2011 NFL Preseason Power Rankings

#1 Green Bay Packers

Coming into this NFL regular season, the Green Bay Packers will be the defending Super Bowl champions and are more than deserving of being number one on this NFL preseason power rankings list. Not only will the Packers have relatively the same squad intact to start the year, but they didn’t make big waves in the NFL free agency frenzy which means they are confident with the team they have moving forward.

Along with having one of the best defenses in the NFL today led by Clay Matthews, the Packers also have a great offense with reigning Super Bowl MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers under center. Along with h

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aving wide receivers Greg Jennings and Donald Driver returning, Green Bay will get back Pro Bowl caliber tight end Jermichael Finley back healthy and ready to contribute.

The one thing that might keep the Green Bay Packers from not being as dominant on offense this season is the running game. With no running game, the offense can be one dimensional, but they were able to win the Super Bowl last season without Ryan Grant on the field.

#2 New England Patriots

Besides the Philadelphia Eagles, no team in the NFL made more improvements to their squad on both sides of the football than the New England Patriots. The Patriots were already one of the best teams in the league on offense with reigning NFL MVP quarterback Tom Brady leading the way, but now he has the go-to wide receiver with the addition of Pro Bowl wideout Chad Ochocinco.

As if the addition of Chad Ochocinco wasn’t enough of a push in the right direction, the New England Patriots acquired Pro Bowler Albert Haynesworth to boost the defense. Even though Haynesworth has been nothing but trouble over the last couple of seasons, the Patriots have been notorious for rehabilitating troubled players and Haynesworth might be the next NFL star to get the New England treatment.

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#3 Philadelphia Eagles

Personally, I was surprised not to see the Philadelphia Eagles on the top of this list. Yes, the Green Bay Packers are the defending Super Bowl champs and New England Patriots were arguably the best team in the NFL regular season last year, but the Philadelphia Eagles have made some drastic improvements to their roster during free agency.

The biggest move the Eagles made was signing arguably the most sought after free agent in the leagu

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e in superstar corner Nnamdi Asomugha. As if they weren’t enough to improve the defense, the Eagles went out and got another big-name corner in Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in the Kevin Kolb trade with the Arizona Cardinals.

These two moves alone may have been the best moves by any team after the NFL lockout, but they also signed running back Ronnie Brown and quarterback Vince Young. The Eagles will be scary good this season.

#4 New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints at number four on this list also surprise. The New Orleans Saints may have been the defending Super Bowl champions last season, but this is the same team that lost to the Seattle Seahawks in convincing fashion in the playoffs.

Drew Brees will go down in NFL history as one of the greatest players to play the quarterback position, but he is the only player on this team that is worth anything in my opinion. Rookie running Mark Ingram might be the next great running back, but the kid has to prove that he can play at this level.

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#5 Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers should be much higher on this list. The Steelers are one of the few teams in the league that are always competitive every single season with one of the best defenses in the league. This season should be more of the same for Big Ben Roethlisberger and company.