NFL power rankings

NFL training camp starts next week, and The East Carolinian has these teams having the best chance to win the Super Bowl in 2007:

1) New England Patriots- Already a perennial contender to go to the Super Bowl each year, the Patriots actually made a splash this off-season by adding some big names to their roster. Adalius Thomas, who recorded 11 sacks with the Baltimore Ravens last year, comes to the Patriots as a free agent and will fit in with an already stacked defensive front seven. His versatility in pass rushing and coverage will blend well with Bill Belichick's defensive schemes. Randy Moss, the other big name to land in New England, should look more like the receiver he was in Minnesota with Tom Brady throwing him the ball this year.

2) San Diego Chargers- New head coach Norv Turner has inherited the most talented team in the league. The Chargers went 14-2 last season, and Turner will have some nice toys to play with on both sides of the ball. LaDainian Tomlinson at halfback and Antonio Gates at tight end are the best players in the league at their respective positions, and QB Phillip Rivers should have an even better year in 2007 in Turner's offensive system. The Chargers finished in the top-10 in total defense in 2006, and boast the NFL's most intense pass rusher, Shawn Merriman. Merriman led the league in sacks last season despite missing four games for a banned-substance suspension.

3) Indianapolis Colts- Some might expect the defending champion Colts to be ranked No. 1 in the preseason, but due to the big offseason moves by the rival Patriots, the overflow of talent in San Diego and the loss of some key starters from their already flimsy defense, they come in at No. 3. All-Pro quarterback Peyton Manning will again be teamed up with the league's best receiver tandem of Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, who combined for 2,676 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2006. The Colts also recently re-signed Dwight Freeney, who will keep the pressure on opposing team's quarterbacks in 2007.

4) Baltimore Ravens- Led by the leagues top ranked and most feared defense in 2006, the Ravens finished 2006 with an impressive 13-3 record. The defense is led by future hall of fame linebacker Ray Lewis, who keeps his teammates playing with passion every time they take the field Pro Bowler's Ed Reed and Chris McAllister anchor the secondary that is known for picking off passes and finishing the play in the end zone. Steve McNair's arrival in 2006 gave Baltimore the confidence it needed to play well on both offense and defense. The Ravens also added running back Willis McGhee this offseason, to make up for the departure of Jamal Lewis.

5) Chicago Bears- The NFC's best team has a very strong defense, but has an offense surrounded by question marks. If QB Rex Grossman can find some consistency in his play this season then expect the Bears to dominate the NFC again in 2007. Grossman will have more targets to throw to in '07 in the Bears' first round draft selection Greg Olson and dynamic return specialist Devin Hester, both from the University of Miami. Olsen is a big, pass-catching tight end who can be a young quarterback's best friend, and Hester has been moved to offense after a spectacular rookie season.

6) Philadelphia Eagles- Donavan McNabb's health will play a huge role in how well this team performs in 2007. Last year, with McNabb injured and Jeff Garcia at the helm, the Eagles won the NFC East title and made it to the second round of the playoffs. This led many fanatical Philadelphia fans to call for McNabb's outs as starting QB. The fact is McNabb, before his injury, was playing as well as he ever had, putting together an MVP-like season. The Eagles let Garcia leave to explore free agency, but kept pressure on McNabb by drafting Houston quarterback Kevin Kolb with their first pick in the '07 draft. The Eagles defense is a well-rounded unit that is known for its attacking style, blitzing from different angles to keep opposing offenses off balance.

7) New Orleans Saints- Drew Brees' helped turn around the Saints organization in 2006. A perfect fit for coach Sean Peyton's schemes, Brees threw 26 touchdowns and quarterbacked the top offense in the NFL last year. Joe Horn, Marques Colston, Devery Henderson and ECU alum Terrance Copper performed well for Brees at receiver.

The exciting Reggie Bush also flourished as a receiver out of the backfield, posting an NFL record 88 receptions for 742 yards. The Saints aren't going to sneak up on anybody this year, so we'll have to see how everyone's favorite underdogs are going to handle playing with a target on their back in '07.

8) Dallas Cowboys- QB Tony Romo started out great after taking over for the struggling Drew Bledsoe in week seven last season, but struggled near the end of the season.

This season will be Romo's first as the unquestioned starter and he will be looking to his duo of receivers in the flamboyant Terrell Owens and the always-reliable Terry Glenn. Dallas has a new head coach in Wade Phillips, who was the defensive coordinator for the Chargers last season. Phillips brings a defensive scheme that will fit the Cowboys 3-4 defense, which he ran to perfection in San Diego. Watch for DeMarcus Ware, the Cowboy's outside linebacker, to be used much in the way that Shawn Merriman was in San Diego.

9) Carolina Panthers- The Good News: The Panthers basically have the same roster that many analysts picked to win the Super Bowl in 2006. The Bad News: The Panthers basically have the same roster that many analysts pick to win the Super Bowl in 2006, but finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs. Injuries and the constant shuffling of players on the offensive line cost Carolina in 2006. All-Pro wide receiver Steve Smith missed the first three games of the season with a hamstring injury, and starting QB Jake Delhomme missed three key games toward the end of the season, and the offense lacked consistency during those periods as a result. Carolina's defensive unit finished seventh in the league in total defense in 2006, and should improve this year with the return of Dan Morgan and Mike Rucker. The Panthers also released veteran wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson after drafting the talented Dwayne Jarrett out of USC, but the lack of a proven threat on the other side spells trouble for the Carolina offense, and will mean more double and triple teams for Smith.