NFL Power Rankings, Week 1: Where do Chiefs begin title defense?
By Grant Tuttle
21. New Orleans Saints
The Saints might be the best team in the NFC South, but that is not saying a whole lot. New Orleans has some interesting pieces, but they seem a little bit hollow. At this point in time, I can see the Saints being a team that wins nine games and then stumbles into the playoffs. It will take some time, but perhaps this is the year that they put it together.
22. Atlanta Falcons
Desmond Ridder? Bijan Robinson? Drake London? Kyle Pitts? The Falcons might be mostly bad this year, but they have an insanely talented group of youngsters on their roster. In order to burst onto the scene, they will need to show some defensive consistency that has been lacking for a while in Atlanta. With that being said, they should be a fun team to watch on a weekly basis.
23. Indianapolis Colts
The Colts, like the Falcons, are extremely intriguing. If Anthony Richardson hits his ceiling, he could be a top-three quarterback in the NFL. Beyond that, the Colts also have some very interesting pieces on defense. Players like Julius Brents, Kwity Paye, and Rodney Thomas II present tremendous potential that the Colts could dominate with in the future. For now, however, it looks as though the Colts will be a team with a lot to offer, but not enough to be competitive this season.
24. Washington Commanders
I've seen a lot of people down on the Commanders. I get it, there are some question marks at quarterback. Sam Howell is not ideal. The rest of their roster could be on the verge of greatness. If you look at it closely, there is a ton to like. With offensive pieces like Jahan Dotson, Terry McLaurin, and Brian Robinson, the Commanders have real weapons. Defensively, there is even more to like: Chase Young, Daron Young, and Montez Sweat are all a force in their own right. The Commanders are the proverbial "we're a quarterback away" team. We will see if Sam Howell is that guy.