NFL Power Rankings Week 1: Initial Prospects After Falcons vs. Eagles | Bleacher's report



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INDIANAPOLIS, IN - AUGUST 25: Jimmy Garoppolo # 10 of the San Francisco 49ers is looking for an open receiver during the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 25, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Colts beat the 49ers 23-17. (Photo by Michael Zagaris / San Francisco 49ers / Getty Images)

Michael Zagaris / Getty Images

As expected, the confrontation between the Atlanta Falcons and the Philadelphia Eagles at the opening of the season provided an appropriate starting point for a season that should be exhilarating.

There, the Eagles survived a near-carbon copy of last season's NFC playoff game and beat Julio Jones late in the second, including one at the end of the match.

Keep in mind that the NFL The season is long and many things can change. But a year ago, the Kansas City Chiefs' victory over the New England Patriots in Foxborough had at least announced two of the playoff contenders.

2018 NFL Standings

1. Philadelphia Eagles
2. Pittsburgh Steelers
3. Green Bay Packers
4. New England Patriots
5. Minnesota Vikings
6. Los Angeles Rams
7. Saints of New Orleans
8. Atlanta Falcons
9. Los Angeles Chargers
10. Washington Redskins
11. Jacksonville Jaguars
12. Titans of Tennessee
13. Detroit Lions
14. San Francisco 49ers
15. Carolina Panthers
16. Dallas Cowboys
17. Seattle Seahawks
18. Houston Texans
19. Cincinnati Bengals
20. Kansas City Chiefs
21. Denver Broncos
22. Chicago bears
23. New York Giants
24. Ravens of Baltimore
25. Oakland Raiders
26. Cardinals of Arizona
27. Miami Dolphins
28. Colts of Indianapolis
29. New York Jets
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
31. Buffalo Bills
32. Cleveland Browns

Potential Riser: Colts of Indianapolis

It all depends on Andrew Luck.

Luck has missed all of the 2017 season, but fans would have to remember that he spent 40 touchdowns and 16 steals in 2014, which is a way to say that these Indianapolis Colts could go from before he is in good health.

Certainly, luck has already arisen on the injury report this preseason:

Hopefully it will be a bump on the road for a team that finally decided to protect its most important asset by preparing Quenton Nelson sixth in April.

The Colts also added head coach Frank Reich, former Eagles offensive coordinator. On paper, a healthy chance hits T.Y. Hilton and a tandem of Jack Doyle and Eric Ebron could still be deadly in 2018.

It is also important to remember that the defense could take another step forward. Malik Hooker, the No. 15 pick a year ago, was an elite security before he could play seven games. Second-round rookie Darius Leonard looks set to start and Jabaal Sheard is still in the lead.

While the South AFC has overtaken the Colts, an elite player at the most important position of all has the opportunity to help a team like the Colts to quickly climb the ladder.

Faller potential: Los Angeles Chargers

Josie Lepe / Associated Press

Los Angeles chargers are probably better ranked than some would expect.

But a year ago, the Chargers quietly won nine wins and finished second in the AFC West behind 4,515 yards and 28 touchdowns against 10 steals. Philip Riversand 1,105 yards and eight touchdowns by Melvin Gordon.

Nor do you forget that Los Angeles is on the rise with two of the NFL's best at Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, who are marrying with such high-profile members as Jason Verrett.

But as it always seems to be the case for the Chargers, it will boil down to health.

They already have five players on the list of injured and one on the list of physically incapacitated people. Verrett is one of those names on the casualty list, while tight end Hunter Henry is on the PUP:

Rivers, 36 years old or younger, is still an elite quarterback who will go up in numbers and keep his team in the games. But if injuries continue to accumulate as they have done in recent years, it will be another case of "what if?" for the team.

Spectators will quickly know how things might turn out after a series of injuries as Rivers and the Chargers clashed with the Chiefs in Week 1 before taking part in a two-game road trip.

Wait and see: San Francisco 49ers

Josie Lepe / Associated Press

Does everyone react excessively?

The San Francisco 49ers hope to have found a quarterback with Jimmy Garoppolo, but the truth is a six-game match that shows he's too small to know a sample. He completed 67.4% of his passes with seven touchdowns and five interceptions over that period, ranging from 5 to 1 in the process, but the jury must stay behind.

Do not say that to the 49ers who hit it with a five-year extension. $ 137.5 million.

Some advanced metrics suggest that the hype is justified:

Still, the 49ers were a team with a lot of holes before Garoppolo, and unlike Luck, he is relatively unproven. And while the front office has added talents like Richard Sherman and Jerick McKinnon to the team at various locations, the team is already lost for the season.

Like the other teams detailed here, it's a trial by fire for the 49ers. They start on the road against the Minnesota Vikings, face the Detroit Lions and face the Chiefs and Chargers. If they come out well this first brutal month, Garoppolo does not cost too much.

But given the circumstances, it's easy to see why this one could switch in one way or another.

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