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NFL power rankings, NFC edition: Saints, Seahawks among the best

By Kelly Thompson

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 16: Wide receiver Michael Thomas #13 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates after a touchdown in the second quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Mercedes Benz Superdome on December 16, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 16: Wide receiver Michael Thomas #13 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates after a touchdown in the second quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Mercedes Benz Superdome on December 16, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams
Defensive tackle Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

8. Los Angeles Rams

It was only 16 months ago that head coach Sean McVay and quarterback Jared Goff of the Los Angeles Rams were the future dynasty of the NFL. Young, talented, and heading to the Super Bowl in their second season together – how things of changed.

In the present, the Goff extension seems like a gross-overstretch that will hamper the team’s development for years to come. McVay looks like he’s struggling to offer a rebuttal when defenses have answers for his play-calling. And the team’s massive trades before the 2018 Super Bowl run have, predictably, put the team in salary cap hell now and in to the future.

The Rams are in trouble.

But, they’re also still very talented. Darrell Henderson and 2020 draft pick Cam Akers make a formidable one-two punch in the backfield. Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods are one of the best receiving tandems in football. Tyler Higbee has top-five tight end potential in 2020. And Goff, despite his struggles in 2019, is not a bad quarterback.

The Rams are not a poor football team but they’re moving in the wrong direction. What compounds their issue is that they play in the toughest division in football and they’ve fallen from first-to-worst within a 16-month span. If Mcvay and Goff are the right people for L.A. now and into the future, we’ll know after the 2020 season because the Rams will return to the playoffs. If not…

7. Arizona Cardinals

Our belief in the Cardinals is the exact opposite of how we feel about Dallas and Los Angeles. All arrows in the desert are pointing up, and Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray have the Cardinals ready to compete (already) in the stout NFC West.

The team adds to its passing game in 2020 with an absolute swindling of the Houston Texans, trading a washed-up running back (David Johnson) and a second round pick for top-three wide receiver De’Andre Hopkins.

As the lead back, Kenyon Drake should excel with a much-improved offensive line. And the biggest benefactor of both of those revelations will be Murray, who showed in year one he’s legit.

The defensive rebuild begins with No. 8 overall draft pick Isaiah Simmons. He was the top defensive player on our board heading in to the draft, and the Cardinals swooped him up and will reap massive dividends for doing so.

Third-round pick Leki Fotu will pair with Corey Peters and Jordan Phillips to shore up the defensive line. The starting cornerbacks are an excellent pair, featuring Patrick Peterson and second-year man Byron Murphy, Jr.

In addition, free-agent acquisitions, linebackers Devon Kennard and De’Vondre Cambpell, will team up with Simmons to give an entirely new look for Arizona.

The team may still be a year away from truly contending for the division (or conference) title – but Cardinals fans have every reason to be excited.

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