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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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