Was Super Bowl LII the greatest of 'em all?
Hold on a second, partner. We'll get there.
It's time to look at how the teams stack up at the end of the 2017 season -- combined with an early outlook for 2018. How do coaching changes, impending free agents and available cap funds affect each organization? See below. Your hack writer did his best to juxtapose each factor without ignoring what we absorbed from the campaign that just saw its final act -- and what a final act it was!
All of us took in an absolutely thrilling Super Bowl. It's fair to say Eagles-Patriots belongs among the pantheon of the most memorable Super Sundays in NFL history.
Nice to see Peter checking in from the UK. You can't blame Steve for feeling the way he does. (Check his locale.) But while we're at it, here are my top five Super Bowls, based on the quality of the game and its legacy:
5) Super Bowl XXV: New York Giants 20, Buffalo Bills 19. Great defensive battle, with the underdog Giants and a backup QB (sound familiar?) taking down the high-powered Bills. Wide right.
4) Super Bowl XLIX: New England Patriots 28, Seattle Seahawks 24. No matter the latest news, Malcolm Butler made the play of the millennium in an outstanding matchup and game.
3) Super Bowl LII: Philadelphia Eagles 41, New England Patriots 33. Instant classic.
2) Super Bowl XLII: New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14. The top front four in football bested a team considered unbeatable. And Tyree.
1) Super Bowl XIII: Pittsburgh Steelers 35, Dallas Cowboys 31. High-scoring affair for the era, with over 20 Hall of Famers on the field and on the sidelines. It decided the team of the decade.
I've changed my mind on the No. 5 Super Bowl many times. Ditto the rankings you see below. So many layers and so much subtext to all 32 teams as we head into an intriguing offseason. Also interesting? Your thoughts. Send along: @HarrisonNFL is the place.
Let the dissension commence!
PROGRAMMING NOTE: For more in-depth analysis on the updated league pecking order, tune in to NFL Network on Tuesday night at 6 p.m. ET for a special edition of the "NFL Power Rankings" show.
*I'm talking about the old red helmets with a black falcon emblazoned on the side. Bring 'em back, please.
Sadly, we can't write about this franchise without acknowledging the sudden loss of Edwin Jackson. What a tragedy for his family. Just a terrible news item to see on the most celebrated day in football.
*Follow Elliot Harrison on Twitter @HarrisonNFL. *