Rich’s Way-Too-Early NFL Power Rankings Heading into Preseason Week 1

Rich did not want to do this. He also had three hours to fill and a preseason opener Thursday night, so here we are, a month from having to do the real ones. Blame the guys who egg him on.

The last set was the way, way, way too early edition back in May. Two of the "ways" have been retired. What's left is the way too early top 10 heading into preseason week one.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars. They were nowhere near the May list. Then Liam Coen complained publicly that nobody is talking about his team, and Rich decided to zag while everyone else zigs. He believes in Trevor Lawrence, in Bhayshul Tuten as the lead back, and in Parker Washington. Can't lose.

9. Chicago Bears. Down from six, with Rich a little worried about Luther Burden.

8. Houston Texans. Rich left them off in May and admits he doesn't know why. They have reached the AFC's final four three years running, so why stop now? David Montgomery and Woody Marks are a real one-two punch, Tank Dell is healthy, and last year's draftees should take a step alongside Nico Collins. Then he read the defensive starters out loud, the actual argument: Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter, Azeez Al-Shaair, Derek Stingley Jr., Kamari Lassiter and Jalen Pitre, with Reed Blankenship added and Jadeveon Clowney back. Now C.J. Stroud has to step it up.

7. Philadelphia Eagles. Up one, and Rich is not quitting them. Jalen Hurts is reportedly faster, Saquon Barkley is back, the offensive line will do what it does, and Jalen Carter got paid. The only caveat: Carter should probably stop spitting at people.

6. New England Patriots. Up from seven, largely on the addition of A.J. Brown. It also produced the day's best subplot, since Sauce Gardner answered a viral one-on-one rep by pointing out there's a reason that's the only clip anybody saw, then dropped a lock emoji. Rich will never quit Sauce.

5. Los Angeles Chargers. Down from two, which Rich chalked up to getting hyped in May. He still thinks they're that good, he just needs to see a couple of things before calling them the second-best team in football again.

4. Dallas Cowboys. This is where TJ objected, loudly, because he does not believe they belong ahead of New England. Rich was blunt. In the 11-year history of the show, this is the best the Cowboys have come into a season, and it isn't Jerry Jones hype. He said yesterday Dallas won the Micah Parsons trade and isn't backing off it.

3. Denver Broncos. One ankle bone away from something bigger, as Rich acknowledged.

Then he stopped, because one and two were never getting said out loud. He toyed with putting Seattle at two and could not do it with Aaron Donald possibly coming back. He isn't worried about the Seahawks slipping, either, because Mike Macdonald is the real deal and Hard Knocks is proving it.

What he could not get past was the roster down the road. Myles Garrett has arrived and isn't the only double-digit sack guy on that line. Donald might return. Trent McDuffie is on the back end. Davante Adams is the number two receiver on the defending MVP's team, which also has two backs who can run and tight ends to spare. Puka Nacua is limping, and Rich would sit him until it's time to fly to Australia to play San Francisco.

The Ravens came off the list. So did the 49ers, too banged up for his taste. And it is, as advertised, way too early.