New on Sports Illustrated: NFL Power Rankings Poll: Buccaneers Rise, Patriots and Texans Fall in Offseason Edition
It's been an unusual offseason, to say the least. With free agency and the draft behind us, let's update our NFL power rankings.
We've now crossed a few of the NFL's major offseason milestones. And while much of the remaining offseason is in flux, one thing is a certainty in this world ... power rankings!
Given that Tom Brady's free agency is the story of the year, it's no surprise to see the Buccaneers have moved up and the Patriots have moved down since we last voted. But the Pats aren't alone. Three teams tied for the biggest jump, with the Bucs, Eagles and Lions all jumping seven spots. And the Browns and Cardinals came up six each. So it's not just about signing Tom Brady, or even upgrading QB. Some of our voters are just expecting bounce-back seasons from a few of 2019's underachievers.
On the flip side, the Texans joined the Patriots in dropping eight spots. Good luck, Bill O'Brien! Check out how all 32 teams stack up below.
This week’s NFL Power Rankings Poll voters:
Albert Breer, Senior NFL ReporterAndrew Brandt, Business of Football Columnist
Gary Gramling, Senior Editor
Mitch Goldich, Producer/Writer
Conor Orr, Staff Writer
Jenny Vrentas, Senior Writer
1. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Points in poll: 191
Highest-place vote: 1 (5 voters)
Lowest-place vote: 2 (1 voter)
Season result: 12-4, won Super Bowl
Post-SB Rank: 1
SI Draft Grade: C+
When you win the Super Bowl and follow it up by bringing back 20 of 22 starters, including the consensus best QB in the league, you stay on top of the power rankings.
Arrowhead Report: Chiefs GM Brett Veach Continued His Hot Streak
2. BALTIMORE RAVENS
Points in poll: 181
Highest-place vote: 1 (1 voter)
Lowest-place vote: 4 (1 voter)
Season result: 14-2, lost in divisional round
Post-SB Rank: 3
SI Draft Grade: A-
Patrick Mahomes won MVP in his breakout second season, then won a Super Bowl the next year. The Ravens are hoping Lamar Jackson follows the same trajectory.
3. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Points in poll: 178
Highest-place vote: 2 (4 voters)
Lowest-place vote: 8 (1 voter)
Season result: 13-3, lost in Super Bowl
Post-SB Rank: 2
SI Draft Grade: A-
The 49ers blew a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl, and now they’ll have to fight off the dreaded Super Bowl hangover without players like Joe Staley, DeForest Buckner and Emmanuel Sanders. But they are still expected to be a force in the NFC.
All49ers: Top Five Takeaways About 49ers' First-Round Picks
4. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Points in poll: 168
Highest-place vote: 2 (1 voter)
Lowest-place vote: 9 (1 voter)
Season result: 13-3, lost in wild-card round
Post-SB Rank: 5
SI Draft Grade: C-
After three straight heartbreaking playoff exits, Drew Brees is back for another crack at it with a loaded roster.
Saints News Network: Payton, Loomis Happy Saints Got 3 Players From Their Top 40
5. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Points in poll: 164
Highest-place vote: 3 (1 voter)
Lowest-place vote: 9 (1 voter)
Season result: 9-7, lost in wild-card round
Post-SB Rank: 12
SI Draft Grade: C
The Eagles didn’t help themselves in the draft as much as many would have liked them to, but our panel is envisioning a bounce-back year for a squad that won four straight games just to reach the playoffs.
EagleMaven: Trying to Make Sense of Picking Jalen Hurts
6. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Points in poll: 148
Highest-place vote: 5 (2 voters)
Lowest-place vote: 17 (1 voter)
Season result: 11-5, lost in divisional round
Post-SB Rank: 9
SI Draft Grade: B
The NFC West may be the toughest division in football, but never overlook the Seahawks, who are in the hunt every year.
SeahawkMaven: While A Surprise, Brooks Certainly Fits Seahawks
T-7. GREEN BAY PACKERS
Points in poll: 146
Highest-place vote: 4 (1 voter)
Lowest-place vote: 14 (1 voter)
Season result: 13-3, lost in NFC championship game
Post-SB Rank: 6
SI Draft Grade: B-
Could they have used that first-round pick on a player who’d help them in 2020? Sure. But the Packers still have plenty of talent with Jordan Love watching Aaron Rodgers from the bench this year.
PackerCentral: Gutekunst, Rodgers Speak After Selection of QB Love
T-7. TENNESSEE TITANS
Points in poll: 146
Highest-place vote: 5 (1 voter)
Lowest-place vote: 14 (1 voter)
Season result: 9-7, lost in AFC championship game
Post-SB Rank: 4
SI Draft Grade: B
The Titans caught lightning in a bottle down the stretch and decided to run it back. How long can they ride that lightning?
AllTitans: Titans Willing to Look Into, Beyond Draft Picks' Missteps
9. BUFFALO BILLS
Points in poll: 141
Highest-place vote: 3 (1 voter)
Lowest-place vote: 14 (1 voter)
Season result: 10-6, lost in wild-card round
Post-SB Rank: 11
SI Draft Grade: B
We know they have the defense, but it’ll be critical for Stefon Diggs to help Josh Allen take a big step forward like the Bills’ front office thinks he can.
MORE: Former Georgia QB Fromm Finally Finds a Home in Buffalo
10. DALLAS COWBOYS
Points in poll: 135
Highest-place vote: 8 (1 voter)
Lowest-place vote: 12 (2 voters)
Season result: 8-8, second place in NFC East
Post-SB Rank: 14
SI Draft Grade: A+
The Jason Garrett Era is finally over, and there’ll be plenty of pressure on Mike McCarthy after a great draft in Big D.
CowboyMaven: How 1-2-3 Lucky Are Cowboys? 'We're Livin' Right'
11. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Points in poll: 134
Highest-place vote: 5 (1 voter)
Lowest-place vote: 13 (2 voters)
Season result: 7-9, third place in NFC South
Post-SB Rank: 18
SI Draft Grade: A-
Something tells us if Tom Brady throws 30 touchdowns this year, they won’t be accompanied by 30 interceptions. That’s an improvement already.
AllBucs: Vaughn Gives Bucs The Big-Play, Three-Down RB They Need
12. LOS ANGELES RAMS
Points in poll: 122
Highest-place vote: 6 (1 voter)
Lowest-place vote: 20 (1 voter)
Season result: 9-7, third place in NFC West
Post-SB Rank: 13
SI Draft Grade: A
The Rams have moved on from so many key pieces of their Super Bowl LIII team. Let’s see how much of it was really Sean McVay.
Daily Cover: Les Snead's Draft Day War Room
13. MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Points in poll: 120
Highest-place vote: 7 (2 voters)
Lowest-place vote: 19 (1 voters)
Season result: 10-6, lost in divisional round
Post-SB Rank: 8
SI Draft Grade: A-
The Vikings extended Kirk Cousins after he won his first career playoff game, and now they’ll try to build on that for another year.
InsideTheVikings: The Best and Worst Day 3 Picks by the Vikings
14. PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Points in poll: 115
Highest-place vote: 6 (1 voter)
Lowest-place vote: 19 (1 voter)
Season result: 8-8, second place in AFC North
Post-SB Rank: 16
SI Draft Grade: C
The Steelers could have easily been a playoff team with a healthy Ben Roethlisberger last year, but our panel wants to see him healthy before we put them back in the top tier of the AFC.
AllSteelers: Chess, Not Checkers: Will Steelers' Day 2 Strategy Prosper?
15. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Points in poll: 113
Highest-place vote: 9 (1 voter)
Lowest-place vote: 20 (2 voters)
Season result: 12-4, lost in wild-card round
Post-SB Rank: 7
SI Draft Grade: C+
A quiet offseason for the Patriots, who are always a top-three team in our preseason rankings. HEY WAIT A SECOND.
PatriotMaven: A Look at the Patriots' 2020 Draft Class
16. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Points in poll: 107
Highest-place vote: 8 (1 voter)
Lowest-place vote: 18 (1 voter)
Season result: 7-9, third place in AFC South
Post-SB Rank: 17
SI Draft Grade: A-
The Colts told us they believed in Jacoby Brissett last year, but we expect them to have a higher ceiling with Philip Rivers.
AllColts: Lots to Like About Colts' NFL Draft Class
17. ATLANTA FALCONS
Points in poll: 105
Highest-place vote: 12 (1 voter)
Lowest-place vote: 19 (1 voter)
Season result: 7-9, second place in NFC South
Post-SB Rank: 15
SI Draft Grade: B+
The Falcons played well enough in the second half to save some jobs year, but the pressure is on for this coaching staff to keep that momentum going.
Falcon Report: Terrell An Unexpected but Calculated Selection
18. HOUSTON TEXANS
Points in poll: 100
Highest-place vote: 11 (1 voter)
Lowest-place vote: 21 (2 voters)
Season result: 10-6, lost in divisional round
Post-SB Rank: 10
SI Draft Grade: B-
Nobody has fallen further since our last rankings than the Texans, a reflection of the DeAndre Hopkins trade and a lack of faith in Bill O’Brien in general.
State of the Texans: Blacklock Looking Forward to Being Mentored by J.J. Watt
19. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Points in poll: 89
Highest-place vote: 16 (1 voter)
Lowest-place vote: 22 (1 voter)
Season result: 5-11, fourth place in AFC West
Post-SB Rank: T-19
SI Draft Grade: B-
The Chargers got their guy in the draft, but a talented roster will have be led by Tyrod Taylor, at least to start the year.
Orr: Justin Herbert Brings the Deep Ball Back to the Chargers
20. CLEVELAND BROWNS
Points in poll: 71
Highest-place vote: 15 (1 voter)
Lowest-place vote: 24 (1 voter)
Season result: 6-10, third place in AFC North
Post-SB Rank: 26
SI Draft Grade: B+
After falling so far short of expectations in 2019, the Browns enter 2020 much more quietly—with a chance to take a jump closer to what we expected of them.
BrownsDigest: Breaking Down Cleveland's Draft Class, Pick by Pick
21. ARIZONA CARDINALS
Points in poll: 69
Highest-place vote: 16 (1 voter)
Lowest-place vote: 27 (1 voter)
Season result: 5-10-1, fourth place in NFC West
Post-SB Rank: 23
SI Draft Grade: B+
The Cardinals may be No. 21 in these rankings, but they’re going to be a popular sleeper pick September.
AllCardinals: Fixing the Defense Has Consumed GM Steve Keim
22. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
Points in poll: 68
Highest-place vote: 19 (1 voter)
Lowest-place vote: 25 (2 voters)
Season result: 7-9, third place in AFC West
Post-SB Rank: T-19
SI Draft Grade: C+
The Raiders loaded up on draft capital by trading away Khalil Mack, and now we actually get to find out if that deal was worth it.
Orr: Raiders Emerge as Winners on Day 2
23. CHICAGO BEARS
Points in poll: 58
Highest-place vote: 21 (1 voter)
Lowest-place vote: 26 (1 voter)
Season result: 8-8, third place in NFC North
Post-SB Rank: 21
SI Draft Grade: B-
In comes Nick Foles to compete with Mitchell Trubisky. Would that change alone be enough for the Bears to compete with the Packers and Vikings?
BearDigest: Ryan Pace Simply Liked Too Much About Picks to Trade
24. DENVER BRONCOS
Points in poll: 57
Highest-place vote: 21 (1 voter)
Lowest-place vote: 25 (1 voter)
Season result: 7-9, second place in AFC West
Post-SB Rank: 22
SI Draft Grade: A
The jury’s still out on Drew Lock, but he’s got plenty of weapons to take a leap in 2020.
Mile High Huddle: Breaking Down Denver's Full 2020 Draft Class
25. DETROIT LIONS
Points in poll: 46
Highest-place vote: 16 (1 voter)
Lowest-place vote: 32 (1 voter)
Season result: 3-12-1, fourth place in NFC North
Post-SB Rank: 32
SI Draft Grade: A
The Lions ended the season on the league’s longest losing streak and we had them ranked last the week after the Super Bowl. Apparently our panel is feeling optimistic.
AllLions: Grading Every Lions Draft Pick
26. NEW YORK JETS
Points in poll: 43
Highest-place vote: 22 (1 voter)
Lowest-place vote: 28 (1 voter)
Season result: 7-9, third place in AFC East
Post-SB Rank: 24
SI Draft Grade: A-
The AFC East is as open as it’s been in a long time if the Jets can make a leap.
JetsCountry: GM Joe Douglas Adds Starters, Solid Picks and a Couple Head-Scratchers in His First Draft
27. MIAMI DOLPHINS
Points in poll: 41
Highest-place vote: 22 (1 voter)
Lowest-place vote: 30 (2 voters)
Season result: 5-11, fourth place in AFC East
Post-SB Rank: 25
SI Draft Grade: B-
Tank For Tua worked, and they didn’t even tank perfectly. Now Dolphins fans can root for Tua (or Ryan Fitzpatrick) to win every week without feeling conflicted.
AllDolphins: Tagovailoa Reacts to Joining the Dolphins
28. NEW YORK GIANTS
Points in poll: 35
Highest-place vote: 25 (1 voter)
Lowest-place vote: 28 (3 voters)
Season result: 4-12, third place in NFC East
Post-SB Rank: 28
SI Draft Grade: B
Goodbye, Eli. Hello, Joe Judge and the newest branch of the Bill Belichick coaching tree.
GiantsCountry: Third-Round Players the Giants Missed Due to the Leonard Williams Trade
29. CINCINNATI BENGALS
Points in poll: 28
Highest-place vote: 26 (1 voter)
Lowest-place vote: 30 (1 voter)
Season result: 2-14, fourth place in AFC North
Post-SB Rank: 31
SI Draft Grade: A-
If Joe Burrow is the real deal, Bengals fans won’t mind a little 2-14 season to move on from the Andy Dalton era.
AllBengals: Podcast: Excitement Around Joe Burrow, Building a Winner in Cincinnati
30. CAROLINA PANTHERS
Points in poll: 21
Highest-place vote: 26 (1 voter)
Lowest-place vote: 32 (1 voter)
Season result: 5-11, fourth place in NFC South
Post-SB Rank: 30
SI Draft Grade: B
The Panthers said goodbye to some of their long-time fan favorites and now they start from the bottom with Matt Rhule and Teddy Bridgewater.
AllPanthers: Grading Every Panthers Draft Pick
31. WASHINGTON
Points in poll: 16
Highest-place vote: 29 (1 voter)
Lowest-place vote: 31 (3 voters)
Season result: 3-13, fourth place in NFC East
Post-SB Rank: 29
SI Draft Grade: B+
Washington reportedly considered a QB with the second pick, but just because they chose Chase Young doesn’t mean Ron Rivera is tied to Dwayne Haskins long-term.
Washington: Rick Snider's Round-by-Round Report Card
32. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Points in poll: 12
Highest-place vote: 27 (1 voter)
Lowest-place vote: 32 (4 voters)
Season result: 6-10, fourth place in AFC South
Post-SB Rank: 27
SI Draft Grade: B-
Is it Minshew Mania or Tank For Trevor? Might depend how the season starts.
JaguarReport: Marrone, Caldwell Explain Why They Were Sold on Henderson
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