Eli’s Week 1 Top 10 NFL Teams
Well, we’ve finally made it folks. Week 1 is officially here. Each Tuesday I will be releasing my top 10 power rankings in the NFL, so here’s what I have for Week 1.
- Kansas City Chiefs
I so badly want to put my beloved Eagles here, who I think have the best roster in the NFL. Alas, after a heartbreaking defeat in the Super Bowl, I cannot do so. While KC lost JuJu Smith-Schuster to NE and Mecole Hardman to NYJ, that really shouldn’t matter as long as Patrick Mahomes is under-center. A reworked offensive line, mainly Jawaan Taylor replacing Orlando Brown Jr., is what I’ll be watching on Thursday night against the Lions, but Andy Reid usually tends to figure that aspect of the game out. With a top-12 unit on defense, although that could be altered if Chris Jones is serious about his holdout, Travis Kelce, and Mahomes, this team should be playing meaningful games in January once again.
- Philadelphia Eagles
After a masterful season from Jalen Hurts and Company last season, the Eagles are my number two team entering the season. Losing both coordinators might call for some growing pains early on in the season, but this team is loaded on both sides of the ball. With Javon Hargrave in SF, this pass rush might take a bit of a hit, but the Eagles drafted arguably the best player in the draft in Jalen Carter to replace him. With arguably the best offensive and defensive lines in the game, a committee at running back, and an awesome pass-catching trio of A.J. Brown, Devonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert, it’s Super Bowl or bust in Philadelphia.
- Cincinnati Bengals
This is where it starts to get a bit tricky for me, but I’ll give the Bengals the nod here. While Joe Burrow’s calf injury might be cause for concern and could linger throughout the season, this offense has a chance to be the best in the league. The Bengals finally got themselves a franchise left tackle this offseason in Orlando Brown Jr. and killed two birds with one stone by snagging him from their biggest competition in the Chiefs. Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Joe Mixon, do I need to say more? On top of all that, Cincy’s best move this offseason might’ve been keeping Lou Anarumo as their DC, who has put together a sneaky elite defense for this Super Bowl-contending squad.
- San Francisco 49ers
If you listen to The PM JAB, you know two things. I hate this team, and I’m not convinced (yet) about Brock Purdy. With that being said, a skill position group of Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Brandon Aiyuk is a good way to make it easy on Purdy, although the offensive line could be a cause for concern. Nick Bosa holding out and potentially missing games would be killer for this team, but this defense is arguably the best in the NFL. We’ve reached the point of the power rankings where teams start to have legitimate question marks, but SF is too good in my mind for them to be any lower than four.
- New York Jets
I know, I know, the Jets?! No, Javier hasn’t swayed my mind on this and yes I do realize it’s the New York freaking Jets, but this team is good folks. We all know Aaron Rodgers made his way to The Big Apple after a long career in Green Bay, but that’s not the only story here. This offense is oozing with talent, namely Garrett Wilson, Dalvin Cook, and Breece Hall, but knowing how Rodgers plays, someone else should emerge here. The offensive line is not good, but has a chance to be if players like Mekhi Becton and Joe Tippmann find their footing. This defense is the best in the AFC, led by Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams, arguably the best at their position in the league, the Jets will lean heavily on this unit and do just enough on offense to win double-digit games. I expect the Jets to end their postseason drought and play playoff football in January for the first time since 2010.
- Buffalo Bills
I know a lot of people think this team might take a step back this season, but that doesn’t mean this team isn’t going to win double-digit games. The drama with Stefon Diggs seems to be in the past (for now), and this team still has Josh Allen. The offensive line is a question mark, as is the run game, but haven’t we been saying this about Buffalo for years now? On defense, Von Miller is out for at least four weeks which hurts, but there’s enough reinforcements there to steady the ship until his return. The secondary to me is a question mark, and watching how Tre’Davious White looks on Monday night against the Jets will be telling about what this group could look like. This may not be the Bills of 2021, but this is still an elite team that is contending in a loaded AFC.
- Dallas Cowboys
This will be very arguable and it pains me to put Dallas here, but to me, they are the third-best team in the NFC. Obviously, all eyes are on Dak Prescott after a dismal season in 2022, but this defense is what makes this team great. CeeDee Lamb and Tony Pollard will need to stay healthy for this team to stay this high, as will Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs. Losing Kellen Moore to LAC and having Mike McCarthy call plays is what I’m watching when Dallas faces Big Blue on Sunday night, but for all the jokes we love to make about McCarthy, he is more than capable of taking the reins. We’ve reached the part of the rankings where it’s very debatable in my opinion, but I’ll give Dallas the nod here at seven despite all the questions about this team.
- Jacksonville Jaguars
This is the first slot I had to sit and think about for a minute or two, but I think Jacksonville is worthy of the number eight spot. Trevor Lawrence blossomed into a star QB last season and should take an even bigger jump this year with Calvin Ridley catching his passes. On defense, Travon Walker needs to take a step and Josh Allen needs to have double-digit sacks, but this secondary is a solid group to go along with the multiple sideline-to-sideline linebackers that Jacksonville has on its roster. With Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby leading a loaded running-back room, the biggest question here is the offensive line, which will likely be a bottom-10 unit in the NFL.
- Pittsburgh Steelers
I know, this is going to raise some eyebrows, but hear me out. Kenny Pickett looked awesome in the preseason and is my breakout candidate at QB this season. George Pickens has elite talent, Diontae Johnson is as steady as receivers get in this league, and the defense should be awesome once again led by T.J. Watt and Cam Heyward. Pittsburgh is my surprise team of the season, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have major question marks. The offensive line and run game is what I’m looking at here. Najee Harris had a solid second half last season, but Jaylen Warren is breathing down his neck for a bigger role. The group up front is the biggest question, however. This unit got better last season but is still a bottom-half and potentially bottom-10 unit in the league, and Broderick Jones not starting opening day doesn’t bode well for that. This team will go as the defense and Kenny Pickett go, both of which I have major belief in.
- Los Angeles Chargers
I am so down on this team compared to a year ago, but the talent in LA is too rich for me not to slide them in at 10. Justin Herbert is elite, as is Austin Ekeler and this WR group, but after a meltdown in the playoffs and with Brandon Staley still coaching this squad, I don’t have high hopes for the Bolts. Kellen Moore replaces Joe Lombardi at OC and should be a better fit to utilize this team’s talent. A solid group on defense led by Joey Bosa and Derwin James will do their part to go along with this elite offense, but it’s just hard to believe in this team. The Chargers will be on the bubble of making the playoffs in the AFC, and Brandon Staley will be looking for a new employer come January.