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NFL power rankings: Saints, Chargers lead way into 2019

By Russell S. Baxter

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 20: New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) and New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) talk during a TV timeout during the NFC Championship Football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints on January 20, 2019 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 20: New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) and New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) talk during a TV timeout during the NFC Championship Football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints on January 20, 2019 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 22: Adrian Peterson #26 of the Washington Redskins runs the ball during a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on December 22, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Redskins 25-16. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN – DECEMBER 22: Adrian Peterson #26 of the Washington Redskins runs the ball during a game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on December 22, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans defeated the Redskins 25-16. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

2019 Key Additions: Team president Bruce Allen gave former New York Giants’ safety Landon Collins big money to come to the nation’s capital. He should add to a defense that started to make strides in 2018. Of course, the biggest buzz in D.C. has to do with first-round quarterback Dwayne Haskins, who wound up falling to the Redskins at No. 15 after speculation that the team may have to trade up in the first round to secure his services. The franchise also traded back into the first round to get outside linebacker Montez Sweat, who figures to take over for free-agent defector Preston Smith. As for Haskins, he will battle Case Keenum for starting honors but also get an opportunity to learn from the journeyman quarterback.

Offseason Review: Jay Gruden enters his sixth season as the team’s sideline boss. It’s the longest stint by a Redskins’ head coach since Norv Turner, who coached six-plus years from 1994-2000. But since winning the NFC East in 2015, the club has been in a steady slide in terms of their win-loss record and are coming off back-to-back 7-9 campaigns. Last season, the ‘Skins were off to a surprising 6-3 start before injuries to the quarterback position (Alex Smith and Colt McCoy) derailed the rest of their season. But it’s a new year and in what has become a very unpredictable NFC East, every team is in the title mix.

Next: No. 22

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