First power ranking out

[carpanfan96]

That's just retarded. Should be just based off of last season, Which wouldn't put us at 16th. At best we should be around 10th or so. The peppers situation hasn't played out, so you shouldn't even use that in your rankings at this point.

[monstercat]

Well, FWIW, I think Meeks was a great hire. Also, I don't think that losing Peppers will kill us, as long as we get a good deal for him. A lot of people don't seem to realize that, if they put the tag on Pep and then trade him, that the cap hit goes away as soon as he signs another deal, so Hurney will have plenty of money to spend.

If they can draft as well as they did last year, then we should be fine.

[goodlay]

"Chargers -5 "

lololol

[thefuzz]

We should really be around 8 or 9, while I agree that 16 is probably too low, there are some above us that are wayyyy too high.

[natty]

I've come to expect the Panthers being ranked that way. It was just the other rankings that had me scratching my head. The only thing that would've made it better was if Dallas was in the top 5.

[grateflday]

The reasoning sounds logical to me. The Panther's defense was horrible down the stretch. They got torched every game for over 300 yards in the air, except one game where they gave up almost 300yrds on the ground.

Plus the schedule does look brutal.

[guyinchesapeake]

Gee, after the '03 season, we were a 'lock' for a strong run the next year, per the experts. We finished 7-9. Yes, we had serious injuries happen, but none the less, we had a bad year. 2005, we rebounded and made it to the NFC championship game. For 2006, we were THE pre-season lock in the NFC to make the Super Bowl, we finished 8-8. The point is that none of these pre-season projections mean a thing, much less offer any basis to bet on, or even hope for. Teams won't know the effect of coaches leaving (or coming onboard), no one can predict injuries, who 'breakout' players may be, how well a new system on offense or defense pans out, etc.

I agree with the post that said it may be more clear after the draft and free agent sigings can be evaluated. Just look at this year. Most preseason picks, regardless of when they were selected, didn't have the Cards or the Steelers as the SB reps.

[PanthersFanInGA]

Wow, 16? Are you kidding me? Keep hating on them Panthers like they always do. Those rankings are awful.

[mantal]

The reasoning sounds logical to me. The Panther's defense was horrible down the stretch. They got torched every game for over 300 yards in the air, except one game where they gave up almost 300yrds on the ground.

Plus the schedule does look brutal.

I agree. For a national sportscaster using the logic he is using, 16 sounds about right. Now hang that up in the locker room and let's change some minds...

[SorthNarolina]

6. Atlanta Falcons. If Mike Smith and Thomas Dimitroff can recognize where they need to upgrade on defense as well as the team overhauled the offense last season, watch out. We already know what Matt Ryan, Michael Turner and Roddy White can do. Imagine if they add some playmakers around John Abraham.

If Mike Smith and Thomas Dimitroff can recognize where they need to upgrade on defense as well as the team overhauled the offense last season, watch out.

The Falcons wern't the only ones who overhauled their offense this season

Panthers

yards from 29th to 10th = 19 places

points from 26th to 7th = 19 places

rushing from 14th to 3rd = 11 places

passing from 29th to 19th = 10 places

Falcons

yards from 23rd to 6th = 17 places

points from 29th 10th = 19 places

rushing from 26th to 2nd = 24 places

passing from 18th to 14th = 4 places

We already know what Matt Ryan, Michael Turner and Roddy White can do.

Jake Delhome <<<<<<< Matt Ryan

Micheal Turner/Norwood < Williams/Stewart

^^(It would be the same if the back-ups wern't included as well)

Falcons Recievers < Panthers Recievers

^^(It would be the same if the back-ups wern't included as well)

Imagine if they add some playmakers around John Abraham.

Imagine if could add some playmakers around Jon Beason...

All in all, the falcons had a very impressive season a deserve a lot of credit for turning the franchise around. The Falcons are a quality team but these power rankings are not, the guy just pulled them out of his ass.

[tarheelblue89]

How can anyone come out with power rankings when the season just ended two days ago? The draft ain't for another f-ing two months. Seriously, come on.

The only thing that I will say about the rankings are that the Falcons are not the 6th best team in the NFL, or for that matter the best in the NFC, but of course they may be, I guess we will know when the season starts in about eight months.

[Kyle82]

Sports writers this time of year are just as bored as we are; 16th???!@?

Gimme a big break

[frash.exe]

meh. not like this guy was a panthers fan anyway, what does his analysis matter to us anyway?