Cold, Hard Football Facts.com: Best of the Rest: offseason rankings

Best of the Rest: offseason rankings
Cold, Hard Football Facts for June 26, 2006

By Cold, Hard Football Facts contributor Jonathan Comey

Click here for a complete review of the Cold, Hard Football Facts Dominant Dozen of the 2006 offseason.

13. SAN DIEGO (9-7, 5-6 vs. quality opponents) – The Chargers are 14-1 vs. non-quality opponents over the last two years but just 7-10 vs. the big boys.

14. CHICAGO (11-6, 3-5 vs. quality opponents) – Brian Griese's passer rating of 84.8 ranks 12th in NFL history.

15. CINCINNATI (11-6, 3-5 vs. quality opponents) – A 14-year streak of non-winning seasons ended in 2005.

16. DALLAS (9-7, 4-5 vs. quality opponents) – Prior to being shelved by Philly last year, Terrell Owens had seen his teams go 93-58 (.616) collectively.

17. PHILADELPHIA (6-10, 2-8 vs. quality opponents) – Donovan McNabb's rushing totals have declined six straight years, to 55 yards in 2005 (which is just 55 yards more than the CHFF crew had, and we haven't seen our shoes since Live Aid).

18. ATLANTA (8-8, 2-7 vs. quality opponents) – Warrick Dunn (178 pounds) is the smallest back among the NFL's Top 50 all-time rushers (he's No. 26 with 8,321 yards).

19. MINNESOTA (9-7, 2-5 vs. quality opponents) – The Vikings ranked 25th in total offense, breaking a streak of 11 straight years in the Top 12.

20. BALTIMORE (6-10, 2-7 vs. quality opponents) – In three years with Kyle Boller at the helm, the Ravens have ranked in the bottom 10 in yards per pass attempt and passing TDs each season.

21. ST. LOUIS (6-10, 2-6 vs. quality opponents) – The Rams have lost three of their four top tacklers from 2005: DT Ryan Pickett, S Adam Archuleta and CB Corey Ivy.

22. CLEVELAND (6-10, 2-7 vs. quality opponents) – The legacy of Butch Davis is officially dead: The Browns did not sign one of their 14 free agents this offseason.

23. ARIZONA (4-12, 0-8 vs. quality opponents) – Edgerrin James joins an offense that ranked dead last in every major rushing category last year, including scoring just 2 TDs on the ground.

24. NEW ORLEANS (3-13, 1-8 vs. quality opponents) – The 3-13 Saints actually outgained their opponents last year, 5,292 to 4,994.

25. BUFFALO (5-11, 3-7 vs. quality opponents) – Geriatric GM Marv Levy (a World War II veteran!) has brought in 20 new players between free agency and the draft.

26. GREEN BAY (4-12, 1-8 vs. quality opponents) – Opposing QBs posted an 84.4 passer rating against the Packers last year. That's the same rating that Hall of Famer Jim Kelly averaged over his career.

27. OAKLAND (4-12, 2-9 vs. quality opponents) – The Raiders have had three of the five worst seasons in franchise history since 2003, with marks of 4-12, 5-11 and 4-12.

28. N.Y. JETS (4-12, 2-8 vs. quality opponents) – Since 2002, the Jets are 21-18 when Chad Pennington plays and 8-17 when he does not.

29. DETROIT (5-11, 0-9 vs. quality opponents) – The Lions have one playoff victory since 1957 and, from 1998 to 2005, have failed to crack the Top 10 in scoring offense, total offense, scoring defense or total defense. For fan reaction, visit www.firemillen.com or www.firemattmillen.com.

30. SAN FRANCISCO (4-12, 1-8 vs. quality opponents) – Just to add insult to the injury of being a fan of the once-proud 49ers, the team earned a nifty D on the Fillability Index and lost its best defensive player (Pro Bowler Julian Peterson) to conference-champion Seattle.

31. TENNESSEE (4-12, 0-8 vs. quality opponents) – The Titans are the only team to draft 10 or more players in three straight drafts (13 in 2004; 11 in 2005; 10 in 2006).

32. HOUSTON (2-14, 0-8 vs. quality opponents) – Wondering why the Texans passed on can't-miss-kid Reggie Bush? Rushing offense was the only major category in which they were not at or near the very bottom of the league last year.