#1: Bills time to shine; Confidence in 49ers; Cowboys under-the-radar?

studio to not be what's known. I like that it's called this the power chair. You have a direct line of sight with the producer. So I am you've You've already got me on my heels and it's a new era for the Power Rankings. Had so much fun doing with Matt money Smith. But now we are launching the podcast Rankings podcast. So you're listening to this, Yes, subscribe,

I'm for surely tell your friends. And I have to say, Connie, I think this is my fourth year doing it for NFL dot com and the idea of knowing anything in this sport at this time of year is insane. There's no like I'm in charge of putting an order to these teams. I'm not telling you it's right. In fact, I'm gonna tell you I'm not right because guess what. Last year my number thirty team is exact time in the calendar was the Cincinnati Bengals. And does that does

that mean I'm an idiot? Well yeah, but that has nothing to do with the power rings. That just shows you how crazy the NFL is, how things can change quickly. So if you're a fan of a downtrodden team, you could be the next Bengals. Like I am excited to see I'm I'm excited to be wrong. Wow, this is a big moment. I would like to treat this whole show like a therapy session. We're going to talk about feelings, we're gonna talk about emotions, and we're gonna talk about

what these teams did to you. So specifically, we will get to who the Bengal two are coming up a little bit later in the show. I do, though, want to start with your favorite teams here and Dan, you're already getting a little cute off the top with the Bills number one, because that spot traditionally is for the super Bowl winner. Um, so you know, tell me about your love for the Bills here and why zigged when

other people's egg did. I though, I feel like the Bills are a lot of people's Super Bowl pick this, Um, they are mine as well. I think they will win the whole thing and get over the hump. There's your kiss of death. Sorry, Western New York. Uh, it's just to me. When I look at this roster, it just feels like it is their time and they have obviously

a loaded offense with Josh Allen out front. I loved obviously the von Miller move here, and I wrote about on an NFL dot com the one the one thing that concerns me is their secondary to start the season trade Debts White a c L surgery. He's on the pup list. So you're gonna have a pair of rookies and kier Elam and Christian Benford that on Thursday night against the Rams. You know, Sean McVeigh and Stafford are cooking things up to try to make them look bad.

So here's the good news. Those kids are gonna get a chance to do something. Now I'm old enough for a call kids. Those kids, they're gonna have a chance to do something and um, when White gets back, hopefully by week five against the Steelers, they might even feel better about their secondary than they did last year. So secondary it's the weakest link, no question about that when you have to unproven options. I remember that. Some of our listeners might not remember that, but that's okay. This

is a new chapter for us. You know, the kids these days. But the Bills they have this deep talented roster. They have a really good defense. Gabe Davis like lighting it up. But have we seen the best of Josh Allen yet? Like? Is this have we even tapped into it at this? I mean I think we did actually, really I think we did it. I mean the divisional playoff game. I don't think he'll ever be better than that in his career. And they still didn't win. But it is what it is. So we're gonna see what

happens with him. Now the other side of this, now, do you want to talk about the Rams? I mean we're gonna well, I mean the Rams they are the second team in your ranking, so that makes sense defending Super Bowl champs. Le's talk about that because there's there's a concern there too. Yeah, the elbow. Is that what we're concerned about, you know, the elbow. They don't want you to talk about the elbow, of course, and Dan, you know what happens when people say, don't be concerned,

don't worry about it. I worry about it even more. They they, they being the Rams and everyone in their orbit, are telling you don't even think about the elbow. The elbow does not exist. But let's let's be honest. The elbow exists. That is a elbow that gave Matthew Stafford trouble last year is he had a procedure after the season.

They basically kept him in mothballs throughout the summer. But what happens if I'm Thursday night, Josh Allen, the afware mentioned lights out, Josh Allen, there's a shootout going on. Stafford's gotta throw forty babies, Like, how does he respond

to that physically? And let's face it, the Rams are cooked if that elbow gets worse, So it's they they You could hide in the NFL, You could hide things that you don't want the public to see throughout the entire summer, especially with preseason now being what it is. But we're gonna see what's really going on with with Matthew Stafford physically Starting on Thursday, That's what I'm excited about because we'll actually have a little bit of clarity.

We'll have can they can't, they can't, they can't hide from the build. But also Matthew Stafford, this is an issue I think that's bothered him for quite some time. And he hasn't missed any time any game time since. So this guy can play through pain. I mean, but he had a back thing, uh that cost him at the end of his Lions career, but and the beginning of his career was banged up a lot, but he went through a long stretch where he never missed games

and he was durable. Last year played through it and was awesome in the playoffs obviously in the Super Bowl. So Dan, I feel like though the Rams, even though they're number two in the rankings, somehow this is nice and chopping it up. Yeah, are you? Are you on board now right now? Like I feel like there was a little bit of skepticism on your part. Um here we are, but we're getting there. We're doing this every week every week. You are contractually obligated to be here

with me every week through the Super Bowl. We're gonna hate each other by I don't know next week. But I feel like the Rams are somehow still underrated, even though they're number two in the power rankings. Like they are just coming off the Super Bowl. They have the Triple Crown winner wide receiver, they brought in all of these new people for the offense and the defense, Allen Robinson, Bobby Wagner, like they have Sean McVeigh still cooking different

things up. This is this is a team that maybe doesn't get enough respect as past Super Bowl winners. Yeah, and I will say a high ranking RAMS official reached out to me during the playoffs last year, uh to basically call me a jerk for not having them higher up in the playoff power rankings. People care the people.

People notice these things. And if if that same high ranking RAMS official hates that they're not number one, I get it because they're the defending Super Bowl champions and they have a loaded roster and you can make a strong case for them doing it again. I just think the Bills are the best team in football entering the year. Things can change. As we said at the top, I am interested to see what will be more impactful losing Von Miller or gaining Bobby Wagner. So maybe we'll get

a little teased with that on Thursday. Yeah, I know, how about that? Just just hosting. That's all the power chair. Let's move and you're holding it over all, right, Um, I got some questions here right smack in the middle of your top five. The third best team in the NFL is also in the NFC West, and the Niners, not the Bucks, not the Bengals, not the Chiefs. Okay,

well I got the Bucks. You know this. I don't look at my mentions well, especially on the first two days when the power ranks are out, because it's good for your mental health. I like that as one set of oasis. Twitter is the playground of idiots, so I need to stay away from there a little bit. But at the same time, I already know a lot of people like, how do you put the Niners at number three?

You could there safer power ranking choices, and I saw one from another major pub I check in on the competition. These are the power rankings people are going to find. They're gonna have like notes on your dashboard on your car, the parking lot at the grocery store. They couldn't find you. Brick goes through the window. But I saw in one major publication they had the Niners I think at nine or ten, and I was like, I don't get that the tray Lands thing. If Jimmy G wasn't in the building,

maybe I would feel less comfortable. But I think Jimmy G somehow still being a Niner is the safety net that this team needed. And I don't know what happens with um Trey Lance this year. He's a complete unknown and I don't know where he's at from a mental standpoint. Can he handle the fact that he's got Garoppolo in the building and those guys love Garoppolo Niners? He's he's a quote winner and he's a great dude and all that. So, um,

that's a lot of pressure on Lance. But imagine if Lance does ball out with Kyle Shanahan, with Deebo, Samuel Brandon, Aiyuk and Kyle Shanahan calling the plays. The defense is what people sleep on. Last year, that was a top ten defense according to d v o A on Football Outsiders, and they did it without causing a lot of turnovers. So imagine if they have some regression and get the ball more and on top of it, Trey Lance balls out. That's the recipe. I'm not not playing around here. Thirteen

and four type recipe. I love how much you love them? Like this team. They were one game a way from going to the super Bowl. Last game, in the fourth quarter, they had it right and Jimmy grow Kyle Shanahan, he loves a run game, he loves a good defense. They have all this stuff. They have a deep, talented roster. I mean, you just have to take the training wheels off your young, inexperienced quarterback. But I think that the Niners probably have the highest ceiling in the NFC. There

you go, are you on are you on board? Well, of course, talking myself into it, well, the highest ceiling. I guess if I have the Rams ahead this week, I guess I had the Rams is like ceiling rankings. This is not the ceiling rankings, but it kind of is. Maybe it's a worse name for powering or maybe better. Maybe it's times someone else has a different name other

than power Rankings. It's not the most brilliant name, but you trust that this team has a better shot than what twenty nine other teams to win the super I think they do have absolutely that type of ceiling. Yes, and uh, even if Trey Lance falls off, as long as Jimmy g shoulder is healthy and facing, unless Lance

gets hurt early on, we hope that doesn't happen. Jimmy G is going to have time to get right physically and get reps in and and if he is called upon, yeah, then you have the same quarterback that almost got the Super Bowl last year, but now hopefully he has a healthy shoulder. I think they're in good position here, great Lance. I don't know if he's in a great position. He's probably a little bit nervous, a little bit, he said.

Try actually likes having Jimmy in the buildings. He loves having a guy in the building that wants his job and has proven in the past that he can handle it. Like I would love it if my husband was like, actually, my ex is going to stay for a while at the house. M as it turns out, exactly, I don't think so. Has that ever happened? In full disclosure, John does not have an ex girlfriend. That's like casually living

with us. But yeah, strange situation for sure. Okay, let's move to outside of the top five and to get back to that, it's a possible maybe after the show a different type of rankings. Let's move to the Packers not in your top five. And you know, I'm not mad about this because the Bucks and the Bengals are ahead of them. Rogers said that he's enjoying football now after doing ayahuasca. But listen to the games. They haven't

started yet. They haven't counted yet at least, So do you expect the Packers to stay at this level and continue to be a team that will eventually be in the playoff mix and eventually lose to the Niners in January? Well that's the thing. And uh around the NFL podcast, I had the Packers on tugboat time out this summer. I just didn't want to talk about them because they

annoyed me. Just you know, Packers fans, I can't imagine how you guys felt about it, because after going through all they went through the last year, you get Aaron Rodgers delivers a second MVP award in a row, and then you let the Niners come into your house and lock up punt for a touchdown and make your offense looks stiff and it's just it was unbelievable what happened in the playoffs. So yeah, there's part of me now where it's I'm struggling, at least in September to shake

that the Packers. Are they ever going to get over the hump that said it's all there again? I mean, you still have Rodgers there. I shouldn't say it's all there because Davante Adams isn't there. It's the big piece that's not there. But Rogers is there, and it's a great defense, and and Matt Lafleur has done nothing but win at a high level since he got into this job. So I still think they're by far the best team in the NFC North, But I don't trust them in January.

How could you? So? My counter argument to this is that they lost Nathaniel Hackett, they lost their quarterbacks coach Luke getsy So, and they lost obviously their top wide receiver Davante Adams. So you have a lot of change there at the top. How are they going to make up for that? Production? Like, are you gonna are we gonna see more from the backfield? We're gonna see a j. Dillon and Aaron Jones catching passes more like what who

was stepping up? Because in the preseason Aaron Rodders was crushing his wide receivers for drops, for running the wrong routes, And now all of a sudden, it's like, all he's crushing on a guy like Christian Watson, right, because he knows he needs Romeo or Christian Watson uh to make a year one impact here. And because the other Alan Lazard, Sammy Watkins, Randall cop I mean, Mari Rodgers, they might use as a running back like they're resorting to some

maybe weird things. Did you but did you lay out there that the quarterbacks coach leaving could make a difference? You know, like Aaron Rodgers listens to any quarters, anyone, anybody at all. Maybe maybe he was listening to staff. I don't know. I mean, can I set up in power rankings on NFL dot Com. I set it up with questions for each team this week, and mine was, Canaron Rodgers make it all work? I kind of think

he can. I think he'll figure out a way and he will develop one of these young wide receivers because he has to. And if he doesn't, yeah, they're going to come back to the pack's back. To the path. I do think though, that the Packers defense will actually be maybe talked about a little bit more than the offense to start the season, because I think that they're going to surprise a lot of people. They have like

seven first round picks on that defense. With Zayre Alexander coming back healthy, I mean this, this could be really good. I can't wait to see them play the Vikings. If they don't find a way to get another ring, they got to do it before Rogers walks away and does ayahuasca for the rest of eternity while sitting on a surfboard in an island that we've never heard of. Part of that sounds great. Think about what Packers fans, how you're gonna feel twenty years from now that you weren't

able to get over the hump. It's like that weird thing sometimes Packers fans will because I wrote this thing, I kind of feel like that right now. Yeah, Like I did this thing, Pain Rank Pain Rankings years ago, where I ranked the fan bases who have suffered the most, and every once in a while Packers fans would get my mentions be like what about us, and I'd be like, sit down, you know, you're talking to a Jets fan.

But then I understand what they're saying because to get to the precipice so many times and get smacked down, that's a different type of fan frustration. Now is the time for them, This is their windows. They need to stop losing to the Niners. I mean that's, you know, first things first. But I do want to move on to the Chiefs because the team that hosted the last four an f C Championship games, they've won the division

six straight times. They have been the powerhouse. They have been held up as the example in now what has improved to be the best division in football. But how did you land with Casey being four spots behind San Francisco? You hate the Chiefs? Yeah, I what did say? I hate him? But I think the division has closed the gap. And it's similar to Aaron Rodgers. Aaron Rodgers no longer has Damante Adams, Patrick Mahomes no longer has Tyreek Hill. So it's like those are both Hall of famers leaving

their teams. But I think both those teams believe they could overcome such a loss because the quarterbacks are that special, like these are guys are potentially when they're done, will be seen in that top ten, top five ever quarterback. So it's I think it's about putting faith in Mahomes, finding new ways to move the ball, and not just Mahomes, but Andy Reid. Because you watched the a f C title game against Cincinnati. That was outrageous what happened in

the second half of that game. It was so unlike them. And what I what it made me think was maybe now with Hill gone, this forces Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes and the rest of that staff to kind of rethink things a little bit. Maybe it's time to mix things up. And with Hill being out of the picture that just like it makes you do it well, I

think maybe it works out for him. Andy Reid would absolutely get his flowers if everything ends up being copasetic there, like he's known Andy Reid for evolving and changing the offense and and tailoring it to the players that are there. And then you have like Steve Spagnolo's Bags's defense always

comes on late in the year too. So those two things I think need to start a little bit earlier, and they need to make sure that they have everything rolling to start, because it wasn't just the a f C Championship game meltdown in the second half as great as they were in the week before against the Bills in that incredible game, there were long stretches in the regular season where the offense was stagnant and the defense was carrying Patrick Mahomes and and the Chiefs. So yeah,

they it's time for refresh with that offense. Let's see if we get it. Yeah, I I do. I want to know how much realistic regression is expected. Um, but this offense is still going to put up points no matter what. I think that Jujuice Smith Schuster, he could fit in nicely, and you know, we'll we'll see if Reid can adapt. But I mean otherwise they'll just be eating alive in the division. So that's believed. You see that happening, though I don't. The Chiefs getting beaten up

and I can't see it. I don't not at all. I mean, this is Patrick Mahomes is too good and it's almost like what we talked about with Aaron Rodgers making everyone better around him. I think that that Patrick Mahomes has that same type of talent. And look, this division, it's a gauntlet and that's why it's our power moves. All for a f C West teams are in the

top eleven, and they're also close. This is wild. This show is that I'm a man of principle and integrity, because it would have been cool right to have all four in the top ten one after the other. But I just in my mind I could not have the Raiders in that spot. So I don't know. There was just listen, you don't you don't need to know? Yes, I do that. I don't need to know the secret of the sauce, how it works. Do I have a

machine like Cynthia Freeland in my boudoir now? But whatever I have that stays with me, that's the secret, Okay, all right? Well for me when I'm division, jeez, I guess I'm just gonna do the show with myself. Um. I talked myself in and out of these teams, sometimes multiple times a day, thinking okay, like, you know, maybe the Raiders are a little bit better, like, oh, I love the Chargers, but they always charge it up. Like I have a couple of questions here, like how difficult

was this tier to to finally make official? How much anguish did you experience? I want to know the agony level, and then did you dock the Chargers a spot just for being the Chargers kind of? I guess yeah, because I do think talent wise, and I think Justin Herbert he's my pick to win m VP this year. Like if that. If I feel that way, I like their roster the best and I like their quarterback to win m VP, they should be ahead of all these teams. But I guess there is a bit of a bolts tax.

Yeah I have here, but still not enough if you're a top ten team right now. I think any of those teams, if they won the Super Bowl would not be a surprise. So that's where I'm at. So, yeah, I have I have. It's all very tight. I think. I don't think one team is far ahead of any teams. Chiefs, Broncos, Chargers, and Raiders. I think it's all pretty tight. I don't know where do you what would be your ranking one

to four for this division? So I was looking at the Chargers and I was thinking about putting them ahead of the Broncos, just because I know what Justin Herbert can do in this offense with the pieces that are there, and Brandon Staley, I know what he's going to bring he's always going to go for it on fourth down. He's going to be crazy like that. But there are a lot of knowns and with the Broncos, it's not

like Russell Wilson is an unknown commodity here. But you have Nathaniel Hackett, a new head coach, a new quarterback on a new team. I just think maybe there would be a little bit of a learning curve. I don't know, maybe it's a week, maybe it doesn't happen at all. But for me, it's just like a consistency standpoint, I

would put the Chargers ahead you. You definitely I overthought getting into You're getting into my mind a little bit with the Broncos where maybe I'm giving him too much credit right now for a team that hasn't played it down yet, and so stick him at number eight, mostly because Russell Wilson is a huge upgrade over Drew lock wherever else, Well, that's why I'm okay, and I'm I'm

fine where I haven't. But at the same time, yeah, if it takes a while to get this thing on the road, or if the Russell Wilson that we see with the Broncos is similar to the guy that was a little up and down, and it's finally as a Seattle they are going to be one of the bigger disappointments in football. A lot is going to happen. This is gonna be the most exciting division to follow all season long. And it starts one NFC South. Yeah right there,

right up there as well. Um, we're gonna take a quick time out here, but a ton on the way, including the Cowboys. Where are they? And why? We'll ponder more of life's biggest questions On the other side. Well, Dan, I have a little bit of a problem and it's called the Indianapolis Colt. I love them. You have them at number twelve and your rankings, you have the Cult of twelve, the Saints at thirteen. We're gonna get to them in a second, actually, but let's unpack the Colts

a little bit here. You mad at me about the cults because we were on the SI weekly podcast with your husband Gonzo, and you just started throwing bouquets at the bouquets at the feet of the cults. Why do you like him? I love that. I don't hate him, but love them. I look okay, So they have the reigning rushing champion Jonathan Taylor. He is insanely good. He kept that team moving all year. They have a viable number one wide receiver in Michael Pittman Jr. Flash last year.

They have a former MVP quarterback. I know that was very former. It was a long time ago. But you put him in front of this offensive or behind this offensive line with this running game, never be in front of the God. That would be terrible if he was. But two things that these might be the best of his entire career in terms of running game and old line. I mean, they brought in Yannike and Gockway. Nobody even

really talks about that. I feel like that was an under the radar moving then Gus Bradley a little reunion between the two of them. They have good leadership, they have a great coaching staff. I just think that they have all of the pieces there to make it go okay. So the Matt Ryan thing is a bit of a projection. It it has been. Um I think part of it's all connected because Carson Wentz is such a I was gonna say polarizing, but it's not really polarizing. He's almost

like a toxic figure. So and when teams. I don't mean that as a man, but as a quarterback that when a team that you thought, well, you know, I'm telling that the Carson Wentz hate in football terms extends pretty into reaches our our game at this point. But when he leaves the scene, it's like whoever comes in, the same thing with Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia, like whoever comes in all of a sudden, it's like, this guy

is amazing. And the Matt Ryan that I saw last year with the Falcons, and I understand he did not have an offensive line. There weren't a lot of weapons for him either, um, but he also did look older and I don't know, as long as they protect and their offensive line stays healthy, I think he could be a good like late period Philip Rivers type quarterback, but I'm not ready to say he's going to be a

big star. The bigger concern though, for me, is Shack Leonard, not Darius Shaquille Leonard, who is coming up back surgery and he is um avoiding the puplist, but we don't know when we're going to see him, and it was a little annoying the general manager, Chris Ballard that was asked about it, uh this week about when he could return, and he said, might be week one, might be week six. Hate that, thanks Brooks. Um, that's not the clarity that

we were looking at back surgeries either. No, any anytime you're opening up the back, it's never good. So we're let me tell you medical degree up those backs. But yeah, something definitely to track with shack entard Um. But also, Bobby ok is not oky. It is pronounced Bobby Okayaka. So one of the other things that I learned from Indianapolis. Everyone make sure you don't mess that up this year. Like you know, Reggie Wayne is now the wide receiver coach.

I know, I'm just gonna I'm a cult cheerleader now. I don't know if you know that. The pitmen call I like I'm wearing their colors. Yeah you are. The pitmen call I like, is he a wide receiver one? He's not right now, but he definitely has that potential. They do love their rookie wide receiver to Alec Pierce addis Cincinnati. He's fast, he's got great handsted. I move on. We are going to go to the spot that it's

very weird. Um, I I don't know if this spot in the rankings is like a serial killer or just like you're really quiet neighbor that keeps to themselves. But number thirteen in the rankings, it's the Saints. Okay, Um, I don't think the Saints are serials, but I don't know who they are. And this is a part of a greater theme since I started doing power rankings. Um, the number thirteen team, it is the twilight zone of the power rankings. It is purgatory, it is the great unknown.

You're imagine yourself an outer space and you're just floating and you see the Eagles MC square go past you, and then like a spinning dog or something, and then a flying saucer pizza. That's where we are with the number thirteen spot. When I don't know what to do with the team, when I don't know if they are a potential super Bowl contender or like a team that should be buried in the twenties, Like I'm just confused. I stick him at thirteen and don't think about it anymore.

And that's because they have a really high ceiling, the Saints, and their defense is excellent. It's a loaded defense said, it's going to make plays and keep them in games. But can the offense be trusted? Can Jameis Winston be trusted? Can Michael Thomas be trusted to be Michael Thomas again? Can Alcamara average better than three points seven yards per carry? It's Chris Allobby, the guy that everyone says he is the summer when the game's count. Is the offensive line? Okay?

With throut Armstead now blocking for two HIG questions And that's why it's a mysterious number thirteen for the Saints this. I just can't figure out the Saints either. I don't want to agree with you on this, but I do. Yeah, it's just get you in that field. I love it. Did you see the equals MC square? So I tried to block it out just that wasn't my bag in school at all. But it's a Severn Dolls head um. They see they are serial killers, as it turns out,

the Saints, So we'll find out. It's gonna be fun to watch them be us it. Really they are the team I would say maybe Pittsburgh in the a f C. The highest ceiling, lowest floor. Okay, and Dennis Allen, how is he going to thank you? I didn't even bring up that. Literally, Sean Payton's not there anymore, and everyone's been like, I'll be fine, Jamis is still gonna sling it. Sean Payton was the face of that offense with Drew Brees, and now they're both gun You know who wishes they

had Sean Payton? The Cowboys. Oh, they have taken els before the season even starts. Here at number fifteen, maybe they should be even lower in the rankings. I don't know. They have three new starters on the offensive that Steve Mariuchi hasn't have his face pressed against the glass pounding and staring at us right now. We need a mood camp. That would be great anyway, go on, So how was I supposed to see you take me out of the power chair. I can't say, yeah, my goodness, I like this.

I like this, Dan, this, and you know what, you're right. This chair is magical. It has special characteristics to it. I don't know what it is, but it's like the number thirteen analysts here. You can't figure him out, you know what I mean. He's not a serial killer. Probably he's your nice neighbor. So the Cowboys fifteen got a lot of issues right now. Down two of their top three wide receivers from last season. They don't have a Marii Cooper. Michael Gallup's not going to play to start

the season. Here, I'm not feeding into the never ending Cowboys hype train. I'm not sure you are either. No, And I know you don't like the way this is setting up right now. You like what Howie Rosemond is built in Philadelphia, Well, but you don't like that the Cowboys, who I think won like twelve games last year, are not even being discussed by the football cogness, aren't they. They're not as a team that could defend their division title.

Everyone's just on the Eagles bandwagon. And I think with the power rankings with I have Philly fourteen. I have the Cowboys fifteen because I do think it's a coin flip. I have the because I think they have a little more upside, and I think the questions for Dallas, especially on their offensive line. I'm sorry, Jason Peters has been a great pro, but he's like I think, older than me. So that's a problem in our league. So it becomes a situation where I don't know if the offense is

going to score enough points. I know the defense, but they were they were number one last year. Yeah, but it just feels a lot different right now. The Cooper trade. If they could take it back, I think they would. I don't know if maybe behind the scenes he had worn out his welcome, but a lot it's gonna be a lot of pressure on Ceedee Lamb to have that year we kind of expected last year. Yeah, and to be that number one wide receiver that's a totally needs

to be a superstar this year. I think for this offense to go where it needs to go, and he certainly has that potential and he has the quarterback. But we cannot sleep on the weekend state of this offensive line and how that could affect everything. Mike McCarthy, head coach of the Cowboys, he slimmed down. How much did that factor into the ranking? You know, I'm Mike McCarthy.

He's daddy to me. He's full of Zaddi mode. He's also under a remarkable amount of pressure, like he's the head coach that uh you know, he sits up high in the hot butt rankings and to the season. And you know, Sean Payton, the alt forrementioned Sean Payton. He wants that job and Sean Payton knows, and he's not gonna say it, but Sean Payton knows, like, Oh, as long as if they don't win a playoff game, I'm going to be the coach of the Cowboys. This is

just my conjecture, but it's true. That's what's gonna happen. Cowboys need to get back to the plass and win a game or I don't know if Mike McCarthy's back. Well, we're going to be tracking Zaddy all season long, and um we'll see how getting into Daddy physical conditioning is something that you see coaches do in the summer, keeping the Zaddi figure during the long season check in December. I hope he does. Yeah, we're rooting for you, Mike McCarthy.

You look good. Let's move to the second half rankings. We're talking about the Titans at seven team. Our producer Drew Christensen said they're the most boring team, most born good team in the NFL and they don't even crack the top half. Yeah, and Titans fans and I have a long, sordid history. They don't like me very much. But the herald Landry loss towards a C in practice

last week. That's such a crushing loss. He is such a great, great player, uh and a great pass rusher and he kind of makes things go there with Jeffrey Simmons, So they that's gonna be a tough, tough thing to make up for. And of course their best wide receiver now A. J. Brown, plays for the Eagles, so that

feels problematic, UM, but I don't. It might be unprecedented in power rankings history because for a number one seed in the a f C or in either conference to be this far down the power ring is to start the season. But they just seem like a team that's gonna it's gonna get into about ten wins. I think it's gonna be a real fight this year. I think your cults are the favorite. Your mentions are going to be a blaze for way longer than two days. It is with the Titans. I've been in the crosshairs of

the Titans before and their fans. It's not a place that I would like to be back in. UM. They had a disastrous end of the season though, and when you think about the ending for the Colts and the Titans, it was bleak times for both of them to end one, and I just I don't love that they got rid of A. J. Brown. I love it for me personally since he's playing for but this I expect to step back. Um, that's why we're all gonna be wrong. Though, we're gonna

be wrong. Watch what happens, because now I'm gonna say the other side of the coins, I think that's fair. Mike Rabel has done a really good job. Ryan Tannehill. People are down on him right now obviously because that playoff loss was you're not a good performance, uh in the Bengals game. But Derrick Henry's healthy interceptions in that one, Yeah, including the first and last passes of the game. It was just end one in the end zone. That was huge. But Derrick Henry's back. Um, this is a team that

finds a way. It's a weak division, um, and I just think that if they are in contention in December, you can't be surprised. If they win the division again, you can't be surprised because I think they still have pieces in the building and they have a good coaching staff and they're the right place. I do like Robert Woods too. I think he's going to be now. He

doesn't have the upside of a J. Brown. But he is like a great locker room guy and a really productive player, and I can see him in Tannehill having a good vibe. I'm excited to see the Titans and the Colts this year, these two teams, and they hate each other too, so that's an added level of pettiness that I also love. Okay, we have the best of the rest, and this a little bit quicker here, We're gonna do more rapid fire. I'm just gonna see you up on knees and then why don't we go back

and forth? Maybe Okay, you want to do that, you don't want to do that. I could do that. Let's do it. Okay, let's try it out. We'll see how it goes. We can always not do it next week, alright. So yeah, we're gonna do this every week, I guess until it's canceled. The Dolphins nineteen only one spot up from the last power. I'm just I need to be sold on to uh. And I know that's kind of a boring thing to say, because a lot of people

are saying, but I do. I mean, I've I've watched every one of his starts, and I know there have been good things about it, and I know they brought help in there obviously with Tyreek and Armstead at left tackle, but I just need to see it. I get this feeling that Teddy Bridgewater is going to play games this year to do with injury. I don't like that. Okay, that's why I'm not I'm not buying on the Dolphins yet, but I'm showing some respect. There's top twenty, Okay, that's fair.

How about the Panthers. I haven't at twenty three too high? Too low? Do you think I am not sold on the Panthers. I think they're too high. I I don't. I I don't like the Baker Mayfield signing. I mean, I guess he's better than Sam Donald, but I don't know how much he's going to give to this offense. Like I want to see what Christian McCaffrey looks like and if he if he can stay healthy for an entire season. Matt Rule, I mean, we talk about pressure

with Mike McCarthy. This guy's under the most pressure in the entire NFL. They have ten wins through two seasons, like it's and it just seems to not be getting better at all. I just have so many questions about the offensive line. How do you respond to the losses of Hassan Reddick and stuff on, Gilmore, Like, the list goes on and on and on. So for me, I would even rank them lower. Okay, but maybe not. The Christian McCaffrey is back. I I need to see how

long he's going to be back. For I. I the trust, my trust. You have to earn it, and it's just you know, every year. That's fair. Come on. But I wouldn't rank them lower than the Seahawks seas I got him. You know, Russell Wilson is um gone right, I do at is not a good place. We're now in the that is the bottom quadrant. Yeah, like I I I guess there's a little bit of me saying in most cases in the Pete Carole era, they've they've gotten uh you know, they've either been in the playoffs and they've

been in contention. Um. I think it was a mistake, obviously to trade Russell Wilson. I think it was a mistake to go into the season with Gino Smith and Drew Lock. But I think they're running game is going to be um a focus focal point. I thinks loving that and if Gino does find some success and get some confidence, he has dk Metcalf obviously um and Tyler Lockett,

and those are two really good wide receivers. So throwing the clink or whatever it's called now in the home field advantage that comes with that, I think they could still win seven eight games. Yeah, I'm curious to see Kenneth Walker, their rookie running back, how he is. They have a lot of Listen, Penny was awesome at the end of last Again, though, like with McCaffrey's always hurt. So there there's a there's a window where this ends with them being competitive, but probably not one more. How

about this bleak? Okay, we're doing another one or I think so. I think we just go right to power failure at this point because failure, well, let's let's take a look. We're learning all sorts of new things. It is week one power failure. Are the last teams the last tier? Is this a fault? So numbers five to thirty two? Do you have this as like a tear in your mind? Or is it break this up? Yeah? It's the final quadrant quadrant Okay, so quadro you don't

want to be in um. But the Bengals. Look, last year, they were in the squadron, right, they were at thirty and listen and we could go back. There's receipts. That's the beauty of these power rankings. So this time a year ago, everybody was sleeping for the most part on the Bengals and then they shocked the world. So who is going to be the Bengals this year? I'm gonna say, and the Bengals that's once in a decade type stuff, going to the super Bowl and almost winning the things.

I don't think there's gonna be a Bengals per se, but I think there is a team here that, in my mind, clearly we'll be seen as, oh wow, they took a big jump, and I'd love to say it was my Jets. And I think they could make a jump if they get decent quarterback play. But I'm just not convinced of that yet. But I will tell you the guy picked before Zack Wilson in the number one overall pick was Trevor Lawrence. And Trevor Lawrence walked into a nightmare situation with Urban Meyer, and we know that

whole story. I don't need to go down that road. But now you spin forward, Doug Peterson's a pro, He's got a ring, He's a guy that people respect. Unlike Urban Meyer in the NFL, they pumped a lot of money into the roster to build it up. They got Trayvon Walker with the number one overall pick to juice the pass rush. And I think the idea of Trevor Lawrence taking a big step up in that division, the FC South, which I think is arguably the weakest division,

maybe the NFC East is in that conversation. Um, you factor those two things together with an improved roster, I think this could be a team that's hanging around in the wild card hunt potentially and maybe even the division. This would be my team crazy Q the Colleen vott Um while Dan really great point Um the Jack unbelievable. I feel like we talk about teams that can jump from worst to first, and not that this is going to be a worst to first scenario, but teams that

can turn around very quick. And it's sort of in the same vein as the Ravens with all of the injuries that they had last year, and just being healthy is going to mean so much to them and for the Jags you bring into Peterson, I mean, like Travis e t n getting him back healthy. I think a lot of people forgot about him. He's gonna make a huge impact. Do you see anybody else in this bottom

quadrant that you can make a case for. I know some people like on around the NFL or higher on the Houston Texans as an example, the Texans maybe, um, but beyond that Lions, how about our Hard Knocks team, The Hard Knocks. By the way, the finale of the Hard Knocks podcast with me and Connie Fox up on Tuesday, so check that out. We have a big Tuesday. We have this show, we have around the NFL. We have Hard Knocks the finale, so we got a lockdown. Yeah, I would say maybe the Texans, but I like the

Jags better than the Texans. Um and potentially the Lions too, just because of the Hard Knocks. Um angle that whole thing. I'm drinking all the kool aid there isn't that the fun thing? Though it is bottomless kool aid this time of year. Absolutely fine. It's it's I like it almost as much as I like Fight the Power, Fight the Power. We got all of the tweets coming through because Dan, since you're not going to look at your mentions, we will do it for you. That seems almost like a

bullying maneuver. But because in this therapy session we will go through some things that might be triggering and we're gonna we're gonna talk through them. So let's let's get Jonathan up here. He's definitely not a bot, I promise. Okay, now do this for real? Like that was cool, fun exercise, But how about the real rankings? Idiot? Next? Oh I didn't like that, Jonathan. Okay, we got another one here, don't worry. Um we got the Bears at thirty two is one thing I'm not even going to discuss here.

But the Niners as third, What the hell is juice? Alright? Raight heel, that's okay. I understand that, like we said at the top of the show, the Niners maybe more of a projection than Um then maybe I usually do with this type of exercise, But I just like the roster, and I trust Kyle Shannon and his ability to bring out Trey Lance. I've been doing a lot of deep dives on the Niners, and they are moving up my

rankings like more and more every single day. So this is and by the way, the first guy called an idiot the second guy. All right, if you come at me with actual critiques that aren't just personal attacks, I will not return it. Okay, that's fine. How about this one. What do we what do we feel about this? Bobby Football? What a joke? Bias? Says all hell and I got people love to assume the worst with Carson Wentz. But to say Washington has twenty nine teams better than them

in this league is gross. Alright gross, And I don't know where Bobby Football has the Washington commanders, who I know are getting ready to um, you know, take command. But uh, they just seem like a team, especially Chase Young on the shelf. And I, like many other people, I'm not sold on Wentz. Um. I will say in the positive with Washington, their skill players around Wentz are a little better than I think people re allies. Um, so they have a chance to score points. But I

don't know. I just can't get into I can't get into the washing. That's fair. And I feel for Bobby Football and Washington fans because it's been a pretty rough road the last twenty years or so. Maybe they'd been easy that one more. Okay, here we go. We got brand. The new old Blue Eye strikes again. The truth go to the zoos. See, that's what we need every week. Brand. Thank you, my friend. I appreciate that it is not

the power rankings, Connie. The thing that I've learned in doing this you can't take you can't take yourself too seriously. You can't. You do the work, you watch the games, you try to do your best with the analysis, but ultimately it's a total it's a total guess. I guess what. I don't have a machine in my boudoir. I'm just going to feelings. It's a gut feeling on these teams, and it's gonna be change a lot, even by the end of this month. And I can't wait. Dan, really

good work. We've done work today. We've gone through a lot of stuff and this is the perfect I would say, I would give it a solid being, you know, solid be. This was our first time doing the show. But don't worry because we think that we will be back next

week for another edition. Should we tell the people that obviously you know like and subscribe it, watch it anywhere you can listen and you can watch That's the beauty of it because it's also a digital show, so if you want to see our mugs, check it out online. Until next time, everybody, we'll see you for next week Power Rankings. Wait do NFL Power Rankings as a production

of the NFL in partnership with I heart Radio. For more podcasts from my Heart Radio, visit the i heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.