Updated Feb. 9
At the conclusion of the NFL season, it's always fun to look back at how the Week 1 CBSSports.com Power Rankings looked -- and then mock myself, and give you guys a freebie.
I can tell you this: The Pittsburgh Steelers, who won Super Bowl XLIII, weren't the top team in the rankings.
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| Parading Hines Ward doesn't seem to mind that the Steelers weren't exactly No. 1 in our opening rankings. (Getty Images) |
Shows what I know.
The top five before the season looked like this: Colts, Patriots, Saints, Chargers and the Cowboys.
Nice going. Three of the five didn't even make the playoffs.
The Steelers were eighth to start the season, which I have to say is higher than most predicted.
Remember how the Cleveland Browns were the chic pick to win the AFC North? I never bought into that.
Here's what I wrote about the Steelers then:
"Let's not forget that they won the division last season, not the Browns. The big key here is how well the offensive line plays. I think it shows improvement, which will help keep Ben Roethlisberger much more upright this season."
Do I get a little credit?
As for the Arizona Cardinals, the team the Steelers beat in that wonderful Super Bowl, I had them in the No. 15 spot.
My comments for the Cardinals went like this: "They will be a team that gets better as the season moves along as their young players improve. Better get team early. Kurt Warner is more than capable as the starting quarterback. Just look at his history."
I'd have to say I kind of hit that one -- even if I was reluctant to put them in the top 10.
Like the NFL teams already have, we've moved on from the 2008 season. The league's scouting combine is next week. Free agency opens at the end of the month and the draft is in April.
Oh yeah. We're also readying for the Will-Brett-play-or-not circus.
But before we move on, we'll give you one last batch of our CBSSports.com Power Rankings, just so you can get a good laugh at how wrong I was to start the season.
| Power Rankings | ||||||||||
| Current | Team | Previous | ||||||||
 | 1 | Steelers · Trends | 3 | |||||||
| The champs look stacked again for 2009. They do need to fortify their offensive line, especially with left tackles Max Starks and Marvel Smith unrestricted free agents. | ||||||||||
 | 2 | Cardinals · Trends | 11 | |||||||
| As long as Kurt Warner comes back, they have a real chance to win the division again and possibly be back in the Super Bowl. We saw their talent rise to the top in the playoffs. They will have two new coordinators. | ||||||||||
 | 3 | Ravens · Trends | 7 | |||||||
| As Joe Flacco continues to grow, so will this offense. They need to score more in 2009 and they will. What do they do with Ray Lewis? | ||||||||||
 | 4 | Eagles · Trends | 9 | |||||||
| The Andy Reid-Donovan McNabb duo is back for another season, and that's a good thing. They have to figure out a way to throw it vertically better and they need more from their running game. | ||||||||||
 | 5 | Giants · Trends | 2 | |||||||
| The biggest offseason decision will involve receiver Plaxico Burress. Do they bring him back? Word is Tom Coughlin doesn't want him, but others do. | ||||||||||
 | 6 | Titans · Trends | 1 | |||||||
| They have to make a decision on Kerry Collins. Are they committed to him as their 2009 starter? You would think they are, but it will cost them. | ||||||||||
 | 7 | Colts · Trends | 5 | |||||||
| Now coach Jim Caldwell takes over a talented team that was hit hard by injuries. The Colts will again be a contender in the AFC, even without Tony Dungy. | ||||||||||
 | 8 | Panthers · Trends | 4 | |||||||
| Is Jake Delhomme the answer? He didn't look like it in the loss to the Cardinals. That's a tough decision this team has to make. The Julius Peppers and Jordan Gross situations are worth watching. | ||||||||||
 | 9 | Falcons · Trends | 6 | |||||||
| They took a major step forward in 2008 -- surprisingly -- but they should be back in the playoffs again. They need to fix a few problem areas, like defensive tackle, safety and tight end. But the pieces are in place. | ||||||||||
 | 10 | Chargers · Trends | 14 | |||||||
| The interesting thing to watch for the Chargers is how they handle the LaDainian Tomlinson situation. Does he take a pay cut? If not, does he come back? One thing's for certain: This is Philip Rivers' team now. | ||||||||||
 | 11 | Patriots · Trends | 12 | |||||||
| Tom Brady is expected back, which will make them a Super Bowl contender again. They lost offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to the Broncos, a move that could be felt, but shouldn't be as long as Brady is back. | ||||||||||
 | 12 | Dolphins · Trends | 8 | |||||||
| Here's an early prediction: They will be the step-back team this year like the Cleveland Browns were in 2008. The schedule is much tougher in 2009. | ||||||||||
 | 13 | Vikings · Trends | 10 | |||||||
| Who plays quarterback? Do they really think Tarvaris Jackson is the answer? They should make a run at Byron Leftwich. | ||||||||||
 | 14 | Cowboys · Trends | 13 | |||||||
| Owner Jerry Jones decided to stick with Wade Phillips and that will make for a tension-filled season. Does T.O. return? He should. | ||||||||||
 | 15 | Buccaneers · Trends | 15 | |||||||
| Raheem Morris takes over for Jon Gruden and that is welcomed by a lot of players. Morris did a smart thing hiring Jeff Jagodzinski as offensive coordinator. He will get the ball down the field. Now all he needs is a quarterback. | ||||||||||
 | 16 | Jets · Trends | 16 | |||||||
| Will he or won't he? Is Brett Favre playing again? If the Jets are lucky, he's done. New coach Rex Ryan should hope Favre is gone. Ryan will get the defense playing better. | ||||||||||
 | 17 | Texans · Trends | 17 | |||||||
| They have a chance to be this year's Cardinals. They have the tools on offense and they have young talent on defense. They just need to fill in some of the holes on defense, like safety. | ||||||||||
 | 18 | Bears · Trends | 18 | |||||||
| Kyle Orton heads to camp as the starter at quarterback, but you can bet there will be competition. They are expected to sign a veteran player. Having Lovie Smith become more involved in the defense is needed. | ||||||||||
 | 19 | Saints · Trends | 19 | |||||||
| The addition of defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will help that side of the ball that has held this team down for some time. They also have to decide on who will be the feature runner. | ||||||||||
 | 20 | Broncos · Trends | 20 | |||||||
| Josh McDaniels comes to the Broncos with a reputation for offense and he has a heck of a guy to build around in Jay Cutler. The defense is the problem with this team. It has to be improved. | ||||||||||
 | 21 | 49ers · Trends | 21 | |||||||
| New coach Mike Singletary has to decide what to do with his quarterback position. Is it Shaun Hill or Alex Smith or somebody else? It has to be better, whoever it is. | ||||||||||
 | 22 | Bills · Trends | 22 | |||||||
| Dick Jauron received another year, but he has to win in 2009. The key is Trent Edwards. Was his good start last season an aberration or did his injuries play a factor in him tailing off? | ||||||||||
 | 23 | Packers · Trends | 23 | |||||||
| Aaron Rodgers proved he could be the guy to take this team to a Super Bowl in his first year as a starter. Now they need to give him more help -- especially on both lines. | ||||||||||
 | 24 | Bengals · Trends | 24 | |||||||
| They fixed the defense somewhat in 2008, and getting Carson Palmer healthy again will help fix the offense. This might be a team to watch in 2009. | ||||||||||
 | 25 | Redskins · Trends | 25 | |||||||
| Can Dan Snyder continue the fiscal responsibility he showed last spring? If he's smart he will. The key for Washington has to be the growth of Jason Campbell. He needs to do more in 2009 -- or it will be his last as a starter. | ||||||||||
 | 26 | Jaguars · Trends | 26 | |||||||
| They need to spend the offseason fixing their offensive and defensive lines. New general manager Gene Smith faces a challenging year. Is David Garrard the answer? They'll find out. | ||||||||||
 | 27 | Raiders · Trends | 27 | |||||||
| Al Davis decided to stay with Tom Cable as the coach. Considering the owner, who else would take this job? Cable did show well in the final month. | ||||||||||
 | 28 | Seahawks · Trends | 28 | |||||||
| Jim Mora takes over for Mike Holmgren and he has to hope like heck this team can stay healthier than it did last season. The key will be quarterback Matt Hasselbeck returning to his 2007 form. | ||||||||||
 | 29 | Chiefs · Trends | 29 | |||||||
| I like the hiring of Todd Haley, but now they have to decide who quarterbacks his wide-open offense. Is it Tyler Thigpen or do they draft a passer with the third overall pick? | ||||||||||
 | 30 | Browns · Trends | 30 | |||||||
| Eric Mangini did so well in New York that Cleveland gave him another job. Why? The good thing is there is some young talent on this roster. | ||||||||||
 | 31 | Rams · Trends | 31 | |||||||
| Steve Spagnuolo has work to do on both sides of the ball, but the brunt of the work has to come on offense. Marc Bulger has to revert to his pre-contract ways. | ||||||||||
 | 32 | Lions · Trends | 32 | |||||||
| New coach Jim Schwartz has a lot of work to do. The first priority: Making sure the team drafts Matt Stafford with the first pick in April. | ||||||||||
