NFL Power Rankings Place Packers and Patriots On Top
After the first week of the 2011 NFL regular season came to a close, numerous football-related websites released power rankings placing the Packers and Patriots at the top of the list.
The list is a comprehensive ranking of the 32 NFL teams based on performance from individual players and overall teams.
ESPN, AFC and NFC bloggers voted on and released an official list of NFL Power Rankings for ESPN.com.John Clayton, ESPN.com writer, Ashley Fox, also an ESPN.com writer, Paul Kuharsky, AFC South blogger, NFC West blogger Mike Sando and AFC North blogger James Walker voted the Green Bay Packers as the number one team in the power rankings.
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The Packers, Super Bowl champions from last season, opened up the NFL season this week with a 42-34 win against the New Orleans Saints.
“If you thought QB Aaron Rodgers would cool down after the Super Bowl, think again,” Walker wrote on ESPN.com
The runner up for the highest ranked NFL team on ESPN this week is the New England Patriots, who managed to best the Miami Dolphins this week with Tom Brady at the helm.
“League MVP Tom Brady couldn't have gotten off to a better start than his dissection of Miami,” Clayton said about the Patriots’ QB.
The New Orleans Times-Picayune Power Rankings agreed with ESPN’s top ranked team.
“Although the Packers did have some mishaps on defense - allowing the Saints to amass 477 yards of offense - they appear to be the total package,” the Times-Picayune report reads
Although most football sites rated the Packers and Patriots within their top three, some were confused about high ranking San Diego Chargers and Chicago Bears who were featured in ESPN.com’s top ten teams.
“Norv Turner and the Chargers didn't make quick work of the Minnesota Vikings like they were expected to,” a Bleacher Report columnist wrote about the ESPN.com ninth ranked Chargers. “Tom Brady will once again dominate en route to another MVP like season, and the Chargers will prove they don't belong near the top of the AFC.”
The Bleacher columnist also spoke about the Chicago Bears being undeserving of the number seven spot on ESPN.com.
“The Saints will reveal who the true Bears are-a team with a mistake prone quarterback,” the columnist wrote.
A full listing of the ESPN NFL Power Ranking can be found on ESPN.com.
