Forum Replies Created
-
AuthorPosts
-
znModeratorStu Jackson@StuJRams
Rams HC Sean McVay said Aaron Donald won’t play Thursday vs. 49ers***
September 8, 2026 at 3:00 pm in reply to: around the Rams — season previews coming out of the preseason #165927znModeratorfrom NFL Week 1 power rankings: Rams a superteam at the top, but lots of questions below them
Chad Graff and Josh Kendall
Every week during the season, Chad Graff and Josh Kendall rank and analyze all 32 teams from first to worst.
At long last, the NFL season has arrived. The excitement kicks off with a Super Bowl rematch Wednesday night between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. The next day, the Los Angeles Rams will face the San Francisco 49ers in Australia. After that, the normal Sunday slate awaits.
As the season opens, let’s jump into our first power rankings since before training camps began while also considering each team’s projected win total, as provided by our analyst Austin Mock.
1. Los Angeles Rams
Last ranking: 1First game: vs. 49ers (in Australia), Thursday, 8:35 p.m. ET
Mock’s projected win total: 11.7
The Rams easily got the most projected wins in Mock’s simulation despite playing in arguably the best division in football. That presumed success is for obvious reasons. They traded for Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie, then brought back arguably the best defensive tackle of all time in Aaron Donald. They’re officially a superteam.
2. Seattle Seahawks
Last ranking: 5First game: vs. Patriots, Wednesday, 8:20 p.m. ET
Mock’s projected win total: 10.9
How do you win the Super Bowl, return a very similar roster with the same coach and not be the No. 1 team? Well, that says less about the Seahawks and more about the Rams. Seattle’s defense should be incredible again, but the big question is how Sam Darnold and the offense look after losing offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, who became the coach of the Raiders.
3. Buffalo Bills
Last ranking: 3First game: at Texans, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
Mock’s projected win total: 10.8
The defense is undergoing a significant change, entering a 3-4 scheme with six new starters, and that’s part of the reason for hope. The other is a fresh start with coach Joe Brady that could get this team over the hump and into the Super Bowl. Even if last season didn’t go as planned, it’s hard to keep a Josh Allen-led team out of the top five entering the season.
4. New England Patriots
Last ranking: 4First game: at Seahawks, Wednesday, 8:20 p.m. ET
Mock’s projected win total: 10.3
The Patriots went to the Super Bowl, then meaningfully improved an offense that returns the MVP runner-up at quarterback (who just turned 24, by the way). Still, this team benefited from a historically easy schedule a year ago. So what’s on tap for this new group that added receivers A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs? How about opening with games against the Seahawks, Steelers, Jaguars and Bills (with three of them on the road). No more schedule complaints this season.
5. Denver Broncos
Last ranking: 2First game: at Chiefs, Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET
Mock’s projected win total: 9.1
It’s hard to know what to make of the Broncos. On the one hand, they almost went to the Super Bowl, even while playing a backup quarterback in the AFC Championship Game. Their coach is an offensive genius, and they return an excellent defense. On the other hand, they play in a difficult division, and we’re supposed to just believe that Bo Nix, who relies on his mobility, is going to return to a high level of play after a pair of offseason ankle surgeries?
6. San Francisco 49ers
Last ranking: 7First game: at Rams (in Australia), Thursday, 8:35 p.m. ET
Mock’s projected win total: 10.1
There was no shortage of offseason storylines around the 49ers, including the arrest of their owner and a car accident that injured coach Kyle Shanahan. They also dealt with a number of offseason injuries. But they’ve gotten good news of late with George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey, and they could use the regular season to get back up to speed after so much drama.
znModeratorI think what he’s saying is that McVay’s Rams represent the Enlightenment, Science, and Democracy, while Shanahan’s 49ers represent Superstition, Witches, and the Dark Ages.
w
vAh. So…it’s the French Revolution?
znModeratorBenjamin Royer@thebenroyer
Aaron Donald called his return to 11-on-11 drills during the Rams’ Sunday practice as “a little rusty,” but also “pretty damn good.”znModeratorA classic kit pic.twitter.com/dhzQC42FIg
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) September 7, 2026
roberto clemente@rclemente2121
fun facts about this combo:– have never worn in week 1
– worn at home 20 times (15-5)
– worn on the road 6 times (3-3)
– worn in the postseason 3 times (3-0)
– worn more than any other comboznModeratorfrom The Athletic, One bold prediction for every NFL team: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7565781/2026/09/07/nfl-2026-bold-season-predictions/?source=twitterhq&unlocked_article_code=1._VA.EkkJ.LgJCAXFF-lP9
Los Angeles Rams: Rams will break NFL’s sack record
The Rams will have the only defensive line in NFL history with two players with 100 career sacks and a 20-sack season in Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald. Garrett just set the single-season sack record with 23 last season with the Browns. So could this line break the 1984 Bears’ record of 72 sacks in a season? I think it has a chance, because in addition to Garrett and Donald, they feature two players who have topped seven sacks in each of their three seasons in Kobie Turner and Byron Young. Josaiah Stewart and Braden Fiske should chip in, too. Add in a secondary with two-time All-Pro cornerback Trent McDuffie and coveted players like Jaylen Watson, Quentin Lake and Kam Curl, and these guys can get to an average of 4.3 sacks per game with how many teams will have to answer their own high-powered offense that just led the NFL in scoring last season. — Nate Atkins
***
Arizona Cardinals: Marvin Harrison will start to resemble the WR everyone expectedIt’s safe to say Harrison’s NFL introduction has not gone as planned. Labeled as a generational talent before the 2024 draft, the wide receiver put up decent numbers as a rookie but struggled to make contested catches. Last season he battled injuries. Year 3 should bring a jump. Harrison has a solid comfort level with QB Jacoby Brissett. And he knows he has a lot to prove. This doesn’t mean Harrison will be among the NFL’s top receivers (the Cardinals have additional threats in Trey McBride, Michael Wilson and Jeremiyah Love), but he should start to resemble the playmaker everyone expected. — Doug Haller
San Francisco 49ers: 49ers will add a veteran defensive end by midseason
The 49ers entered the offseason with a hole at defensive end and somehow that hole has grown wider. Nick Bosa, who’s coming back from his third ACL repair, missed most of training camp while 2025 first-round pick Mykel Williams will start the season on PUP. Meanwhile, third-round pick Romello Height has been in and out of the lineup with various nicks and bumps and has merely looked OK when he’s been on the field. All of which suggests that at some point the 49ers will look to add a free agent like Leonard Floyd or Joey Bosa or perhaps make a splashy trade at the Nov. 10 deadline. — Matt Barrows
Seattle Seahawks: AJ Barner will earn Pro Bowl honors
In 2025, Barner demonstrated he is more than capable of being Seattle’s No. 1 tight end, setting career highs in receptions (52), receiving yards (519) and touchdowns (6). So long as he can fend off second-year pro Elijah Arroyo for opportunities in the passing game, Barner should thrive under first-year offensive coordinator Brian Fleury. The former 49ers tight ends coach is expected to feature tight ends in his offensive scheme, meaning more chances for Barner. — Andrew Destin
znModeratorOkay, well the Hacksized version is Australia is really only 7 hours time difference, not 17. And London is an 8-hour difference, and McVay’s plan worked fine.
Is this a “how your body clock relates to daylight” thing v. “the actual hours as determined by a timer” thing?
znModeratorUnderdog NFL@UnderdogNFL
Puka Nacua could avoid discipline this season, per @AdamSchefter: “I think there’s a real possibility that Puka (Nacua) is going to go through this season unscathed.”znModeratorznModeratorit’s how good the entire team is. You have to take every player into account.
Like, for example, special teams and the cornerbacks unit.
znModeratorNate Atkins@NateAtkins_
I asked Davante Adams about the ice pack on his knee during the presser:“I’m an old-ass man.”
He said he’s feeling pretty good heading into his 13th season.
znModerator3rd Down Conversions allowed in 2025 pic.twitter.com/6LeKPft39R
— SFdata9ers🏈📊 (@sfdata9ers) September 6, 2026
znModerator
znModerator
znModeratorznModeratorNarratives. Stories. Stories we create. I read these stories people tell, whether its sports or politics or whatever, and…a lot of times you can tell exactly why the person would create such a narrative but its often got little to do with ‘reality’.
It’s interesting that people who have had some experience as teachers are aware of this.
I am kind of waiting on “the story” myself. Last year, the story was really 2 things. Yes the offense with Stafford having an MVP year and the midseason invention of 13 personnel (for those who don’t know, that’s when your offense plays thirteen tight ends). Then after the bye the league figured out how to exploit Rams issues at CB, and as if that weren’t enough, the dystopian special teams nightmare boiled over.
So I am interested to see what happens. What, in spite of what you might expect, puts them over the top. What, in spite of what you might expect, trips things up.
One thing about this team stands out to me though. They are very good at getting a lot out of guys who really are not superstars. Kyren isn’t Faulk, but it’s a good run game. Alaric isn’t Pace, but they have good OL play. Nacua really isn’t the classic “dancer’s body” type elite WR like Ellard, Bruce, or Holt, but they know how to take uber-advantage of his strengths. They just see what they like in guys like that then set things up to maximize it. This btw is what makes McVay better than Martz. Martz got a lot out of superstars. McVay says things like okay he’s not fast, but he’s hard to tackle, let’s get 5 yards a carry from him–consistently.
Stafford is Stafford though. Gunslinger for 3 quarters, cold-eyed duellist in the 4th.
…
September 6, 2026 at 10:36 am in reply to: around the Rams — season previews coming out of the preseason #165876znModeratorznModeratorThis was outstanding. Please watch/listen to this convo https://t.co/pqi8YZOsOm
— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) September 5, 2026
***
znModeratorAntmanGee
AIN’T NO SUPER TEAMS
Yes, the Rams have 6 players ranked in the top 100, and 3 ranked in the top 10, but the following teams also have 6 players ranked in the top 100:
Denver Broncos 6
Detroit Lions 6
Philadelphia Eagles 6
And the these teams have 5 players ranked in the top 100:
SF 49er’s 5
Baltimore Ravens 5
Houston Texans 5
Carolina Panthers 5
The reality is every team is trying to position themselves to compete for the ultimate prize, and even with a loaded roster there are so many other variables that come into play in the pursuit of the Lombardi Trophy. Philly has 5 players in the TOP 50!! Plus, we still have to play the games!! Yes, we have Super Players, but not a Super Team!! But I love our chances…GO RAMS!!!
znModeratorJevon Kearse says he never got hazed as a rookie because when he was drafted to the Titans in 1999 the leaders like Steve McNair and Eddie George told him they're not good enough yet as a team to worry about hazing
“I’m thinking I’m gonna get hazed and whatever… Steve and Eddie… pic.twitter.com/RcyhecN2Le
— Josh Chambers (@JoshChambers) September 6, 2026
znModeratorBrendan Kruse@BrendanKruse
Matthew Stafford reached 40,000 career passing yards in just 147 games … the fastest any quarterback in NFL history has ever done it.Stafford threw for 4,446 yards, 29 TDs and only 10 INTs in 2017 — one of the best efficiency seasons of his Detroit career — without Calvin Johnson. Marvin Jones and Gden Tate were his top receivers that year.
Of the top 25 greatest WR seasons of all time, Matthew Stafford has been the QB behind 4 of them – something no there QBS can say. Peyton Manning is closest and was QB for 3 of them.
Of Stafford’s 74 wins in Detroit, 31 required a fourth-quarter comeback. That’s nearly 42% of every game he won there.
Stafford once led 8 fourth-quarter comebacks in a single season [2016]. The Lions won only 9 games that year.
Stafford’s first career comeback win came at age 21, when he threw for 422 yards and 5 TDs — while playing through a separated shoulder on the final drive.
In his first Rams season, Stafford had a 126.4 passer rating in the fourth quarter with 12 TDs.
Stafford has 50 career game-winning drives, fifth-most in NFL history … more than Dan Marino, Brett Favre, John Elway and Aaron Rodgers.
Stafford ranks 4th all-time in fourth-quarter comebacks and 5th all-time in game-winning drives — behind Tom Brady.
In 2021, when the Rams were within one score in the fourth quarter, Stafford completed 76.9% of his passes, averaged 11.2 yards per attempt, threw 6 TDs and 0 INTs, and posted a 151.1 passer rating.
Stafford’s 2021 playoff run included three straight game-winning drives to beat Tampa Bay, San Francisco and Cincinnati and win the Super Bowl
znModeratorBaylor’s … TE named Matthew Klopfenstein … has to be related to former Rams TE Joe Klopfenstein, doesn’t he?
What I found is that Matthew is Joe’s nephew.
But at the moment I don’t have the kind of documentation that would prove that in a court of law.
It’s probably right though.
znModerator?…???…this list doesn’t look right. I accept that Dallas is that high, but the rankings for the 49ers, Searocks, and Eagles seem too low to me
SleeperNFL@Sleeper
NFL.@USATODAY ranks all 32 offenses in the NFL:1 – Bills
2 – Rams
3 – Cowboys
4 – Lions
5 – Bears
6 – Patriots
7 – Bengals
8 – Chargers
9 – Ravens
10 – 49ers
11 – Packers
12 – Jaguars
13 – Chiefs
14 – Broncos
15 – Colts
16 – Seahawks
17 – Vikings
18 – Eagles
19 – Texans
20 – Buccaneers
21 – Steelers
22 – Commanders
23 – Saints
24 – Cardinals
25 – Falcons
26 – Panthers
27 – Raiders
28 – Giants
29 – Jets
30 – Dolphins
31 – Titans
32 – BrownsznModeratorIf you had to pick a team to win the NFC, but you couldnt pick Seahawks or Rams,
who would you go with?I think the Eagles scare me the most.
Lions? Bears? 49ers? Packers? Cowboys? Giants? Vikings? Panthers? Saints?
w
vI would have to see if the apparent progress in Dallas is real. That makes Eagles/Dallas games kinda interesting.
znModeratorznModeratorScott Kacsmar@ScottKacsmar
#NFL had a record 7 new division winners in 2025.None of those 7 teams are favored to win the division in 2026.
Everyone but Philly. We’ve never seen anything like this.
znModeratorroberto clemente@rclemente2121
if you listened to san francisco sports talk radio this morning, they were shitting their pants over the rams, they acted like this squad was the top 10 nfl teams in history all rolled into one, if was hysterical (and highly enjoyable!).znModeratorznModeratorznModeratorPFF@PFF
Best big-time throw to turnover-worthy play rate last seasonJoe Burrow 9.00
Matt Stafford 2.23
Jalen Hurts 2.08
Jordan Love 2.00
Josh Allen 1.81 -
AuthorPosts
