2010 NFL Power Rankings (23-32):

Monday, September 06, 2010

Scott Cordischi, GoLocalProv Sports Editor

It’s finally here - opening week in the National Football League! Let the games begin.

Thursday night will officially mark the opening of the 2010 NFL season when the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints host Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings in a rematch of last year’s NFC Championship game.

Today we begin our 2010 NFL Power Rankings of all 32 NFL teams. We will start from the bottom and work our way up over the next few days. Here’s how we see the bottom third:

32. Cleveland – I have a lot of respect for Mike Holmgren but he didn’t walk into the best situation taking over as Browns president. Any team that looks to Jake Delhomme to be their savior at QB is desperate at best or just plain dumb! Either way, there will be some sad faces in the Dawg Pound again this year and Eric mangini may be coaching his final season as a head coach in the league.

31. Buffalo – The Bills have turned into a sad franchise over the last decade. Any season where they threaten the .500 mark is now seen as a huge plus. Like Cleveland, the QB position is a major issue with Trent Edwards getting the start in Buffalo. Bills fans will be drowning in their sorrows at the Anchor Bar with plenty of beer and buffalo wings this season.

30. Tampa Bay – The Bucs have a chance at improving on their 3 wins from a year ago but is Josh Freeman really the answer? This team has no chance to compete with the likes of New Orleans and Atlanta in the NFC South.

29. St. Louis – Rookie #1 pick Sam Bradford looked very good in the preseason. Can he carry that over to the regular season? Having Steven Jackson behind him running the ball should help. Take it to the bank that the Rams will improve their win total by at least 100% in 2010. Keep in mind they went 1-15 last season.

28. Detroit – 26^this as high as the Lions have been picked before the start of a season since Moby Dick was a minnow. Nebraska stud DT Ndamukong Suh should help the defense dramatically. Matt Stafford’s rookie campaign wasn’t awful and their should be some improvement in year 2.

27. Jacksonville – David Garrard is solid but not spectacular and Maurice Jones-Drew is a tremendous talent. It’s the Jags defense which needs to improve significantly in 2010 is this team hopes to generate any type of excitement in northern Florida.

26. Kansas City – Matt Cassel’s inaugural season in KC wasn’t a pleasant one as the Chiefs won only 4 games. Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles give them a real solid 1-2 punch in the backfield. However, like the Jags, they need to improve on defense and they hope that rookie safety Eric Berry is just the man to help them do that.

25. Oakland – With the JaMarcus Russell era in the rearview mirror, this organization may have a chance to move forward. Former Redskin Jason Campbell will improve the QB position but only to the point of mediocrity. The Raiders could be a decent defensive team this season as well.

24. Seattle – Pete Carroll may have beaten the posse out of Southern California, but it won’t be smooth sailing right away in the Pacific Northwest. Matt Hasselbeck has to cringe everytime he enters the offensive huddle and looks at the talent (more like lack of talent) he sees. Still, Pete is “pumped and jacked” about the upcoming season.

23. Carolina - With Matt Moore (who?) at QB and John Fox feeling the heat, it could be a long year in Carolina. The one thing the Panthers can do very well, however, is run the football.

Tomorrow we will feature teams 12-22 in our 2010 NFL power rankings. Will the Patriots be included in this group or are they in the top 10? Check back tomorrow.