It’s hard for any NFL fan to make it through the offseason. There’s just not a lot going on until the draft. The NFL Combine starts today, but there won’t be much to talk about till later in the week.

In today’s post we’ll take a look back at ESPN’s Power Rankings prior to week 1 of the 2008 NFL Season.

RK TEAM
1 Patriots
2 Chargers
3 Cowboys
4 Colts
5 Jaguars
6 Steelers
7 Saints
8 Giants
9 Seahawks
10 Packers
11 Vikings
12 Eagles
13 Browns
14 Titans
15 Buccaneers
16 Jets
17 Panthers
18 Bills
19 Redskins
20 Texans
21 Cardinals
22 Broncos
23 Bengals
24 Ravens
25 Bears
26 Lions
27 Raiders
28 Rams
29 49ers
30 Dolphins
31 Chiefs
32 Falcons

Isn’t it amazing the parity we see in the NFL? Some teams just lack chemistry, while others lose a star player and their season is done. No matter what, every year we see teams from the top of the list fall, and teams from the bottom of the list rise.

Prior to week 1 of the 2008 NFL Season, we had teams like the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens in the bottom 10 of the league. And we saw the Jaguars, Seahawks and Chargers in the top 10. So much can happen in a season (and in an offseason). With the right free-agent moves and draft picks, a team can skyrocket up the power polls.

Early 2009 power polls will have teams like the Steelers, Panthers, Cardinals, Titans and Giants at the top… but parity in the NFL will prevail and odds are some of these teams will fall.

What 2008 playoff team is your early prediction for a disappointing 2009 season?