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NFL Power Rankings: Redskins fall, NFC South on the rise after Preseason Week 1

By Jacob Camenker

LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 30: Head coach Jay Gruden of the Washington Redskins looks on during the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles at FedExField on December 30, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 30: Head coach Jay Gruden of the Washington Redskins looks on during the first half against the Philadelphia Eagles at FedExField on December 30, 2018 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 12: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates after scoring a 1 yard touchdown in the third quarter against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 12: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates after scoring a 1 yard touchdown in the third quarter against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 12, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Fringe Playoff Contenders

These teams could easily make the playoffs and go on a run, but there are some questions surrounding them that have them teetering on the brink of the postseason.

12. Dallas Cowboys. If Ezekiel Elliott does follow through on his threat to hold out for a new contract, the Cowboys would drop substantially on these rankings. However, if he plays, the team’s offense should hum nicely, as Elliott and the team’s strong offensive line, which is getting Travis Frederick back, should carry the unit. Meanwhile, on defense, Leighton Vander Esch will continue to improve and the team is returning most of the talent that led them to a Top-7 defense in terms of both yardage and points allowed per game.

13. Carolina Panthers. We talk a lot about how the Redskins were 6-2 last year before Alex Smith’s injury. The Panthers were actually also 6-2 before enduring a seven-game losing streak. Cam Newton dealt with a shoulder injury during that time, but if he’s fully healthy, the Panthers should be a solid team. Switching to a 3-4 defense should help them out and the new talent they added — Bruce Irvin, Brian Burns, and Tre Boston — should upgrade things on that side of the ball. The offensive line is also better and the growth of D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel should greatly improve the receiving corps.

14. Cleveland Browns. The Browns are getting a lot of love this season as Baker Mayfield is looking like a true franchise quarterback. I still have questions about how Freddie Kitchens will do as a first-year head coach and how he’ll be able to manage the personalities of Mayfield and Odell Beckham Jr. as well as the team’s downgraded offensive line. But, they look strong all-around save for that unit, especially after their drubbing of the Redskins defense in the first preseason game (Yes, I know it’s the preseason, but the first drive was effortless). If their young guys on defense can step up, this team could quickly take control in the AFC North.

15. Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks rely on two players to carry their team. Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner. Wilson carries the offense by making key passing plays and operating the team’s ground-dominant attack (the most run-skewed offense in the NFL last season). Wagner is the quarterback of the defense and is a true sideline-to-sideline playmaker. As long as those two players are healthy, the Seahawks will have a chance to make the playoffs. The only issue is that they lack quality starters on the offensive line and possess only an average-at-best defense outside of Wagner.

16. Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens lost quite a few players in free agency including Eric Weddle, C.J. Mosely, Terrell Suggs, and Za’Darius Smith. They have a lot of young players ready to step up and replace them (or in the case of Weddle, another veteran in Earl Thomas) but they certainly aren’t as strong as they were last season. Lamar Jackson’s potential improvement could help the offense and the addition of Mark Ingram will give them an excellent running attack. But their lack of receiving weapons (pending the development of draft picks Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and Miles Boykin) leaves them teetering on the edge of postseason contenders especially given the state of the AFC North.

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