​The Strength Of Ten: Week 1 NFL Power Rankings

The 2017 NFL season is here. As always I am here to spread some joy but most importantly bring you the first set of Power Rankings for the season. Much like predicting winners vs. the spread -- which we will get to on Wednesday, the first and last week of the NFL season is always the hardest to put your finger on as to which team is legitimate and which ones are a fraud. But I guess that is the fun part of this, right. The proverbial guessing game. 

Anyway here we go. The Strength Of Ten NFL Power Rankings brought to you by Earnestly Speaking Media.

1. New England Patriots

The title defense begins this Thursday night at home vs. a potential AFC contender in Kansas City. Will be interesting to see how the teams adjusts without their grinder in Julian Edelman. The Pats have the weapons to replace him though. Besides that I really believe the Pats have a cake walk to the Super Bowl. Unless someone else can tell me different. 

2. Seattle Seahawks 

Right out the gate we are going to know alot about this year’s Seahawks as they open up the year in Lambeau in a very possible NFC Title game preview. One of the strangest offseason in memory I am very high on Seattle moving forward. All summer I said this upcoming season felt like a crossroad for this Legion Of Boom. By the way I stand by my long shot value bet of Russell Wilson to win league MVP in 2017. 

3. Pittsburgh Steelers  

Despite the threat of retirement by Ben Roethlisberger plus a hold out by LeVeon Bell the Steelers do enter the season with both situations resolved. My question is whether Pittsburgh actually challenge New England for AFC supremacy. Last season’s title game loss left a bad taste and yet right now I believe the Pittsburgh Steelers are the only team equipped right now preventing another New England Patriots Super Bowl berth.

4. Atlanta Falcons 

The Falcons fascinate me even more now. Can they respond from the Super Bowl collapse from February? Will they take a step back in an NFC South I expect to vastly improve in 2017? So many questions around this team. 

5. Green Bay Packers 

One of the things about the Packers that have bothered me in recent years is the complacent nature of General Manager Ted Thompson and in my opinion spending more money on a better roster rather than relying solely on Aaron Rodgers. In my opinion it has cost Rodgers more opportunities to pad his Super Bowl ring count in his prime. Much like the Seahawks I spoke about earlier, this season also feels like a crossroad season for Green Bay. 

6. Oakland Raiders 

The AFC West is tough. I see the Raiders regressing a bit in 2017. I also do not believe the signing of Marshawn Lynch is going to matter in the grander scheme of things. To me what will make Oakland turn the corner from a good team to an elite AFC contender is their defense which to be honest was quite dreadful last year. It is a huge question mark. It is also the very reason why I campaigned for Derek Carr to win league MVP. 

7. Kansas City Chiefs 

It’s not sexy. It’s not flashy. Yet every year the Chiefs always seem to fall into a double digit win total. The question now is whether they can finally make a push to the AFC title game. I predicted as such last year and was let down. This year is there best chance yet with a wide open AFC outside you know.

8. Dallas Cowboys 

Honestly Dallas would be much higher on this list if we were guaranteed Ezekiel Elliott would miss zero time. But due to his stupid six game suspension which I totally disagree with the NFL on we are here. 

9. Tennessee Titans 

My biggest dark horse of 2017. The AFC South is horrible. Tennessee has a huge opportunity to pad up some wins in the division. Plus I love how this team is being built from the inside out. The trenches ladies and gentlemen.  

10. New York Giants

When I listen to media types across the country there are two difference sides of the coin when describing the Giants. Either there are going to be really, really good or underwhelm once again.