The NFL season is finally here and a day early too. After an offseason of learning and experiencing (at the NFL combine for the first time ever), watching moves happening with some surprising trades, draft picks, and returns from retirement, it’s time to grab some food and drinks, get settled in, and watch some professional football.

Before it gets underway, we are back with MY NFL Power Rankings. Last year was me trying to get better at it, and this one should be more interesting. I won’t watch a lot of games early to mid-parts of the season due to my upcoming travels, but I’ll keep up on highlights and look at the stats to see what happened. It won’t be like the official experts that does this, but I do things differently to keep things interesting. Anyway, keep an eye out for my weekly rankings and hope y’all have a great day! If you happen to be a fan seeing this, I would love to read your reactions or maybe know who’s your Top 10 of a weekend of football.

10) PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Maybe it’s just me, but there’s something about Pittsburgh this year that makes me think they’ll return to the postseason and maybe win a game. The Steelers winning this postseason is a reach, but anything’s possible. The offense might be better and more meshed than last season, but it comes down to Aaron Rodgers fighting off father time. Their schedule sets up for an opportunity, and they don’t have to deal with the Browns in the cold snow this time. All they have is the back half post-bye with the Ravens in 2 of the last 4 weeks of the season.

9) JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Here’s the positive: The Jags retain their roster with most of their defense intact led by Travon Walker. They also get back Travis Hunter and hopefully they play him more on defense and give him packages to run on offense. Trevor Lawrence and company looks about the same and could run it back to the postseason. The negative: their schedule. It’s a bit brutal with the Broncos, Patriots, Bengals, Eagles, and Texans in the early schedule before the bye. The backend is kinda manageable with landmines set up in some matchups. That part makes it complicated for a postseason return.

8) HOUSTON TEXANS

There’s no need for introduction to Houston’s defense, so let’s focus on the offense. The offensive line must be better. Hopefully the run game has an answer with David Montgomery and Woody Marks being the 1-2 punch. Can CJ Stroud be back to his rookie self annihilating defenses with confidence behind that hopefully improved line? They’re thrown into a bit of a grinder on their schedule, but their defense will carry. The offense must follow suit if they want to make a deep postseason run.

7) CINCINNATI BENGALS

I’m probably bullish on the Bengals this season. They have an elite quarterback, elite receivers with more options, a couple of capable running backs, and an expected improved offensive line. Their defense (which was the bugaboo of their roster), could be the most improved even to an average level. They add Dexter Lawrence, Boye Mafe, and Jonathan Allen to go along with Myles Murphy, BJ Hill, and Shemar Stewart. The secondary should be one of the more underrated areas that could cause problems and hopefully the linebacker position is solidified. If the roster comes together, they could find themselves in a deep postseason run.

6) PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

The Eagles still have a strong defense and will continue to impact the game in a great way. I’m wondering how the offense looks this season. The offensive line and Saquon Barkley should continue as the strength as long as they’re healthy and stable. Jalen Hurts will impact the game with his legs, but the passing game might is in question. They lost AJ Brown and the receiver roster outside of DeVonta Smith looks different. Will this affect them? Maybe, but the Eagles’ defense and special teams will give them every chance they can to win games.

5) DALLAS COWBOYS

Dallas has the offense to carry them as far as possible. Many weapons across the board and the offensive line should be better this season with Javonte Williams being the difference maker. As long as Dak Prescott’s starting, Dallas always has a winning chance. What could guarantee them wins are two things: the improved defense with key additions of Dee Winters and Caleb Downs (Ohio State) and Jerry Jones not being too involved with the team. Those two things could send Dallas back to the postseason.

4) SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Seattle’s looking to repeat but without bell cow Kenneth Walker (Chiefs) and offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak (Raiders head coach), how does that affect the offense? That remains to be seen, but they still have weapons around that Sam Darnold will be able to rely on. Defense should still be one of the better units in the NFL. The schedule might be tough, but Seattle’s proven to be a tough customer especially at home.

3) BUFFALO BILLS

The Bills must find a way to get over the hump. Every opportunity for a Super Bowl appearance has been tarnished by multiple circumstances, including last season against the Broncos (who eventually lost Bo Nix immediately after the win). There are plenty of “why-me’s” and “it should’ve been us’s”, but there’s no time for that when their Super Bowl window can only be open for so long. The defense as a whole must stay healthy. The receivers added DJ Moore for improvement in the wide receiver room and help out Josh Allen. Speaking of Josh Allen, no Madden curse, no lingering injury, and it’s doubtful that the Chiefs will slow them down (unless it’s in the postseason). At this point, the only team holding them back from the Super Bowl…is themselves. Overcome it, Josh Allen will finally see the Promiseland.

2) DENVER BRONCOS

Denver was definitely a Super Bowl team. Their offense handled game-time situations and clutched nearly every week. Bo Nix played his best football without question. Defense was the NFL’s best from the beginning of the season. Unfortunately, Bo Nix succumbed to an unexpecting injury that knocked him out for the postseason and spoiled their Super Bowl opportunity with just one game to play. If that didn’t happen, they probably would’ve been there. Now, Bo Nix is healthy, they maintained their roster, and things are still looking optimistic for a run back to the AFC Championship game. Nix staying upright and the defense not self-destructing makes them Super Bowl contenders for sure.

1) LOS ANGELES RAMS

Do I really have to say it? The Rams seem to have everything they need for a Super Bowl run. They must go through the NFC West, but they’re built to compete with them. They have Matt Stafford, Kyren Williams, Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Aaron Donald (out of retirement), Myles Garrett, Nate Landman, Jaylen Watson and Trent McDuffie (from the Chiefs), the Kams (Kinchens and Curl), and kicker Harrison Mevis. The only thing that could hold them back is health. If even one key player goes down, the dominoes could eventually fall, especially if it’s Matthew Stafford.