It's almost hard to believe the start of the 2010 NFL season is just a couple of weeks away. As June and July drag on inside of the football void, each day seems longer and longer, but now that fantasy drafts are around the corner and teams are preparing to whittle down their rosters, it seems like training camp and preseason is just flying by.
So who are the best NFL teams right now? Here's a look at the NFL from top to bottom.
1. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts had a good shot at being the second undefeated regular season team this decade until they decided to give their top players a rest. There is no reason to think they won't be just as good this year.
2. New Orleans Saints
The Saints are going to break the bottom-to-first curse of the NFC South with back-to-back division titles and are still the team to beat in the NFC.
3. Green Bay Packers
If preseason counted, Green Bay would be leading the pack. They've been very crisp and have the talent to dominate in the NFC.
4. Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have the talent to be number one on the list, but they haven't been able to gel that talent into a cohesive form. If they want to make the big game, they'll need to make the big plays in the red zone.
5. New York Jets
It's easy to look at the superstars the Jets are collecting and count them down for ignoring the head cases that come with those superstars, but with a dominant defense, the Jets are the team to beat in the AFC East. But they'll need the best cornerback in football signed and on the team. Count them down if Revis holds out well into the season.
6. Baltimore Ravens
Already equipped with one of the best running backs and a young quarterback with a lot of talent, the acquisition of Anquan Boldin will be enough to overcome a defense that has a some question marks in the secondary.
7. San Diego Chargers
Even without Vincent Jackson, San Diego is one of the dominant teams in the NFC. But there are some questions going into 2010, starting with whether or not they can establish a running game and ending with whether or not they can finally get over the hump.
8. Minnesota Vikings
The loss of Sydney Rice for the first half (and possibly all) of the season will hurt this team. Favre might have one more year left in him, but does he have one more great year left in him?
9. New England Patriots
It's hard to count out a Belichick-coached team that includes Tom Brady, Randy Moss and Wes Welker. They might not be that magical 2007 team that came withing a game of the perfect season, but they still have some juice left in the tank.
10. Tennessee Titans
Despite the remarkable turnaround last season, few people seem to believe in Vince Young. But the guy who outplayed two Heisman Trophey winners to win the national championship does have a knack for making plays, and with the most explosive running back in football lining up behind him, the Titans are going to rack up some wins this season.
11. Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals have the talent to be extremely explosive this year... if their wide receivers don't explode from the drama. While much has been made of Johnson and Owens, let's not forget that Antonia Bryant has plenty of towel-thrown-at-coach drama in his past. Best guess: some of that drama comes out on the field.
12. San Fransisco 49ers
Mark my words: the 49ers are on the rise. Mike Singletary is going to turn them into one of the best teams in football, but he might be a year or two away. First things first, he needs a solid quarterback. Can Alex Smith finally turn the corner and be that guy?
13. Atlanta Falcons
A healthy Michael Turner should provide a boost for the Falcons, but they still have a tough road to climb if they want to unseat the New Orleans Saints.
14. Houston Texans
Andre Johnson might be the best wide receiver in football. But you need more than one person to win games. If the Texans can't find a solution at running back, they'll continue to be that team that grasps at the playoffs but just can't hang on.
15. Arizona Cardinals
Matt Leinart will prove he's no Kurt Warner, but Larry Fitzgerald doesn't need perfectly thrown passes to help the Cardinals win 8 games despite lackluster play at the QB position.
16. Philadephia Eagles
Expect some struggles from a young team that has an explosive future. The Eagles can be very good, but they are a year or two away from reaching that potential.
17. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins have survived on the run, and more specifically, the wildcat these last couple of years. But with an aging backfield that has difficulty staying healthy, they'll need to count on Chad Henne's arm and Brandon Marshall's hands this year.
18. New York Giants
The Giants simply have too many question marks going into the season. Their defense is in disrepair, their starting running back is about to become their backup running back, and their quarterback has never completely carried the team.
19. Washington Redskins
Despite having the worst owner in the NFL, the Redskins' fortunes are definitely looking up. But don't expect miracles in the first year under Shanahan. A new regime, new schemes on offense and defense and a disgruntled hundred million dollar player are a little too much to overcome.
20. Chicago Bears
This may be the year that Jay Culter proves once and for all that he is the reincarnation of Jeff George, the guy with the golden arm and the wooden head.
21. Seattle Seahawks
From Steve Spurrier to Nick Saben, we've seen a lot of "genius" college coaches choke when they hit the big leagues. It's a wonder what having more talent than your competition will do for your win-loss record! But we only need look back to Jimmy Johnson to know it is possible to make the transition. The question becomes whether Pete Carrol is a Jimmy Johnson or a Steve Spurrier.
22. Denver Broncos
Take a new coach that trades away his best players on offense and add in an injury bug that takes out the best player on defense and you get a team that will struggle to win six games.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers
The loss of Big Ben for the first few games will hurt the Steelers W-L record, but it will hurt whoever wins the starting QB job even more. The Steelers offensive line simply cannot block.
24. Carolina Panthers
The cloud of a quarterback controversy will hang over this team all year. Even if Matt Moore does well, he might lose his job if the Panthers can't win, at which point Carolina's season will be over.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars
It's going to take more than a bowling ball at running back for the Jaguars to rack up wins. Fantasy owners will love what Maurice Jones-Drew does on the field, while Jaguars fans will hate what the rest of the team does.
26. Oakland Raiders
The Redskins might have the worst owner in the NFL, but the Raiders give them a run for their money. Can Tom Cable rebuild a team devastated by poor decisions made by Al Davis? Jason Campbell is a step in the right direction, but he's not a long-term solution for a team that doesn't have many weapons on offense.
27. Kansas City Chiefs
Thomas Jones is a nice addition to a team that already has an explosive back in Jamaal Charles, but between Matt Cassel and a lack of wide receiving threats, this team isn't going far.
28.Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It's now Josh Freeman's team, but there are still too many holes for a young quarterback to fill.
29. Detroit Lions
Will the Lions ever turn the corner? Between Matt Stafford and Calvin Johnson, they have some talent. If Jahvid Best can add a running attack, there might be hope for Detroit. But it's still hard to believe in them.
30. Buffalo Bills
You need a quarterback to win in this league. Also, people for the quarterback to throw it to helps.
31. Cleveland Browns
Mike Holmgren is quickly going to find out that Eric Mangini's reputation as a mad genius leans much more on the mad side of the equation. And as if having a crazy head coach wasn't enough, you need good players too. Holmgren has his work cut out for him, and unfortunately, it probably starts next year.
32. St. Louis Rams
You have to feel back for Steven Jackson. Definitely among the best running backs in the game, he's the true diamond in the rough for the Rams. Expect Bradford to start early and -- as rookies almost always do -- struggle often.
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