Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL power rankings: Post-preseason 32-team breakdown before Week 1

By Peter Panacy

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - AUGUST 24: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts watches from the sidelines during the fourth quarter of the preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - AUGUST 24: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts watches from the sidelines during the fourth quarter of the preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – AUGUST 29: Josh Rosen #3 of the Miami Dolphins and Ryan Fitzpatrick #14 of the Miami Dolphins looks on during a NFL preseason game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on August 29, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – AUGUST 29: Josh Rosen #3 of the Miami Dolphins and Ryan Fitzpatrick #14 of the Miami Dolphins looks on during a NFL preseason game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on August 29, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

. Previous: 32nd. Miami Dolphins. 32. team. 59.

Maybe the Dolphins will be somewhat interesting to watch this season. But their schedule is brutal, and newly minted head coach Brian Flores is going to have his hands full with a team hitting the mere opening phases of a total rebuild, which just included offloading offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil and wide receiver Kenny Stills

The biggest story of the offseason, of course, was trading for former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen, who now has the challenge of trying to develop under the second different offensive coordinator in as many years. Rarely is that good for a young signal-caller.

But Rosen appears to be challenging the probable starter, Ryan Fitzpatrick, for No. 1 duties this season. Rosen’s Week 3 preseason efforts were good enough, while Fitzpatrick struggled.

Ideally, this is the best-case scenario for Miami, which needs to see if Rosen can be the long-term answer under center, even if Fitzpatrick winds up starting the regular season.

If not, the Dolphins will be back at the drawing board, considering Fitzpatrick is nothing more than a placeholder at this stage of his aging career.