NFL Week 1 Power Rankings, where do the Miami Dolphins rank?
11: Arizona Cardinals- The Cardinals were off to a very hot start last year before completely falling apart and missing the playoffs. The Cardinals added JJ Watt to build up the pass rush which needed attention. They already have a solid defense and tons of playmakers on the offense. I think the Cardinals are a threat to make the playoffs this year.
12: Washington Football Team- After two seasons in Miami, Ryan Fitzpatrick is now the quarterback for Washington. Fitzpatrick has some very good weapons around him on offense. The defense on the other hand is no doubt top 5 in the league. Combine the two, and Washington has a very good chance to become repeat NFC East champions.
13: Dallas Cowboys- The Cowboys are coming off of another disappointing season. This year, they get to see the return of Dak Prescott who got hurt during Week 4 last season. It will be interesting to see how Ezekiel Elliot responds after his first questionable season yet. CeeDee Lamb looks to be the real deal, and Amari Cooper next to him gives Prescott a very good 1-2 option. The Cowboys are a playoff team if the defense improves.
14: Seattle Seahawks- I think the Seahawks will always remain a threat as long as Russell Wilson is still at quarterback. But I believe this is the most questionable Seattle team in a while. The defense continues to become a bigger question, and it is unknown how much Chris Carson can provide in the backfield. I do not expect much from the Seahawks this year.
15: New Orleans Saints- For the first time in a long time, Drew Brees is not the starter for the Saints. They turn to Jameis Winston who is coming off of a year as the Saints’ 3rd stringer. Winston has a lot of potential, but his weapons do get limited with the loss of Michael Thomas for the first few weeks. The defense seemed to have slightly improved so it will be interesting to see how the new-look Saints perform.
16: Minnesota Vikings- The Vikings look to take the next step forward in making it back to the playoffs. Justin Jefferson having a monster rookie season was a huge sigh of relief for the Vikings after they moved on from Stefon Diggs last offseason. Kirk Cousins and Dalvin Cook still lead the dynamic offense once again as they can be a problem in the NFC.
17: New England Patriots- The Patriots made a ton of moves in the offseason to improve both sides of the ball. Mac Jones officially is the new starter as he has some big shoes to fill. The Patriots are always a team to watch for when Bill Belichick is the coach, but I believe they are just an average team. Until Jones becomes a more developed quarterback, I see the Patriots as a 7-9 win team.
18: Indianapolis Colts- Carson Wentz made his way from Philly to Indy during the offseason. He gets a new chance behind the best offensive line in football. On top of that, the Colts also have a much better defense than some people think. I would have the Colts higher on this list but recent injuries like to TY Hilton hurts.
19: Los Angeles Chargers- Justin Herbert shocked everyone by winning rookie of the year last season. With Austin Ekeler and Keenan Allen, the Chargers have some playmakers on offense that can carry them a long way. The question for the Chargers come on the defense. Their potential remains to be seen but the Chargers can become a sneaky playoff team.
20: Pittsburgh Steelers- After being destroyed by the Browns in the playoffs, the Steelers enter this season with many questions around them. The offensive line is still an issue and they lost a few pieces on defense in the offseason. They did draft Najee Harris at running back to help give Ben a reliable run game, but will it work with the shaky offensive line? The Steelers have potential, but a lot of questions surround them.