NFL Power Ratings
Our staff has developed NFL football power ratings with up to date rankings and how we as handicappers see these teams. We will list our NFL team rankings on a week by week basis and as much as possible. You can check this page for up to date NFL power ratings from Cappersinfo Sports Handicapping. Thanks for visiting and don't forget to check out all the free sports picks in the forums and free picks monitor, other sports betting information, and NFL Football predictions for sports handicappers!
Cappersinfo Current NFL Power Rankings
(Through the end of the 2010 NFL betting season)
1: Green Bay Packers (10-6) – It's really hard to argue with anything that the Packers did this season down the stretch, and what we have to remember about them is that they are only going to be getting more help back this coming season. TE Jermichael Finley was one of the better tight ends in the league before getting injured, and the loss of RB Ryan Grant left the team in shambles with its passing game. QB Aaron Rodgers was legitimately one of the best quarterbacks in the league this year, and he is only going to get better in this, his fourth straight year as the Packers' starting signal caller.
2: Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) – Hindsight 20/20, it wouldn't have made a bit of difference, but had QB Ben Roethlisberger actually played in the first four games of the regular season, perhaps the Steelers could have been even better than they already were. They'll get back both OT Willie Colon and OT Max Starks this year, and you can bet that the team will be searching for more offensive line help over the course of the offseason and in the NFL Draft. Could C Maurkice Pouncey be welcoming his brother, another Florida Gators standout to the Steel City? Don't be so sure that that won't be the case late in the first round of the draft.
3: New England Patriots (14-2) – Whatever Head Coach Bill Belichick seems to touch works, especially while he has QB Tom Brady calling the shots. Brady was the league's unanimous choice for MVP this year, and for good reason. New England is really a major wide receiver short of where it needs to be to get back to the form of the undefeated season, but aside from that, it really isn't all that far away from being truly dominating again. Things will get better next year for the Pats, who probably did have the best team in the entire NFL this season.
4: Baltimore Ravens (12-4) – No one will be able to convince us that the Ravens weren't one of the best five teams in the NFL this past season. They were unlucky not to win the AFC North, and who knows what could have happened at that point for the men in purple and black. You might think that this defense is aging with LB Ray Lewis and S Ed Reed, but we have to remember that DB Dominique Foxworth was out for the whole season, and men like LB Terrell Suggs and DT Haloti Ngata are still very young and very, very hungry. QB Joe Flacco isn't a tremendous gunslinger, but he just keeps finding ways to win games. He and RB Ray Rice should be in for big years again in 2011.
5: Atlanta Falcons (13-3) – When you think of tremendous offenses, you don't really think of the Falcons, but when push really comes to shove, the trio of QB Matt Ryan, WR Roddy White, and RB Michael Turner might be as good as it gets in this league. (Heck, we can throw TE Tony Gonzalez in there for the fourth too, if we want) There are still some secondary issues that really reared their ugly heads against the Pack in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, but if Head Coach Mike Smith gets that figured out, look out! Atlanta is a tough team to tame.
6: New York Jets (11-5) – Somehow, the Jets just keep finding ways to win games at the right time of year. They came up just short of the Super Bowl for the second straight season, but with each passing game, QB Mark Sanchez gets better and better. Odds have it, he won't have all of the same tools to work with, as either WR Braylon Edwards and/or WR Santonio Holmes will be gone, and there will still be questions as to whether RB LaDainian Tomlinson can keep going this year, but as long as that defense is intact, we aren't going to want to go against this team.
7: San Diego Chargers (9-7) – It seems a tad early to be putting a non-playoff team on this list, but the Chargers were absolutely the best team in the AFC West this year, and they were clearly one of the best teams in the whole league. We think that San Diego did right by retaining Head Coach Norv Turner this year, as it is clear that a team that outscored its foes by 119 points is going to be better than 9-7 again next year, especially knowing that there is a decent first round draft choice coming to town to boot. Watch out for QB Philip Rivers and company next year.
8: Philadelphia Eagles (10-6) – If something happens to QB Michael Vick again next year, there are going to be issues, as QB Kevin Kolb is clearly not going to be in town to help pick up the slack. However, had Vick started the season and stayed healthy, he really might have been the MVP of the league along with the league's Comeback Player of the Year. If the defense can shore up just a tad and the running game doesn't fall off with RB LeSean McCoy, Philly should fly to the top of the NFC East again in 2011.
9: New Orleans Saints (11-5) – Maybe we're shortchanging the Saints just a bit, but there is no doubt in our minds that this is a team that can win it all for the second time in three years next year. QB Drew Brees has all of the weapons in place to make things work, and inevitably, he won't suffer as many running back injuries as he did this year. The defense has been surprisingly solid under Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams, and you can bet now that he is certainly coming back for another season, that the black and gold will be contenders again in 2011.
10: Indianapolis Colts (10-6) – It took a lot of work this year for the Colts to wrap up the AFC South title, something that they have won virtually every season since it was formed. Indy knows that it has to find a way to stay healthy next year, as the injury problems both in the secondary and in the skill positions on offense were just not able to be overcome. QB Peyton Manning is still a proven winner, and he would love to capture yet another ring to go past his brother, Eli once again.
11: New York Giants (10-6) – Speaking of QB Eli Manning… The Giants were arguably a bad punt away from winning the NFC East and making the playoffs as the division winners instead of the Eagles. Manning didn't have all of his targets in place either for this whole year, and the injuries to a very deep defensive line finally took their toll at the end of the campaign. This is a make or break year for Head Coach Tom Coughlin, as the memories of that Super Bowl from all those years ago has been forgotten in the Big Apple.
12: Chicago Bears (11-5) – The Bears were one of the last four teams left standing in the playoffs this year, but we really still don't know how and why. Sure, they won the NFC North this season and were deserving of a first round home game in the playoffs, but to draw arguably the worst team that the postseason has ever seen was just a total gift. QB Jay Cutler was really exposed for being awfully soft in the loss to the Packers in the NFC Championship Game, and though this defense is fantastic, the offense is just beyond repair right now.
13: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-6) – 2010 was supposed to be a year in which the Bucs took a big step forward. We didn't think that that meant that they were going to win 10 games and only be eliminated from the second season on the very last day of the regular season. QB Josh Freeman has absolutely proven that he was worth the first round draft choice two years ago, and a young defense which features a ton of starters under the age of 28 is only going to get better and better with time. Head Coach Raheem Morris should have this team in the playoffs next year.
14: Kansas City Chiefs (10-6) – We're not so sure whether Offensive Coordinator Charlie Weis was that good, or whether QB Matt Cassel has all of a sudden really emerged as a starting quarterback at the NFL level. Cassel did look horrible in KC's first round postseason game against the Ravens, but a lot of QBs look terrible against the men in purple and black. The Chiefs took an amazing step forward this year, but this really might have been the ceiling for a team that never really felt like a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
15: Oakland Raiders (8-8) – Apparently, being the only team in the entire league to go 6-0 in division wasn't good enough to save the job of Head Coach Tom Cable from the wrath of Owner Al Davis. For whatever reason, Cable was dismissed after the best season that the silver and black have had since Bill Callahan finished ruining the franchise that Jon Gruden had built. QB Jason Campbell really showed some signs down the stretch of becoming a great signal callers, and the world now knows just how great RB Darren McFadden really can be.
16: Jacksonville Jaguars (8-8) – Eight wins was good enough for Head Coach Jack Del Rio, and it was probably good enough for QB David Garrard as well. However, these two have their jobs tied together at the hip, and if one goes, expect the other one to end up going as well. Getting close was acceptable this year, but anything less than a playoff bid next season will see both probably end up getting dismissed.
17: St. Louis Rams (7-9) – The most improved team in the league this year was clearly St. Louis, which went from having the worst record in the game at 1-15 to being just one win away from the postseason. QB Sam Bradford is going to be very special in due time, and Head Coach Steve Spagnuolo knows that his defense is going to get there eventually. One more solid NFL Draft choice is going to help bring the Rams that much closer to where they want to be.
18: Dallas Cowboys (6-10) – From the point that Head Coach Jason Garrett took over, the Cowboys all of a sudden became formidable again, and it is clear that the team is going to be a lot better next year with a healthy QB Tony Romo and the young gun in Garrett calling the shots. The only question is whether it was just a luster from Garrett being the new guy, or whether Big D is really ready for this era to begin with a bang.
19: Miami Dolphins (7-9) – This is going to be a very interesting offseason for the Fish. Head Coach Tony Sparano was clearly set to get fired if Jim Harbaugh was ready to come to town, but when that wasn't the case, Sparano kept his job. This could lead to some interesting power struggles in the locker room with a coach that might be a lame duck. Sparano took over a team that went just 1-15. He might leave the team in the same spot, especially if QB Chad Henne doesn't prove to really be a viable option as a starting quarterback. Don't be shocked if the Fins take their QB of the future in the first round of the NFL Draft this Spring.
20: Detroit Lions (6-10) – The poor Lions were really, really close last year. Had QB Matt Stafford stayed healthy for more than the equivalent of about a couple games on the season, perhaps they really would have had a chance to compete for a playoff spot. The team is clearly improving, and Head Coach Jim Schwartz has a great plan of action to get the team there. DT Ndamukong Suh wasn't just the best rookie defensive player this year. The argument could have been made that he was the league's best lineman.
21: Seattle Seahawks (7-9) – A playoff win over the defending Super Bowl champs validated the fact that the Seahawks deserved their spot in the playoffs, but all that we really learned about this team this year, we really weren't fond of. QB Matt Hasselbeck still doesn't really have it, and RB Marshawn Lynch wasn't really the answer that the team was looking for at tailback. The defense is improving, something that should come with the influence of Head Coach Pete Carroll, but there is still a lot of work to be done to get this team back in the playoffs this year.
22: Houston Texans (6-10) – Yeah, but… That was theme for the Texans this year, as they just lost heartbreaking game after heartbreaking game this year. Head Coach Gary Kubiak was retained for some unknown reason, and unless he gets to the playoffs, and maybe wins a game when he gets there, he is going to be out the door. Getting back LB DeMeco Ryans will help, as will avoiding injuries and suspensions for LB Brian Cushing. A real star emerged this year in RB Arian Foster on the other side of the ball, giving Houston arguably the best trio of QB, WR, and RB in the land with Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson. The pieces are in place. The question is whether Kubiak can do anything with them or not.
23: San Francisco 49ers (6-10) – This is where we're going to figure out whether the Niners really made the right choice by throwing oodles of money at Head Coach Jim Harbaugh. Harbaugh was the hottest commodity on the coaching market this year, but he inherits a team that really has underachieved now for three straight seasons. The mistake of drafting QB Alex Smith instead of QB Aaron Rodgers has now officially blown up in their face now that Rodgers has a ring on his finger, and this franchise is probably going back to the drawing board at the NFL Draft for another young signal caller to groom.
24: Minnesota Vikings (6-10) – It was just a weird year for the Vikes, as they lost QB Brett Favre towards the end of the year and lost chunks of their dome to Mother Nature as well. Minnesota should be much improved this season with new Head Coach Leslie Frazier taking over, but there is still a real question whether there is a commitment that is going to be made to QB Tarvaris Jackson or not. We know that RB Adrian Peterson is going to be run into the ground this year one way or the other, as the rest of the options just aren't there on this defense.
25: Washington Redskins (6-10) – Head Coach Mike Shanahan didn't do that great of a job this year with his new arsenal, and the fact that he benched QB Donovan McNabb for a two minute drill and then again at the end of the season really did cause a ruckus. This is a franchise that is really in shambles right now, as DT Albert Haynesworth is still causing some friction in the locker room as well. The former Denver Broncos coach probably only has one more year to turn this around, or he is going to be put back out into the cold.
26: Arizona Cardinals (5-11) – The good news is that the Cardinals really might be just one player away from competing once again in the NFC West. The bad news is that the NFC West is still atrocious and that that one player needed is a quarterback. Figure that there is only one more year to find that signal callers as well, or WR Larry Fitzgerald is probably bidding the desert adieu. If that's the case, Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt might be on the chopping block as well even though he really reformed this team into a contender from a pile of nothingness a few years ago.
27: Cleveland Browns (5-11) – Head Coach Eric Mangini finally got the axe, but there were definitely some things to be proud of it you were a fan of the Browns this year. RB Peyton Hillis is one of the best power backs in the game, and QB Colt McCoy really might be the real deal at this level. DB Joe Haden helped out a defense that was absolutely an abomination two years ago, but there are still approximately 10 more holes to fill on that side of the ball. Head Coach Pat Shumur has a lot of work to do.
28: Tennessee Titans (6-10) – Head Coach Jeff Fisher was dismissed, and it appears as though QB Vince Young might be as well. The Titans were ruined last year when Young was put on IR, as they really had no chance of challenging for a playoff spot, which really ultimately proved to be the demise of the longest tenured coach in the game. There's no telling where Tennessee is turning next, but we know that the AFC South isn't going to be doing it any favors in the near future.
29: Buffalo Bills (4-12) – The Bills are making a real mistake if they get rid of QB Ryan Fitzpatrick this year. No, the Ivy Leaguer isn't going to ultimately bring this team to the Super Bowl, but he proved to be a heck of a lot better than QB Trent Edwards was, and he could be the bridge quarterback to get this team back in competition again in the AFC East. RB CJ Spiller proved to be a total bust this year, and Head Coach Chan Gailey really is to blame. Still, Buffalo showed some spunk at times in the second half of the season, and it might find a way to inch closer to .500 next year with some help acquired in the offseason.
30: Denver Broncos (4-12) – If you really doubted QB Tim Tebow before this season, you probably aren't doubting him that much anymore. The man from the University of Florida won two games down the stretch on a team that was dreadful this year. However, there are reasons to be optimistic in the Rockies. Head Coach John Fox has a proven track record as a winner, though his last year with Carolina was a real stinker, and this defense had a ton of injuries last year that are bound to not happen again in 2011. The AFC West is still lousy and is there for the taking if the Chargers slip up as they did this year.
31: Cincinnati Bengals (4-12) – QB Carson Palmer wants a trade, but the Bengals are trying to not give one to him. New Offensive Coordinator Jay Gruden is going to try to smooth over the waters between the team and Palmer, but it is still unknown whether he is going to be able to get the job done or not. One thing is for sure, and that's that this team has a lot of holes to plug in a hurry on both sides of the ball, and a top pick in the NFL Draft isn't going to cure all of what ails it.
32: Carolina Panthers (2-14) – How this team ever won two games is beyond us. In fairness to the Panthers, they did have a lame duck head coach all season last year with John Fox, and they knew that they weren't going to be all that good. QB Matt Moore didn't work out, and QB Jimmy Clausen looked like a deer in headlights. It seemed like a foregone conclusion that QB Andrew Luck was going to be a Panther this coming year, but he's heading back to Stanford. It's anyone's guess what Carolina is doing from here, though there is no doubt that there are plenty of different names that could be called to help out with the first pick of the NFL Draft.
