Current Team Previous
1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1
They won't repeat, but they will be a very good team again. Jon Gruden will make sure of that.
2 St. Louis Rams 3
They looked faster on defense and Kurt Warner looked like the two-time MVP passer. They will be a Super contender again.
3 Philadelphia Eagles 2
Seeing them in the preseason, something seems to be missing. The Duce Staley holdout didn't help.
4 Buffalo Bills 4
If they can adjust to the loss of Peerless Price without having too much of a drop in their offensive production, they can be a Super team.
5 Denver Broncos 15
They have the look of an improved team with Jake Plummer the answer to their quarterback woes. The defense has to play better.
6 New England Patriots 18
The additions to the defense will make the Pats a tough unit to face. The question about this team is the running game, with no lead back.
7 Indianapolis Colts 10
In the preseason, the offense has looked outstanding. The defense has to show that it is improved in the second season under Ron Meeks.
8 Tennessee Titans 5
If Steve McNair gets some help, they will be a factor again in late January. Jeff Fisher knows how to get his players to compete as well as any coach in the league.
9 Atlanta Falcons 6
Don't worry about Doug Johnson, he's going to be fine holding things down until Michael Vick returns. The defense is a little worrisome.
10 New York Giants 14
The defense has to be better against the run, but the offense is going to be one of the NFL's best. It features too many weapons.
11 Oakland Raiders 8
They looked terrible in the preseason, so that has to be a concern. But maybe it was just vets taking it off.
12 Miami Dolphins 13
They like their defense, and Jay Fiedler has looked good in the preseason, but the offensive line is still a concern as are the hangovers from their past collapses.
13 Pittsburgh Steelers 17
The defense will be better against the pass, and the division is a soft one. But what happens if Tommy Maddox can't duplicate 2002?
14 New Orleans Saints 7
If Rick Venturi can piece together the defense, they can compete for the AFC South title. The offense will put up points.
15 Green Bay Packers 9
We know they'll score with Brett Favre and his swift receivers, but does outstanding defensive coordinator Ed Donatell have enough to work with on the other side of the ball?
16 San Francisco 49ers 12
Jeff Garcia's back troubles are something to monitor. The defense has had some injury troubles in the preseason, so that is also a concern.
17 New York Jets 11
Chad Pennington's loss will be felt, but veteran Vinny Testaverde does throw a better deep ball. The defense will be better and Cutis Martin is healthy, which will help.
18 Kansas City Chiefs 16
We love the offense, especially with Priest Holmes back in as the top runner. Now if that defense can make even small strides.
19 Carolina Panthers 26
We know the defense is going to be good -- if the corners hold up -- but is Rodney Peete a playoff quarterback, especially after getting outplayed in the preseason by Chris Weinke?
20 Minnesota Vikings 19
The Vikings will have to overcome the loss of Michael Bennett, which is going to be tough to do. And the defense isn't good enough to offset that loss.
21 Seattle Seahawks 21
They will be tough to defend if Matt Hasselbeck can prove that he wasn't a fluke late in 2002. It's now or never for Mike Holmgren.
22 Baltimore Ravens 20
With Ray Lewis back, the defense will again be among the best. The question is rookie quarterback Kyle Boller, who will be an opening-day starter.
23 San Diego Chargers 27
There are too many young faces on defense for this to be a playoff team. The offense will have to control the football, which is possible with LaDainian Tomlinson in the backfield.
24 Cincinnati Bengals 24
Marvin Lewis is quickly putting his stamp on this team, which is a good thing. The Bengals will be competitive and can surprise if Jon Kitna can play as he did late in 2002.
25 Cleveland Browns 22
The quarterback situation, no matter how it played out, was bound to affect this team. The defense was awful in the preseason, which doesn't bode well for the regular season.
26 Dallas Cowboys 28
Quincy Carter looks as if he has made strides as a quarterback, which is essential to the success of this team. How much remains to be seen.
27 Washington Redskins 23
They spent a lot of money to improve this season, but will it show up? They have to get a big season out of Patrick Ramsey or all the money spent will matter little.
28 Chicago Bears 29
The running game is a question, the passing game is a question with Kordell Stewart and offensive coordinator John Shoop is unimaginative. Think they have a chance to win?
29 Jacksonville Jaguars 25
The coaching staff never had doubts about Mark Brunell. Now he has to show why to get the fans off his back.
30 Houston Texans 30
They will be better on offense -- they have nowhere to go but up -- but something says that defense will take a step back.
31 Detroit Lions 31
The running game is in trouble without James Stewart -- I can't believe I just wrote that -- which should put a lot of pressure on second-year quarterback Joey Harrington.
32 Arizona Cardinals 32
There are some talented young players on this team, players who could pay off big in a year or two. This will be a learning season for most.
1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1
They won't repeat, but they will be a very good team again. Jon Gruden will make sure of that.
2 St. Louis Rams 3
They looked faster on defense and Kurt Warner looked like the two-time MVP passer. They will be a Super contender again.
3 Philadelphia Eagles 2
Seeing them in the preseason, something seems to be missing. The Duce Staley holdout didn't help.
4 Buffalo Bills 4
If they can adjust to the loss of Peerless Price without having too much of a drop in their offensive production, they can be a Super team.
5 Denver Broncos 15
They have the look of an improved team with Jake Plummer the answer to their quarterback woes. The defense has to play better.
6 New England Patriots 18
The additions to the defense will make the Pats a tough unit to face. The question about this team is the running game, with no lead back.
7 Indianapolis Colts 10
In the preseason, the offense has looked outstanding. The defense has to show that it is improved in the second season under Ron Meeks.
8 Tennessee Titans 5
If Steve McNair gets some help, they will be a factor again in late January. Jeff Fisher knows how to get his players to compete as well as any coach in the league.
9 Atlanta Falcons 6
Don't worry about Doug Johnson, he's going to be fine holding things down until Michael Vick returns. The defense is a little worrisome.
10 New York Giants 14
The defense has to be better against the run, but the offense is going to be one of the NFL's best. It features too many weapons.
11 Oakland Raiders 8
They looked terrible in the preseason, so that has to be a concern. But maybe it was just vets taking it off.
12 Miami Dolphins 13
They like their defense, and Jay Fiedler has looked good in the preseason, but the offensive line is still a concern as are the hangovers from their past collapses.
13 Pittsburgh Steelers 17
The defense will be better against the pass, and the division is a soft one. But what happens if Tommy Maddox can't duplicate 2002?
14 New Orleans Saints 7
If Rick Venturi can piece together the defense, they can compete for the AFC South title. The offense will put up points.
15 Green Bay Packers 9
We know they'll score with Brett Favre and his swift receivers, but does outstanding defensive coordinator Ed Donatell have enough to work with on the other side of the ball?
16 San Francisco 49ers 12
Jeff Garcia's back troubles are something to monitor. The defense has had some injury troubles in the preseason, so that is also a concern.
17 New York Jets 11
Chad Pennington's loss will be felt, but veteran Vinny Testaverde does throw a better deep ball. The defense will be better and Cutis Martin is healthy, which will help.
18 Kansas City Chiefs 16
We love the offense, especially with Priest Holmes back in as the top runner. Now if that defense can make even small strides.
19 Carolina Panthers 26
We know the defense is going to be good -- if the corners hold up -- but is Rodney Peete a playoff quarterback, especially after getting outplayed in the preseason by Chris Weinke?
20 Minnesota Vikings 19
The Vikings will have to overcome the loss of Michael Bennett, which is going to be tough to do. And the defense isn't good enough to offset that loss.
21 Seattle Seahawks 21
They will be tough to defend if Matt Hasselbeck can prove that he wasn't a fluke late in 2002. It's now or never for Mike Holmgren.
22 Baltimore Ravens 20
With Ray Lewis back, the defense will again be among the best. The question is rookie quarterback Kyle Boller, who will be an opening-day starter.
23 San Diego Chargers 27
There are too many young faces on defense for this to be a playoff team. The offense will have to control the football, which is possible with LaDainian Tomlinson in the backfield.
24 Cincinnati Bengals 24
Marvin Lewis is quickly putting his stamp on this team, which is a good thing. The Bengals will be competitive and can surprise if Jon Kitna can play as he did late in 2002.
25 Cleveland Browns 22
The quarterback situation, no matter how it played out, was bound to affect this team. The defense was awful in the preseason, which doesn't bode well for the regular season.
26 Dallas Cowboys 28
Quincy Carter looks as if he has made strides as a quarterback, which is essential to the success of this team. How much remains to be seen.
27 Washington Redskins 23
They spent a lot of money to improve this season, but will it show up? They have to get a big season out of Patrick Ramsey or all the money spent will matter little.
28 Chicago Bears 29
The running game is a question, the passing game is a question with Kordell Stewart and offensive coordinator John Shoop is unimaginative. Think they have a chance to win?
29 Jacksonville Jaguars 25
The coaching staff never had doubts about Mark Brunell. Now he has to show why to get the fans off his back.
30 Houston Texans 30
They will be better on offense -- they have nowhere to go but up -- but something says that defense will take a step back.
31 Detroit Lions 31
The running game is in trouble without James Stewart -- I can't believe I just wrote that -- which should put a lot of pressure on second-year quarterback Joey Harrington.
32 Arizona Cardinals 32
There are some talented young players on this team, players who could pay off big in a year or two. This will be a learning season for most.
