Ahead of Week 1 of the 2021 National Football League season, here are power rankings of all 32 teams from Audacy Sports.
All You Can Ask for Is a Chance
Jalen Hurts is entering his second NFL season.
(Bill Streicher/USA Today)
32. Houston Texans
31. Detroit Lions
30. Philadelphia Eagles
29. Jacksonville Jaguars
28. Cincinnati Bengals
27. New York Jets
26. Atlanta Falcons
Joe Flacco probably isn't a threat, but Gardner Minshew now looms in Philadelphia. So too does the possibility of Eagles general manager Howie Roseman making a play for a veteran quarterback -- any of Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson and Deshaun Watson could be available -- next offseason. And if things break the right way for Carson Wentz in Indianapolis, the Eagles could have three first-round picks next offseason, leaving them with ample ammo should they be enamored by a given quarterback in the draft. Odds are, someone other than Jalen Hurts will be the Eagles starting quarterback in Week 1 of the 2022 season. But all you can ask for is a chance, and Hurts will get an opportunity to change the perception of the Eagles front office and the NFL landscape in 2021, where he will open the season as the team's starter. The former second-round pick is hardly a stranger to adversity, and certainly has the mental makeup to be a franchise quarterback. We'll see if the rest catches up in time for Hurts to be the long-term starter for Nick Sirianni and company.
Panthers Hope To Take Step Forward With Sam Darnold Under Center
Sam Darnold is entering his first season as the Panthers starting quarterback.
(Bob Donnan/USA Today)
25. Chicago Bears
24. Minnesota Vikings
23. Las Vegas Raiders
22. Carolina Panthers
21. New York Giants
Between injuries and organizational dysfunction, we never truly got a sense of what Sam Darnold is as an NFL quarterback during his three seasons with the New York Jets. The 24-year-old will now be given a chance to revive his career in Carolina, where he's been reunited with Robby Anderson, who is part of a group of pass catchers that also includes D.J. Moore and rookie Terrace Marshall Jr. Darnold is now paired with one of the game's elite young offensive minds in Joe Brady, and will be set up to entrench himself as the starter in Carolina, assuming that Christian McCaffrey stays healthy in 2021.
Will Chargers Compete in Justin Herbert's Second Season?
Justin Herbert is entering his second NFL season.
(Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
20. Dallas Cowboys
19. Denver Broncos
18. Pittsburgh Steelers
17. Washington Football Team
16. Los Angeles Chargers
While it was too late to save Anthony Lynn's job, the Chargers rebounded from a 45-0 loss to the New England Patriots in Week 13 last year to win their final four games. The addition of first-round pick Rashawn Slater at left tackle should keep Justin Herbert -- the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year -- upright as he attempts to ascend into being one of the game's premier quarterbacks. In some other divisions, the Chargers may very well be seen as favorites to reach the postseason. However, Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are the overwhelming favorites in the AFC West, and both the Denver Broncos and Las Vegas Raiders have playoff aspirations of their own. Being able to navigate through a treacherous division may very well define Herbert's early years in Los Angeles.
Mac Jones' Poise Will Be Tested Immediately
Mac Jones will take over as the Patriots starting quarterback in 2021.
(Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
15. New England Patriots
14. Indianapolis Colts
13. Miami Dolphins
12. Arizona Cardinals
11. Seattle Seahawks
While the Patriots will be the home team in three of their first four games this season, Mac Jones won't exactly be eased into the NFL. In Week 1, the Patriots will host a Miami Dolphins team with one of the more complete rosters in the NFL. In Week 3, they'll host Sean Payton's New Orleans Saints. And in Week 4, the Patriots will welcome Tom Brady back to the New England, as they'll host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football. And heck, whose to say that their Week 2 tilt against Zach Wilson and the New York Jets will be easy? Mac Jones' poise stood out at Alabama, and went a long way in him winning the starting quarterback job in New England. He'd better hold onto it as he's thrown into the fire in his first month as an NFL quarterback.
Will Odell Beckham Jr. Put the Browns Over the Top?
Odell Beckham Jr. will return to the Browns in 2021.
(Will Newton/Getty Images)
10. Tennessee Titans
9. San Francisco 49ers
8. New Orleans Saints
7. Baltimore Ravens
6. Cleveland Browns
The Browns went 11-5 and reached the AFC Divisional Round playoffs in Kevin Stefanski's first season as head coach. In theory, the return of Odell Beckham Jr. -- who played in parts of just seven games last season before tearing his left ACL -- should make the Browns a legitimate Super Bowl contender. And perhaps it will. However, outside of a dominant three-touchdown performance against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3 last season, Beckham and Baker Mayfield still didn't seem to have great on-field chemistry. We don't know if Beckham is still as explosive as he was when he entered the NFL with the New York Giants, but one would think he still believes that he is. If Beckham doesn't re-emerge as one of the game's top offensive weapons in 2021 will it derail what was a well-oiled machine a year ago?
Tom Brady, Buccaneers Look To Defend Super Bowl Title
Tom Brady and the Buccaneers will look to defend their Super Bowl title in 2021.
(Bob Levey/Getty Images)
5. Los Angeles Rams
4. Green Bay Packers
3. Buffalo Bills
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1. Kansas City Chiefs
Typically, you worry about a defending Super Bowl Champion that brings back virtually all key players developing some level of complacency, but it's hard to imagine that happening on a Tom Brady-led team. The Buccaneers have 100% of their team vaccinated, and given that Brady has seemingly had more time to build a rapport with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Antonio Brown, it stands to reason that the Tampa Bay could be a much better regular season team than they were in 2020.
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