NFL Power Rankings: Where Do Jets and Giants Start the Season
19. Baltimore Ravens
2015 record: 5-11
The Ravens will be looking to bounce back in 2016 after an injury-plagued 2015 season. Joe Flacco and Steve Smith are back and will point the offense in the right direction again. The problem is that the Ravens weren’t a Super Bowl team even before they got injured last year. Justin Forsett should be back to help their running game, but the re-tooling of the offensive line could take time. The defense is aging, with Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil highlighting that side of the ball. The Ravens look like they will have another disappointing season.
18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2015 record: 6-10
The Bucs are a team on the rise and their offense is in great shape. Jameis Winston, Doug Martin, Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans are enough for the Bucs to put points on the board. Their defense should be solid, with Gerald McCoy clogging up the middle. Their secondary and pass rush are question marks, but I think the Tampa Bay offense will carry them in games. New coach Dirk Koetter has his work cut out for him, and I can see the Bucs finishing 7-9 or 8-8.
17. Buffalo Bills
2015 record: 8-8
Rex Ryan has been given an ultimatum by the Bills’ new owners, make the playoffs or lose your job. Rex appears to have taken this seriously, drastically toning down his talk this offseason. The defense lost Mario Williams and Marcell Dareus is facing a suspension. Rob Ryan was brought in to be the defensive coordinator but his work with the Saints wasn’t great at all. A new contract for Tyrod Taylor gives him the security he wanted, but his play must improve this year. LeSean McCoy and Sammy Watkins will be heavily depended upon to produce, but the Bills probably won’t be any better this year.
16. New York Giants
2015 record: 6-10
The Giants improved a lot on the defensive side of the ball, but their offense didn’t change much. The return of Victor Cruz should have a minor impact, but if the running game emerges and Sterling Shepard lives up to his hype, this offense has real potential. The offensive line is still worrisome and could limit the success Eli Manning has this year. The defense is much better, with the additions of Damon Harrison, Olivier Vernon and Janoris Jenkins. Darian Thompson has the ceiling of a young Earl Thomas, but he will need to establish himself early on. The Giants have a chance at winning their division, but I think their offensive line will hold them back. $200M spent on roster upgrades this offseason, but $0 towards the offensive line.
15. Washington Redskins
2015 record: 9-7
The Redskins were the only team in the NFC East who rose up to clinch the horrible division. The division this year is looking almost as bad and the Redskins hope to get lucky once again. I think Kirk Cousins won’t be as good as he was last year, but the emergence of Jordan Reed as a top tier tight end will help the offense put up enough points. Although I don’t think Josh Norman deserves to be the highest paid CB in the league, he does make the Redskins defense better. The Redskins are the safe bet to repeat as NFC East champions, but could face challenges if the Giants are firing on all cylinders.
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