deal with, but Watson has been doing everything in his power this offseason to put him in the best position possible to succeed during his sophomore campaign.

The kind of numbers Watson (21 total touchdowns in seven games) put up in such limited action was insane to see, and Houston is excited to see what he could in a full season under center. If that does happen, the Texans will have a legitimate spot to compete for the AFC South title.

18. OAKLAND RAIDERS

Expectations were high for the Oakland Raiders heading into last season, as many believed they were going to be the team with the best chance of taking down the New England Patriots, which clearly didn’t happen when seeing how they won just six games. While there were numerous reasons behind why the Raiders struggled the way they did, the important factor is 2018 will be a fresh start, and if all goes well, they should return to their contending ways from two years ago.

During that season, Derek Carr was playing at a MVP level, and when looking at Jon Gruden’s history of working with quarterbacks, Oakland has plenty of reasons to be excited. The Raiders quarterback was already in great shape having a reliable receiver to work with in Amari Cooper, but the team hopes the addition of Jordy Nelson helps the receiving corps reach new heights.

Take all of this into consideration with having Marshawn Lynch in the backfield; maybe Oakland will live up to the hype this time around as a top contender in the AFC. Bringing back an old head coach can seem risky, and when looking at the money Gruden is going to be making, the Raiders better hope this experiment works.  

17. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

For the first time in the Russell Wilson era, the Seattle Seahawks failed to earn a trip to the playoffs, after the team fell just short after finishing with a 9-7 record. From the defense no longer being as dangerous to Wilson learning the hard way how there’s only so much he can do on his own without the proper support from his teammates on offense, 2017 turned out to be a year to forget for the Seahawks.

Even more concerning, Seattle appears to be one of those teams heading into 2018 with a ton of questions in need of answering when looking at some of their key departures, ranging from Jimmy Graham to Richard Sherman. Once again, Wilson will most likely be dealing with a ton of extra pressure that he clearly doesn’t need, and it’s going to be even more frustrating if the offensive line doesn’t provide him with the proper protection.

Isn’t it amazing how quickly things can change in a span of year? Heading into last season, the Seahawks always seemed to be a lock to earn one of the spots in the playoffs, and it will be interesting to see if they have what it takes to recover after last year.

16. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

As bad as the San Francisco 49ers looked in the first half of last season, the struggling was well worth it in the long run since it eventually led to the trade with the Patriots to land Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback. It took a little bit longer than it should have to finally get him under center, but once Garoppolo finally took over the starting job for the 49ers, the team ended the 2017 season on a hot note by winning each of their final five games.

To top it off, Garoppolo’s stellar play to finish last year led him to a massive contract in the offseason, and now that he’s going to be in San Francisco for the long run, it’s time for him to show he’s worth every penny of that hefty deal. Now, the expectations for the 49ers are higher than ever, as many believe this team has what it takes to emerge as a playoff contender in the NFC.

In fact, San Francisco seems like the team with the best chance of taking down the Los Angeles Rams for the NFC West title since Seattle and Arizona have a ton of questions at the moment. Garoppolo has spent years waiting for a full-time role as a starting quarterback, and now it’s time for him to shine for the 49ers in 2018.

15. Dallas Cowboys

One year after finishing with the best record in the NFC while being led by two amazing rookies on offense in Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys took a step back in 2017 by failing to earn a spot in the playoffs with a 9-7 record. Between Prescott going through a bit of a sophomore slump to Elliott dealing with all of the drama surrounding his suspension, there were plenty of reasons behind the struggles of the Cowboys last season.

At least with a fresh start, Dallas seems to have the talent on both sides of the football to learn from last year’s mistakes, although it will be weird to see the offense without Dez Bryant and Jason Witten. While the Cowboys made the tough decision to release Bryant since his production had been on the decline, it’s going to be more difficult replacing Witten after the veteran tight end decided to call it a career, leaving a huge void on offense.

Dallas was considered an early Super Bowl favorite around this time last year, and it’s not going to be easy to return to that level, but it’s certainly possible. With a fresh start, the Cowboys are the last team any football fan should sleep on.

14. DENVER BRONCOS

Over the last two years, the argument can be made that the Denver Broncos would have been able to make the playoffs with a reliable quarterback under center after Trevor Siemian and Brock Osweiler both turned out to be complete busts. What made this situation even more frustrating to deal with is the Broncos have two receivers in Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders that tend to make life easier for most quarterbacks, which is why Case Keenum is thrilled to be on board.

Seeing Keenum is the odd man out with the Minnesota Vikings at quarterback may have been a tough pill to swallow at the time, but at least a fresh start with Denver will put him in a good position to make another deep run in the playoffs. Watching Keenum lead the Vikings to the NFC Championship last year after Bradford went down was truly amazing to witness, and the Broncos should feel confident enough that he can do the same with them.

Denver’s defense has been doing most of the work over the last two seasons, and it was unfortunate to see the offense fail to come through on their end. Thanks to Keenum, this should no longer be the case.

13. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

As mentioned before when discussing the Redskins, the Chiefs made a bold move this offseason when they decided to move on from Smith at quarterback to get the Mahomes era underway earlier than expected. Moving on from an experienced veteran like Smith may sound risky for Kansas City, but also keep in mind they never would have done it if their confidence weren’t high on Mahomes.

The good news for the youngster is the Chiefs have done a fantastic job at providing him with a great offense to succeed since most quarterbacks would love to be in the position Mahomes finds himself in with players like Kareem Hunt and Travis Kelce to work with. Not to mention, Tyreek Hill continues to be one of the league’s most dangerous players with his blazing speed.

Mahomes may struggle a bit while adjusting to his new role as the starter, but as long as Kansas City remains a playoff contender in the AFC, that’s all that really matters the most. The last thing the Chiefs want to see happen is the team take a step back by moving on from Smith too soon, so here’s to hoping Mahomes will be ready for a strong training camp.

12. TENNESSEE TITANS

When looking at all of the teams that failed to live up to the hype of making the leap to playoff contenders, the Tennessee Titans came through by earning a Wild Card spot in the AFC last season. And if that wasn’t exciting enough, the Titans even pulled off one of the biggest surprises during Wild Card Weekend by upsetting the Chiefs on the road before losing to the Patriots the following round.

Witnessing that loss take place was obviously painful for Tennessee since they were clearly overmatched from a competitive standpoint, but the good news is this can be used as a learning experience for Marcus Mariota and company. Believe it or not, the Titans were considered one of the biggest winners of the offseason when looking at the major additions they made on both sides of the football to give them a better chance of competing in the AFC.

Of course, the one factor that needs to come into play is Mariota playing better than he did last season since a quarterback at his level throwing more interceptions than touchdowns is completely unacceptable. On another note, it will be fun to see how Derrick Henry plays now that he’s the new No. 1 running back now that DeMarco Murray is no longer part of the picture.

11. CAROLINA PANTHERS

Watching the Carolina Panthers win just six games one year after representing the NFC in the Super Bowl, but at least the team was able to bounce back last season by earning one of the Wild Card spots in the conference. Losing to the New Orleans Saints early on was frustrating to deal with, but at least all signs point to the Panthers continuing to be one of the teams to beat in the NFC with their eyes set on hopefully winning the division title this time around?

Ron Rivera realizes just how fortunate he is to have the talent he gets to work with on both sides of the football, and while Luke Kuechly continues to make a case for being one of the top defenders in the league, Cam Newton takes care of business on the offensive side of the football.

Football fans can say whatever they want about Newton since his immaturity seems to come into play from time to time, but at the end of the day, he is one heck of a football player. With plenty of great weapons to work with, don’t be surprised if the former MVP takes advantage of Christian McCaffrey having a larger role during his sophomore season in 2018.  

10. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

Most teams that end a regular season by winning six of their final seven games would seem capable of earning a playoff spots, but the Los Angeles Chargers learned the hard way what can happen when it takes until Week 5 to win their first game. Without question, the poor start at the beginning of the season came back to haunt the Chargers in December when they were battling for a playoff spot, as the team was even in position to win the AFC West at one point.

At least when it comes to the 2018 season, Los Angeles is already drawing praise as one of the top teams to keep an eye on in the AFC, especially if their defense plays like they did during the final two months of last year.

Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram continue to look like players that only get better with experience, as these two defenders will be key in helping the Chargers become the threat they hope to be in the AFC. As for the offense, Philip Rivers continues to be one of the most competitive quarterbacks in the league, and the veteran knows he won’t receive many more opportunities to make another Super Bowl run, so it’s even more important for Los Angeles to come through in 2018.

9. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

After losing their first two games of the 2017 season, the Saints appeared to be heading towards another year of finishing below .500 while missing out on the playoffs. Instead, the Saints would go on to win their next eight games, and become a serious threat, all while going on to win the NFC South title.

Normally, New Orleans is a team known for their high-powered offense led by Drew Brees, and even though the future Hall of Famer continues to play at a high level, it was the defense that ended up being a huge difference maker. Even the Saints knew just how bad their defense was in previous years, and seeing them take advantage of a strong draft class in 2017 to help put together one of the top units gives high expectations for next season.

Players like Marshon Lattimore will play a key roles in New Orleans continuing to be one of the top teams to beat in the conference, and the team would love nothing more than a shot at redemption when seeing how their playoff run ended last January. Competing in the division will be a challenge once again, but the Saints are built well enough to make another playoff push.

8. GREEN BAY PACKERS

While teams like the Saints ended up being surprise contenders in 2017, the Green Bay Packers were one of the biggest surprises when it came to failing to make the playoffs, although they were at a slight disadvantage over the whole Aaron Rodgers situation. Unfortunately for the Packers, the team learned the hard way that Brett Hundley doesn’t have what it takes to be a reliable quarterback in the NFL while Rodgers was recovering from a broken collarbone.

Green Bay couldn’t have done a better job at putting Hundley in the perfect position to succeed under center, and seeing the team miss out on the playoffs last year will most likely result in Rodgers being motivated more than ever. From a competitive standpoint, Rodgers ranks near the top of the league, and as tough as it was for him to lose one of his favorite targets in Nelson, the good news is he received a solid replacement in a way with Graham.

Since the Vikings are considered one of the early Super Bowl favorites, the Packers will have quite the work cut out for them when it comes to competing for the division title. But knowing Rodgers, the quarterback seems ready to do whatever it takes to be a headache for the defending NFC North champions.

7. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

The Jacksonville Jaguars had to be kicking themselves last January when they failed to reach the Super Bowl after blowing a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter to the Patriots in the AFC Championship. On a positive note, at least the Jaguars are expected to be a serious contender in the AFC for a second year in a row, which is a relief when looking at what they went through to get in this position.

At the beginning of each new season, Jacksonville always seemed like a team ready to make the serious leap to becoming a contender, only to end up coming short each time. However, thanks to a successful offseason before 2017 in which they loaded up on the defensive side of the football, the Jaguars finally became the contender that football fans had been waiting to see.

Jacksonville’s defense emerged as one of the top units during the 2017 season, and if they pick up right where they left off, that will be the case once again this year. Then again, if the Jaguars really want to continue being a top contender in the AFC, Blake Bortles is going to need all of the extra help he can get on offense.

6. ATLANTA FALCONS

Only time will tell when it comes to whether Julio Jones will receive a new contract from the Atlanta Falcons, but for the sake of the team, let’s hope the wideout shows up for training camp instead of holding out. Otherwise, it’s going to hurt the chances of the Falcons earning a trip to the playoffs for a third year in a row, which nobody wants to see happen.

After being on the wrong side of NFL history by allowing New England to overcome a 28-3 deficit in the Super Bowl, all Atlanta wanted last year was another chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. Defeating the Rams in the opening round of the playoffs was impressive, but unfortunately the team came up just short the following weekend against the Eagles.

One can only imagine what would have happened if Jones caught that touchdown pass in the end zone towards the end of the game, but the good news for Atlanta is the talent is there to make another playoff run in 2018. But before jumping that far ahead, the Falcons need to focus on getting this whole Jones situation taken care of to make sure they avoid any risk of the wideout being unhappy.

5. PITTSBURGH STEELERS

The Pittsburgh Steelers have nobody to blame other than themselves for losing in the Divisional Round against the Jaguars last January since they seemed to have their eyes set for the following weekend with a potential matchup against the Patriots. Maybe if the Steelers are in position to make another run at the Super Bowl if they return to the playoffs, they will take what happened into consideration to avoid another disastrous situation.

Luckily, Pittsburgh is loaded with the necessary talent to make another run happen, especially when seeing how Ben Roethlisberger has one of the top offenses for a quarterback to work with. Any quarterback would love the opportunity to have Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown as two of their top targets, showing just how lucky Big Ben is to be part of Pittsburgh’s offense.

With that being said, the one main concern the Steelers will have to deal with moving forward is Bell being unhappy at running back since he’s going to be playing under the franchise tag for a second year in a row. And when seeing how the Rams recently rewarded Todd Gurley with a hefty extension, it puts the Steelers in an even tougher spot when it comes to Bell’s contract situation.

4. LOS ANGELES RAMS

That’s right; the Rams pulled off another surprise this offseason when it comes to extending players after rewarding Gurley with a record-setting deal that will give him the most guaranteed money for a running back. Expectations were already high for Los Angeles heading into their second season under Sean McVay, but when seeing how players like Gurley and Brandin Cooks are going to be around for the long run, this team is built to be a serious Super Bowl contender for years to come.

Of course, the one topic that is still on the minds of Rams fans is whether Aaron Donald is going to finally receive the new hefty deal he’s been fighting for dating back to last summer, in which he ended up holding out all of training camp and preseason. Reports have recently indicated that Donald believes he will receive a new contract soon, but until it becomes official, the concern is going to be there.

For a team that was coming off a four-win season in 2016, it’s unbelievable to see how quickly things turned around for the best with the Rams. After emerging as a surprise contender last year, now it’s time for Los Angeles to face a new level of pressure when it comes to being a top team to beat in the NFC.

3. MINNESOTA VIKINGS

One of the teams that could be standing in the way of the Rams in the NFC are the Vikings, as this team found a way to improve in the offseason by winning the Cousins sweepstakes to upgrade at the quarterback position. As great of a job as Keenum did last season, when seeing how Minnesota had to choose between the two quarterbacks, Cousins is going to be the obvious pick each time, and it’s not even close.

Heading into the offseason, the Vikings were already viewed as one of the early favorites to make a run at the Super Bowl, and bringing Cousins into the mix will take those expectations to a whole new level. Over the last couple of years, Cousins has been battling for a hefty contract, and now that Minnesota was willing to open up the checkbook, it’s time for him to prove himself worthy of the deal.

Losing in the NFC Championship the way they did was embarrassing for the Vikings, and it was crushing to see them miss out on being the first team in NFL history to play in their own stadium for the Super Bowl made the situation even worse to accept. Whether Cousins has what it takes to give Minnesota another decent shot, it’s only a matter of time before finding out.

2. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Is it really surprising to see the Patriots sitting at No. 2 on this list since as long as Tom Brady is part of the picture, they’re always going to be a heavy favorite to win it all heading into a new season? The fact that Brady is coming off a MVP season for a player his age is unheard of in the NFL, and after New England came up short against Philadelphia in the Super Bowl, one can only imagine his level of motivation for 2018.

What’s even more terrifying to think about is Brady has already hinted that he would love to play for a few more years if his body is willing to let it happen, which is great for the Patriots, but bad for the rest of the league. Not even the absence of Julian Edelman for the first four games of the regular season is going to stop Brady since the future Hall of Famer has a habit of making the players around him better.

Chances are that if all goes according to plan, the Patriots will cruise to winning another division title along with locking up one of the top two seeds in the AFC for the playoffs. Missing out on that sixth Super Bowl ring left a bad taste in Brady’s mouth, and knowing his competitive nature, he’s going to do everything in his power to put New England in another position to try earning that ring.

1. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

For the first time ever, the Eagles get to enter a new season with a target on their backs as defending Super Bowl champions, and despite all of the uncertainty surrounding this team in a few areas, there’s no reason for concern. When seeing how Pederson was able to keep this team focused last season during their epic Super Bowl run, no obstacle is going to stand in the way of Philadelphia trying to achieve their ultimate goal of winning another title.

Pederson made it clear last February about how winning is the new norm for this team since now that Philadelphia knows how amazing it feels to earn a Super Bowl title, the goal is to make sure the feeling happens once again this upcoming season. After decades of disappointment and coming up short in the postseason, it was amazing to see the Eagles finally come through with their first Super Bowl win in franchise history.

No matter who ends up playing quarterback once Week 1 rolls around against Atlanta, Philadelphia will feel confident either way with Wentz or Foles since both players have proven they can handle the responsibilities. Defending the title is never easy, but after last year’s run in which they won all three postseason games as underdogs, no challenge seems difficult for the Eagles.