Fansided

NFL power rankings: 2019 edition – Patriots finish on top, again

By Russell S. Baxter

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots and teammate Tom Brady #12 celebrate at the end of the Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. The New England Patriots defeat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots and teammate Tom Brady #12 celebrate at the end of the Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. The New England Patriots defeat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
31 of 32
Next
ATLANTA, GA – FEBRUARY 03: Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams receives help form a teammate after falling down in the endzone in the second half during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – FEBRUARY 03: Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams receives help form a teammate after falling down in the endzone in the second half during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

2. Los Angeles Rams (15-4)

Won NFC West

Lost Super Bowl LIII

Season Review: Sean McVay’s team was the last NFL club to lose a game in 2018 and would not only finish with 13 wins and a second straight NFC West title but the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance since 2001. Only the Kansas City Chiefs scored more points than this club, which was led by a variety of offensive weapons such as quarterback Jared Goff and running back Todd Gurley. Relentless Aaron Donald (20.5) totaled exactly half of the team’s 41 sacks was the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season. But the year did end in disappointment with a tough 13-3 loss in Super Bowl LIII.

2018 Turning Point: You could argue that McVay’s gamble early in the second quarter of the NFC title game at New Orleans was huge. The Rams converted on a fake punt (Johnny Hekker to Sam Shields), overcoming a 13-0 deficit to win at overtime at the Superdome, 26-23.

2019 Priorities: The team has a lot of veteran players to re-sign should they choose, such as defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, safety LaMarcus Joyner and guard Rodger Saffold. Veteran running back C.J. Anderson was a late-season pickup and could return to the club in 2019.

Next: No. 1

Home/NFL Power Rankings