“The Reality Check” Week 1 NFL Power Rankings

10. Denver Broncos (12)

Best case: Peyton Manning still has a neck in January
Worst case: The man named Peyton Manning isn’t actually Peyton Manning

9. Cincinnati Bengals (10)

Best case: AJ Green joins Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson in “best receivers not named Megatron” category
Worst case: We’re reminded they’re the Bengals

8. Chicago Bears (18)

Best case: The Brandon Marshall thing works out, giving Jay Cutler a legitimate threat
Worst case: Cutler’s season ends early…again

7. San Francisco 49ers (4)

Best case: Randy Moss works, 49ers offense makes strides
Worst case: The defense can only do so much

6. Baltimore Ravens (5)

Best case: Offense under Flacco progresses with no huddle
Worst case: Losing Terrell Suggs buries entire team

5. New Orleans Saints (2)

Best case: Bountygate creates healthy chip on shoulder
Worst case: Teams can’t just overcome losing their head coach

4. New York Giants (8)

Best case: They’re capable of another Super Bowl run
Worst case: They’re capable of having to fight to get into playoffs again

3. Houston Texans (11)

Best case: They’re a really good team getting their quarterback back
Worst case: Matt Schaub not quite the same in return

2. New England Patriots (3)

Best case: Brady and Belichick finally get their first ring post-Spygate
Worst case: Still no defense

1. Green Bay Packers (1)

Best case: 16-0
Worst case: 10-6. I mean, they couldn’t possibly be worse than that, could they?

Glenn’s postseason picks:
AFC Division Winners: New England, Baltimore, Houston, Denver
AFC Wild Cards: Cincinnati, Kansas City

NFC Division Winners: New York, Green Bay, Atlanta, San Francisco
NFC  Wild Cards: Detroit, New Orleans

Super Bowl XLVII: Green Bay 31, Houston 21