Seattle Times NFL Power Rankings

By Bob Condotta
Rank
Team
1

New England

Still the team to beat even though you have to wonder if time catches up to Tom Brady at some point. Winning back-to-back Super Bowls 13 years after doing so the first time would be an almost unprecedented feat in major team sports.
2

Seattle

Is this too high for the Seahawks? We’ll find out quickly as the Seahawks play against a team that appears right on par with them in Green Bay. But if Russell Wilson again plays the way he did in 2015 and the Legion of Boom stays healthy, there’s no reason to rule out a Super Bowl.
3

Green Bay

4

Atlanta

5

Dallas

6

Oakland

The Raiders are a chic pick as the main threat to the Patriots in the AFC. And wouldn’t we all love to see the Seahawks and Raiders in the Super Bowl. Maybe Seattle holding a 28-24 lead and the Raiders at the 1 as time runs out. …
7

Pittsburgh

8

Kansas City

9

New York Giants

10

Arizona

Cardinals seem better positioned heading into this season than a year ago, and the memory in Glendale is of how beating the Seahawks in Seattle in week 16. Cardinals also start with two winnable road games at Detroit and Indianapolis. If they win those then the path is set for a nice start.
11

Tennessee

12

Carolina

13

Tampa Bay

14

Minnesota

15

Miami

16

Houston

17

Denver

18

Washington

19

New Orleans

20

Baltimore

21

Philadelphia

22

Cincinnati

23

San Francisco

Sort of have a weird feeling the 49ers might be better than you think. Seems like the defense could be a lot better and Brian Hoyer had a 98 passer rating last season before getting hurt.
24

Los Angeles Chargers

25

Buffalo

26

Detroit

27

Los Angeles Rams

28

Indianapolis

29

Chicago

30

Jacksonville

31

Cleveland

32

New York Jets

Few teams have entered any season with expectations as low as the Jets. The good news for Jermaine Kearse is New York figures to be behind and needing to throw all the time.