Well folks, Sunday’s Hall of Fame game officially marked the beginning of the football season. It’s finally time to stop talking about the scandals and start talking about the teams. Who is set up for a Super Bowl run? Who is bound for a disappointing year? I will break down the upside and downside for every team in the league and rank the teams from 1-32; or, more accurately, from 32-1.

Below are the Dreadful Dozen—the 12 worst teams in the league—all teams looking to rebuild or in total disarray. Plus, read the Tenable Ten (Teams 11-20)—10 teams with reasonable chances to make the postseason; and the Exemplary X—your 10 real contenders for Super Bowl XLII.

32.  Atlanta Falcons 

Key Additions: Joe Horn, Joey Harrington

Key Losses: Michael Vick, Matt Schaub, Patrick Kerney

Why they’re underrated:  Well, with Michael Vick out and Warrick Dunn banged up, Jerious Norwood should get a lot of touches. Which is good for Atlanta, because the kid showed some flashes of greatness last year. Alge Crumpler is a tier one tight end, no matter who is throwing to him.   

Why they’re overrated: What a year to trade Matt Schaub. Can an NFL team get relegated? The offense was Vick…now it is nothing. Joey Harrington cannot lead this team anywhere. On defense, losing Patrick Kerney is a killer. DeAngelo Hall and Keith Brooking are going to have to cover the entire field if they hope to keep the Falcons in games.

31.  Cleveland Browns 

Key Additions: Eric Steinbach, Robaire Smith, Joe Thomas, Brady Quinn, Jamal Lewis

Key Losses:  Dennis Northcutt

Why they’re underrated: As far as drafts go, Cleveland fans are ecstatic with 2007. Landing a franchise left tackle and franchise quarterback is a dream come true. Reports out of camp say Jamal Lewis looks possessed—and with a line that features a healthy LeCharles Bentley, Eric Steinbach and Joe Thomas—Lewis is set up for a great year (though the loss of Ryan Tucker for four games won’t help). Braylon Edwards, Joe Jurevicious and Kellen Winslow should give Brady Quinn plenty of downfield opportunities.  

Why they’re overrated: The franchise quarterback still isn’t in camp. And young bucks like Edwards and Winslow always seem to say the wrong thing at the wrong time. If Quinn struggles—and every first-year quarterback struggles—it’s doubtful Cleveland’s brash receivers will keep their complaints in-house. And then there is the nightmare scenario for Browns fans: What if the other 21 teams that passed on Quinn were right? What if he isn’t good enough?

30.  Minnesota Vikings 

Key Additions: Adrian Peterson, Mike Doss, Bobby Wade

Key Losses: Fred Smoot, Jermaine Wiggins, Mike Rosenthal, Napoleon Harris, Jason Whittle, Mike Tomlin

Why they’re underrated:  If Adrian Peterson’s shoulder is OK, the Vikings got a steal at No. 7 in April’s draft. And Brad Childress is building his team the right way—through his line. Steve Hutchinson and Bryant McKinnie should open up some holes for him on the left side. Plus, this is an underrated defensive unit (8^th in the NFL). 

Why they’re overrated: Tavaris Jackson.

29.  Houston Texans 

Key Additions: Matt Schaub, Ahman Green, Jordan Black, Andre Davis

Key Losses: David Carr, Domanick Williams (Davis), Eric Moulds, Robaire Smith

Why they’re underrated: Scouts have been claiming for years that Matt Schaub is a quality NFL QB, if he could just get out of the shadow of Michael Vick. While the whole league might be in the shadow of Vick these days, Schaub will finally get his chance to be the man in Houston. First-round pick Amobi Okoye is as ready to make as big an impact as any rookie defender drafted, perhaps taking some pressure and attention off last year’s No. 1 pick Mario Williams. 

Why they’re overrated:  For all the hoopla, Schaub has started just two NFL games. But it won’t matter how good Schaub is if the Texans can’t figure out how to improve the offensive line. Ahman Green is an odd signing. He has had injury problems in each of the last two years and seems to be well past his prime. Defensively, Houston is relying on a bunch of young players it hopes can get up to speed quickly. Mario Williams needs to dominate this fall. If he doesn’t, this Texans regime may be at an end.

28.  Oakland Raiders 

Key Additions: JaMarcus Russell, Daunte Culpepper, Donovan Darius, Cooper Carlisle, Dominic Rhodes

Key Losses: Langston Walker

Why they’re underrated: Don’t sleep on the Raiders’ defense. Without any help from its offense, Rob Ryan’s unit was third in the NFL in total D. And they are adding Donovan Darius to the secondary. This defense will keep Oakland in a lot of games. 

Why they’re overrated: Unfortunately, you have to play offense, too. Russell is still holding out…and obviously that’s not good for offensive continuity. Daunte Culpepper hasn’t proven he’s a better quarterback than Andrew Walter and Josh McKown yet—no matter how you look at that, it’s not good. Plus, the Raiders have about 40 wide receivers in camp, all of which have been huge disappointments. Lane Kiffin will try to “change the culture” but it’s going to take more than one year to turn around a team with a .234 win percentage over the past four years.

27.  Washington Redskins 

Key Additions: Fred Smoot, David Macklin, LaRon Landry, London Fletcher-Baker

Key Losses: Mike Rumph, T.J. Duckett, Derrick Dockery

Why they’re underrated: The ‘Skins brought in an entirely new secondary (save Sean Taylor). Fred Smoot, David Macklin and Jerametrius Butler all have proven talent. Add them to Taylor, first-round pick LaRon Landry and London Fletcher-Baker, and you have a very talented group of defenders. On offense, Jason Campbell takes over and gets to throw to dangerous weapons like Santana Moss and Chris Cooley. If Clinton Portis can stay healthy, he has the ability to dominate football games. 

Why they’re overrated:  Every year Washington seems to retool with big names and every year the ‘Skins are under .500 (just one winning season since 1999). It’s as if they have some sort of meddlesome owner who handles his team as if he were in a fantasy football league. Washingtonians are high on Campbell, but no one else is. Both lines are suspect and it is never a good sign when your free-agent linebacker hyphenates his last name.  

26.  Miami Dolphins 

Key Additions: Joey Porter, Trent Green

Key Losses: Randy McMichael, Wes Welker, Damion McIntosh

Why they’re underrated: The defense is still solid, anchored by talented vets like Jason Taylor, Zach Thomas and Keith Traylor. And the addition of Joey Porter should only serve to improve the Fins on that side of the ball. Trent Green has to be better than Cleo Lemon…doesn’t he? 

Why they’re overrated: Nick Saban didn’t leave Miami because he preferred the nightlife in Alabama, and he didn’t leave because his wife made him. He left because he was no good at building an NFL franchise. Cam Cameron has taken over and already tried to begin rehabbing the squad. But the fragile Trent Green is a terrible fit behind a suspect offensive line that may not return one starter from ‘06. And whispers out of Miami are beginning to question star receiver Chris Chambers’ work ethic. Safe to say Miami will not be breaking its franchise-record five-year playoff drought this season.  

25.  Detroit Lions

Key Additions: Calvin Johnson, Tatum Bell, Travis Fisher, Jim Colletto, George Foster

Key Losses: Dre’ Bly, Marcus Pollard, Terrence Holt, Mike Williams 

Why they’re underrated: Because Jon Kitna guaranteed they are. And when Jon Kitna talks, people listen. Plus, Roy Williams, Calvin Johnson, Mike Furrey, Tatum Bell and Kevin Jones (if healthy) should make any QB look good…even Kitna…right? 

Why they’re overrated: The Lions won’t do a thing if their offensive line doesn’t improve. They picked up Edwin Mulitalo and George Foster, but neither is too scary to opposing ends. Plus, I can’t seem to locate any team in NFL history that has won 10 games with the 28^th-ranked defense. Losing Dre’ Bly won’t improve the unit, nor will Shaun Rogers coming into camp overweight and injured (knee).

24.  Green Bay Packers 

Key Additions: Frank Walker, Brandon Jackson, Justin Harrell

Key Losses: Ahman Green, William Henderson, David Martin

Why they’re underrated: The Pack ended the season on a four-game win streak and believe it or not, finished with an 8-8 record. Greg Jennings looks like a star in the making, and young Brandon Jackson has a chance to be very good. Charles Woodson, Aaron Kampman and A.J. Hawk anchor a suspect, but improving defense. 

Why they’re overrated: Brett Favre is 93 years old (he doesn’t look a day over 91!) and may retire by mid-October. Green Bay has too many young players in important positions to make any real noise.

 
23.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Key Additions: Jeff Garcia, Cato June, Luke Petitgout, Sammy Davis, Jerramy Stevens

Key Losses: Simeon Rice, Dave Moore 

Why they’re underrated: Jeff Garcia doesn’t have the down-the-field arm capable of releasing Joey Galloway and Michael Clayton deep, but the guy knows how to win. His run with the Eagles last year proved that. If the passing game can get on track, that should open up some holes for Cadillac Williams and the running game.

Why they’re overrated:  It’s not clear Jon Gruden is happy with Garcia or any of his quarterback options. He clearly was wooing Jake Plummer and was rumored to have seriously contemplated inking Daunte Culpepper. How much can Luke Petitgout really protect your quarterback when the Giants opted to move a guard over to tackle rather than bring him back? Plus, I don’t care if his shoulder needs to be amputated, the Bucs will miss Simeon Rice.

Key Additions: Derrick Dockery, Marshawn Lynch, Jason Whittle

Key Losses:  Willis McGahee, Nate Clements, Takeo Spikes, Mike Gandy, London Fletcher-Baker

Why they’re underrated: J.P. Losman is clearly improving. His completion percentage went up 12.5 percent from ‘05 to ‘06 and his touchdown to interception ratio also greatly improved—8 TDs, 9 INTs in ’05 compared to 19 TDs, 14 INTs in ‘06. Lee Evans is turning into a premier NFL receiver, and the additions of Derrick Dockery, Langston Walker and Jason Whittle on the offensive line should ensure that Marshawn Lynch will have plenty of holes to run through. 

Why they’re overrated: No matter how much of a distraction Willis McGahee was, he was productive. Can a rookie fill those shoes? The defensive back seven is a major weakness. The anchor known as Nate Clements is gone, and a youth movement has taken over in Buffalo. Will one of the youngest secondaries in the NFL be able to avoid enough mistakes to keep this team in games?

21.  New York Giants 

Key Additions: Reuben Droughns, Kawika Mitchell, Steve Smith

Key Losses: Tiki Barber, Luke Petitgout, LaVar Arrington, Carlos Emmons, Michael Strahan?  

Why they’re underrated: Brandon Jacobs has the ability to run over, around and through people. His numbers should improve now that he is sharing the load with Reuben Droughns (and not Tiki Barber). Adding Steve Smith to Plaxico Burress, Sinorice Rice and Jeremy Shockey gives the G-Men a threat at every skill position. 

Why they’re overrated:  It’s time for Eli Manning to start playing like the savior every New York fan wants him to be. At this point, the inconsistency is unacceptable. Will Michael Strahan’s “retirement” negatively impact the team? Can Mathias Kiwanuka play linebacker? Adding these question marks to a team full of them does not bode well for the ‘07 Giants.  

Come back for the Tenable Ten—Teams 11-20 on 8/7/06

And the Exemplary X—Teams 1-10 on 8/8/06