Doug's NFL Power Poll - Week 1

New Orleans Saints: Payton is so brilliant he took the team to Superdome Tuesday and unfurled SB banner, so they wouldn't be over-whelmed Thursday…brutal start vMIN, @SF, v ATL

Baltimore Ravens: Flacco will be great this year…@NYJ and @CIN is rough way to start.

Green Bay Packers: Everyone will say it's the best team ever when they go 6-0; then everyone will wonder what happened when they're 7-5.

Atlanta Falcons: Important to start 3-1 in tough four game stretch as schedule lets up in Week 5…when you're able to cut 8 people and then put them all back on your practice squad it means no one else wanted your players.

San Diego Chargers: Pretty banged up and made changes on defense but cake-walk beginning to season will let team gel.

Minnesota Vikings: Relaxing games after the opener @NO…keep an eye on their 2nd RD pick #31.

Dallas Cowboys: Drawing great strength from spec. teams asst Joe DeCamillis.

New England Patriots: Only one "gimmie" through the first 7 weeks…lost a starting CB and S during pre-season & starting a rookie @ CB (granted it's a 1st rd pick).

Cincinnati Bengals: Only team in NFL history to have brothers @ 1 & 2 on QB depth chart.

New York Jets: Don't understand why Tony Richardson was cut only to be re-signed @ same salary…yes they're @ home but vBAL & vNE is no way to start a season.

New York Giants: Will explode out of the gate but too many road games at end of year.

Tennessee Titans: Last year horrible start/great finish…this year good start and then in the tank

Houston Texans: An elite team would go 5-1 with that schedule, good team: 4-2, average 3-3…most attention ever paid to a 3rd string QB.

Miami Dolphins: Does anyone really believe Parcells has relinquished control?

Arizona Cardinals: Reports say AZ gave Wells option to stay as back-up or be traded to PHI, if that's true it's just another example why veterans respect CKW.

San Francisco: Most games starting season are easy but 1st 3 of 4 are away…I like an upset in Week 1 because two rookies on OL aren't going to enjoy noise @SEA.

Philadelphia Eagles: Will be interesting to watch how Reid handles McNabb questions after every PHI loss…still can't believe they had 13 draft picks.

Denver Broncos: Next week might be highest rank of the season after win @JAX.

Oakland Raiders: So this is the national media's "dark horse"…I've said for 6 years & I'll say it again, OAK will not win 7 games until Al Davis is dead.

Chicago Bears: Didn't like the make-up of this team last year and they only had 5 draft picks…under best case scenario (Favre & Rodgers get in a fight like hockey goalies & are out for the year) CHI goes .500.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Anyone else interested to see how McFadden does back with PIT?

Kansas City Chiefs: Will be the best 1-4 team in the league.

Washington Redskins: Congratulations on getting drafted Trent and now let me introduce you to Mr. Ware.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Remember when the owner wanted to draft Tebow so he'd have him to sell tickets in Tebow's home town?...He got his wish for Week 1 vDEN

Carolina Panthers: Is this really the best team you could put forward?

Cleveland Browns: Could actually go 2-0…will finish with four wins but the 1st two weeks will be fun.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Will be much better but you won't know it because their schedule's too tough.

Seattle Seahawks: 2 questions; 1) Will I look like a doofus for picking SEA in Week 1? 2) How do you spell doofus?

Detroit Lions: Fire Matt Millen again.

St. Louis Rams: Counted 3 guys that would start for almost every team…not really sure how many of the other 19 starters would even make other teams.

Buffalo Bills: There's a moment when a large woman who likes to wear tight clothes says, "I'm ready" and leaves the mirror, that's how I feel about BUF.