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It’s the moment you’ve all been waiting for. No, not the start of the 2019 NFL season. It’s that all-important moment when you see those very first NFL power rankings. Perhaps nothing is more meaningful.
The Los Angeles Rams didn’t get to hoist the Lombardi trophy at the conclusion of the 2018-2019 season, falling short on the big stage to the New England Patriots. But it’s a new year, and they’ll once again set their sights on a Super Bowl glory.
But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s take a gander at how some of the major media outlets perceive the Rams entering Week 1:
NFL Network (Dan Hanzus)
2. Los Angeles Rams
It’s been a quiet summer for the defending NFC champions, helped in part by Sean McVay’s now-annual tradition of punting on the preseason for his regulars. I imagine this lower profile is something the Rams are fine with. Third-year wideout Cooper Kupp is one of those regulars who has yet to see live action -- more than understandable in his case, as he works his way back from reconstructive knee surgery. The Rams’ offense was never quite the same after the slot receiver went down last November, so put him on the short list -- a list that includes teammate Todd Gurley -- of players we’ll look forward to seeing come Week 1. The Athletic’s Jay Glazer wrote last month that “all [Kupp’s] test scores, coming out of his breaks, agility, quickness, every test timed better than it was before he tore his ACL.” That seems promising.
Sports Illustrated’s MMQB (10-person panel)
4. Los Angeles Rams
The Rams are still among the NFL’s best, but has the rest of the league caught up with them yet? We’ll find out soon enough.
CBS Sports (Pete Prisco)
3. Los Angeles Rams
Don’t let the Super Bowl fool you. This is still a talented team and they will learn from that loss. The offense will be explosive again.
Yahoo! Sports (Frank Schwab)
2. Los Angeles Rams
Todd Gurley has gotten all the attention and rightfully so, but don’t forget that the Rams’ offense took a step back after Cooper Kupp tore his ACL. Reports on Kupp have been positive, but it’s hard to know for sure until we see him in meaningful game action.
Houston Chronicle (John McClain)
2. Los Angeles Rams
No starter played in the preseason. That didn’t stop Sean McVay from taking the Rams to the Super Bowl in his second season. They should be motivated.
NBC Sports (Bryan Perez)
5. Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams’ offense was an unstoppable force for most of the 2018 season until RB Todd Gurley’s knee injury derailed the unit’s production and, ultimately, the team’s Super Bowl hopes. With a full offseason for coach Sean McVay to gameplan around Gurley’s likely limited usage, expect the Rams to be right back among the league’s elite offenses capable of challenging for the Lombardi Trophy.
Pro Football Talk (Mike Florio)
7. Los Angeles Rams
We’ll quickly find out whether a three-point output from Super Bowl LIII lingers into 2019.
USA Today (Nate Davis)
10. Los Angeles Rams
Still waiting to learn if we’ll see the old Todd Gurley in Week 1 or an old Todd Gurley. Answer likely holds key to NFC champs’ prospects.
Please head to the comments section and leave us your thoughts on these rankings and, more importantly, USA Today’s Nate Davis.