ESPN pre-draft power rankings, reflects free agency moves

I feel the only real competition this year will once again be the Giants, but then again they did lose some of there key players. but the DB's didn't beat us it was the line that was stronger. Packers aren't much of a threat because there D isn't the greatest.

Originally posted by LoneWolf:
I feel the only real competition this year will once again be the Giants, but then again they did lose some of there key players. but the DB's didn't beat us it was the line that was stronger. Packers aren't much of a threat because there D isn't the greatest.

Any team with Aaron Rodgers is a threat.

Originally posted by LoneWolf:
I feel the only real competition this year will once again be the Giants, but then again they did lose some of there key players. but the DB's didn't beat us it was the line that was stronger. Packers aren't much of a threat because there D isn't the greatest.

F*ck the Giants,their line didn't beat us, our own player did.

Originally posted by GoldBlooded1985:
1 Giants9-7 The Giants have lost significant pieces from their Super Bowl team and won only nine regular-season games in 2011, but they are the defending champs. They will be the team to beat. (Fox)
2 Patriots13-3 Adding deep-threat receiver Brandon Lloyd? could give the Patriots the NFL's most versatile passing attack. (Walker)
3 Packers15-1 Yet another quiet offseason for Ted Thompson as the Pack await help in the draft. (Clayton)
4 49ers13-3 All 11 defensive starters return from last season, with Aldon Smith expected to crack the lineup after 14-sack rookie season. (Sando)
5 Ravens12-4 QB Joe Flacco's strong finish in the playoffs gives the Ravens hope they can get over the championship hump. (Walker)
6 Texans10-6 Have lost a great deal: Mario Williams, Eric Winston, DeMeco Ryans and Mike Brisiel. (Kuharsky)
7 Lions10-6 The Lions have spent their free-agency period re-signing key free agents. (Clayton)
8 Broncos8-8 If healthy, Peyton Manning should lift all of the Broncos' boats. We've already got them as tops in the division and they'll still be adding pieces around him. (Kuharsky)
9 Steelers12-4 The salary cap crashed hard on the Steelers. But you can never count out this consistent franchise. (Walker)
10 Bears8-8 The Jay Cutler-Brandon Marshall combo will be hard for defenses to stop. (Clayton)

So, from what of read, of the top 10 listed, the Niners are one of the only teams to not only stay the same, BUT get better. Took the liberty to underline the other weaknesses.

Originally posted by dave1003:

Originally posted by LoneWolf:
I feel the only real competition this year will once again be the Giants, but then again they did lose some of there key players. but the DB's didn't beat us it was the line that was stronger. Packers aren't much of a threat because there D isn't the greatest.

F*ck the Giants,their line didn't beat us, our own player did.

The Packer D-line could be described as porous!

The Pack is like a NBA all-star team. All offense, no defense. MANY holes on that defense, particularly the line and the secondary. Its bad and bad. That's why they lost to the Giants. In a shootout, the defense can't keep pace. I think most will agree that that is why we wanted the Giants and not the Packers in the championship game. Not so much just for home field. I don't see that GB defense filling all those holes on defense in one year. Just another reason to be a little confident.

Originally posted by BadgerHawk:

Originally posted by GoldBlooded1985:

1 Giants9-7 The Giants have lost significant pieces from their Super Bowl team and won only nine regular-season games in 2011, but they are the defending champs. They will be the team to beat. (Fox)
2 Patriots13-3 Adding deep-threat receiver Brandon Lloyd? could give the Patriots the NFL's most versatile passing attack. (Walker)
3 Packers15-1 Yet another quiet offseason for Ted Thompson as the Pack await help in the draft. (Clayton)
4 49ers13-3 All 11 defensive starters return from last season, with Aldon Smith expected to crack the lineup after 14-sack rookie season. (Sando)
5 Ravens12-4 QB Joe Flacco's strong finish in the playoffs gives the Ravens hope they can get over the championship hump. (Walker)
6 Texans10-6 Have lost a great deal: Mario Williams, Eric Winston, DeMeco Ryans and Mike Brisiel. (Kuharsky)
7 Lions10-6 The Lions have spent their free-agency period re-signing key free agents. (Clayton)
8 Broncos8-8 If healthy, Peyton Manning should lift all of the Broncos' boats. We've already got them as tops in the division and they'll still be adding pieces around him. (Kuharsky)
9 Steelers12-4 The salary cap crashed hard on the Steelers. But you can never count out this consistent franchise. (Walker)
10 Bears8-8 The Jay Cutler-Brandon Marshall combo will be hard for defenses to stop. (Clayton)

So, from what of read, of the top 10 listed, the Niners are one of the only teams to not only stay the same, BUT get better. Took the liberty to underline the other weaknesses.

Good call. The saints packers giants didnt do much to get better or stay the same while the niners improved their weakest area.

the Giants are only #1 because they are the champs, but in reality that team is falling apart left and right; this team will not even be in the playoffs next year. -Packers are also decaying at almost every position on defense; could easily see the Bears and Lions finally cashing it in again like it's the early 90s all over again.

Pats should be at #1 (same roster, dangerous passing combo with a Tom terrific), 49ers should be #2 (same roster, newer weapons on offense to be tested).

You don't even have to be a homer to admit though that the 49ers are probably the most COMPLETE team in the NFC right now. -And because of this, they'll be contenders for the Championship for at least the next 3 years.

the giants #1 ? LOL child please

As soon as the season begins teams can go from 1 to lower half in a few weeks.

Originally posted by ChazBoner:
Giants #1, patriots #2

so fkn predictable. Neither of those teams should've been in the bowl.

But they were...

Goood post.

I hope everyone keeps underestimating us.

clayton's picks (NE #1) = soooooo predictable....ultimate west coast hater

Dolphins will be the worst.

NFL.com has us at 3.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d827e6cbc/article/how-does-free-agency-impact-nfl-hierarchy-bears-hit-top-five?module=HP11_cp

RANK 3 49ERS
For the most part, the usual suspects are back, starting with Alex Smith. But after an NFC Championship Game in which Niners receivers caught only one pass, the front office went out and signed Randy Moss to an incentive-laden deal while also locking up Mario Manningham. The latter might not be a true No. 1, but in this offense, he doesn't have to be. That role belongs to Vernon Davis. If you think the Giants will regress because they won the Super Bowl, you might be right. Here's a query: How easily can Alex Smith regress? Thus, No. 3 feels OK at this point.