NFL power rankings: Vikings, Eagles fight for top spot

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 17: Minnesota Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes (29) ,Minnesota Vikings cornerback Terence Newman (23), and Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks (54) take a breather during a NFL game between the Minnesota Vikings and Cincinnati Bengals on December 17, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN.The Vikings defeated the Bengals 34-7.(Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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3. Los Angeles Rams

Last season marked just the beginning of what’s to come for Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams. Pegged as one of the NFL’s most promising teams, the Rams have a Super Bowl or bust mentality. If you don’t believe it, just look at the moves made this offseason.

Trading for Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib offsets the loss of Trumaine Johnson in free agency. Tagging Lamarcus Joyner immediately makes for an elite secondary under Wade Philips. That trio is a complete nightmare for any quarterback coming up against the Rams this season. Les Snead was very smart with the team’s cap space in free agency and took care of his own by re-signing Nickell Robey-Coleman and John Sullivan to multi-year deals.

I have the Rams leapfrogging the Patriots in these power rankings for good reason. Jared Goff’s sophomore surge, an MVP-like season from Todd Gurley is enough reason to put the Rams in the top-tier of teams. Inexperience ultimately ended a disappointing run in the postseason but that proved to be a teaching moment.

In a loaded NFC conference, expect the Rams to make plenty of noise next season. This is a team that isn’t going away anytime soon.

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