2019 NFL power rankings; Patriots back on top…again

The NFL preseason is over. It’s just about time for some meaningful football. Here’s a look at how all 32 teams stack up entering 2019.

Is there anything the New England Patriots haven’t accomplished during this current run under head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady? The franchise has been to the last four of the last five Super Bowls and won three of them, including last year’s 13-3 stifling of the Los Angeles Rams at Atlanta (LIII).

The franchise now seeks to be become the team to repeat as Super Bowl champions since (you guessed it) the 2003 and ‘04 Patriots. Meanwhile, the Rams are looking to become the first NFC team to get to the “Big Game” for a second straight year since the Seattle Seahawks won in 2013 and lost in ‘14.

Of course, you can find both of the teams near the top of these Power Rankings. As usual, don’t focus on the summer records for all 32 clubs. The list is based on the teams’ offseason movement, coaching changes and each club’s recent successes and failures. With the NFL’s 100th campaign on the horizon, teams are still in the process of adjusting their rosters (see Ourlads). Here’s the usual drill from No. 32 to the top spot.

Preview: Brian Flores comes over from the rival New England Patriots. The defensive mind is the Dolphins’ 10th different head coach dating back to 2000. And the team will start the season with journeyman quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick at the helm, with second-year pro Josh Rosen (obtained via trade from the Cardinals) waiting in the wings. Speaking of deals, the team opted to send quality left tackle Larmey Tunsil and wide receiver Kenny Stills to the Texans, further depleting an offense that figured to struggle this season. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of talent on the defensive side of the football as well.. A lot of patience will have to be exercised.

Next Week: It’s a team that the club hasn’t fared very well against the last decade-plus. Including a playoff loss in 2008, the Dolphins own a 1-7 record vs. the Ravens the past 11 seasons. That includes a 1-4 home mark over that stretch. The ‘Fins will host this clash for the first time since 2015, which resulted in a 15-13 victory for the ‘Fins.

Playoff hopes: While the franchise has accumulated its share of 2020 and 2021 draft choices, the prospects for this season don’t look very promising for Flores and his staff. He inherits a club that struggled after a 3-0 start in 2018, losing nine of its last 13 games. It figures to be a learning year in Miami, with apparently an eye towards the future.

Preview: It’s been a rough three-year stretch for a team that was a postseason staple for five straight years from 2011-15. Zac Taylor is the team’s new sideline leader as the club moved on from Marvin Lewis after 16 seasons. Quarterback Andy Dalton begins his ninth season coming off playing in a career-low 11 games. He and the club will be without wide receiver A.J. Green early on but the Bengals do have an emerging weapon in running back Joe Mixon. It was a troubling offseason for the offensive line and the defense, which still features defensive line standouts Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap, must rebound after allowing the most total yards in the league in 2018.

Next Week: For the first time since 2011, the team heads to the Pacific Northwest. It marks just the fifth meeting between the Bengals and Seahawks since ‘03. The clubs’ last encounter took place in 2015 in the Queen City, when Cincinnati came away with a 27-24 overtime win. And the Bengals also won at Seattle, 34-12, back in ‘11.

Playoff hopes: This is a franchise that has drafted extremely well for quite a while and one that depends on developing its young players. But Cincinnati’s defense has become worrisome and that’s always an issue. The season will begin with Green on the sidelines and that’s a big blow for this team and its chances of improvement.

Next: Nos. 30 and 29