NFL Power Rankings, Week 1: Where do Chiefs begin title defense?
By Grant Tuttle
25. Los Angeles Rams
The Rams could return to contender status, but it seems like a long shot. Is Matt Stafford really healthy? If so, what about that defense? Outside of Aaron Donald, who is able to be dominant on defense? So many questions that do not have clear answers in Los Angeles.
26. Chicago Bears
Has any quarterback gone 5-20 and received as much love as Justin Fields? It seems impossible. Even if they were bad at every position, a good quarterback is able to carry the team above their situation. If you truly believe that getting DJ Moore and Chase Claypool is going to turn Fields elite, I have a bridge to sell you.
27. Tennessee Titans
The Titans would be at the bottom of this list if not for the coaching of Mike Vrabel. The truth is, the Titans are trying to build their team the same way the Kansas City Royals do: "Let's not do a full rebuild. Let's grab a bunch of washed-up veterans and hope that one of our young guys is good enough to carry us to a few extra wins." They need to tear it down and start over, but they are locked in on mediocrity for the next couple of years. But hey! They have DeAndre Hopkins!
28. Carolina Panthers
I want to believe, but I just don't. The Panthers have a capable head coach but have a lot of holes in the roster. While the defense is going to be solid, the offense might average under 200 total yards a game. The offensive line is not good. The quarterback is a rookie. The top receiver on the roster is senior citizen Adam Thielen. It's a no from me, dog.