SV’s 2019 Annual NFL Power Rankings: 22-13

Let’s dive into our Power Rankings for the teams in the middle of the pack. These teams are a few pieces short, and at least a year away from contending in the playoffs.

22. Oakland Raiders

Daaaaa Raidas… Will not be very good this year. Some may believe in the return of “Chucky” – Head Coach Jon Gruden – others are not faithful in (or fearful of) him. Gruden’s grandiose reputation that is allowing him to pull in a reported $10 million/year salary, is in large part a result of having Super Bowl victory under his belt with the Buccaneers back in 2002.

While Gruden did make a few moves on the offensive side that certainly made a difference (adding WR Keenan McCardell), there is a general understanding in Tampa Bay – Tony Dungy bought the ingredients, Gruden baked the cake. Furthermore, Monte Kiffen was the oven that made it all possible! Point is, Gruden still has a lot to prove when it comes to building a winning team, and a lot of holes to fill for a franchise that is desperate to win now. Perhaps too desperate.

21. Detroit Lions

The Lions are stuck at the bottom of one of the NFL’s toughest divisions, having to contend with the Packers, Bears, and Vikings – a challenge for any team in the NFC. The Lions have always seemed to be a step behind their divisional foes, and this year is no different.

While Matthew Stafford continues to compete his ass off for the Lions, the front office has failed time and time again to build a serious contender around him. Can Matt Patricia break the curse of failure after one leaves the side of the Hoodie (Bill Belichick)? This team will always be in games because of Stafford and the offense, but is it enough to win those critical divisional showdowns? The Lions have one of the league’s best corners in Darius Slay, but lack a formidable pass-rush to go along with solid coverage in the secondary.

20. Jacksonville Jaguars

What a difference a season makes. The Jaguars looked like they would be contending for years following their heartbreaking, 4th-quarter loss to New England in the AFC Championship just a season ago. Blake Bortles was finally showing signs of maturity, and the Jags had the most dominant young defense in the NFL.

Fast forward a year, and the conversation about this team has changed dramatically. Bortles is gone, and Jacksonville has brought Nick Foles in on a massive deal. The hope is that the Super Bowl MVP can provide the offense with a level of professionalism and competence that was lacking under Bortles. The Jags still have a top-10 running back in Leonard Fournette, and boast one of the more talented groups on defense. They’ll look to lean on what made them so successful in 2017 – dominating the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.

19. Denver Broncos

Like Jacksonville, the Broncos made a similar move in a similarly desperate fashion by signing Joe Flacco, who statistically is coming off his worst year as a pro. The Broncos defense is still one of the top units around, and will present a weekly dilemma for any offense trying to decide which side needs more help between blocking Von Miller or Bradley Chubb.

Running back Philip Lindsay exploded onto the scene as one of the better, more versatile players at his position in 2018. The formula will be simple: Run the ball, use Flacco’s big arm with play-action, and suffocate offenses with a ferocious pass-rush.

18. Tennessee Titans

Head Coach Mike Vrabel – yet another Belichick disciple – is entering his second year with a chance to compete for a division that is wide open. While the Titans may not have the most threatening offense in the league – limited by QB Marcus Mariota’s arm strength and deep ball accuracy – they are one of the trickier offenses to stop.

The Titans look to grind their opponents down with a one-two punch, combining RB Derrick Henry’s straight-ahead speed and power with Dion Lewis’ elusiveness and versatility out of the backfield. Featuring lots of play-action and run-pass-option (RPO), Mariota can also do damage on the ground, presenting a very difficult rushing attack for defensive coordinators to predict. If you don’t have the correct gameplan against this team, they can run right over you.

Their real strength, however, lies in the stoutness of their defense that surrendered the third-fewest points per game (18.9) in 2018. Vrabel simultaneously brings the style of an old-school defensive coach, while infusing the defense with new-school Belichickian philosophies and schemes. The downfall of this team may be a lack of depth on the offensive line.

17. Carolina Panthers

The Panthers have had a very long three years since their defeat in Super Bowl 50, filled with diversity, disappointment, and at times, disarray. The organization has yet to resolve the pass protection issues that have plagued them since that franchise-altering loss. Cam Newton has taken as much physical punishment as any quarterback in the league over that span. 

As a result, the Panthers have been forced to alter the formula that made them so successful – using Newton’s unique set of skills and athleticism in an all-systems go scheme that few defenses had the answer for. What we saw last year was a neutered, conservative, pocket-passer version of that offense, which now just doesn’t seem to fit the personnel. The defense is a shell of its once-dominant form, but still has the game’s top middle linebacker, Luke Kuechly, to set the pace.

16. Pittsburgh Steelers

After a disastrous couple of offseasons, the Steelers must find a way to move on from losing two-thirds of what was the most prolific offensive-trifecta in the league. Lev Bell and Antonio Brown are gone, yet the Steelers – thanks to a consistently sound draft strategy – are confident they can still compete. This may be the last gasp of a champion, as QB Ben Roethlisberger was seriously contemplating retirement in 2018.

Speaking of that sound drafting – the Steelers almost too easily seem to have replaced their departed superstars. WR JuJu Smith-Schuster and RB James Conner have been sensational in their young careers. Defensively, the Steelers still attack with the best of them, tied for the lead league in sacks (52) in 2018. If the Steelers are going to squeeze out one more championship before they need to find an heir to Big Ben, this year is it.

15. Minnesota Vikings

On both sides of the ball, the Vikings have one of the more talent-laden rosters there is to admire. Unfortunately, there are obstacles that will prevent this team from contending. First, playing in what could be the most competitive division in the Eastern Conference. Second, lack of depth and injury concerns – the loss of one or more key guys and the whole thing comes crashing down – specifically RB Dalvin Cook. With Cook, the Vikings offense can be special. Without him, they finished 30th in the league in rushing.

Finally, the Cousins conundrum. Does Kirk Cousins have it – the “It” factor, the Clutch Gene. Some believe it can be developed through trial and error, others believe you have it or you don’t. The fact is, Cousins has been given the keys to a Bugatti Chiron with the speed-limiter disabled. Health withstanding, there are no excuses for why this offense shouldn’t be dusting defenses at 300 MPH, averaging 30 points per game. If Cousins can’t make it happen with THIS ride, he probably shouldn’t be in the driver’s seat.

14. Atlanta Falcons

The Dirty Birds had a rough 2018 campaign, marred by crippling injuries on the defensive side. But make no mistake, this is still one of the deeper, more experienced teams in the Eastern Conference. The offense has veteran playmakers across the board. The defense is by-in-large in their prime, hungry, and after a season filled with key injuries, healthy again.

The questions facing the Falcons ask not about their ability, but moreso, their willingness – “will” they do it? Will they avenge their infamous Super Bowl letdown against the Patriots? Will they recover from losing Kyle Shanahan’s offensive guidance? Will they seize the opportunity when it presents itself, to make amends? Many of the answers to these questions lead to Matt Ryan, who bounced back with 35 TDs and nearly 5,000 passing yards in 2018. Ryan, along with a re-tooled offensive line may determine how far this team can go.

13. Baltimore Ravens 

There is only one reason why the Ravens are not top-five on this list. The reason being: It is very difficult to see a scenario in which the Ravens continue to use QB Lamar Jackson in the manner they have been using him, without the occurrence of a significant or serious injury. Which is quite ironic, considering the Ravens backup to Jackson is Robert Griffin III. No better example of what is likely to happen when a smaller quarterback is used how Baltimore plans to use Jackson – some are projecting the QB to have over 200 rushing attempts this year. 

Call it a hunch, call it intuition, hell, call it knowing your history! It’s simply not a sustainable strategy in this day and age. Yes, rules for protecting the quarterback have improved over the past decade. But once a QB decides to scramble, he’s afforded less protection, and is inevitably going to take some big hits, legal or not. It’s unfortunate and here’s to hoping it doesn’t happen – because with Jackson the Ravens have an exciting offense to go with an elite defense. But history says they are bound to learn some painful lessons about playing with fire.