Just like they were at the end of the 2015 regular season and just like they were through most of the offseason, the Washington Redskins are checking in at the top of the NFC East in NFL.com's Elliot Harrison's power rankings.
Released on Tuesday, the Redskins are No. 12 overall in the latest power rankings edition with the Giants (No. 16), Cowboys (No. 18) and the Eagles (No. 26) all trailing. The Redskins are also the only team in the division to take a step up from their last ranking, as the Giants and Eagles dropped one spot while the Cowboys dropped two spots.
"If Ryan Kerrigan and Preston Smith go off, this Redskins team could be damn good," Harrison begins. "(Washington fans on Twitter grew tired of the Negative Nancy-ism regarding the running game. I've changed.) Junior Galette's injury certainly doesn't help matters; however, Smith's stout rookie campaign flew under the radar with most football writers. Apropos of nothing: Every time I see Redskins HOF linebacker Chris Hanburger in Canton, he's sporting topsiders. (Are they even called that anymore?)"
While Washington still has to get through the preseason schedule, their Week 1 opponent – the Pittsburgh Steelers – will likely serve as a tough first test.
They check in at No. 7 on Harrison's power rankings (after being as high as No. 3).
