Week 1 of the 2012 NFL Season is in the books, as teams get ready to flip the chapter to Week 2. And it will start soon, with the appearance of thursday Night football opening about two months earlier than usual. So we get more football early in the season on more days.
After reviewing the games on the opening weekend, there are definitely some teams that looked like they are ready to make a run for the Super Bowl already.
Let’s take a look at the power rankings for the top-five teams in the 2012 NFL Season, and see which made the cut, and whether or not they will drop out after this next weekend of games.
1. San Francisco 49ers
There wasn’t a team that looked better, or had a better victory than did the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers went on the road to Lambeau field and handled the Green Bay Packers. The San Francisco defense is down right scary, hands down the best corps of linebackers in the NFL today led by Patrick Willis.
2. New England Patriots
The Patriots had no trouble at all going on the road and beating down the Tennessee Titans. The only thing that could have gone better was the fact that Tom Brady suffered a broken nose. Oh well. The Patriots looked great on offense, and look to be getting better defensively.
3. Houston Texans
The Houston Texans did exactly what they were expected to do on Sunday. That was handle a rookie quarterback. The Texans ambushed Miami’s Ryan Tannehill en route to an easy win at home in Week 1. The turnaround defensively for Houston is pretty remarkable. Just two seasons ago, Houston ranked 32nd in the NFL in defense.
4. Green Bay Packers
The Packers lost to the 49ers, but they still have too much talent to fall too far down the list of the top teams in the NFL. They still have the best quarterback in the game in Aaron Rodgers, and plenty of offensive weapons. The glaring weakness is obviously on the defensive side of the ball, which will need to be addressed.
5. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons have arguably the most explosive offense in the NFL, with Roddy White and Julio Jones on the outside at receiver. This might be the best tandem in the league. Quarterback Matt Ryan looks to be at the top of his game as well. There is not reason, barring injury, that we shouldn’t see Atlanta contending for a Super Bowl.