Tribune pro football reporter Don Pierson offers the 1st of his weekly NFL power rankings as the season gets under way Thursday with the No. 1 Patriots taking on the No. 2 Colts
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%% NO. TEAM PIERSON’S COMMENT
1. Patriots Until further notice, nobody looks better.
2. Colts Nice opener for NFL, maybe not for Colts.
3. Eagles Owens and Kearse, or maybe just a curse.
4. Ravens Deion really could make a difference.
5. Panthers Trying to escape Super Bowl loser syndrome.
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6. Titans McNair can win if defense holds up.
7. Broncos Champ joins Snake as hopes soar.
8. Chiefs Gunther under gun to improve defense.
9. Seahawks Again, better defense holds the answer.
10. Vikings They plan to finish what they started.
11. Packers Fourth-and-26 nightmare still looms.
12. Raiders Gannon and team looking to bounce back.
13. Steelers Back to future with running and defense.
14. Buccaneers Gruden is the star now, as he planned.
15. Jaguars Will Bears wish they had drafted Leftwich?
16. Rams Still potent if Bulger comes through.
17. Bills All eyes on McGahee and Bledsoe.
18. Falcons If Vick can’t do it, nobody can.
19. Cowboys At 40, Vinny Testaverde will age Parcells.
20. Saints Underachievers have talent, McAllister.
21. Jets Expecting more if new defense produces.
22. Dolphins Decimated before season started.
23. Redskins A winning season will be all Gibbs.
24. Bengals Carson Palmer takes center stage.
25. Texans Planning on playoffs–maybe next year.
26. Bears New faces everywhere hope to surprise.
27. Lions Lots of young offensive weapons.
28. Giants Eli Manning will be playing soon.
29. 49ers Rebuilt offense counting on defense.
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30. Browns Winslow wants to win in worst way.
31. Chargers Philip Rivers, Eli could have told you.
32. Cardinals Dennis Green not enough, not this year. %%