NFL Power Rankings: Atlanta Falcons rise, Chicago Bears fall

If ever there was a worse preseason game than Dallas Cowboys-Oakland Raiders, these eyes didn't see it. It was the same old (recent) story for two of the league's most storied franchises: a pair of clubs that just can't seem to get out of their own way.

Jeremiah: The good, the bad, the ugly

What did we learn from the first week of preseason games? Daniel Jeremiah identifies the stars and the scrubs. More ...

The Cowboys suffered through dumb penalties on Monday night, while the Raiders' offense continually undermined big plays by stalling ... then going backward. Terrelle Pryor took a late-game sack on a screen pass, of all things, ultimately leaving the Cowboys' fate to be decided from fourth-and-26 (Freddie Mitchell, anyone?). Dallas' offensive line looked as tough as Dallas' offensive line normally does, which is to say like Kenny Chesney in one of his sleeveless man-salmon tank tops and a seashell choker.

Two of the most-penalized teams in the NFL eventually brought the sordid 3-0 affair to an end (Dallas "won"), but in the process inspired no confidence in our latest rankings -- our first since taking the league's temperature after April's draft.

(Note: Arrows reflect change in standings from the most recent power rankings.)

OFFSEASON POWER RANKINGS: Post-Draft | Post-Free Agency

  How the 
 [Giants](/teams/newyorkgiants/profile?team=NYG) keep 
 [David Wilson](/player/davidwilson/2533035/profile) 
 *off* the field is anyone's guess, as "starter" Ahmad Bradshaw has been afflicted with a healthy share of foot/ankle problems over the years. 
 [Hakeem Nicks](/player/hakeemnicks/80672/profile) and 
 [Victor Cruz](/player/victorcruz/2507855/profile) were a dynamic duo at wide receiver last season, but Nicks has a checkered injury history of his own, while Cruz has set the bar awfully high for himself. There's not enough uncertainty to knock the 
 [Giants](/teams/newyorkgiants/profile?team=NYG) from the top post they've rightfully held since winning 
 [Super Bowl](http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/47) XLVI, but there's enough to wonder about the look of 
 [Kevin Gilbride](/player/kevingilbride/2514867/profile)'s 2012 offense. 

 [Plax the Patriot?](http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000049013/article/plaxico-burress-to-work-out-for-new-england-patriots) Recently read a copy of Tom Callahan's 
 *The GM*, which chronicles the 
 [Giants](/teams/newyorkgiants/profile?team=NYG)' 2006 season -- former general manager Ernie Accorsi's last in the NFL. One of the interesting tidbits I pulled from this solid read was the fact that 
 [Plaxico Burress](/player/plaxicoburress/2504253/profile) has a high football IQ. From a distant view, he sure looked to be more reliable than 
 [Santonio Holmes](/player/santonioholmes/2506885/profile) with the 
 [New York Jets](/teams/newyorkjets/profile?team=NYJ) last season. But the thought here coincides with that of others around the league: He's a last resort. Getting 
 [Logan Mankins](/player/loganmankins/2506371/profile) back (off the PUP) is a boost. 

  The questions surrounding this team always begin and end with 
 [Alex Smith](http://www.nfl.com/player/alexsmith/2506340/profile). But Randy Moss and 
 [Frank Gore](/player/frankgore/2506404/profile) are also worth investigating early in 2012. The early bird says Moss will start and could surprise a few folks at 35 (the same age as Burress.) Meanwhile, Gore has logged nearly 2,000 career touches and is 29. Expect a committee look in The City by the Bay -- a headache for fantasy owners, but a sensible approach for a team with plenty of depth at running back. 

  Losing 
 [Desmond Bishop](/player/desmondbishop/2495552/profile) for the season 
 *hurts*. Green Bay's defensive struggles were well-documented last season, and opposing tight ends might find easy pickings in 
 [D.J. Smith](/player/d.j.smith/2495345/profile) (or whoever starts in Bishop's stead). Last year, 
 [Erik Walden](/player/erikwalden/2507488/profile) represented a big hole in The Big Cheese at outside linebacker. Now inside 'backer becomes an issue. 

 [Texans](/teams/houstontexans/profile?team=HOU) defense ain't no jive, to quote colleague Dave Dameshek. Carolina accumulated all of 
 [137 yards of total offense](http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2012081151/2012/PRE1/texans@panthers) against Houston on Saturday. The 
 [Panthers](/teams/carolinapanthers/profile?team=CAR) averaged three yards per offensive play. Keep chatting up 
 [Arian Foster](/player/arianfoster/79555/profile) and 
 [Andre Johnson](/player/andrejohnson/2505551/profile), and we'll stay with Wade. 

  Losing 
 [Terrell Suggs](/player/terrellsuggs/2505660/profile) for a prolonged period of time obviously affects a defense with a new coordinator and some aging players. While 
 [Paul Kruger](/player/paulkruger/80656/profile) will likely replace T-Sizzle, the important SOLB job could fall to a rook. 
 [Courtney Upshaw](/player/courtneyupshaw/2532964/profile), it's your baby now. No pressure. 

  Everyone is so sure 
 [Brandon Marshall](http://www.nfl.com/player/brandonmarshall/2495893/profile) is going to a) play lights-out, b) not be a knucklehead and c) catch 120 balls. Based on what? Because he's teamed up with 
 [Jay Cutler](/player/jaycutler/2495824/profile) and Jeremy Bates again? Cutler is not a third-year quarterback; he's a seventh-year veteran who won't be forcing throws just to Marshall. Moreover, there's little guarantee Chicago's pass-protection problems have been solved. Throw in the fact that we didn't get to see Cutler, 
 [Matt Forte](/player/mattforte/234/profile), 
 [Julius Peppers](/player/juliuspeppers/2505010/profile) or Brian Urlacher ( 
 [who just went under the knife](http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000050024/article/brian-urlacher-undergoes-knee-surgery-for-bears)) in the preseason opener, and it becomes increasingly difficult to keep the 
 [Bears](/teams/chicagobears/profile?team=CHI) ranked this highly. 

  Nice to see (and hear) 
 [Eagles](/teams/philadelphiaeagles/profile?team=PHI) fans show outward support for 
 [Andy Reid](/player/andyreid/2523926/profile). Rarely in the 92-year history of the NFL has such a successful head coach been so frequently maligned, even by his own fans. The bottom line: Reid is 126-81-1 (Donovan McNabb didn't know ties existed before that one). The second bottom line: Philly is in contention once again. Five NFC Championship Games, a 
 [Super Bowl](http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/47) and continuity mean something ... even in today's NFL. 

  What to make of the 
 [Saints](/teams/neworleanssaints/profile?team=NO) as a whole? Going deeper, what should we make of the running back situation? 
 [Drew Brees](/player/drewbrees/2504775/profile) has been the most productive quarterback in the NFL over the last six years, but it sure would be a boon to this club if 
 [Mark Ingram](/player/markingram/2495466/profile) could stay healthy and add a thump to the running game. Yes, we're aware of 
 [Darren Sproles](/player/darrensproles/2506467/profile). But the 
 [Saints](/teams/neworleanssaints/profile?team=NO) could really help a 
 [Jonathan Vilma](/player/jonathanvilma/2505973/profile)-less defense by rushing more and keeping the clock burning. 

  Big news from 
 [Broncos-Bears on Thursday night](http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2012080956/2012/PRE1/broncos@bears): 
 [Caleb Hanie](/player/calebhanie/2507385/profile) went 7-for-14 for 79 yards in his "revenge" game. He played Hanie-esque: just good enough to get you beat. (OK, the score was actually 31-3 in the 
 [Broncos](/teams/denverbroncos/profile?team=DEN)' favor, but you get my drift.) If I'm a 
 [Broncos](/teams/denverbroncos/profile?team=DEN) fan, I'm strongly encouraged by one particular thing I saw at Soldier Field. No, it was not 
 [Peyton Manning](/player/peytonmanning/2501863/profile)'s play. 
 *Pass protection.* Can the offensive front keep this up? 

  One of the more underreported guys coming off a major 2011 injury has to be cornerback 
 [Leon Hall](/player/leonhall/2495617/profile). Don't forget, he was one of the best corners in the AFC before hurting his Achilles. So far, he's held his own in camp. If Hall comes back 100 percent, Cincy could be a tough out. This is a well-balanced team that just needs a confidence-building win over Baltimore or Pittsburgh. 

 [Julio Jones](/player/juliojones/2495454/profile) or 
 [Roddy White](/player/roddywhite/2506366/profile)? Which one do you take in fantasy? Good luck. In this space, we want to know what 
 [Asante Samuel](/player/asantesamuel/2505472/profile) provides the 
 [Falcons](/teams/atlantafalcons/profile?team=ATL), and whether 
 [William Moore](/player/williammoore/71405/profile) and 
 [Thomas DeCoud](/player/thomasdecoud/1357/profile) can give the club a little more from their safety spots. Atlanta allowed 12 touchdown passes of 20 yards or more last year, third-most in the league. Moore and DeCoud combined for six interceptions, which is OK but won't make up for the long-ball hemorrhaging. 

  Boy, 
 [Dick LeBeau](/player/dicklebeau/2519234/profile) is going to have to do one of his best coaching jobs ever this season. Rule changes have already caused the middle of the field to be gravy for tight ends across the league. 
 [Troy Polamalu](/player/troypolamalu/2505621/profile) can be a liability in coverage, while the jury is out on safety 
 [Ryan Clark](/player/ryanclark/2504899/profile) at this stage of his career. Meanwhile, 10-year veteran 
 [Larry Foote](/player/larryfoote/2505116/profile) isn't exactly posting the kind of Darrell Green-esque times necessary to keep up with athletic tight ends from his inside linebacker spot. 
 [Todd Haley](/player/toddhaley/2515611/profile) had better give this team three touchdowns and a 
 [Shaun Suisham](/player/shaunsuisham/2506149/profile) chip shot each Sunday if Pittsburgh hopes to play in the postseason. 

  How will the secondary fare? Can Matt Stafford stay upright for a second straight season? Who else will emerge at wide receiver besides 
 [Megatron](http://www.nfl.com/player/calvinjohnson/2495647/profile)? Despite the question marks, I 
 [took a stand for the Lions](http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/09000d5d82a430b6/Upon-Further-Review-Lions-playoff-chances) last month. 
 [Lions](/teams/detroitlions/profile?team=DET) faithful, let's hope I'm right. 

 [Dez Bryant](/player/dezbryant/497278/profile) can screw up off the field all he wants. ... 
 [Miles Austin](/player/milesaustin/2495801/profile) and 
 [DeMarco Murray](/player/demarcomurray/2495207/profile) can play 16 games, unlike last season. ... And 
 [Tony Romo](/player/tonyromo/2505354/profile) can play out of his mind once again. ... But none of it will mean diddly-poo if the interior of the 
 [Cowboys](/teams/dallascowboys/profile?team=DAL)' offensive line continues to suck. Right tackle 
 [Doug Free](/player/dougfree/2495606/profile) isn't much better. 

  Whether the 
 [Chiefs](/teams/kansascitychiefs/profile?team=KC) can escape the forthcoming 8-8 melee to win the AFC West rests on more than just 
 [Matt Cassel](/player/mattcassel/2506562/profile)'s right arm. The quarterback has been the focus of much talk regarding Kansas City's fortunes, but the 
 [Chiefs](/teams/kansascitychiefs/profile?team=KC) must get better play at the point, i.e., nose tackle. Rookie 
 [Dontari Poe](/player/dontaripoe/2533435/profile) needs to win the job over 
 [Anthony Toribio](/player/anthonytoribio/2507444/profile) (who?). There's also room for improvement at outside linebacker; second-year man 
 [Justin Houston](/player/justinhouston/2495493/profile) could do a lot for this team by taking a load off 
 [Tamba Hali](/player/tambahali/2506883/profile) on the other side. 

  The secondary 
 [looked good against Tennessee](http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2012081152/2012/PRE1/titans@seahawks) in Week 1 of the preseason. Former Titan 
 [Jason Jones](/player/jasonjones/2507473/profile) helps shape a solid front four for Seattle. Ah, but the linebackers are the question mark, especially in a division with the run-focused 
 [49ers](/teams/sanfrancisco49ers/profile?team=SF) and 
 [Rams](/teams/st.louisrams/profile?team=STL). Second-round pick 
 [Bobby Wagner](/player/bobbywagner/2532966/profile) could start alongside Leroy Hill and 
 [K.J. Wright](/player/k.j.wright/2495252/profile). Those guys are going to have to play ball for the 
 [Seahawks](/teams/seattleseahawks/profile?team=SEA) to have any hope in the NFC West. 

  Note to Cleveland: This is how you do a quarterback competition. 

 [Santonio Holmes](/player/santonioholmes/2506885/profile) will miss a second preseason game with bruised ribs. 
 [Jeremy Kerley](/player/jeremykerley/2495189/profile) has a tear in his hamstring. 
 [Stephen Hill](/player/stephenhill/2533537/profile) is a rookie and dropped a ball in Cincinnati. Chaz Schilens is Chaz Schilens. Patrick Turner played at USC, but at least he was on the practice squad last season. The 
 [Jets](/teams/newyorkjets/profile?team=NYJ)' passing attack is more "gangrene" than "Gang Green." 

  Perhaps the most relevant storyline at 
 [Raiders](/teams/oaklandraiders/profile?team=OAK) camp is the progress of the receiver corps. Can 
 [Denarius Moore](/player/denariusmoore/2495315/profile) take a step forward from last season? At this stage of his career, has 
 [Darrius Heyward-Bey](/player/darriusheyward-bey/80427/profile) already reached his ceiling? Is there anyone on the roster that is a surefire target on third-and-7? Not right now. 

  If 
 [Ryan Mathews](/player/ryanmathews/497188/profile) misses six weeks, he'll miss his first two starts of 2012. That means he'll have missed 12 of his first 34 possible career starts. If he's the fantasy stud everyone thinks he is, it's definitely of the soft-core variety. 

  Can't wait to see what 
 [Fred Jackson](/player/fredjackson/2506871/profile) does this season. People forget what a great year he was having before a broken leg landed him on IR (1,376 yards from scrimmage in 10 games). Many folks seemed ready to anoint 
 [C.J. Spiller](/player/c.j.spiller/497204/profile) as the starter over the spring. No freaking way. In fact, as Around the Leaguer and colleague Gregg Rosenthal astutely pointed out, 
 [Spiller had a drop and costly penalty](http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000048310/article/lessons-from-thursdays-nfl-preseason-games) against the 
 [Redskins](/teams/washingtonredskins/profile?team=WAS) last Thursday night. That's not good. (Well, good for Gregg, not C.J.) 

  Like the 
 [Lions](/teams/detroitlions/profile?team=DET), the 
 [Panthers](/teams/carolinapanthers/profile?team=CAR) (no pun intended) are a tough team to project. Carolina was in a lot of games last year, and could be a surprise playoff club. Then again, the defense is somewhat devoid of difference makers. Having 
 [Jon Beason](/player/jonbeason/2495545/profile) healthy is nice. Offensively, what if 
 [Cam Newton](/player/camnewton/2495455/profile) has a sophomore slump? What if 
 [Steve Smith](/player/stevesmith/2507175/profile) hits the career wall? Carolina has to play the loaded NFC East this season, as well. 

  Of all the teams in the NFL, none seem to be as stunted by a quarterback quandary as Arizona. It really is all anyone talks about when it comes to the 
 [Cardinals](/teams/arizonacardinals/profile?team=ARI). 
 [Kevin Kolb](/player/kevinkolb/2507169/profile) certainly isn't doing himself any favors. And regardless of how the team played when he started last year, is 
 [John Skelton](/player/johnskelton/497129/profile) really the answer? Neither QB has separated himself from the other this summer, although Kolb has looked more terrible. 

  Shanahanigans seem to be on again, as 
 [Evan Royster](/player/evanroyster/2495220/profile) runs with the 1's and 
 [Roy Helu](/player/royhelu/2495161/profile) with the 2's. The coaching staff prefers Royster's inside running ability, but you can't blame 
 [Redskins](/teams/washingtonredskins/profile?team=WAS) faithful if they aren't exactly salivating. Meanwhile, there should be no shenanigans on defense, with the same starting front seven returning from 2011. The 
 [Bills](/teams/buffalobills/profile?team=BUF) gained just 219 yards 
 [in the preseason opener](http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2012080951/2012/PRE1/redskins@bills). 

  How's this for roster evaluation: 
 [Greg Schiano](/player/gregschiano/2533233/profile) squeezed 82 Bucs into 
 [Friday night's preseason opener](http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2012081053/2012/PRE1/buccaneers@dolphins). Tampa came out and scored touchdowns on its first two drives, while backup 
 [Dan Orlovsky](/player/danorlovsky/2506481/profile) went 8-for-8 for 91 yards. Speaking of backups, a staggering 15 guys caught passes for the Bucs. Schiano is evaluating 
 *everybody*. As well he should, seeing as this franchise carries a 10-game losing skid into 2012. It would be nice to see 
 [Arrelious Benn](/player/arreliousbenn/497270/profile) and 
 [Mike Williams](/player/mikewilliams/2508048/profile) take steps forward. 

  Chad Johnson is gone, though head coach 
 [Joe Philbin](/player/joephilbin/2523155/profile) said 
 [the decision had to do with more than just his recent run-in with the law](http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000049266/article/chad-johnson-miami-dolphins-failed-to-get-on-the-same-page). Definitely 
 *not* what this 
 [Dolphins](/teams/miamidolphins/profile?team=MIA) team needed. One look at the receiver position on the depth chart is an ugly one. Legedu Naanee, 
 [Davone Bess](/player/davonebess/735/profile) and 
 [Marlon Moore](/player/marlonmoore/2507902/profile) are the first three names listed -- that just might be the worst 1-2-3 batting order in the league. 
 [Brian Hartline](/player/brianhartline/81831/profile) might be on the final roster. Perhaps 
 [Roberto Wallace](/player/robertowallace/2507903/profile) can make some noise without Johnson stealing valuable reps. No matter how you slice it, wideout is a mess in Miami. 

  If 
 [Jeff Fisher](/player/jefffisher/2514064/profile)'s 
 [Rams](/teams/st.louisrams/profile?team=STL) are going to run the football as much we anticipate, then 
 [Isaiah Pead](/player/isaiahpead/2532926/profile) needs to grow up fast. 
 [Steven Jackson](/player/stevenjackson/2505936/profile) can't be a 300-touch guy forever, and the second-round draft pick has certainly shown flashes. Pead needs to give Jackson what Jackson gave Marshall Faulk late in his career: an effective breather. Not to mention a shot in the arm for 
 [Sam Bradford](/player/sambradford/497095/profile) and the offense. 

 [Blaine Gabbert](/player/blainegabbert/2495441/profile)'s pocket awareness continues to be an issue, as evidenced in his final drive against the 
 [Giants](/teams/newyorkgiants/profile?team=NYG) last week, when he held the ball too long and 
 [fumbled on an Adrian Tracy sack](http://www.nfl.com/videos/auto/0ap2000000048631/Pierre-Paul-fumble-recovery). That said, the bigger concern was 
 [Mel Tucker](/player/meltucker/2527654/profile)'s defensive unit, which allowed the 
 [Giants](/teams/newyorkgiants/profile?team=NYG) to score points on four straight possessions in the first half. Trust Tucker to turn that around, but a healthy pass rush sure would help. 

  Cleveland's first touchdown of 2012 was scored by 
 [Brad Smelley](/player/bradsmelley/2534232/profile). If a team's season outlook was ever reflected by a name ... 

 [The 49ers ran for 198 yards](http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2012081056/2012/PRE1/vikings@49ers) in the 
 *first half* on the Minnesota defense. The 
 [Christian Ponder](/player/christianponder/2495215/profile)-led Viking attack fared well, but this club won't be in any ballgames if it lets teams run on it like the Niners did. You never want to make too much of the first week of the preseason. Still, allowing 69 yards rushing on the opening drive was an ominous start. 

 [Andrew Luck](/player/andrewluck/2533031/profile) looks good. Now that we've gotten that out of the way, how about 
 [Donald Brown's explosiveness](http://www.nfl.com/videos/indianapolis-colts/0ap2000000048980/Pre-WK-1-Can-t-Miss-Play-Lucky-beginnings)? We've seen this before -- like last year against the 
 [Titans](/teams/tennesseetitans/profile?team=TEN). But then Brown gets hurt, or does something to disappoint. Luck needs more than 
 [Reggie Wayne](/player/reggiewayne/2504747/profile), 
 [Coby Fleener](/player/cobyfleener/2532838/profile) and Austin Collie this season, and can't save the franchise by himself. 

Follow Elliot Harrison on Twitter @Harrison_NFL