NFL Power Poll End of 2004 Reg. Season

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NFL Power Poll

Unlike college football, the NFL won't rely heavily on power polls to determine a champion. Everything will be decided on the field in the next month, so consider this to be the poll like the one we would see before the NCAA basketball tournament -- where we know what team at the king of the hill at the end will be the true No. 1.

It was a tough weekend for Pittsburgh Panthers football and basketball, with both college teams falling from their high ranks, but the Steel City's professional football team has ascended to No. 1 in this poll with its impressive performance on the road against the Bills -- without Ben Roethlisberger and Jerome Bettis, no less.

The Steelers are the team to beat, both in the AFC playoffs and in the entire NFL postseason with the league's only 15-1 record. They have won in many different ways and silenced many critics. Until they lose again -- which may not be until September -- they deserve their current position.

1. PITTSBURGH. This team went on the road against a red-hot Buffalo team without a number of starters and won a physical battle. As the Steelers are home throughout the playoffs, they finally move into the top spot.

2. NEW ENGLAND. The Patriots have been playing without a healthy secondary and their best defensive player, end Richard Seymour. At this point, that must be considered a factor as they move out of the top spot for the first time this season. If most of the injured return for the AFC championship game, then they will head to the Super Bowl once again.

3. INDIANAPOLIS. The Colts' scoring machine gets help from a defense that knows how to rush the passer and take the ball back. They will have no trouble with the Broncos in the first round of the playoffs.

4. SAN DIEGO. The Chargers rested several of their top players and still beat a decent Kansas City team in Week 17. They move ahead of the Eagles for the first time and into the top four. They will beat the Jets in their wild-card game, even though they lost to them in Week 2.

5. PHILADELPHIA. Sure the Eagles rested their best players for the past two weeks, with which we agree, but they hit the playoffs without Terrell Owens and could have big problems when they face one of the AFC teams ranked ahead of them in the Super Bowl.

6. ATLANTA. The Falcons have a good defense, a great running game and a super athlete under center. They will probably need to beat the Packers at home and the Eagles on the road before they could ever get to Jacksonville. That may be a bit too much for this team.

7. GREEN BAY. Brett Favre has inspired his team all season and since coach Mike Sherman took over the play-calling, they have become a team that has a chance to go all the way in the NFC playoffs. The wide receiver corps must be taken seriously and if the defense can slow down the good teams, Favre has a chance for another title game appearance.

8. DENVER. The Broncos are a good team that isn't capable of being a great team. The Colts will attack their secondary early in the first round and take the ability to run the ball away from Mike Shanahan. Jake Plummer is better than his critics would have you believe, but not in a shootout with Peyton Manning.

9. NEW YORK JETS. Another good team that is missing a few things great teams have in their repertoire. No deep passing attack and a secondary that can be thrown at will emerge as issues in the playoffs. Chad Pennington is playing hurt -- the Chargers know it and will adjust accordingly.

10. BUFFALO. Too bad the Bills didn't make the playoffs because we would have picked them to win in an upset in the first round. Watch out in 2005 -- this team is for real.

11. BALTIMORE. The QB experiment failed a team with a high quality defense and a running game. Every time we hear coaches and media types talk about the formula for success being defense and a running game, we will point at the Ravens.

12. CAROLINA. Too little, too late. The Saints proved in Week 17 that there is still work to be done to get the Panthers back in playoff contention. Injuries and free-agent losses finally added up to major problems. Note to the front office: Pay Mushin Muhammad what he deserves so he will stick around.

13. NEW ORLEANS. Jim Haslett called out his GM and owner for a lack of support, which was necessary but wasn't a good political move. Haslett needs better personnel evaluators and more players with character if the Saints want to get to the playoffs in 2005. They finished on a four game winning streak and a 5-3 road record. Note to the front office: Don't fire the coach.

14. SEATTLE. It's hard to believe in the Seahawks. They can't play good defense but they can beat the Rams in the first round, even though they lost to them twice during the regular season. But then again they could hardly beat a Falcons team resting Michael Vick most of the day. Would the shaky Rams coming into Seattle and beating the Seahawks really be considered an upset?

15. ST. LOUIS. The Jets' 53-yard field-goal attempt in overtime was wide, otherwise the Rams would be finished turning in their equipment by now. They did show they could throw the ball and score points at home against a pretty good New York defense. Seattle's defense is nowhere near as good as the Jets. Mike Martz 's team will put close to 30 points on the board in the playoffs but the Seahawks may get more against the Rams' defense.

16. CINCINNATI. The Bengals don't deserve to be in the playoffs but they made a statement in starting rookie quarterback Carson Palmer for most of the season and trusting the evaluation that Rudi Johnson could effectively replace Corey Dillon. If they get a big-run stopping defensive tackle and star defensive back, they will be ready for the playoffs in 2005.

17. WASHINGTON. Patrick Ramsey finally solidified the Redskins at quarterback, and the defense was great even without LaVar Arrington. They will challenge in 2005 if Joe Gibbs brings in one more offensive coach to share ideas with him next season.

18. MINNESOTA. The defense is not good enough to take this team seriously and the problem has been going on in the Twin Cities for too long now. By the way, can someone tell us when Daunte Culpepper last won a big game?

19. JACKSONVILLE. The Jaguars were a year away before the season started and they end the season in the same position. The Jacksonville fan base isn't big enough to support this franchise. This is the team that should move to Los Angeles. Byron Leftwich is a star in the making but still needs a better supporting cast. And how about adding a top edge pass rusher in the offseason?

20. KANSAS CITY. If the team's front-office types concluded it had enough defensive talent to win in 2005, they need to have their heads examined. The Chiefs proved you can't simply outscore opponents in the NFL -- you actually need to stop someone once in a while. The offense is getting old and there is no time to wait otherwise -- this team will need an overhaul by 2006.

21. HOUSTON. The Texans weren't ready for the playoffs in 2004 but they will be in 2005. David Carr is a good player but isn't a great player yet, and their promising defense can develop into a dominant force.

22. TENNESSEE. It's great to see a team with pride -- it just had too many rookies on the field and too many backups playing in too many key positions to finish the season. The Titans will be back in contention next season with a rejuvenated Steve McNair.

23. DETROIT. We are not sure this team will have a better record in 2005. Joey Harrington is not ready to win 10 games, but the Lions are headed in the right direction with their draft picks and re-signing players such as Shaun Rogers. Much more is required and Steve Mariucci is the right guy to keep them pointed upward.

24. TAMPA BAY. The Buccaneers played well in the middle of the season, but unfortunately, they didn't do so at both the beginning and the end. The defense still is good enough but the offense doesn't score enough points. Jon Gruden needs to fix things or he will be under fire next season from the Tampa fans. The Bucs are the only team in NFL history to win a Super Bowl and follow it up with two consecutive losing seasons.

25. OAKLAND. The defense isn't very good. The cornerbacks are overpaid and overrated. There are too many old players such as Warren Sapp and Ted Washington and the scheme doesn't fit them. The Raiders also need a solid running back, and that doesn't mean Ricky Williams.

26. ARIZONA. If Dennis Green had just stuck with Josh McCown at quarterback in the middle of the season, the Cardinals might have made the playoffs. We like what their defense did this season but Green needs someone to hold him in check when it comes to personnel decisions.

27. DALLAS. Bill Parcells played Vinny Testaverde in a meaningless Week 17 game against the Giants and lost anyway. Was he trying to tell Jerry Jones that young backups Tony Romo and Drew Henson aren't good enough to build around in the future? If so, then Parcells won't be in Dallas much longer.

28. CHICAGO. Lovie Smith was the right coach for the future but the offense needs an injection of talent at a number of skill positions. The Bears better not go into 2005 selling the idea that Rex Grossman without competition is a good idea.

29. NEW YORK GIANTS. Eli Manning wins the last game of the season and hope for the future is now in place. We doubt many free agents will come to the Giants because of Tom Coughlin -- unless they are overpaid. They don't have a first-round pick in the draft, so it's possible this team can get better only if Manning becomes a dominant NFL QB in 2005. 2006 seems more realistic to us.

30. MIAMI. Nick Saban has plenty of work to do. The offense needs much help, the defense is aging and the Patriots, Jets and Bills are all in the same division.

31. CLEVELAND. At least the Browns had the character to win a game for Terry Robiskie to end an ugly season. This club needs leadership in the front office, a good head coach, better personnel evaluators and improved talent. Tough to say it, but this team is three years away.

32. SAN FRANCISCO. The only way this once-proud franchise can be saved is to send the current owner on a long trip. He needs to get his son out of the building and put a dynamic football man in total charge. We doubt the team has hit rock bottom yet, so don't get your hopes up. Is there any hope for a team that charges players 37 cents for using a stamp and then expects them to play with injuries and go the extra mile?

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