NFL Power Rankings - Week 1: Eagles hurting, loaded Rams ascending
The NFL Power Rankings are selected by a panel of theScore's football editors, including Mike Alessandrini, Jack Browne, Michael McClymont, and Arun Srinivasan.
1. Los Angeles Rams| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
Preseason Rank: 3rd
Aaron Donald is once again a happy man. With the league's top defensive player back in the fold, the Rams' defense is locked and loaded, ready to wreak havoc on opposing offensive lines. - Alessandrini
2. Minnesota Vikings| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
Preseason Rank: 2nd
Minnesota has all the pieces needed for a run at the Lombardi. With the 49ers and Packers to start the season, the Vikings get the chance to prove their title credentials from the get-go. - Browne
3. Philadelphia Eagles| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
Preseason Rank: 1st
Nick Foles will start during the season opener and will be counted upon to be in Super Bowl MVP form against a motivated Falcons team. The defending champions' nearly unmatched depth will be put to the test immediately. - Srinivasan
4. New England Patriots| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 |
Preseason Rank: 4th
In a battle between the NFL's present (Tom Brady) and future (Deshaun Watson), the Patriots' defense will be forced to make adjustments against a high-flying aerial show. This might be the game of the week. - Srinivasan
5. Atlanta Falcons| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 |
Preseason Rank: 6th
The Falcons own one of the NFL's most complete rosters and they won't be seeing the Eagles' best when they meet on opening night with Carson Wentz and Alshon Jeffery sidelined. - McClymont
6. New Orleans Saints| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 4 | 8 | 5 |
Preseason Rank: 5th
Uncharacteristically, the Saints will enter the season with a questionable receiving corps. Thankfully, the rest of the roster is as strong as it's been in years. - McClymont
7. Pittsburgh Steelers| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 7 | 6 | 7 |
Preseason Rank: 7th
The Steelers' offense could be the league's best. Their defense, on the other hand, still needs to prove it can survive without Ryan Shazier. Pittsburgh's Super Bowl chances depend on it. - Browne
8. Jacksonville Jaguars| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 |
Preseason Rank: 8th
An already shallow offensive unit lost its top receiving threat in Marqise Lee for the season. Last year's second-ranked defense might have to be No. 1 in 2018 for this team to succeed. - McClymont
9. Green Bay Packers| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 9 | 11 | 12 |
Preseason Rank: 10th
Aaron Rodgers got paid. Now it's time to see if new general manager Brian Gutekunst's bold offseason will finally provide the star quarterback with the help he needs. - Browne
10. Los Angeles Chargers| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 10 | 12 | 10 |
Preseason Rank: 12th
The Chargers open their season with three straight matchups against 2017 playoff teams - including a Week 1 tilt with rival Kansas City. We'll know exactly how good this team can be before the calendar turns to October. - Alessandrini
11. Kansas City Chiefs| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 11 | 13 | 11 |
Preseason Rank: 9th
Sure, Kansas City is going to put up a ton of points in 2018, but can its defense stop other teams from scoring? - Alessandrini
12. Carolina Panthers| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | 14 | 9 | 9 |
Preseason Rank: 11th
This may be the last go-round for defensive stalwarts Julius Peppers and Thomas Davis. The time is now for the Panthers to capitalize on their playoff potential. - McClymont
13. Houston Texans| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | 12 | 10 | 13 |
Preseason Rank: 13th
The Texans' first task - getting through the preseason with their returning stars intact - is complete. Now Houston will hope to pick up where it left off the last time Watson was at the controls. - McClymont
14. Tennessee Titans| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
Preseason Rank: 14th
Tennessee finished the preseason 0-4 with the second-fewest points scored in the league. Don't fret, Titans fans; they're just saving it for the regular season. - McClymont
15. Detroit Lions| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 16 | 14 | 16 |
Preseason Rank: 15th
It's easy to forget about Detroit with the rest of the NFC North making moves. But if rookie Kerryon Johnson can finally give the Lions a reliable run game, the team should be in the wild-card mix. - Browne
16. San Francisco 49ers| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 13 | 20 | 19 |
Preseason Rank: 16th
An Alfred Morris-led backfield can't be what Kyle Shanahan envisioned, but he may have larger concerns. Jimmy Garoppolo and his receivers haven't looked in sync this summer. - Alessandrini
17. Baltimore Ravens| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
Preseason Rank: 18th
It's make-or-break time for Joe Flacco and John Harbaugh. Another January sitting at home should mean the end of the road in Baltimore for both men. - Browne
18. Chicago Bears| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 20 | 18 | 18 |
Preseason Rank: 24th
No need to pinch yourselves, Bears Nation. The Khalil Mack trade actually happened, and while the cost was high, it fixed Chicago's biggest weakness. - Browne
19. Washington Redskins| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 19 | 22 | 21 |
Preseason Rank: 19th
Adrian Peterson wants to prove he's not washed; what better way than to turn back the clock against his former team? - Srinivasan
20. Dallas Cowboys| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 22 | 21 | 15 |
Preseason Rank: 17th
After a winless preseason, the redemption tours for Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott begin in earnest against a Panthers team that's always teetering on the edge of contention. - Srinivasan
21. New York Giants| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 18 | 16 | 23 |
Preseason Rank: 20th
Giants fans want to forget last year's offense ever existed. However, this year's unit will have to start the season against a swarming, eminently confident Jaguars team seething from their AFC Championship Game loss. - Srinivasan
22. Denver Broncos| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 23 | 19 | 22 |
Preseason Rank: 21st
Case Keenum has looked sharper with each passing day. Once rookie Royce Freeman earns the starting running back role, Denver's offense could vault the team higher up our list. - Alessandrini
23. Seattle Seahawks| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | 21 | 23 | 20 |
Preseason Rank: 23rd
In one of the preseason's most shocking revelations, the Seahawks' starting offensive line looked solid in pass-protection. Let's see if this carries over into Week 1 - we won't hold our breath. - Alessandrini
24. Arizona Cardinals| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | 24 | 26 | 24 |
Preseason Rank: 25th
The Cardinals have a long season ahead, but David Johnson is healthy and ready to re-emerge as one of the NFL's top offensive weapons. - Alessandrini
25. Cincinnati Bengals| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 26 | 24 | 27 |
Preseason Rank: 28th
The Bengals have been treading water for a while. Hopefully, John Ross and Joe Mixon will provide the offensive spark they were supposed to bring this time last year. - Browne
26. Miami Dolphins| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 27 | 28 | 25 |
Preseason Rank: 26th
The Dolphins are only two years removed from their last playoff appearance. Adam Gase will be tasked with proving last year's campaign was a fluke despite currently lacking top-end talent. - Srinivasan
27. Oakland Raiders| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 29 | 25 | 26 |
Preseason Rank: 22nd
Mack and Martavis Bryant (along with a wasted third-round pick) are out; AJ McCarron and Brandon LaFell are in. What a week for Jon Gruden. - Alessandrini
28. Indianapolis Colts| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 25 | 30 | 28 |
Preseason Rank: 27th
Hope springs eternal for all NFL teams at this time of year. For the Colts, the hope is that Andrew Luck can regain full arm strength at some point this season. - McClymont
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 30 | 27 | 30 |
Preseason Rank: 29th
The Bucs open the regular season against the Saints, Eagles, Steelers, Bears, and Falcons. There's a high probability for a 0-5 start. - McClymont
30. New York Jets| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 28 | 29 | 29 |
Preseason Rank: 32nd
The Sam Darnold Experience begins its opening act in primetime against the Lions. Can the NFL's youngest starter lead the Jets out of mediocrity? - Srinivasan
31. Cleveland Browns| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 31 | 31 | 32 |
Preseason Rank: 30th
It's a new season, Browns fans. All that losing, that's done now. *Notices Cleveland opens the year against the Steelers and Saints.* ... Yeah, never mind. - Browne
32. Buffalo Bills| Alessandrini | Browne | McClymont | Srinivasan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | 32 | 32 | 31 |
Preseason Rank: 31st
Who even knows what the Bills are doing at this point? With second-year quarterback Nathan Peterman claiming the starting job, the Ravens' defense is poised to have a field day. - Srinivasan
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