Until last week, New England was deemed an offensive juggernaut with a suspect defense. After a 20-16 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, a game in which New England’s defense came up with their biggest (and only) stop of this young season, a full-strength Patriots squad is looking extremely viable for a deep post season run.

Tom Brady was not at his best until the end of the fourth quarter, when he led the Patriots on a 10-play, 80-yard drive, culminating in an eight-yard touchdown reception by TE Aaron Hernandnez. After throwing two interceptions earlier in the game (both on tipped passes), Brady was arguably the sharpest he’s been all season, completing 88.8% of his passes on his final drive as Patriots fans enjoyed watching Tom Brady in vintage form.

Despite Brady’s offense’s heroics, it was the New England defense that deserves the credit for the victory.

Heavily criticized and seriously victimized in past weeks, the defense prevented the Cowboys from capitalizing on New England’s uncharacteristic mistakes. The unit allowed just six points off of four Patriot turnovers, including holding Dallas to a field goal when forced to defend within their own 30-yard line.

Their biggest stop came in the fourth quarter.

Brandon Spikes Leads the Patriot Linebackers

With Dallas leading 16-13 with the ball and less than four minutes on the clock, the Patriots defense needed to force a quick three-and-out. For the first time in what has seemed like years, the defense was rock solid in the game’s most critical situation.

In giving up just five yards on three ineffective plays, the defense looked extremely energetic. Considering the group is lacking its best player in MLB Jerod Mayo, we should see the team improve as health progresses.

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Image Credits: mkrob.com

In the draft, the Patriots drafted complementary running backs Stevan Ridley (power) and Shane Vereen (quickness), and also addressed their need for depth at offensive tackle with the addition of Nate Solder.

The Patriots added mammoth defensive linemen such as Albert Haynesworth and Shaun Ellis, while bringing in proven pass rushers Andre Carter and Mark Anderson.

The Patriots’ plan to add solid veterans who were at career lows in terms of value culminated with the addition of WR Chad Ochocinco.

With the somewhat controversial decisions, fans asked the inherent question: Will the Patriots have locker-room issues?

After about three weeks with their new team, guys previously deemed lazy have been praised for their work-ethic and passion. On Sunday, Brady praised Ochocinco: “…  he’s really finding a role for himself. He’s been practicing hard. He’s very competitive.”

The biggest question for the Patriots now is whether or not they’ll be able to defeat the New York Jets, a team they’ll inevitably face in the regular season and a potential postseason matchup.

Last year, it was the head-to-head game that decided the result of each team’s season, so let’s look at the head-to-head matchups.

Position-by-position, the Jets fail to stack up. Obviously the Jets have some great talent, but what they have in talent they lack in depth.

Quarterbacks

Last season, Mark Sanchez had a passer rating of 75.3 with a completion percentage of 54.8. Those are obscenely low values for a quarterback deemed as the franchise’s “savior”.

Tom Brady on the other had was the unanimous MVP, throwing 36 touchdowns to just four interceptions. With the best touchdown to interception ratio the NFL had ever seen, Brady’s efficiency was unprecedented.

However, Mark Sanchez seems to have reasonable success against New England over his past two seasons, with the obvious exception being the 45-3 shelling of New York last year. Why does Sanchez find ways to beat New England when the two teams play?

Three reasons: His wide receivers get open for him, his running backs put pressure on the Patriot front seven, and New England seems unable to generate any significant pass rush.

This year, the Patriots will have Leigh Bodden returning from shoulder injury, providing New England with a significant upgrade in the defensive backfield. With a stronger, more experienced secondary, Jet receivers may find themselves struggling.

On the defensive line, with the Patriot free agent acquisitions, Sanchez will see a far more consistent and physical pass rush, while New York will find it more difficult to run it up the gut of a 4-3 defense.

Edge: Patriots. Tom Brady is elite, and Mark Sanchez will find the new-look Patriots defense far more formidable than the 2010 group.

Offensive Line:

The Jets offensive line is anchored by All-Pro center Nick Mangold, who is deservedly considered part of  the NFL’s elite.

D’Brickashaw Fergusen has developed into a very consistent offensive tackle, and the two set the tone for a very physical front-five.

The Patriots offensive line, however, is unbelievably versatile. Logan Mankins is the star of the group, while right tackle Sebastian Vollmer has cemented himself as a long-term offensive tackle as he has been a rock for two seasons. Throw in the vocal center Dan Koppen and experienced left tackle Matt Light, and New England’s offensive line will look to have another very successful season.

However, it’s almost useless to compare two offensive lines to each other, however, as an offensive line’s strength can vary based on defensive matchups.

For instance, a group of 320 pounders would suffer from the speedy Indianapolis defensive front, while that same group would find great success against the physical Baltimore Ravens front seven.

With that being said, it’s hard to give New England an edge after the debacle they suffered in the playoffs last year. The Jets completely outmatched the Patriots offensive line, while New York’s line shut down New England’s front seven.

The Jets have proven that they can beat New England’s offensive line, while the Pats have yet to find consistent success against New York’s big men.

Edge: Jets. They have shown no signs of weakness against New England.

Running Backs:

Many fans might initially consider this an easy Jets victory, but what these fans fail to realize is the immense versatility the Patriots have in their backfield. From the extremely quick Danny Woodhead to BenJarvus Green-Ellis, arguably one of the purest downhill runners in the game, the Pats have a mix of power and speed.

Rookies Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley will add to the versatile group, and Ridley (with the exception of his fumble against the Buccaneers) has looked extremely viable in his first two preseason appearances.

The Jets have the aging LaDainian Tomlinson, and the still unproven Shonn Greene. After seeing his numbers decline from 2006-2009, Tomlinson had a bounce-back 2010 with 914 yards and six TDs, but we’ve seen aging running backs have one great year before fading into obscurity (Corey Dillon).

Shonn Greene has the speed, power and quickness to do whatever he wants with the ball, and the Jets hope that he can finally become the primary back they expect he can be after a 2010 which saw him compile just 766 yards of rushing.

Not to be lost among the RB’s is full back John Conner aka the Terminator. The guy is a wrecking ball, and his ability to clear the path for backs is vital for the Jets physical nature when running the ball.

Edge: Wash. The Patriots have unprecedented versatility through their running-back-by-committee approach, while the Jets feature an aging star and a young back who will look to find success.

Wide Receivers:

The Patriots have Chad Ochocinco, Wes Welker and Deion Branch as their presumed top-three. The Jets have Santonio Holmes, Plaxico Burress and Derrick Mason. Plaxico is still having problems with his damaged ankle, while Derrick Mason’s age is enough of a factor to have significantly slowed him down.

Over the past four years, Mason has seen his reception numbers drop since 2007. After his 103 catch 2007 campaign, he totaled only 80 catches in 2008, 73 in 2009, and 61 in 2010.

Santonio Holmes is an exclamation point in a receiving group otherwise filled with question marks.

New England, on the other hand, has the best slot receiver in the game (Wes Welker) who will look to return to his 2007-2009 form, pre-ACL tear. As a third receiver New England features an experienced veteran and extremely precise route-runner in Deion Branch.

Last year, Welker had 86 catches in just 15 games while returning from severe knee surgery.

Branch, after joining the Patriots (11 games), had 48 catches, five touchdowns and 706 yards of receiving.

Ochocinco was elite in his heydays with Cincinnati, and is a great medium-length (13-20 yards) route runner. With Tom Brady’s unbelievably accuracy, especially on underneath routes, Chad will be a weapon. In terms of depth, the Patriots and Jets both have unproven back ups, and it is always dangerous to speculate on young receivers.

Edge: Patriots. Too much depth and talent to ignore, plus the addition of Ochocinco and the introduction of a viable running game will certainly add to the receivers’ success.

Tight Ends:

The Patriots have an elite, young group of tight ends. Both Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez are mismatch nightmares. Gronk’s power and size makes him a physical linebacker with safety speed, while Hernandez’s speed is similar to that of a wide receiver, while his size is similar to that of a strong safety. Last year the two combined for over 1,100 yards receiving, 87 receptions and 16 touchdowns.

Rookie tight end Lee Smith is an NFL ready tight end because of his blocking ability, as he will be called upon as a sixth lineman this season.

The Jets have Dustin Keller who is no doubt a major weapon, along with second year tight end Jeff Cumberland, who still needs to make a name for himself. Keller had 55 catches for 687 yards year, but that wasn’t nearly the level of production seen from Hernandez and Gronkowski.

Edge: Patriots. For a long time to come, the Patriots will have significant threats in the form of tight ends.

Okay, so after going through the offense, it’s safe to say that New England’s will be stronger. As a Jets fan, however, one can point at the defense and say that that is where the team’s real strength is while being 100% correct. Part 2 will compare the two teams’ defenses, and we’ll see how they actually match up!

Here’s a recap:

	Jets Key Players	Patriots Key Players	Edge
Quarterbacks	Sanchez	Brady	Patriots
Offensive Line	Mangold, Fergusen	Light, Vollmer, Mankins	Jets
Running Backs	Tomlinson, Greene	Green-Ellis, Woodhead, Vereen, Ridley	Wash
Receivers	Holmes, Burress, Mason	Ochocinco, Branch, Welker, Price	Patriots
Tight Ends	Keller	Gronkowski, Hernandez, Smith	Patriots

Image Credit: cdn.bleacherreport.net

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I was originally planning to rank the top 16 teams, but I felt it unfair not to include the #17 team given the unexpected success they had last season.

The free agent frenzy has slowed significantly, and with most teams ready to prepare with their most recent acquisitions, it felt right to rank the top half of the league.

Last season was marked by extreme parity, and I think it’s fair to expect the same equality around the league this season, but, at the end of the day (last year it was the Packers) some teams will stand out.

To find out who, read on…

17.     Kansas City Chiefs

The Cheifs had an unbelievable season last year by exceeding all expectations. For the first time in years they were a playoff team as they went 10-6. Led offensively by Jamaal Charles and Matt Cassel and defensively by Tamba Hali and Brandon Flowers, the Chiefs surprised the entire NFL.

Flowers has emerged as a legitimate shutdown corner, while Jamaal Charles (1,467 yards, 6.4 YPC) showed he has elite skill as a running back.

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Matt Cassel will continue to develop, and the Chiefs hope he can build on a season which saw him throw 27 TDs to just 7 Interceptions (93.0 QB RTG). Throw in the speedster Dexter McCluster on special teams, and Kansas City looks to have a dangerous squad.

The Chiefs were the best rushing team in the NFL last year averaging 164.2 yards per game. Still, the Chiefs had arguably the easiest schedule in all of football last year, and although the team will be better, their record will not.

16.     Minnesota Vikings

The 6-10 Vikings were obviously hurt by their lack of a starting QB last year, as the revolving door  of Tavaris Jackson, Joe Webb and Brett Favre was not successful.

The addition of Donovan McNabb will immediately transform their offense and help hide the offensive line deficiencies which led to Favre getting hurt in the first place. Maybe Bernard Berrian will finally live up to his potential with an elite quarterback tossing him passes, but without Sidney Rice the Vikes have only one real receiving option in Percy Harvin.

Minnesota (and McNabb) will sorely miss Rice’s production in the form of 1,312 yards and 8 TDs from his healthy 2009 campaign.

The Vikings will look for rookie tight end Kyle Rudolph (an athletic player from Notre Dame) to be a consistent underneath option for McNabb who has the speed to roll out of the pocket, but relying on rookies (especially as receivers) is always a risky proposition.

Although Minnesota benefits from having an All-Pro running back in Adrian Peterson, they will struggle because of their lack of offensive depth.

Defensively, they were solid against the run and pass (9^th/10^th in the league last season respectively), and are led by pass rushing extraordinaire Jared Allen. Barring injuries, there is enough talent on both sides of the ball to make a run, but in a league where depth is so vital, the Vikings will be in trouble.

Further, Minnesota faces the Bears and Packers twice each during the season, and their success will depend on how they fare against these two divisional rivals. 

15.     Dallas Cowboys

As Always, the Cowboys have the talent to be a big time postseason contender. But, will their talent translate into wins? Last season, it did not, as the ‘Boys ended up 6-10.

Offensively, Dallas has studs throughout the field including Miles Austin and Felix Jones. Austin had 1,041 yards and 7 TDs last season, and looks to continue on his success from the past 2 seasons. Jones has seen increasing responsibility with each NFL season, as last year he had 800 yards on 185 carries (4.3 YPC).

Throw the ever-dangerous Jason Witten into the mix, and the young but fast Dez Bryant, and the Cowboys are looking to explode on offense.

The offensive line of the Cowboys, however, has always been a major concern for the team. It should be bolstered by the drafting of Tyron Smith, but, the larger question remains, can Tony Romo be the quarterback the Cowboys need him to be? History says no, and their defense has too many holes to carry the load.

In 2010 Terrence Newman had 79 tackles and 5 picks, while DeMarcus Ware totaled 15.5 sacks, 66 tackles and 2 FF. These two Pro-Bowlers are clearly elite players, but can they cover for the massive liabilities throughout their squad, including cornerback Mike Jenkins?

If a team does not have the depth to support their stars in the NFL, then that team is beatable, no matter who their stars are.

14.     Arizona Cardinals

The 5-11 Cardinals needed a legitimate quarterback last season, but could not get much out of Matt Leinart or Derek Anderson. The weapons are in place and with a high level QB the Cards made it to the Super Bowl (Kurt Warner).

After trading for Kevin Kolb, the Cardinals think they’ve found their answer, and frankly he’s certainly an upgrade over the players they let onto the field last season. Kolb picks up yards, but is susceptible to the interception (7 TDs and 7 Ints)

I don’t think the Cardinals are an exceptionally strong team, but in an extremely weak NFC West anybody has a chance (see the 7-9 Seattle Seahawks who made the playoffs last year).

Offensively, the Cardinals hope rookie RB Ryan Williams will immediately upgrade their 32^nd ranked run offense (86.8 YPG), and he will. Larry Fitzgerald even without a  real QB, amassed 1,137 receiving yards.

Defensively, The Cardinals will look for Patrick Peterson to make an impact as soon as he steps onto the field, adding another solid athlete to their already stacked secondary (Adrian Wilson, Kerry Rhodes).

Darnell Dockett is a great defensive tackle (5.0 sacks last year), and will bolster the front seven. The problem with this team is depth, as it is with many rebuilding teams.

They have their stars but, like the Vikings and Cowboys, lack depth. Ff one of their key guys goes down, the whole team might follow.

13. Indianapolis Colts

There’s no secret in Indy’s formula for winning. Let Peyton Manning score as many times as possible, and hope the defense can allow one less score. Indy limped into the playoffs at 10-6, but were not the dominant team that Colts fans had seen in years past.

With Manning’s neck injury a cause for concern, the Colts might be in trouble. They have no running game to speak of, and very little defense after losing Clint Sessions.

As always, the team will need Manning to be amazing. But, with a defense unlikely to stop either Chris Johnson of the Titans or the Houston Texans offense, the Colts might miss the playoffs entirely.

12.     Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The (10-6) Buccaneers are the real deal. Offensively, they have a trio of young players in QB Josh Freeman, WR Mike Williams, and RB LeGarette Blount. Not only do they have a strong top three, but those key guys are also young, improving players.

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Last year, Freeman threw 25 TDs to just 6 Interceptions. LeGarette Blount averaged 5.0 YPC on his way to a 1007 yard rushing season, while Mike Williams finished with 11 TDs and 964 yards receiving.

The Bucs addressed their defense with their 1st round selection of DE Adrian Clayborn. Clayborn, with his explosive athleticism, should provide the Bucs pass rush a needed boost and put less pressure on a secondary led by a still effective Ronde Barber (65 tackles, 3 interceptions last season).

The Buccaneers are building their defense from the trenches, a strategy that has proven successful in the past (2000-2010 Patriots).

Raheem Morris has set the proper attitude for his young team, highlighting responsibility, passion and ownership. His players clearly love to play for him.

However, the major flaw with this team is the division they play in. Force to compete with the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons, the Bucs’ playoff drought will continue for another season.

11.     Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears finished11-5 last season, but viewers always seemed skeptical about their success. Similar to the squad that reached the 2006 Super Bowl, the Bears put a lot of faith in an erratic quarterback. In 2006 it was Rex Grossman, now it is Jay Cutler.

Cutler had 23 touchdowns to 16 interceptions last season, and having a young, fairly unproven receiving squad will not help his high interception total. Also, the Bears parted ways with Greg Olsen during the offseason. Arguably Cutler’s favorite target, the tight end’s absence will be noticed if the receivers cannot step up. Devin Aromashodu will likely be a top receiving target.

This offense has question marks at every position, although the drafting of  OL Gabe Camiri will immediately strengthen the miserable offensive line and should inherently have a positive impact on Cutler’s inconsistencies.

Cutler is unquestionably a superior player when compared to Rex Grossman, and if Chicago can prevent Cutler from getting hit every time he drops back then they will have a dangerous offense.

Defense is of course a strong point for the Bears. Led by Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher, the group certainly commands respect from opposing offenses.

The biggest positive for the Bears comes in their return game, as they can consistently expect sparks from speedster Devin Hester.

A team with a lot of weapons and a lot of question marks.

10.     Houston Texans

Offensively, this team is rock solid. Led by Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson and Arian Foster, Houston relied on their offense for their 6-win season.

Andre Johnson: 13 games, 1,216 yards, 8 TDs.

Arian Foster: 1,616 yards, 16 TDs.

Matt Schaub: 4,370 yards, 93.0 QB RTG.

Clearly, the offense should not be a problem for Houston.

Defense, however, is an entirely different story. Although strong up front, the Texans had an atrocious pass defense last year, allowing a league worst 267.5 YPG passing. They will be looking for first-year corner Brandon Harris to support Jonathan Joseph as the second corner, but the Texans made very few improvements in their secondary over the offseason as they failed to sign Nnmadi Asomugha.

What does bode well for Houston is their front seven. Mario Williams, Demeco Ryans and hopefully steroid-free Brian Cushing (76 tackles in 12 games) will lead their front 7.

The Texans, by drafting DE J.J. Watt, are clearly looking to solve their CB deficiencies with a strong pass rush and run defense, forcing offenses to be predictable.

Houston has an exceptionally talented offense, but will need their defense to improve to have any legitimate success.

9.     San Diego Chargers

Last year, the Chargers were the epitome of the “stats lie” adage in the NFL. The Chargers ended up a mediocre 9-7, but led the league in both total offense and total defense (395.6 YPG and 271.6 YPG respectively).

The biggest problem for San Diego came on special teams, as their return defense was one of the worst in the NFL. Yet, they were able to go on a late season run last year as they closed out the campaign with a 7-2 record over their final 9 games. They hope the  big-hitting rookie corner Shareece Wright can have an immediate impact on Special Teams.

Offensively, San Diego should see an improvement in their running game as Ryan Matthews makes a healthy return. San Diego will have a far more balanced attack with a healthy Matthews if Rivers can continue having success with Vincent Jackson, Malcolm Floyd and Antonio Gates.

Defensively, Shaun Phillips leads the front seven (11 sacks) while CB Quentin Jammer is a tone setter in the secondary. He is a big, physical player who lays down punishing hits.

The Chargers will win the AFC West if their special teams can become an even mediocre unit, and will be a very threatening playoff team.

8.     Atlanta Falcons

The 13-3 Atlanta Falcons have no shortage of talent, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Roddy White had 115 catches for 1,389 yards and 10 TDs last season. White is an elite, premier receiver who will no longer be the only receiver on the radars of defenses now that rookie playmaker Julio Jones has entered the fold.

Matt Ryan had 28 TDs to just nine interceptions last year (91.0) rating, and is developing into an elite quarterback.

While Tony Gonzalez is more of a threat in name than ability in this stage of his career, his leadership/veteran presence is vital in guiding a young offensive core.

With Michael Turner fully healthy after a successful 2010 campaign (1,371 yards, 12 TD s), the offense looks poised to shred through defenses once again.

Defensively, the Falcons were very poor against the pass. Playing against the Saints (passing team) twice a year, Atlanta will have to improve their defense, ranked 28th in PPG allowed last season.

The Falcons signed Ray Edwards, a premiere defensive lineman, to bolster the front seven and give support to the aging John Abraham.

Atlanta’s offense is sensational, but to finally find postseason success the Falcons will need to focus on defense (and they failed to do so in the draft). 

7.     New York Jets

The Jets are pretty much the same 11-5 team that they were last year. Braylon Edwards’s absence was quickly filled by the signing of Plaxico Burress, although Burress needs to stay on the field to help the team.

Santonio Holmes is one of the great NFL receivers, and defensively the Jets were able to bring back Antonio Cromartie to support Darrelle Revis.

But, New York lost respected veteran Shaun Ellis (to the Patriots nonetheless) and with the exception of Calvin Pace, have a weak front seven. For them to reach the next level, they need to beat the Patriots, and with New England’s tight ends being as powerful as they are (Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez), I’m not sure the Jets have safeties/linebackers who match up.

Also, the Jets can trust Mark Sanchez all they want, but I’m still not ready to put my faith in a 75.3 rated passer who completed just 54.8% of his passes in 2010.

The Jets will look for LaDainian Tomlinson to have another successful season (934 yards, 6 TDs), but we’ve seen old running backs have a one year of resurgence before quieting down for good (Corey Dillon).

The Jets do have one thing going for them, and that’s their passionate, play with nothing to lose attitude instilled upon them by Rex Ryan.

6.     Baltimore Ravens

Ray Rice led this offense with a stellar 2010, as he had 1,220 rushing yards with 5 TDs. Joe Flacco built upon his early-career success with a 25 TD season in which he amassed 3,622 yards with a 96.3 quarterback rating.

Rob Carr/Getty Images

Defensively, the Ravens are rock solid. Ed Reed had 8 picks in just 10 games, while Ray Lewis had 139 tackles, two forced fumbles, two interceptions and two sacks. Haloti Ngata is a boulder (quite literally, in fact) down low, as the nose tackle is arguably the best in the game.

Throw Terrell Suggs and Cameron Heyward into the mix, and the Ravens’ front seven becomes even more deadly. Suggs had 11 sacks last year, and Heyward has the strength to fit right into the physical Baltimore defense.

Although Baltimore is known for defense, they had the 21st ranked pass defense in the NFL. By drafting CB Jimmy Smith, the Ravens found a strong, physical, Ravens-style defensive back who should allow Ed Reed more freedom as a center fielder.

The Ravens will look for Anquan Boldin to replicate the success he had with the Cardinals, after a fairly unsuccessful season last year (just 837 yards). Although he did have 7 TDs, the Ravens need Boldin to be a capable receiver.

The Ravens will also likely rely on Torrey Smith and Tandon Doss (rookie receivers) to begin making contributions on the field.

The question is, can Joe Flacco lead this team to the next level? If he can, the Ravens look poised to make a deep run…

5.     New Orleans Saints

The Saints have one of the most versatile offenses in the NFL, and with a healthy Pierre Thomas and newly drafted Mark Ingram, New Orleans is as dynamic as ever. 11-5 last season despite a sub par year from Drew Brees (despite his 90.9 rating, 4,620 yards, 33 TDs, Brees threw 22 interceptions), New Orleans is improved if by nothing else than health.

Marques Colston is a premier receiver, and showcased his talent once again last year, catching 7 TDs and totaling 1,023 receiving yards.

4th in NFL in total defense, and third in the league in passing yards per game (277.6), New Orleans clearly has the talent for a Super Bowl run. After drafting DE Cameron Jordan, New Orleans will have an improved pass rush and therefore an inherently better passing defense , already ranked 4th in the league.

It’s pretty clear New Orleans needed a healthy running back last season, and they now have two. Strong defense, better offense.

4.     Pittsburgh Steelers

This team has always been a defense-first, pound the rock kind kind of squad. James Harrison is of course an elite, top three linebacker in the NFL, and the secondary is led by Troy Polamalu who, despite missing 2 games, had seven interceptions and 63 tackles.

James Farrior (109 tackles) and LaMarr Woodley (50 tackles, 3 forced fumbles) are also elite linebackers, punishing tacklers, and smart defensive players.

The Steelers have the best linebackers in the NFL, and having the 330 pound Casey Hampton at the nose helps.

The Steelers do not have a good group of cornerbacks however, and rely on their run defense to force offenses to become one-dimensional passing teams, so Troy Polamalu can take over. Pittsburgh also boasts a strong pass rush, putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks to make consistent throws.

Offensively, the Steelers have a strong core. Hines Ward is not the player he once was, but he has the physicality to power through smaller corners. Ben Roethlisberger had a 97.0 rating as he threw for 3,200 yards with 17 TDs. The Steelers play run-first offensively, and Big Ben is the perfect QB for their style.

Mike Wallace and Rashard Mendenhall have very bright futures with exceptional seasons last year. Wallace had 60 catches for 1,257 yards and 10 TDs, and Mendenhall managed 13 TDs on 1,273 yards of rushing.

Mendenhall has the speed to burst around the corner on stretch plays, and the power to give defensive backs in the second level fits.

A Super Bowl victory last year was all that the Steelers lacked, and a great team is returning this year.

3.     Philadelphia Eagles

The 10-6 Eagles have certainly made noise this offseason. They added Nmadi Asomugha, Cullen Jenkins, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Jason Babin and Vince Young.

Defensively, the Eagles are vastly improved. They have one of the best corner tandems in the NFL (Nmadi and Asante Samuel) along with the very talented (and fast) Rodgers-Cromartie. Jenkins and Trent Cole anchor a defensive line which will also be bolstered by Jason Babin, whose motor is always at 110%.

Offensively, the Eagles have DeSean Jackson, Michael Vick and Jeremy Maclin.

Last year, Vick threw 21 TDs to just 6 interceptions with a 100.2 rating, easily the best rating of his career. Jackson had 1,056 yards and 6 TDs, while Maclin caught 11 touchdowns. A healthy (TE) Brent Celek will give defenses fits, as he can make catches up the seam, an area that will be opened up by the Jackson and Maclin.

Vick, given his fragile frame and reckless playing style, can always be counted on to miss 1-2 games with a minor injury, and with Vince Young cut from the same mold as Vick, the Eagles should be able to keep pushing forward.

Of course, one of the Eagles greatest strength comes in the form of special teams, with electrifying return men such as Jackson and Maclin, the Eagles are always a threat to score.

Philadelphia bolstered a shaky defensive unit through free agency, and with an ever-explosive offense will be tough to beat.

2.     New England Patriots

After a 14-2 regular season, the Patriots choked against the Jets and were eliminated in their first playoff game. But this season, they hope that their free agent acquisitions provide them with more offensive options, and a defensive presence that they lacked last year.

They have arguably the most dynamic offense in team history, with tight ends, wide receivers, running backs and a quarterback who are all exceptional play makers.

With Chad Ochocinco, Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Danny Woodhead and Tom Brady (111.0 QB rating last season), the Patriots know they will be able to score.

The defense was not great statistically, especially on 3rd down, but led by Devin McCourty (7 interceptions) and Jerod Mayo (175 tackle) the Patriots were able to lead the league in turnover differential (mind boggling +28).

Vince Wilfork has received help on the defensive line this year as the Patriots brought in Albert Haynesworth, Shaun Ellis, Mark Anderson, Andre Carter and retained Gerard Warren. All of these guys are mammoths who have power to push offensive linemen backwards.

The pass-rush issue was not solved with a dynamic, outside linebacker or defensive end. Instead, Bill Belichick solved it with brute force.

The Patriots are once again a Super Bowl contender, and if their offseason acquisitions produce, look out.

1. Green Bay Packers

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

It’s simple why the Packers are number one. They won the Super Bowl last season, and have a plethora of returning players who were on the IR last season, including starting RB Ryan Grant, starting TE Jermichael Finley and a strong press CB in Atari Bigby.

They have two shutdown corners in Tramon Williams (6 interceptions in 2010) and Charles Woodson (11 interceptions over the past 2 years, with 76 tackles last season).

Aaron Rodgers still has Greg Jennings as a number one target, and the Packers drafted a big OT in Derek Sherrod who should help keep Rodgers from spending time on the bench.

Basically: The best team in the league has some of its best players returning — Hard to beat that.

What do you think? Did I miss any teams you think will do better than expected? Do I have any teams on this list that will end up under achieving? With the season coming up, we’ll see…

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Image Credits: keeperleaguegm, Getty Images

Brady threw 50 touchdown passes, and Moss caught 23, both single-season NFL records. Although the team seemed unstoppable, their offense was halted in the Super Bowl thanks to a perfect New York Giants scheme: hit Brady early and often, and prevent him from connecting with Randy Moss.

The offense became too predictable by the end of the year, as defenses realized that the most prolific offense in NFL history was also fairly one-dimensional.

Laurence Maroney led all Patriots rushers with 835 yards, and his indecisive running style prevented him from ever being a legitimate threat to defenses.

The 2007 Patriots offense could be summed up with the following three players: Tom Brady, Randy Moss, and Wes Welker.

This season, however, the Patriots benefit from having legitimate options throughout their offense.

Receivers:

Starting with the wide receivers, the 2011 Patriots include Deion Branch, Wes Welker, and of course, Chad Ochocinco. Welker is the game’s best slot receiver, impossible to defend due to the impeccable timing of his route-running.

Deion Branch has consistent hands and enough NFL experience to regularly find openings in coverage. He doesn’t drop many passes and although he has lost a step, is still quick enough to out-maneuver less agile defensive backs.

Chad Ochocinco has been a premier wide receiver for the better part of the decade, totaling six 1000 yard seasons in 10 seasons. He does drop the occasional pass, but his speed, quickness and size make him a threat after receiving the ball. He has a knack for getting open on 15-20 yard passing routes, and has the size and leaping-ability to win jump-balls.

Not to mention a potential emergence of a young receiver such as Brandon Tate, Julian Edelman or Taylor Price, which could prove invaluable in keeping defenses guessing.

This group of receivers can certainly hold a candle to the 2007 squad, but Randy Moss and Wes Welker’s unbelievable seasons may be hard to replicate under any circumstances.

Tight Ends:

While the receiving core may not be as dangerous as it was in 2007, the 2011 Patriots have two new weapons: Tight Ends Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski.

Both players are mismatch nightmares. Hernandez has the speed of a wide receiver, while Gronk has the strength to run over would-be tacklers. Enhancing their physical attributes is their ability to catch the ball. Both showed impressive hands last season, highlighting the major difference with 2007 tight end Benjamin Watson.

The Boston Herald describes Gronkowsi’s performance in practices as “dominant…[making] every defender look overmatched and overwhelmed.” (Guregian).

Last (but potentially least), is rookie tight end Lee Smith. Smith was drafted to help fill the role of Alge Crumpler as the primary blocking tight end.

He has looked great in practices in the blocking game (as expected) but has shown a surprising knack for catching the football.

Brady now has 4 premier red zone options (Ochocinco, Hernandez, Gronkowski, Welker), after having just 2 in 2007 (Moss, Welker).

Running Backs:

Lastly, the Patriots have put together a consortium of running backs, including BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Shane Vereen, Stevan Ridley, Danny Woodhead, and potentially Kevin Faulk or Sammy Morris.

The group features a powerful, downhill runner in Green-Ellis, as well as immense quickness in Woodhead and Vereen. While there is no premier back on the squad, each has his own positive attribute that can attack a defense.

Essentially, this 2011 team has more offensive options than the 2007 squad. The team cannot be predictable, simply because of the sheer number of players they have who can make significant contributions.

Clearly, every single skill player on the 2011 squad has the potential/has demonstrated the ability to penetrate opposing defenses. In contrast, the 2007 team had only three such threatening players.

The last segment of the offense that will be focused on is the offensive line. The 2007 line was one of the best lines the game had seen, but the 2011 line has significantly upgraded their right tackle, usurping Nick Kaczur with Sebastian Vollmer.

The 2011 line should have similar success.

The offense is clearly good, but will the 2011 defense be good enough to bring the Patriots back to the Super Bowl? They get to practice against the Patriots offense everyday, so we’ll see.

Image Credits: www.wikipedia.com

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Woodhead averaged 5.6 yards per carry, and defenses had a hard time locating him behind the bodies at the line of scrimmage due to Woodhead’s small stature.

Green-Ellis’s downhill running style and Woodhead’s scat-back abilities created a great complementary running game for the Patriots, as they were the first team to rush for over 75 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers this season.

However, much of the success on the ground came because of Tom Brady’s constant pressure on the opposition’s secondary.

Green-Ellis had ten games where he eclipsed 50 yards rushing, and 9 games where he eclipsed 70 yards. Every single game that Green-Ellis rushed for over 50 yards, Tom Brady’s passer rating was over 100.

There were four games during which Tom Brady’s quarterback rating slipped under 91.0. During those four games, against the New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, San Diego Chargers, and Cleveland Browns, Green-Ellis rushed for 19, 20, 24 and 14 yards, respectively.

Essentially, for Green-Ellis and the Patriot ground attack to have success, Tom Brady needed to have success.

This issue came to the forefront in the playoff loss to the Jets. Rex Ryan consistently dropped eight men into coverage, using just a three man rush to pressure Brady. Not only was Brady sacked twice by a three man rush, but he was unable to find any open receivers (A similar strategy worked in suppressing Peyton Manning, so no Brady hate in that situation).

Ryan stuck with three-four man blitzes, daring the Patriots to run into his defense.

The Patriots were unable to run with much success, and by the time the offense found a rhythm there was not enough time to focus on the running game.

The bottom line is that the Pats needed a player who demanded respect from a defense from the get go, and neither Green-Ellis nor Woodhead have those capabilities.

This offseason, it is likely that Fred Taylor will retire, and it seems doubtful the Patriots will bring back mid-season acquisition Thomas Clayton.

That leaves two roster spots open for running back depth, and if Kevin Faulk is unable to return after tearing his ACL, then the Patriots will surely add depth to the RB position.

That being said, the Patriots offense was balanced this past season because Tom Brady had so much success passing.

For true balance to be gained, the Pats need to either draft or sign a game changing back. I’m not saying the team needs to completely overhaul the position or bring in an Adrian Peterson or Chris Johnson, but they need to add a dynamic playmaker.

This offseason, Cedric Benson, Pierre Thomas (whom the Patriots have demonstrated interest in) and Ronnie Brown are guys who can shoulder the load of being an every down back, while Darren Sproles and Leon Washington could be brought in to spark the kick-return game while adding a big-play threat on offense.

Alternatively, if Mark Ingram or Ryan Williams are available in the later part of the first round of the draft, the Pats could choose one of them, but the first priority needs to be adding a pass rusher.

For the Green-Ellis fans: He’ll still get his touches, but he’ll be more of a short-yardage type back who gets 8 carries/game instead of 14-15. Essentially, he’ll take the roles of Fred Taylor and Sammy Morris.

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His playoff record coming into Sunday’s game against the New York Jets stood at a gaudy 14-4, but after the loss his playoff record is 14-5, still impressive, but not quite superhuman. In his last three post season starts, Brady is 0-3.

Obviously, this is a great factoid for Patriot haters to hang their hat on, but if we look at the last three (playoff) games there is only one game which you can point at Brady and say that he was a genuine liability to the Patriots, the Baltimore Ravens game last

Brady certainly did not play at his MVP level during the Super Bowl against the New York Giants, nor did he play at a high level against the Jets on Sunday.

However, in both games Brady was sacked five times. Generally, sacks put a team in a passing situation, often resulting in third-and-longs. Therefore, Brady became predictable, and was naturally less effective.

In the Giants loss, Brady did not have a statistically great game, but he threw for 229 yards and a touchdown, enough to put the Patriots in the lead and give the team a chance to win.

In the Jets game, Brady turned it on midway through the second half. Brady started hitting receivers, and put the Patriots within striking distance. But, the Jet offense made the Patriot defense look like Pop Warner, pee wee players.

Brady is certainly at fault for those two losses, but both those losses were team failures, not an individual failing to step up.

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So, after mauling supposedly top NFL teams, how can other, inferior teams even think about beating the Patriots?

It comes down to one thing: pass rush.

Not just some blitz packages here and there, but a consistent and powerful pass rush.

If Tom Brady has time to throw, he’ll put up better offensive numbers than his opponent, end of story.

Now, I understand that in the NFL any team can lose on any given day. However, the blueprint to beating the Patriots lies in heavily pressuring Brady.

Otherwise, it doesn’t matter how good the opposition’s offense is, or how great their secondary is, if they can’t put Brady in tough throwing situations (and the Pats have a darn good Offensive Line, so putting pressure on Brady is tough), then the Pats will win.

Obviously, even if you can put Brady under pressure, he can still shred a defense with quick outs to his phenomenally quick wide receivers.

Brady has to be hit early and often, otherwise he’ll enter a rhythm which he will not come out of, and very few teams are capable of outscoring the Pats when Brady is in his groove.

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His injury was a blessing to the Jets.

Obviously Revis is an outstanding corner, but so is Antonio Cromartie. The difference between the two is that Revis can cover anyone, while Cromartie excels at defending speed receivers.

Jets Defense, With Moss in the Game:

When Moss was hurt, Cromartie was defending Wes Welker, and Wes was tearing Cromartie to shreds. Cromartie did not have the quickness to match Welker’s abilities, and he is too tall and lanky to stick with Welker on quick cuts.

When Revis went down, Cromartie was put on Moss while Kyle Wilson was put on Wes Welker. Wilson was much better at handling Welker than Cromartie, and Antonio shut down Randy Moss, who is a speed receiver.

Essentially, in the first game, Tom Brady had one person to throw to if there was heavy pressure: Welker.

Brady’s Quick-Out Weapons:

Now, Brady has three. Wilson and Revis will be covering Deion Branch and Wes Welker.

Branch is a wily old veteran who still has the quickness and route running ability to beat a young corner like Wilson.

We have never seen Revis cover Wes Welker, but we have to assume that Revis will keep a not fully healthy Welker in check.

Nonetheless, Welker is still an option on quick routes where Brady needs to dump it off in a hurry.

If the Jets try to put Antonio Cromartie on Branch or Welker, he will be torched, as he is not quick enough to keep pace with either receiver. Essentially, Branch is a better receiver than the penalty-prone Kyle Wilson is a corner, and Antonio Cromartie won’t be able to cover him.

Brady’s other option is Danny Woodhead. I expect Woodhead to have a monster game against the Jets because of his abilities in the passing game. When the Jets defense gets after the quarterback, Brady will be able to dump it off to Woodhead.

If linebackers shade over to watch Woody over the top, then 6-11 yard passes will be open on their side of the middle of the field.

Brady is the best in the game at hitting his receivers in stride, so his receivers should be able to turn up-field after catching the pass and gain an extra few yards.

Overall, Brady now has three guys he can rely on when there are heavy blitzes, and initially against the Jets he only had one.

Further, the Jets better have a plan for stopping Rob Gronkowski. Gronkowski has the speed to beat every Jet linebacker (with the exception of Calvin Pace, who will likely be pass rushing in most situations), and the size to run over the Jets safeties.

Gronk should be an absolute terror for the The 5′ 8″, 185 pound Jim Leonhard and the 6′ 2″, 205 pound Brodney Pool.

The Jets Run Defense: Susceptible to the Patriots’ Rushing Attack?

Lastly, look for a lot of draw plays from the Patriots in the early going of the game. The Jets love to turn on the heat, and Ben Jarvus Green-Ellis, being the 1-cut back that he is, has the power to get through most holes without dancing in the backfield.

The draw should soften the Jets front seven and also slow the pass rush.

Offensively this Patriots team matches up well against the Jets. Sans Moss, their offense is far more versatile.

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Last year, there were two clear “great” teams, Indianapolis and New Orleans. This year, though, the NFL has completely evened out.

3-7 teams are still breathing, trying to find away to slip into the playoffs. 8-2 teams aren’t without problems: The Jets won thanks to a miraculous 4th quarter comeback against a supposedly far inferior Houston Texans team.

Much like the NFL, the Patriots have turned themselves around. Last year, the team was unable to hold second half leads. They couldn’t make stops when they needed to. It seems like every time the Patriots needed a big play, their opponents took it.

This year, it’s been different. Against Baltimore, the Patriots defense stepped up in the fourth quarter. Against Pittsburgh, the Patriots offense came to play for a full 60 minutes.

In Miami, it was a combined demolition, Special Teams, Defense and Offense.

Now, there is the Indy game. The offense had two bad drives in the quarter, and the defense let Peyton Manning pick them apart.

Offensively, Danny Woodhead and Ben Jarvus Green-Ellis had some great runs, including Woody’s 25+ yard TD scamper. Tom Brady had his way with the Colts defense until late in the game.

But, when the team needed a big play, the big play was made. James Sanders intercepted an off-target Peyton Manning pass. Manning was under pressure because Jermaine Cunningham (rookie) was applying it.

Last year, the Patriots lost this game, 35-34. This year, they won it, 31-28.

Last season’s Indy game compared to this season’s Indy game represents the Patriots turnaround. In the close game, the Patriots made the big play when the Colts needed it most.

Unsatisfied by this win, because the Colts were still able to come back and make it a nail biter? Unsatisfied by this win, because Brady and the offense sputtered in the 4th?

31-28, Patriots win against the Indianapolis Colts. End of Story.

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On the Patriots side, here is what I noticed:

1.Linebackers

Last week, Brandon Spikes was the linebacker the Patriots sent in to penetrate on run plays, letting Jerod Mayo patrol the middle of the field. This week, Mayo was called upon more than a couple of times to hit the point of attack.

The Patriots are finding a good balance between sending Spikes and Mayo, changing schemes enough to put question into the minds of offenses.

2. Brady

Tom Brady was, in fact, off over the past two games. This week reminded us that Tom Brady can be the best quarterback in the NFL. He struggled in the past couple of games, whether due to injury or just mis-communication, but receivers hung onto passes and Brady was hitting guys in stride.

3. Running Game

The Patriots running game is built off of their passing game. Most of the time, a good passing game is the result of a good running game. However, the Pats showed that once Brady got clicking, BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Co. became more effective.

The Patriots compiled the most rushing yards against the Steelers this year, rushing for 104 yards.

4. Opportunistic Defense

The Patriots defense is built to be opportunistic. They are not a great defense in the sense that they won’t hold teams to 10 points week-in and week-out. However, they create turnovers, are very strong in the red zone (especially with Pat Chung), and can rush the quarterback.

The Patriots had struggled in rushing the passer, but it seems they can beat slower offensive lines with Banta-Cain, Cunningham and Warren, and they have the potential to cause trouble with faster lines because of Wilfork.

5. Return Game

Brandon Tate is a good return man, but he’s still learning. He has all the skills, but now he needs to simplify. Twice I saw him try to “outquick” a defender on a kickoff return when he could have picked up an extra 3-5 yards had he just put his head down and run forward.

6. Rookie Development

The Patriots rookies are developing what we like to call intangibles. See Rob Gronkowski: Miserable performance last week against Cleveland, but stepped up yesterday with 3 TD catches and some big first down pickups. Devin McCourty is developing into a great number 1 corner for this team, Brandon Spikes and Jermaine Cunningham are regular contributors, and Shawn Crable (hurt last year), was involved in a couple Roethlisberger sacks.

I know it’s hard to look past this season, but when the Pats defense gets Ty Warren and Leigh Bodden back next year, the unit will look much more threatening.

7. Stats Lie

In baseball the numbers don’t lie, but in the NFL, numbers are full of garbage. The Pats are statistically the 18th ranked offense in terms of total yards, and 29th ranked in total defense. Yet, they’re 7-2 and atop the AFC.

8. Roundup: Overall Picture

The Patriots are a top 4 team in the NFL. With the Giants losing, the Falcons are the best team in the NFC (unless the Eagles win tonight, in which case it’s a toss-up). In the AFC, the Pats are better than Pittsburgh and Baltimore, but I do think the Jets have the most talent.

It remains to be seen whether the Pats can hold that spot, with two important games coming up against Indianapolis and New York.

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