Another week of preseason action has been completed, and the regular season inches closer by the second. Predictions for the upcoming season will soon hit a fever pitch, with the predictors citing events occurring in exhibition games as supporting evidence to their theories. This common mistake will not occur here.

As explained last week, the preseason is often misleading and does not fairly represent the participating teams. Although the preseason can give a glimpse into the future, it also can be an illusion that deceives its viewers. Last season, both the Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears finished the exhibition season 3-1, while the Indianapolis Colts and New York Giants went 1-3. The Falcons and Bears combined for an 11-21 record during the regular season, while the Colts and Giants combined for a 23-9 record, with the Giants emerging as Super Bowl champions.

Similar to last week, the overall rankings will remain unchanged. However, we will look at some of the possible early-warning signs that some teams are showing and also some of the positive signs from other teams.

Concerns about:

St. Louis Rams - The Rams led off this section last week and have earned their spot again this week after another dismal offensive performance. The Rams actually won the Week 2 game by a score of 7-6 against the San Diego Chargers, but not due to any help from their starting offense. The starting offense also struggled last week against the Tennessee Titans, but only appeared in limited action; however, against the Chargers, the starters played the entire first half and still couldn’t muster a touchdown. Starting quarterback Marc Bulger will take a lot of heat for his performance (he completed 7 of 14 passes for 56 yards and two interceptions), but when criticizing Bulger one needs to also point a finger at his offensive line. There was consistent pressure on the quarterback and star left tackle Orlando Pace, in particular, struggled. If the line cannot improve its play, and if Pace can’t shake off the rust associated with missing much of last season, the Rams will be in for a tough year.

Cincinnati Bengals - Starting quarterback Carson Palmer struggled in the Bengals’ Week 2 preseason game against the Detroit Lions, but he didn’t get much help from his supporting cast. Wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh sat out the game, and Chad Johnson injured his shoulder on the team’s first drive as he was out-wrestled for a pass by cornerback Brian Kelly. Palmer had to resort to many short passes to move the ball, but he was unable to lead the Bengals to any points in four drives and only managed to complete 6 of his 14 passes, including an interception. The moral of the story: the Bengals need a healthy Houshmandzadeh and Johnson to have success in the upcoming season.

Keep an eye on:

Chicago Bears - They looked more like the Bears of 2006 than of 2007 in their Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, although that isn’t necessarily a good thing. One of the outstanding memories from 2006 when recalling the Bears is how ineffective the offense was at time, and how their defense and special teams kept them in games. That scenario manifested itself for the Bears against the Seahawks. The offense struggled. They threw two interceptions, couldn’t run the ball, and scored only one offensive touchdown–but still put up 26 points, thanks to a safety off of a blocked punt, an interception returned for a touchdown, and 75-yard punt return for a touchdown. The third quarter provided a perfect example of what the Bears’ defense/special teams can do, as Chicago outscored the Seattle 14-0 despite being outgained 112 yards to 1. If the defense and special teams play like that in the regular season, newly named starting quarterback Kyle Orton will only have to manage the game and not win it–much like 2006. It’s worth watching to see if the defense and special teams can keep it up.

Tennessee Titans - Over two preseason games, the Titans have both impressed and disappointed on offense. The running game has looked great. The offensive line has opened holes, and both LenDale White and Chris Johnson have taken advantage. Last week against the Oakland Raiders, the two combined for 85 yards on 16 carries. Unfortunately for the Titans, they have been unable to establish a respectable passing attack to complement their potentially dominant running game. Quarterback Vince Young struggled to move the ball though the air once again, completing only 4 of 13 passes for 37 yards.

Surprises:

San Francisco 49ers - The 49ers themselves haven’t been much of a surprise, but their struggles to identify a starting quarterback have been. J.T. O’Sulivan, the unexpected favorite to start, has been anything but impressive. Fortunately for O’Sullivan, neither of his competitors, Alex Smith and Shaun Hill, has done anything to distinguish himself. Whoever emerges as the starting signal caller may enjoy the emergence of rookie wideout Josh Morgan, the sixth-round selection from this year’s draft who continues to turn heads. Morgan followed up a solid Week 1 performance with 5 catches for 114 yards and a touchdown. He currently hasn’t been awarded a starting job, but he is making a strong case for himself.

New York Jets - The expectations for Brett Favre couldn’t have been high heading into his first preseason game with his new team, considering he had barely spent a week with the team, hadn’t been in training camp during the offseason, and was in the process of learning an entirely new playbook; however, Favre’s performance, at least in my eyes, was surprising. He didn’t play much but was very effective. He completed 5 of 6 passes for 48 yards and a touchdown. It's only one game and very limited action, but it’s definitely a good sign. Favre’s rapport with his teammates will only improve with time, as will his grasp of the playbook.

Rankings (unchanged from last week):

1. New England Patriots – No one remembers this team as a record-breaking 18-1 powerhouse, but as Super Bowl upset victims. The secondary took a hit with the loss of Asante Samuel, but the front seven gained the services of rookie Jerod Mayo. A Super Bowl hangover is possible, but the league’s most consistent team starts off the season with the benefit of the doubt. 
2. Dallas Cowboys – A very impressive offseason catapults America’s team to the top of the NFC rankings.  As long as Jessica Simpson stays away, they’ll be fine.
3. San Diego Chargers – Boasting one of the league’s most talented rosters, the Chargers will look to challenge the Patriots and Colts as the class of the AFC–and may come out on top.  Even while ravaged with injuries, they came within 10 points of a Super Bowl berth last year.
4. New York Giants – The reigning Super Bowl champs will have a hard time defending their title in 2008.  Last season’s improbable run will be difficult to duplicate, especially without the help of Michael Strahan and Jeremy Shockey. Winning their division will be a tough task in itself, never mind the Super Bowl. 
5. Indianapolis Colts – One of the league’s most consistent teams figures to contend once again in 2008.  However, with so many injury concerns surrounding them, the season does have the potential for disaster.  The Colts seem to be ready to hit opening week in stride, but a significant setback to Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison or Dwight Freeney could be damaging.
6. Jacksonville Jaguars – The Jags seem to close the gap a little more with the Colts every year. Could this be the season that they finally catch them? 
7. Green Bay Packers – On paper, this is one of the league’s best teams.  However, dealing with one of the biggest offseason distractions in recent memory could have some side effects. Also, how much do you trust Aaron Rodgers?
8. Seattle Seahawks – One of the league’s most underrated teams, the Seahawks remain one of the NFC’s most complete. They have no glaring holes and will look to re-establish one of the league’s best ground games. The addition of offensive line coach Mike Solari, who guided the Chiefs’ offensive line to greatness for 11 seasons, will help.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers – Ben Roethlisberger got his wish for a big, tall receiver granted when the Steelers selected Limas Sweed in the second round.  Also, the addition of Rashard Mendenhall will add to the league’s No. 3 ranked rushing attack from a year ago.  However, the loss of Alan Faneca and a difficult schedule will be difficult obstacles to overcome
10. Minnesota Vikings – The Vikings own a dominant offensive and defensive line. They were last season’s top rushing offense and rushing defense.  However, they ranked in the bottom five in both pass offense and defense.
    
11. Tennessee Titans – The Titans are a solid defensive team that needs help on offense. Vince Young will have the help of new offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger, who played a large role in Steve McNair’s development. He will also have the help of newly drafted running back Chris Johnson, who the team plans to use in mold of Brain Westbrook.
12. Cleveland Browns – Last season’s out-of-nowhere team will not have the element of surprise on their side in 2008. Can Derek Anderson prove he is not a one-year wonder? Can the team overcome one of the league’s toughest schedules? We’ll have to wait and see.
13. Washington Redskins – New head coach Jim Zorn seems to have a firm grasp on the team and will attempt to help Jason Campbell develop into a solid quarterback. The additions on offense will help. Also, an already good defense got better when the team traded for Jason Taylor.
14. New Orleans Saints – The Saints entered 2007 with high expectations, but a four-game losing streak to start the season was too much to overcome.  The expectations are much more tempered in 2008, and this talented group should come closer to achieving its potential.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – The Bucs haven’t strung two winning seasons together since 2002, and with an aging offense, that trend could continue. 
16. Buffalo Bills – The Bills showed flashes of potential when they won 7 of 10 games over Weeks 4-14.  Unfortunately for the Bills, they lost every other game.
17. Philadelphia Eagles – A healthy Brain Westbrook and Donovan McNabb in 2008 could equal a potent offense. The defense had a solid year in 2007 and addressed their biggest problem–an inability to generate turnovers–with the signing of Asante Samuel.
    
18. Arizona Cardinals – The offense will be able to move the ball through the air, the defense proved it can stop the run and should improve against the pass with the addition of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. If the Cards get the ball moving on the ground, this team could be dangerous.
19. Carolina Panthers – Jake Delhomme’s durability remains a concern, as does the suspension of Steve Smith. However, with the improvements to the running game, if Delhomme stays healthy and Smith has no more off-the-field issues with teammates, this offense could take off. 
20. Houston Texans – Mario Williams will be a force in his third year and should help the Texans’ defense improve dramatically. If only the Texans could run the football, I’d be tempted to say "Reggie who?"
21. Detroit Lions – The Lions haven’t been the center of attention this offseason, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. They’ve improved their offensive line and are committed to running the football and throwing more balls to Calvin Johnson. If the revamped defense can show improvement, the Lions, believe it or not, could be a competitive football team. 
22. Chicago Bears – The Bears went to the Super Bowl in 2006. Since then, they’ve lost their No. 1 and No. 2 running backs and receivers. They have no solid option at quarterback and their one bright spot, in terms of potential offensive points, is Devin Hester, a return specialist.  If the defense can’t return to 2006 form, 2008 may be a long year for the Bears. 
23. New York Jets – B-R-E-T! BRET!  BRET! BERT! (I know ‘Brett’ has two Ts, but I still had to do it). The Jets hope their revamped offensive line can keep the aging legend upright. 
24. Denver Broncos – The Broncos couldn’t stop the run last year and did little to change that for the up-coming season. Their star-studded secondary will remain solid but the Broncos didn’t select a front-seven player until the draft’s 148^th pick. Surely the confidence in Boss Bailey and Dewayne Robertson isn’t that high in the Rockies, is it?
25. Kansas City Chiefs – The defense should be able to stop the run with the addition of Glenn Dorsey, and their pass defense is already solid. If Larry Johnson can stay healthy and Dwayne Bowe takes a step forward, this often-overlooked team can surprise in 2008. 
26. Cincinnati Bengals – A very distracting offseason won’t be a push in the right direction. However, with the release of Chris Henry and the Chad Johnson saga complete, this team can finally focus on football. The passing game is a lock, but can the running game and defense carry their weight?
27. St. Louis Rams – Marc Bulger and Orlando Pace need to stay healthy.  Tory Holt needs to delay the evadable decline that comes with age. Chris Long needs to defy the odds and produce from the defensive end position as a rookie. Steven Jackson needs to get to camp. Did I forget anything?
28. Baltimore Ravens – Joe Flacco may be the answer at quarterback but doesn’t figure to get the job done this year. This team has potential, but needs to avoid the decimating injuries it had last season. 
29. San Francisco 49ers – The addition of Mike Martz should make things interesting; however, it is never a good sign when a former No. 1 overall draft pick will be competing with a former NFL Europe player for the starting quarterback job.
30. Oakland Raiders – The Raiders appear to be headed in the right direction, but surely have some growing pains ahead of them. JaMarcus Russell will finally get his chance to start, but if Javon Walker can’t shake the injury bug, who is Russell going to throw to?
31. Atlanta Falcons – When a team’s best-case scenario is a rookie quarterback, a young running back who’s never carried the ball more than 80 times in a season, and a group of unaccomplished, young wideouts, the future may be promising, but present will most likely be frustrating.
32. Miami Dolphins - Last year’s worst team has made some strides in the right direction; however, they still have many holes to fill.