Gridiron Blitz: NFL Power Rankings

Finally getting to my NFL Power Rankings

Music to listen to: Melting Chariots by The Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Quintet

On to the rankings

32- Carolina Panthers: Congrats on getting the top overall pick but this has to be a major disappointment for John Fox and his resume. The Panthers at one point were one of the top-ten teams in all of the NFL under Fox and even made a Super Bowl appearance. It seemed since the 2008 playoff loss to Arizona where Jake Delhomme threw all of those interceptions things have gone downhill

31- Houston Texans: Its time for Gary Kubiak to be relieved of his coaching duties because there’s no reason for Houston to only have five wins this season. That squad is too talented.

30- San Francisco 49ers: This is an open coaching position that should being intrigue but the quarterback position needs to be solved. They’ll have a chance to draft a QB in the first round in one of the deeper talent pools you’ll see in the position for several years.

29- Denver Broncos: While I’m not completely ready to embrace the Tebow era in Denver, he did have some good moments in Denver’s comeback victory over Houston on Sunday.

28- Arizona Cardinals: The Cards had a nice win over Dallas on Christmas and have won two of their last three contests.

27- Cincinnati Bengals: Despite winning two games in a row down the home stretch, major organizational changes need to be made for this squad. Its hard to go from AFC North champion to double-digit losses the next season but the Natti found a way.

26- Seattle Seahawks: The fact that if they win at home over St. Louis on Sunday night, which isn’t an impossible prospect, they will win the NFC West is bad as we all know. What intrigues me is that if they win the division, the Seahawks would have to be considered the worst division winner ever. Their scoring differential is -107 and have lost seven of their last nine games by more than ten points each.

25- Buffalo Bills: Another team looking for a quarterback and their home loss to New England showed that the Bills are light years away from being a competitive force in its own division.

24- Cleveland Browns: The John Gruden-to-Cleveland whispers are starting to become more vocal and I’m not sure if I’m against that. If the Browns organization does decide to make a head coaching change, the first question has to be whether Colt McCoy is the quarterback of the present and future. Also, what about Peyton Hillis not being named to the Pro Bowl! Robbery I tell you!

23- Tennessee Titans: I think Vince Young shouldn’t be asked to return and I would seriously consider parting ways with Jeff Fisher as well. However, I’m not Bud Adams and don’t have to make that choice.

22- Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys would be wise to make Jason Garrett the permanent head coach but unfortunately for Dallas fans, wise and personnel decisions made by Jerry Jones hasn’t gone well together in years.

21- Washington Redskins: No head coach has done more damage to his place in history more in one season than Mike Shanahan has done this season. If the Redskins didn’t have such troubles in the Jim Zorn era the previous few seasons, a one-and-done experience with Shanahan wouldn’t seem as impossible to believe.

20- Minnesota Vikings: I think the Vikings have to look at all options at quarterback before settling on Joe Webb. However, after Minnesota’s victory at Philadelphia on Tuesday and Webb’s composure during the contest, I can see some believing Webb is the man for the job.

19- Miami Dolphins: It may be unfair to fire a coach who can possibly finish 8-8 in a competitive AFC East and conference overall, but things have to change in Miami. You can’t have only one home win in a season.

18- Detroit Lions: I was tempted to make the Lions a playoff team before the season started and their three-game winning streak has shown this belief to be true. If Matt Stafford can find a way to stay on the field, I may have to re-visit my positive thoughts on Detroit for next season.

17- Oakland Raiders: I had no faith in Tom Cable but he’s proven to be a good fit in Oakland. The key for the Raiders is to build on the improvements they made this season and not mess things up.

16- St. Louis Rams: I thought Sam Bradford would be a major bust so I have to admit my mistake.

15- Jacksonville Jaguars: You can’t lose that game at home against Washington if you want to be a playoff team.

14- San Diego Chargers: The inconsistent ways of the Chargers finally caught up with them and missing the playoffs may finally be the wake up call for the organization to focus on having better starts to the season.

13- New York Giants: The Eagles loss at home was bad enough but to get beaten badly at Green Bay was more disappointing. Another Tom Coughlin-led team starts the year well but falters down the stretch. I don’t have a remedy for this problem but firing Coughlin wouldn’t be the best solution unless an elite head coach is available and that may or may not include Bill Cowher.

12- Tampa Bucs: I like the future of the Bucs because you have a top quarterback prospect, talent and youth in the offensive skill positions, a hungry defense and a head coach who has supreme confidence in his team. I thought they talked a little too much crap in the beginning of the season, saying that they had “swagger” and proclaiming to be the best team in the NFC, but for a franchise that had some rough years, this was a welcomed change in confidence.

11- Indianapolis Colts: This is arguably the weakest Colts team in a decade yet they’re still poised to win a division title.

10- New York Jets: The offense finally showed up on Sunday at Chicago but the defense continued its weak play by allowing Jay Cutler and the Bears look like the 1999 Rams.

9- Green Bay Packers: I had the Packers as my Super Bowl team before the season started and if there’s one team that can win three straight road games to get to Dallas in February, its Green Bay.

8- Kansas City Chiefs- You look at the roster and wonder how the Chiefs have ten wins but they do and will host a playoff contest. Excellent coaching job by Todd Haley and drafting by Scott Pioli.

7- Philadelphia Eagles: Michael Vick is looking mortal, mainly because he’s starting to break down physically. As talented as Vick is, his physical frame and style of play makes it hard for him to last an entire season. The loss at home to Minnesota may be the harbinger of bad things to come for the Eagles the next few weeks.

6- Chicago Bears: My boy Jay Cutler has a division title and I couldn’t be happier for my fellow Commie. Now, would I trust him in a playoff game, get back to me on that one.

5- Atlanta Falcons: Suffered a tough loss to New Orleans on Monday night but can still get home field advantage for the entire playoffs with a win against Carolina. What has to be concerning was the lack of offense and the struggles of Matt Ryan in the contest.

4- New Orleans Saints: The Saints have quietly been making their case as a contender and made an announcement with a win at Atlanta on Monday.

3- Baltimore Ravens: They may be the best team to compete with New England and they finally have an offense that can score points in the postseason.

2- Pittsburgh Steelers: No player outside of a quarterback has a bigger impact on his team’s postseason aspirations than Troy Polomalu

1- New England Patriots: If the Patriots make the Super Bowl, they would arguably be more than a touchdown favorite against any team in the NFC.

Those are my thoughts, what are yours?