Jarryd Hayne’s 49ers ranked 26th of 32 NFL teams ahead of season-opener
A RANKING of all 32 NFL teams ahead of next weekend’s opening round makes ugly reading for Jarryd Hayne and the 49ers.
AFTER a preseason in which more Australians have turned their attention to the NFL than ever before, it’s time for the real stuff to begin.
But the New York Post’s first NFL power rankings don’t make pretty reading for Jarryd Hayne and the San Francisco 49ers.
The rundown:
1. Seattle Seahawks (12-4 last season)
Outlook: They were within a dumb Pete Carroll play call from back-to-back Super Bowl titles, and they added one of the most dangerous receiving tight ends in the league in Jimmy Graham. Kam Chancellor’s contract saga is a mess, but this team is still loaded.
Opening game: Sunday at Rams
2. New England Patriots (12-4)
Outlook: Tom Brady’s suspension was reversed, so the Super Bowl champs don’t have to worry about defending their crown for four games with the unproven Jimmy Garoppolo. The secondary looks like a disaster with Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner gone, but this is usually when Bill Belichick does his best coaching.
Opening game: Thursday vs. Steelers
3. Green Bay Packers (12-4)
Outlook: The preseason injury to Jordy Nelson felt like a season-killer at the time, but Aaron Rodgers still has weapons around him and thrived when Nelson went down previously. The defence is just middle of the road, though, and who knows how bad the hangover from The Choke in Seattle will be?
Opening game: Sunday at Bears
4. Indianapolis Colts (11-5)
Outlook: With Andre Johnson and Frank Gore added to an already prolific offence, Andrew Luck & Co. will be almost impossible to stop. But their defence is mediocre at best (see: 2014 AFC Championship game) and could prove to be Indianapolis’ ultimate undoing once again.
Opening game: Sunday at Bills
5. Dallas Cowboys (12-4)
Outlook: As impressive as last year’s finish was, it still feels like an outlier after so much recent mediocrity. The offensive line is the best in football, but DeMarco Murray’s departure will hurt and the defence — Dallas’ Achilles’ heel — doesn’t appear to be significantly improved, especially after cornerback Orlando Scandrick’s recent season-ending injury.
Opening game: Sunday vs. Giants
6. Baltimore Ravens (10-6)
Outlook: The loss of Torrey Smith and Owen Daniels in the off-season will hurt, especially since Joe Flacco’s supporting cast will be so young. But never count out a team with Ozzie Newsome as its GM. Newsome’s teams never rebuild — they reload.
Opening game: Sunday at Broncos
7. Arizona Cardinals (11-5)
Outlook: They exited the playoffs meekly, thanks to Carson Palmer’s season-ending injury, but showed enough — especially on defence — during the regular season to think they’re still a team on the rise. The season still rides on Palmer’s health and ability to bounce back, though.
Opening game: Sunday vs. Saints
8. Denver Broncos (12-4)
Outlook: For the first time since Peyton Manning arrived, their defence — especially with that fearsome pass rush — might be the better of the two units. But Manning looked done at the end of last season, the offensive line is makeshift and they have a new coach in Gary Kubiak. Questions abound.
Opening game: Sunday vs. Ravens
9. Detroit Lions (11-5)
Outlook: Detroit is determined to be more balanced after emphasising the running game in the off-season, but the loss of both Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley will be felt on defence. At least Golden Tate, seemingly reborn with the Lions, looks primed for a big year.
Opening game: Sunday at Chargers
10. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5)
Outlook: Injuries and suspensions will leave them shorthanded early in the season, and the defence is practically starting over. But Le’Veon Bell is a fearsome weapon, and Ben Roethlisberger will keep them in every game.
Opening game: Thursday at Patriots
11. Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)
Outlook: They’re the most fascinating team in the league, and not just because of Tim Tebow. Chip Kelly’s near-total makeover of the roster in the off-season was a huge gamble, especially since he’s relying on Sam Bradford and DeMarco Murray to stay healthy.
Opening game: Monday at Falcons
12. Cincinnati Bengals (10-5-1)
Outlook: In case you’ve lost count, it’s a staggering 12 consecutive years without a playoff victory for Marvin Lewis. Look for Cincinnati to keep doing what it always does under Lewis: be very competitive in the regular season, then flop in the postseason.
Opening game: Sunday at Raiders
13. Kansas City Chiefs (9-7)
Outlook: The arrival of Jeremy Maclin — the legitimate big-play receiver Kansas City seemingly has lacked for decades — could put this otherwise talented roster over the top.
Opening game: Sunday at Texans
14. Minnesota Vikings (7-9)
Outlook: If Adrian Peterson can be anywhere near the player he was before essentially missing the 2014 season, this team will be a very tough out. Coach Mike Zimmer is a defensive whiz, and Teddy Bridgewater means Peterson finally has a quality quarterback to share the load.
Opening game: Monday at 49ers
15. Miami Dolphins (8-8)
Outlook: A lot of new faces on offence and one very big new face on defence in Ndamukong Suh could finally result in a breakthrough season for this perpetually mediocre franchise. Whether all the new parts can gel quickly will be key.
Opening game: Sunday at Redskins
16. San Diego Chargers (9-7)
Outlook: Should rookie running back Melvin Gordon pan out, the Chargers should remain their usually competitive selves. Their stadium situation — and whether they’re headed for Los Angeles — could be a big distraction, though.
Opening game: Sunday vs. Lions
17. Houston Texans (9-7)
Outlook: It’s going to be tough to score on a Houston defence led by J.J. Watt, Vince Wilfork and Jadeveon Clowney, but can the Texans do much scoring themselves? The quarterback tandem of Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett isn’t exactly encouraging.
Opening game: Sunday vs. Chiefs
18. Carolina Panthers (7-8-1)
Outlook: The crushing injury to star wideout Kelvin Benjamin means Cam Newton probably will have to be a one-man show yet again this year. At least the division is incredibly weak.
Opening game: Sunday at Jaguars
19. Buffalo Bills (9-7)
Outlook: They look like a typical Rex Ryan Jets team — strong on defence with the potential to be totally undone by a complete void at quarterback. The supporting cast on offence is better than anything Ryan had in New York, though.
Opening game: Sunday vs. Colts
20. New York Giants (6-10)
Outlook: Odell Beckham Jr. always will be must-see TV, and Eli Manning looks comfortable in the West Coast offence, but little else about this injury-ravaged team seems to provide reason for optimism. The secondary and offensive lines are both a mess.
Opening game: Sunday at Cowboys
21. New Orleans Saints (7-9)
Outlook: A franchise that just seems stuck in a downward slide, especially after getting rid of tight end Jimmy Graham. The weakness of the division offers hope, though.
Opening game: Sunday at Cardinals
22. St Louis Rams (6-10)
Outlook: The defence (especially the pass rush) will keep them in every game, but Nick Foles isn’t an upgrade over Sam Bradford, and owner Stan Kroenke’s efforts to move the team to Los Angeles could cast a season-long pall.
Opening game: Sunday vs. Seahawks
23. Atlanta Falcons (6-10)
Outlook: They have a new coach in Dan Quinn, but too bad Quinn couldn’t bring the defence he coordinated in Seattle with him to Atlanta. The Falcons will score a lot of points but probably give up even more.
Opening game: Monday vs. Eagles
24. Cleveland Browns (7-9)
Outlook: They overachieved in Mike Pettine’s first season as coach and look headed for a big fall after pinning their quarterback hopes on Josh McCown and a fresh-out-of-rehab Johnny Manziel.
Opening game: Sunday at Jets
25. Chicago Bears (5-11)
Outlook: Their most promising young player, rookie wideout Kevin White, already is out for the season, and Jay Cutler is somehow still their quarterback. It could be a long year for new coach John Fox.
Opening game: Sunday vs. Packers
26. San Francisco 49ers (8-8)
Outlook: Between firing Jim Harbaugh and seemingly losing half their roster to retirement or police incident, has anyone in recent memory had a worse off-season than this team? The jury on new coach Jim Tomsula remains firmly out.
Opening game: Monday vs. Vikings
27. Oakland Raiders (3-13)
Outlook: They showed some promising signs at the end of last season, and Jack Del Rio should bring some stability to the coaching spot. Wide receiver Amari Cooper also looks like a strong Rookie of the Year candidate.
Opening game: Sunday vs. Bengals
28. New York Jets (4-12)
Outlook: A new coach, new offensive system and Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback for at least the first month of the season doesn’t offer much hope. At least the defence will be watchable with prodigal son Darrelle Revis back.
Opening game: Sunday vs. Browns
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-14)
Outlook: How they fare will depend heavily on whether Jameis Winston is worth the hype and how quickly the No. 1 overall pick can adjust to the NFL.
Opening game: Sunday vs. Titans
30. Washington Redskins (3-13)
Outlook: This franchise was a rolling calamity in the preseason, particularly when it came to dealing with Robert Griffin III, and there’s literally zero reason to think that will change once the games start.
Opening game: Sunday vs. Dolphins
31. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-13)
Outlook: If Blake Bortles can take a step up in Year 2, then their season might hold some promise. But otherwise, this is a franchise stuck firmly in the muck.
Opening game: Sunday vs. Panthers
32. Tennessee Titans (2-14)
Outlook: Marcus Mariota will have to be the saviour right away, because the rest of the roster is bleak.
Opening game: Sunday at Buccaneers
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