Arizona Sports’ NFL Week 1 Power Rankings: Dripping with uncertainty

Never before have we headed into an NFL season with so much in terms of the unknown.

The global COVID-19 pandemic first put the season in jeopardy, but now has created a thick layer of mystery around all 32 franchises — to varying degrees, of course.

That being said, expect a great deal of high risers and free falls in our Arizona Sports NFL Power Rankings over the first month or so of the season.

Our preseason rankings may look a little chalky, but with no preseason games, a lack of waiver-wire raiding and the general defense of any pertinent information coming out of camps, what else can you expect?

Arizona Sports NFL Power Rankings – Week 1

1. Kansas City Chiefs – Patrick Mahomes is one of the few humans who can say 2020 has been a good year so far.

2. Baltimore Ravens – Disappointed in the playoffs, but I don’t think the acquisition of Calais Campbell gets enough credit.

3. New Orleans Saints – On paper, the best team in the NFC. But we’ve probably said that at least a couple times in recent years.

4. San Francisco 49ers – They’re lucky Deebo Samuel is a pretty quick healer — they were ravaged by injury at WR in camp.

5. Dallas Cowboys – Looking forward to more Dak Prescott contract talk. Yes, that’s sarcasm.

6. Seattle Seahawks – Outside of Wilson, Wagner and Wright, the names keep changing, and they keep winning.

7. Philadelphia Eagles – Positive sign that Carson Wentz stayed healthy for all 16 games in 2019, then he gets hurt early in the playoffs.

8. Pittsburgh Steelers – Big Ben’s return should spell great things for the offense.

9. Buffalo Bills – In my eyes, one of the more intriguing teams heading into 2020.

10. Tennessee Titans – Was Ryan Tannehill’s play in 2019 who he is or a fluke?

11. Minnesota Vikings – Love the pickup of Yannick Ngakoue to bolster the defensive line, but I do have questions about the receivers not named Thielen.

12. Green Bay Packers – Still don’t understand their draft strategy, but they did give Aaron Rodgers a chip on his shoulder, so…

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Will the half-season acclimation to Arians’ offense be a thing for TB12?

14. New England Patriots – No team was hit harder by COVID-19 opt-outs, but Belichick wasn’t one of them.

15. Indianapolis Colts – How much does Philip Rivers have left in the tank?

16. Atlanta Falcons – How much does Todd Gurley have left in the tank?

17. Los Angeles Rams – Nobody threw the ball more than Jared Goff in 2019; that might be the case again this year.

18. Arizona Cardinals – Can’t wait to see what DeAndre Hopkins brings to Year 2 of the Kingsbury-Murray offense.

19. Houston Texans – Can Brandin Cooks and Randall Cobb replicate Hopkins’ output?

20. Cleveland Browns – Handed a talent-laden roster to another first-year head coach. What could go wrong?

21. Denver Broncos – Drew Lock has plenty of talent to work with at the skill positions.

22. Miami Dolphins – Bummed we won’t see Tua from Week 1, but this is a pretty interesting team suddenly.

23. Los Angeles Chargers – Had the makings of a really good defense, but losing Derwin James is a potential killer.

24. Las Vegas Raiders – Are they the team that started 2019 6-4, or the one that finished 1-5?

25. New York Giants – Very curious to see how Joe Judge’s old-school ways play in the Big Apple.

26. Detroit Lions – Seems like the Lions are perpetually No. 26, doesn’t it?

27. Chicago Bears – Did Trubisky earn the starting job, or was Nick Foles just that bad in camp?

28. New York Jets – Can Le’Veon Bell get back on track after averaging 3.2 yards per carry in 2019?

29. Carolina Panthers – Come to watch Christian McCaffrey. Stay to watch Christian McCaffrey.

30. Cincinnati Bengals – Joe Burrow, fresh off the best college QB season ever, should equal a few more wins, right?

31. Washington Football Team – I’m not sure Alex Smith isn’t the best QB on the roster…big year for Dwayne Haskins.

32. Jacksonville Jaguars – If I had a dollar for every player who was “thrilled to get out of Jacksonville” — you know the rest.

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