Gridiron Experts Power Rankings AUG. 2nd

32. Buffalo Bills
CJ Spiller has all the tools to be a playmaker in this league, well except for an offensive line in front of him, a quarterback to take the pressure off, and well you see where I’m going with this. The Bills are going to need a franchise quarterback before they move on this list.
31.St. Louis Rams
The Rams, in theory, should be a better team this year, but it’s still up in the air and truly depends on how NFL ready Sam Bradford is by the start of the season. Steven Jackson has always been the Rams workhorse, and that won’t change this year, expect another grand out of him in 2010.
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers are still rebuilding. This process can sometimes be long a frustrating, yet in the forseeable future they’ll find themselves on day on the outside looking in on any power rankings list. Every team must rebuild sooner or later but for this season ahead, the Buc’s will be leaning on too many young players and the inexperience will show.
29. Cleveland Browns
The Browns biggest flaw is their division, it’s just too hard to be competitive against perennial powerhouses like the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. They did have a great draft and made some key off-season additions, with a revamped secondary expect them to move up this list in a year.
28. Detroit Lions
The Lions were the movers and shakers of the off-season, making some key additions. If only for the next few years, adding Jahvid Best to a backfield commandeered by Matt Stafford could be just what the Lions needed. Best will make plays and take some of the focus off of Calvin Johnson.
27. Oakland Raiders
For the first time in years, the Raiders impressed us all during the draft, adding a top-tier middle linebacker and shipping Kirk Morrison to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Not to mention ditching JaMarcus Russell in favor of Jason Campbell, an automatic upgrade. Although for now, they’re still on the outside looking in.
26.Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs have revamped their coaching staff and drafted (and paid) a play making safety in Eric Berry. Dexter McCluster will give add that x-factor to the offense and give Jamaal Charles some relief at the running back spot. Matt Cassell will get one more chance to show that he’s worth the money they’re paying him.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars are a team that can never seem to get it together when it truly counts, their first rounder is considered a huge reach by the entire NFL community and if he doesn’t pan out, Jags fans can happily say goodbye to Jack Del Rio. Maurice Jones-Drew will set the pace for the offense once more.
24. Washington Redskins
Converting to a 3-4 and annoying the player they dropped $100 million on isn’t the best way to start the season. The switch in defense could have waited until they could stockpile some draft picks to get the right personnel, but who am I to judge? Not to mention Donovan McNabb coming to town with a chip on his shoulder nonetheless.
23. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks may have had the greatest draft of this year, under new head coach Pete Carrol. Matt Hasselbeck will have to perform this year if the Seahawks want to make a run at the playoffs in a weak NFC West.
22. Chicago Bears
Did the Bears even have a draft this year? Certainly not one that impressed many people. This season will fall on Jay Cutler’s shoulders. It’s time for him to man up and show that he’s a franchise quarterback, or for the Bears to look elsewhere towards the future. Julius Peppers is the new man in town and will have to get back to his old ways if the Bears defense hopes to lead the team.
21. Arizona Cardinals
Man, oh man, this team got gutted during the off-season, Kurt Warner’s retirement, Anquan Boldin’s trade, Karlos Dansby leaving, etc. But you know what? Dan Williams and Darryl Washington were good picks and should help solidify this defense. Beanie Wells is a good running back and Larry Fitzgerald is a top five wide receiver in the NFL. Once the quarterback spot is solidified, Fitzgerald will have a chance to get on the same page with his QB, and ultimately make him look good.
20. Carolina Panthers
Holy Quarterback controversies Batman! Matt Moore? Jimmy Clausen? They’re under no pressure to start Clausen, he didn’t go in the first round, but hey we’re talking about Carolina here. The running game should be their bread and butter this year, with two very talented running backs leading the charge.
19. Denver Broncos
What a start the Broncos had, until playing the Steelers at home on Monday night. Shipping out Brandon Marshall to Miami could prove fatal, but adding three talented veterans on the defensive line and having a top pass rusher in Elvis Dumervil should improve the defensive side of the ball.

[ad#TEXANS Jersey 468 center]
18. Houston Texans

They’ll  have to make the playoffs eventually, right? I mean the laws of probability state that eventually they’ll get in. The defense should be solid once again this year, and Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson are always a threat to make plays. Only issue is whether or not the running game can be consistent, will Ben Tate be enough to help Arian Foster and Steve Slaton out of the backfield?
17. Pittsburgh Steelers
Ben Roethlisberger. Guess that about explains it all, right? Losing him for the first four games is going to be a tough loss for the Steelers, and would be for any team. Not to mention Mike Wallace who has to prove that he can fill Santonio Holmes’ shoes. The defense will be better than last year with the return of Aaron Smith and Troy Polamalu.
16. Tennessee Titans
So, which Vince Young will show up this year? The steady field general? Or the skittish, run first one Titan? They can certainly give the Colts a run for their money. Hopefully Chris Johnson can focus on the field and not the pay checks.
15. San Francisco 49er’s
Well, the offensive line should be a better unit this year, with two impact rookies paving the way for Frank Gore. The season falls on Alex Smith’s shoulders, if he can simply NOT lose games then the Niners may actually have a winning record, something we haven’t seen since 2002.
14. New York Giants
Adding Antrel Rolle to a lackluster secondary was a good move, and Jason Pierre-Paul is considered the highest boom/bust player of the 2010 draft (dude can do backflips, what else do they want from him?) The younger Manning is coming off his best statistical season and the receiving corps is ready to go.
13. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins had a great off-season, snagging Dansby from the Cardinals and Marshall from the Broncos, not to mention nabbing Jared Odrick in the draft, which should shore up their defensive line. It all comes down to Chad Henne’s play this season. They have the potential to give the New York Jets and the New England Patriots a run for their money.
12. Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles seemingly have no loyalty, and that’s not knocking them, this is a business, it’s simply an observation. They shipped Brian Dawkins out-of-town last year, and this year it was time to say goodby to Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook. The Eagles are a faceless franchise right now and someone needs to step up. Once more, this year’s on the quarterback – Kevin Kolb. If he’s as good as people want him to be/say he is, then the Eagles will get into the post-season.
11. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons’ defense let them down last year, bringing in Dunta Robinson and drafting Sean Weatherspoon will hopefully rid them of this malady. Matt Ryan is the real deal and he has some talented receiving options, including the man who many consider the best tight end of all time – Tony Gonzalez.
10. New England Patriots
As long as Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are with the Patriots, you can never count them out. They stocked up on some nice young talent in the draft, albeit doing it very quietly. With Wes Welker’s injury status, they’re going to need a young wide receiver to step it up, and they may finally have a playmaker (or two) at the tight end spot, something they’ve lacked since the days of Ben Coates.
9. San Diego Chargers
The Chargers remind me a lot like the Texans, except they’re perennially in the post-season, they just can never seem to get over that next hill. Trading up for Ryan Mathews and sending LaDainian Tomlinson out-of-town is a tough move to gauge at this point, but with Phillip Rivers, Antonio Gates, etc. you can’t count them out.
8. Cincinatti Bengals
They were completely embarrassed by the New York Jets in the playoffs, after sweeping a very tough AFC North they needed to add some offensive play makers for Carson Palmer to throw to. Jermain Gresham and Terrell Owens fit that mold, the Bengals passing attack is going to be their focus and if Palmer can hit his receivers, opposing defenses are going to have a rough going.
7. Dallas Cowboys
Dez Bryant looks to be the real deal, showing up early to off-season activities, leaving late, and oh yeah…getting hurt. But, in all reality the Cowboys have some scary good talent – DeMarcus Ware’s sack and forced fumble numbers rank among the best all time considering how long he’s played.
6. Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers is atop many people’s quarterback rankings, and while I disagree, I can’t really argue the logic – he’s got all the talent in the world and a great supporting cast. The defense looks to be stout, bringing back the Defensive Player of the Year and giving BJ Raji a year under his belt.
5. Minnesota Vikings
This is assuming Brett Favre is back in town this year, with Adrian Peterson, a swarming defense (including the best defensive line in the game) and the receiving trio of Percy Harvin, Sidney Rice and Visanthe Shiancoe, the Vikings are poised to make another Super Bowl run.
4. New York Jets
Don’t crown them yet, they’ve got a lot of questions – particularly at whether they got lucky with a rookie quarterback. But perhaps more importantly the bigger questions is in the locker room, can this team gel? They made some GREAT off-season moves, including trading for Santonio Holmes and acquiring Antonio Cromartie. Not to mention they got another stud corner in Kyle Wilson in this year’s draft. Tomlinson should get some limited touches this year, as a change of pace back.
3. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens finally got a legitimate number one receiver for Joe Flacco to throw to. But, Murphy’s law suggests that anything that can go wrong, will go wrong, so the NFL Gods starter things off tough by taking all-pro Safety Ed Reed and placing him on the PUP list. Ray Lewis will need hold the defense together as always and Terrance Cody should be whipped into shape come the first game. Not to mention Ray Rice is a dream killer from the runningback position, doing everything with top-notch skills.
2. Indianapolis Colts
The Super Bowl loss was a devastating one for the Colts and their fans, but you can never count them out as long as the cerebral assassin is under center for them. If they can protect Peyton Manning, they’ll once more contend deep into the playoffs. Indianapolis were in the Super Bowl last year, so until a game is played, they sit at the two spot.
1. New Orleans Saints
Coming off the franchises FIRST ever Super Bowl appearance/win they’re riding high. The Saints brought all-pro safety Darren Sharper back to make another run at a Super Bowl repeat and Drew Brees is another quarterback that will never be counted out until the clock hits zeros. The Super Bowl winners absolutely MUST be at the top of the rankings until a game has been played. It’s just the…rules (or something).