NEW YORK (AP) – Ballot and comments from AP Pro 32 panel voter Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune:
DAN POMPEI (Chicago Tribune)
1. Green Bay – Packers were best team in NFL every week last year except two. They will be best team every week often this year.
2. New York Giants – It will be difficult for them to maintain hot streak they were on in postseason, but you have to give defending champions their due.
3. New England – Patriots probably were one play away from being Super Bowl champions.
4. Baltimore – If they can overcome loss of Terrell Suggs, Ravens will be right there.
5. San Francisco – If Alex Smith can play like he did a year ago, 49ers will be among best in NFL.
6. Pittsburgh – Steelers have new offense, but they still know how to play defense with best of them.
7. New Orleans – Despite all the turmoil, this team won 13 games year ago and still has one of NFL’s elite QBs in Drew Brees. Saints will miss Sean Payton, however.
8. Houston – Texans have all signs of team that is ready to bust out. All they need is good health and little luck.
9. Chicago -Bears won only eight games in 2011, but are much better team heading into this season than at end of last year.
10. Detroit – This is one of most talented teams in the NFL, and if Lions can play well together they can dominate.
11. Atlanta – Could be year Matt Ryan takes his game, and his team, to another level.
12. Denver – If Peyton Manning is Peyton Manning of old, Broncos will be formidable opponent for anyone.
13. Cincinnati – Bengals play in tough division, but they can hang in there if Andy Dalton doesn’t slump as sophomore.
14. Philadelphia – Eagles were one of biggest disappointments of 2011, which could mean they are primed to be one of biggest surprises of 2012.
15. Kansas City – Chiefs were wrecked by injuries in 2011 and should have strong bounce-back year.
16. San Diego – You can’t count out team that has Philip Rivers at QB. It would be shocking if Chargers were not in hunt.
17. Oakland – It will be interesting to see what Carson Palmer can do over whole season in Oakland.
18. Tennessee – Potential transition from Matt Hasselbeck to Jake Locker could define this team’s season.
19. Dallas – Cowboys were pretty good team for most of last season, but did not play well late.
20. Carolina – If Cam Newton takes another step, and if defense makes strides, Panthers will be far from an easy out.
21. Tampa Bay – Another potential bounce-back team. Bucs were much better than they played year ago, and added more talent than any other team in offseason.
22. New York Jets – Only thing we know for certain about Jets is they will be highly entertaining.
23. Seattle – This team will go as far as Matt Flynn can take it. Or Tarvaris Jackson. Or Russell Wilson.
24. Arizona – Kevin Kolb is key man for Cardinals. If QB comes through, they are playoff contender.
25. Buffalo – Mario Williams can make a lot of players around him more effective, and he will need to in Buffalo.
26. Washington – Redskins will need Robert Griffin III to play well, and play well quickly.
27. Minnesota – Vikings need Christian Ponder to come into his own, and Adrian Peterson to heal quickly.
28. St. Louis – If any coach can make a team competitive quickly, it’s Jeff Fisher.
29. Jacksonville – Mike Mularkey has some work to do in first year on job.
30. Cleveland – Looks like this team will be counting heavily on rookie QB Brandon Weeden.
31. Indianapolis – Colts are in rebuilding mode, but have some interesting pieces in place.
32. Miami – May take some time for new coach Joe Philbin to get this ship turned around.
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