AP NFL Poll

This is the sixth season in which we have tracked the NFL via the use of polls.  In 2010 and 2011, we did our own poll based on what we thought the AP would do.  Since then the AP has done its own poll, which we use instead.  Based on the polling results, here are the best NFL teams of the last five years:

2010:  New England Patriots (14-2) (lost 28-21 to Jets in Divisional Playoffs)
2011:  Green Bay Packers (15-1) (lost 37-30 to Giants in Divisional Playoffs)
2012:  Denver Broncos (13-3) (lost 38-35 to Ravens in Divisional Playoffs)
2013:  Seattle Seahawks (13-3) (WON SUPER BOWL)
2014:  Seattle Seahawks (12-4) (lost 28-24 to Patriots in Super Bowl)

So far, the 2013 Seahawks are the only team to do the double by being both the best team in the NFL and being the Super Bowl Champion.

Anyway, here's the new top 10.  You will see a lot of familiar names at the top:

1.  Green Bay Packers (0-0)
2.  Seattle Seahawks (0-0)
3.  New England Patriots (0-0)
4.  Indianapolis Colts (0-0)
5.  Denver Broncos (0-0)
6.  Dallas Cowboys (0-0)
7.  Baltimore Ravens (0-0)
8.  Pittsburgh Steelers (0-0)
9.  Arizona Cardinals (0-0)
10.  Cincinnati Bengals (0-0)

I don't have much to add to this, other than to say that for some reason, I think the Ravens will make a run this year.

The Miami Dolphins start the year in a tie for 14th place; the Washington Redskins are currently ranked at number 28.  I will be very surprised if there are four teams in the NFL that are worse than the Redskins.

The best game of the week is tonight, with the defending Champion Patriots hosting the number-8 Steelers to kick off the season.  Who knows?  Maybe the Patriots will play this game under the normal rules of football.  Sunday afternoon we also get a matchup between the number 7 Ravens and the number 5 Broncos.  That game will, of course, be in Denver, since the Broncos traditionally get about 12 home games per year -- or maybe it just seems like that on TV.

Anyway, it's been a long summer, and I'm very happy to see the NFL return.  Life, more life!