Niners Nation 2008 Post-Training Camp NFC Community Power Rankings

by David Fucillo on Sep 3, 2008 4:39 PM PDT in San Francisco 49ers News

EDITOR'S NOTE 4:40PM: Since the Redskins and Giants kick off Thursday night, this will be the last call for submissions of power rankings. We've got 10 so far, so anybody else, feel free to contribute. If you're interested but not registered, you can register by either "Signing Up" on the top left of the front page, or going into the comments for this post where there's an option for registering. The more submissions the better. I'll close polling tomorrow by lunchtime pacific time I'm thinking.

Back in July we put together our first community power rankings for the new season. Now that the preseason is over and 53-man rosters are pretty much set, it's time for the next set of power rankings. While preseason records don't tell us much, there were some intriuging performances. Notable among those would be the 4-0 Detroit Lions. Of course Atlanta went 3-1 last preseason and finished 4-12 for the year, so take it all with a grain of salt, right?

So, for those who don't remember how it worked, here's the thread we used for the pre-training camp rankings. It's NFC only and all you need to do is rank them 1-16. We had 12 voters last time, so hopefully we can get some more this time around. The more the merrier. For now I'm plugging them into an Excel spreadsheet and figuring out the aggregate rankings, which will be posted later this week. If somebody is interested in handling this on a week to week basis I'm accepting volunteers.

I'll give some thoughts on each team, but it is not required from you guys. Also, I'll bump this up to the top of the posts once or twice over the coming days to keep the ballots coming in:

1. Dallas Cowboys (13-3): Quite simply, they're the team to beat until proven otherwise.
2. Seattle Seahawks (10-6): I had them 6th before training camp, and even though preseason doesn't prove anything, I'm impressed so far. The teams I had ahead of them have too many question marks.
3. New Orleans Saints (7-9): Hopefully Hurricane Gustav doesn't keep them out of New Orleans for too long. The talent is definitely there to make a run in the NFC
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7): Cadillac is down again, but Earnest Graham should be able to handle his business. Throw in a tough defense and the battle with the Saints for the division title should be fun to watch, thus I've got them tied for third (what a cop-out right)?
5. Philadelphia Eagles (7-9): Their receivers are dropping like flies, meaning DeSean Jackson might get a chance to really shine this season. As long as they've got McNabb and Westbrook with that defense they're going to be fine. Look for a bounce back season from Reggie Brown.
6. Green Bay Packers (13-3): Now that the Favre distraction is over, Aaron Rodgers can get to business of leading this team. Even if he struggles, they've got one heck of a ball-hawking defense.
7. Minnesota Vikings (8-8): I'm convinced Tavaris Jackson is gonna cost them this season. However, having Adrian Peterson and that defense could cover up that fact.
8. Washington Redskins (9-7): They went 3-2 in the preseason with a points differential of -45. Simply amazing.
9. Carolina Panthers (7-9): In the last ranking I mentioned Williams starting at RB. Could be an impressive platoon with Jonathan Stewart. I actually think I'm under-rating the Panthers, as I think they could very well make the playoffs.
10. NY Giants (10-6): Losing Osi Umenyiora is really gonna hurt that defense. A struggling defense means more responsibility on Eli's shoulders. I'm not holding my breath, as I think they're officially low man on the NFC East totem pole. The only reason they're not lower is because they're the defending champs.
11. Arizona Cardinals (8-8): The Cardinals and 49ers are two teams that could do most anything this season and I wouldn't be shocked. We'll see what Warner can do with this high octane offense.
12. San Francisco 49ers (5-11): I wanted to move them higher, but I just don't know where yet. The offense showed life, the defense should be fine, but again, anything could happen this season.
13. Chicago Bears (7-9): Orton may have looked great against the 49ers, but that defense got slapped around. If the defense struggles this year, they're going in the tank.
14. St. Louis Rams (3-13): You know they're psyched to have Steven Jackson back in the fold.
15. Detroit Lions (7-9): There's no way their 4-0 preseason is indicative of the coming regular season.
16. Atlanta Falcons (4-12): Their offense is really going to struggle this year, but they're looking to the future. Matt Ryan will take his lumps and I'm sure Falcons fans hope he doesn't follow in the footsteps of David Carr and Alex Smith.

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Comments

No time for explanation!

I’m in a rush but Minnesota looks [i]nasty[/i] and the Giants suddenly look bad:
1. Minnesota Vikings (8-8):
2. Dallas Cowboys (13-3):
3. New Orleans Saints (7-9)
4. Green Bay Packers (13-3):
5. Seattle Seahawks (10-6)
6. Philadelphia Eagles (7-9):
7. NY Giants (10-6)
8. Carolina Panthers (7-9)
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-7)
10. Washington Redskins (9-7)
11. Arizona Cardinals (8-8)
12. San Francisco 49ers (5-11)
13. St. Louis Rams (3-13)
14. Chicago Bears (7-9)
15. Detroit Lions (7-9)
16. Atlanta Falcons (4-12)

by spenczar on Sep 1, 2008 7:26 PM PDT reply actions

No worries

Thanks for getting them in….And interesting decision on moving the Vikings to #1. They’re definitely gonna be an interesting team this year.

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by David Fucillo on Sep 1, 2008 7:40 PM PDT up reply actions

Take that, Mr. Favre

1. Green Bay
2. Seattle
3. Dallas
4. Philadelphia
5. New Orleans
6. New York
7. Minnesota
8. Tampa Bay
9. Carolina
10. Washington
11. Arizona
12. San Francisco
13. Detroit
14. St. Louis
15. Chicago
16. Atlanta

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by sven406 on Sep 1, 2008 8:19 PM PDT reply actions

My Predictions 2.0:

I want to say three things…
1. Seattle is over-rated! Their first 6 games will be very difficult as neither of their starting WRs will be in, they have no established running game, and their last 8 games are very difficult. It would not surprise me if they went 8-8 or worse this year.
2. The 49ers have upgraded their defense and special teams this year, if the offense can just manage the game and keep things close, than they could go 9-7 or better this year.
3. Chicago Bear’s special teams will have more touchdowns than Kyle Orton or any of their WRs this year.

1 – Dallas Cowboys
2 – New Orleans Saints
3 – Green Bay Packers
4 – Philadelphia Eagles
5 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
6 – Minnesota Vikings
7 – Seattle Seahawks
8 – NY Giants
9 – San Francisco 49ers
10 – Washington Redskins
11 – Carolina Panthers
12 – Arizona Cardinals
13 – Detroit Lions
14 – St. Louis Rams
15 – Atlanta Falcons
16 – Chicago Bears

by StrictlyFootball on Sep 1, 2008 8:54 PM PDT reply actions

My Turn

1. Minnesota
2. Dallas
3. Green Bay
4. New Orleans
5. Tampa Bay
6. Philadelphia
7. Seattle
8. New York
9. Carolina
10. San Francisco
11. Washington
12. Arizona
13. St. Louis
14. Detroit
15. Chicago
16. Atlanta

MURS for President!!!!!!!

by jtoj on Sep 2, 2008 12:00 AM PDT reply actions

Rankings 2.0

1. Dallas Cowboys (-)
2. Minnesota Vikings (3)
3. New Orleans Saints (-1)
4. Philadelphia Eagles (2)
5. Green Bay Packers (2)
6. Seattle Seahawks (-2)
7. New York Giants (-4)
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1)
9. San Francisco 49ers (4)
10. Carolina Panthers (1)
11. Arizona Cardinals (-1)
12. Washington Redskins (-4)
13. Detroit Lions (+3)
14. St. Louis Rams (-)
15. Chicago Bears (-3)
16. Atlanta Falcons (-1)

by J2daZ on Sep 2, 2008 12:49 AM PDT reply actions

1. Minnesota Vikings
2. Dallas Cowboys
3. New York Giants
4. Philadelphia Eagles
5. Seattle Seahawks
6. New Orleans Saints
7. Green Bay Packers
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
9. Carolina Panthers
10. San Francisco 49ers
11. Detroit Lions
12. St. Louis Rams
13. Washington Redskins
14. Arizona Cardinals
15. Atlanta Falcons
16. Chicago Bears

Simply by pulling on both ends, Patrick Willis can stretch diamonds back into coal

by 49erLou on Sep 2, 2008 8:12 AM PDT reply actions

My $.02

1. Dallas
2. Green Bay
3. New Orleans
4. Minnesota
5. Tampa Bay
6. Seattle
7. NY Giants
8. Philly
9. Washington
10. SF
11. Carolina
12. Detroit
13. Arizona
14. Chicago
15. St. Louis
16. Atlanta

STEVE HOLM! refuses to be the odd man out.

by UnleashTheGore on Sep 2, 2008 9:15 AM PDT reply actions

1. Dallas Cowboys
2. Green Bay Packers
3. Minnesota Vikings
4. New Orleans Saints
5. Philadelphia Eagles
6. Seattle Seahawks
7. Carolina Panthers
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
9. New York Giants
10. Washington Redskins
11. Arizona Cardinals
12. San Francisco 49ers
13. St. Louis Rams
14. Chicago Bears
15. Detroit Lions
16. Atlanta Falcons

by methodrampage on Sep 2, 2008 9:32 AM PDT reply actions

1. Dallas Cowboys
2. Minnesota Vikings
3. Green Bay Packers
4. New Orleans Saints
5. Philadelphia Eagles
6. New York Giants
7. Seattle Seahawks
8. Washington Redskins
9. Carolina Panthers
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
11. Arizona Cardinals
12. San Francisco 49ers
13. St. Louis Rams
14. Detroit Lions
15. Chicago Bears
16. Atlanta Falcons

by good as gold on Sep 2, 2008 11:44 PM PDT reply actions

1. Niners.
2-16. Who cares?

by Rishi on Sep 3, 2008 4:43 PM PDT reply actions

Okay, in reality:

NFC Power rankings?
1. Cowboys
2. Seahawks
3. Eagles
4. Saints
5. Packers
6. Giants
7. Vikings
8. Panthers
9. Redskins
10. Bucs
11. Niners
12. Cards
13. Bears
14. Lions
15. Rams
16. Falcons

Though I am tempted to follow the NFC South pattern and pick the Falcons to win the division.

by Rishi on Sep 3, 2008 4:45 PM PDT reply actions

2-8 and 9-16 are all interchangeable

1. Cowboys
2. Redskins
3. Vikings
4. Packers
5. Bucs
6. Saints
7. Seahawks
8. Giants
9. Eagles
10. Niners
11. Panthers
12. Cards
13. Bears
14. Lions
15. Rams
16. Falcons

Trent Kline: Decentish. Also, my website is called ChatterBalks Dot Com. It's not being updated right now. Hope for more at your own risk.

by groug on Sep 3, 2008 9:39 PM PDT reply actions

i'll try

1. Saints
2. Cowboys
3. Vikings
4. Eagles
5. Seahawks
6. Giants
7. Bucs
8. Packers
9. Redskins
10. 49ers
11. Panthers
12. Bears
13. Cards
14. Rams
15. Lions
16. Falcons

by Vote4Gore on Sep 3, 2008 9:41 PM PDT reply actions

So the season started, no biggie

1. Cowboys – yup

2. Packers – they can survive without Farve, slight downgrade at QB but dominant D

3. Giants – why does everyone have them so low? sure they got lucky last year but still beat quality teams on the road and have a strong D & running game, decent passing game

4. Vikings – can their amazing rungame and pretty good D make up for a shitass qb?

5. Saints – what happened to them last year that made their offense less dominant? Even if they bounce back, their D is still a joke.

6. Seahawks – non hasselbeck offense looking sort of weak, very good D tho, someone has to win the NFC West

7. Eagles – is their defense really that good to be rated so high by everyone? Im really excited for DeSean Jackson tho.

8. Panthers – I still like their offense could be really good as soon as Jake Gylnhall/w/e stays healthy.

9. Redskins – I always expect them to do better than they actually do.

10. Bucs – ewy offense, good D, I wouldn’t be supersurprised if they snuck away with the NFC South.

11. Cards – great offense. I think their future is just as bright as ours. For whatever thats worth.

12. 49ers – JT O Sullivan was not the guy I wanted to win the job. I think I can trust Mike Martz tho. Im having a hard time predicting how we’ll do with any accuracy. Anywhere between 5 and 10 wins is imaginable. I previously though 6 but I’ll say 7.

13. Bears – what if they got a decent offense together? They were in a Superbowl a little while ago right? Geez you guys.

14. Rams – ppl are drafting Bulger and Steven Jackson way too early

15. Lions – its nice to have teams that are worse that us for sure

16. Falcons – Im no scout and I have no evidence to support my claim but I say Matt Ryan fails.

by lincypoo i wuv u on Sep 6, 2008 2:37 AM PDT reply actions