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znModeratorBrendan Kruse@BrendanKruse
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.znModeratorThis team is so good that it can only disappoint.
Nobody wants to see the Super Bowl awarded to another team before the season starts. The Avengers. Yep, people gonna be rooting for them to lose.
Zine it.
And that should be the team motto this year. Put it on all the programs.
Greatest Disappointing Team on Turf.
w
vi’m very freaking nervous.
it’s beginning to feel like a burden. win and you’re really just doing what you’re supposed to do. everyone on the outside waiting for them to fail.
Well, guys, your expectations ACTUALLY are this: you expect them to disappoint and fail.
In which case, if they do, then you can go “I knew it” and say yep that’s what you had to expect.
So you’re actually in a position where if they exceed your expectations–that is, they don’t disappoint or fail–then it’s a gift from nowhere.
So you’re in the position where you expect them to fail. And can only be surprised if they don’t.
***
znModeratorSean McVay, Rams are placing a greater emphasis on special teams this season
Nate Atkins
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7542299/2026/09/04/rams-special-teams-sean-mcvay-bubba-ventrone/
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Rams are seven months from two muffed punts in the NFC Championship Game, a blocked punt in the wild-card round, a season of blocked field goals and penalties and explosive punt returns allowed by a special teams phase they left to the bottom of a top-heavy roster, only to pay for it when the lights were brightest.
Something had to change.
It started with a coordinator switch. It was followed by a couple of signings that fell way below the radar in an offseason headlined by Matthew Stafford’s return for an 18th season and blockbuster trades for All-Pro defenders Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie.
As Super Bowl favorites with a ticking clock on Stafford’s career, the Rams weren’t oblivious when the margins began screaming to them on special teams.
“I’m not going to run away (from the fact) that I haven’t done a good enough job of making that an emphasis,” coach Sean McVay said. “It’s cost us, and that is nobody’s fault but my own.”
This roster, this leadership, this system, this practice plan — it all had to be different than it was a year ago.
“We could be the reason why we win a game,” linebacker Shaun Dolac said, “but we don’t want to be the reason why we lose.”
A new man in charge
Last season went so off the rails on special teams, with mistakes offering daggers in nearly all of their six losses, that the Rams did something rarely seen from a team with a playoff spot locked up: They fired a coordinator with two games to go.
After dismissing Chase Blackburn, they did their best to patch things together with interim coordinator Ben Kotwica. They eliminated some penalty issues, and the kicking game continued to improve. But they couldn’t prevent some moments that defined their playoff run, from the blocked punt in the final minutes against the Carolina Panthers in the wild-card round to Xavier Smith’s two muffed punts against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC championship.
It all led to one of the most important moves McVay would have to make this offseason in hiring new special teams coaches. He ultimately landed on a tandem in coordinator Bubba Ventrone and assistant Kyle Hoke, both from the Cleveland Browns. It was a bet on the pair to rebound from some miscues that sunk the Browns’ season last year — and to get back to the levels Ventrone has shown before.
Ventrone was considered a rising star during his tenure as coordinator with the Indianapolis Colts from 2018 to 2022. His units regularly created explosive returns, blocked punts, blocked field goals and were precise in flipping field position. His process was to develop players from special-teamers into offensive and defensive starters who kept their third-phase focus. He hit on names such as All-Pro Ashton Dulin and Pro Bowlers Zaire Franklin and Kenny Moore II.
The development plan would have to be different on a team with immediate goals. But what still exists is Ventrone’s intensity and pedigree as a coordinator with eight years of experience and as a player who lasted a decade as one of the most physical and vocal special-teamers, including for four years under Bill Belichick with the New England Patriots.
“Bubba came in and showed his personality, he showed us who he is as a coach, and he’s been doing it for a long time as a player as well,” Dolac said. “He brings that intensity every single day into the meetings, and we love that from him. You get it every day from him.
“He does a good job being just a teacher, teaching us how to do things. We have the ability to ask questions, and he has the answers to every question that we have.”
A new voice in the room was one shift. But it would only matter if the players he coached were up to the challenge.
A shifting roster
For all of last year’s special teams nightmares, the Rams felt they at least had a kicking game to bring back.
Ethan Evans had some electric punts last season, including the 50-yard boot against the Seahawks that landed at the 1-yard line in Week 11 to help seal a 21-19 win.
Harrison Mevis became a revelation after his midseason replacement of Joshua Karty, who kept falling victim to blocked kicks in addition to some misses. Between the regular season and playoffs, Mevis delivered on every extra point as well as 18 of 19 field goals, including a 42-yard game winner in the snow to beat the Chicago Bears in the divisional round.
But Evans’ second-half regression, and all of the issues that compounded in penalties and returns allowed and blocked kicks in crunch time, magnified a glaring issue in the foundation: The Rams were trusting too many young players on special teams. They tried to rectify it at midseason by bringing back 38-year-old long snapper Jake McQuaide. But what became clear was that a special teams unit that relied largely on first- and second-year players was doomed on the biggest stages against the best opponents.
So, the Rams went after two veterans in free agency: long snapper Joe Cardona and cover man Grant Stuard. Cardona, now in his 12th season, played his first three for Ventrone in New England. Stuard, now in his sixth season, spent a year with Ventrone in 2022 in Indianapolis after Ventrone sought him out in a trade from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Ventrone relationship would mean plenty once Stuard was on the practice field cracking teammates, taking them to the ground and barking back at his coaches.
“If I say something to him or he bites at me, we’re familiar with each other,” Stuard said of Ventrone. “There’s no distaste.”
It has empowered Stuard to take charge of the goal he had when signing with the Rams, which was to become the leader of a special teams unit.
“Me as a player can be an acquired taste,” Stuard said. “… If you hate it, oh well, I’ll go somewhere else.”
The Rams have welcomed it, because they know that after last year, they aren’t in a spot to reject alternatives. In one practice, Stuard went at it with offensive coordinator Nathan Scheelhaase, who got on him about taking players to the ground. At one point in training camp, McVay came out to Stuard to talk him into a more middle-ground approach. But it wasn’t a rejection of his persona in a year with so much on the line.
That doesn’t mean everything changed. The Rams made a bold choice in bringing Smith back after he muffed the two punts in Seattle. They’ve worked with him to grow from it and were encouraged when he returned a 40-yard punt in the preseason opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.
“It’s not about how you react but about how you respond to those adversity situations,” Smith said, echoing a message McVay shares all the time.
A new emphasis
The Rams spent the majority of their training camp practices at Loyola Marymount University with a new approach: They began the day on special teams.
“It gives us a way to start off practice, and you can emphasize starting fast on special teams, which will then translate to how we practice the rest of the day,” running back Ronnie Rivers said.
Added Dolac, “We’re all just going at 100 miles an hour and making sure the younger guys see it. That’s the standard around here.”
They are playing more offensive and defensive players on special teams, including Konata Mumpfield, Tyler Higbee, Nate Landman and Kam Kinchens.
“You have guys who are starters on offense or defense who are in Year 11, 12, guys like Higbee who are going out there and giving great effort and who are concerned with doing the right stuff when that’s not conditional upon them making the team,” Stuard said. “He can suck on punt, but he’s going to be out there in 13 personnel. The collective wants to be good. It’s not, ‘What can I do to be available?’ It’s, ‘How can I make this unit better?’”
They all feel the weight of what went wrong last year. That’s true for a player with a second chance like Smith and a newcomer like Stuard, who isn’t afraid to push the boundaries McVay has in practice.
Whether it pays off when the margins are at their slimmest is what 17 games and the playoffs will tell. But they aren’t running from what has to be different — right here, right now, in a season with high expectations.
“The difference between this year and last year, holistically as an organization,” Stuard said, “is we’re putting a lot of attention into special teams.”
znModeratorRamsRushHour@RamsRushHour
Kam Curl flies under the radar on this Rams team. Kam played over 90% of defensive snaps and set a Rams single-season record for safeties with 122 total tackles.Do you think Kam Curl will be even more effective behind a defensive line that now includes Myles Garrett and Aaron Donald?
znModeratorRedAlice
Note: this is fake. But funny.
BREAKING: #LARams HC Sean McVay addresses the "super team" commentary, previews upcoming opener against the @SF49ers in Melbourne.#ramshouse #fttb #nfl #nfcwest pic.twitter.com/hlIhGrNUa0
— HDWags (@Wags_Official) September 2, 2026
znModerator#Rams DT Braden Fiske was in a meeting when the Myles Garrett trade happened on June 1.
It hit hard because his best friend Jared Verse was the one getting traded out.
He tells me how that day unfolded: https://t.co/OW9PKeY2KD pic.twitter.com/NPYsmDtAwP
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) September 4, 2026
znModerator#Rams 2027 FAs include:
* Puka Nacua
* Byron Young
* Kobie Turner
* Steve Avila
* Kevin Dotson
* Warren McClendonWe all love the Rams in 2026, but what’s the plan with all this coming next year?
“I honestly don’t think they know the answer to that.”
More from @NateAtkins_: https://t.co/RjD7QtmYsz pic.twitter.com/uzMvUtCSGf
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 3, 2026
znModeratorznModeratorI’ve been saying it for a while. Young was Darnold’s achilles heel last year against the Rams D. Darnold did better when he could escape to his right unimpeded. Young was too fast to allow that. That is, until he had to play hurt, which includes the last 2 Seattle games.
>
The Young issue definitely helped Darnold. But i also think Mike McDonald made adjustments after the Darnold-fiasco in the first game. For starters, i think they really worked on their run game.
w
vI didn’t mean to give the impression that Young was the only factor. The biggest factor by far was the Rams exposed secondary. But Young was A factor.
znModeratorznModeratorznModeratorRedAlice
More info on the plane. Also, says they arrive 24 hours before kickoff. So, it’s not deplane and go straight to the field.
The Los Angeles Rams will fly to Australia on a Qantas A380, which is the world’s biggest passenger jet.
Flight DetailsAirline: QantasAircraft: Airbus A380 (double-decker jumbo jet)
Schedule: Head coach Sean McVay confirmed the Rams plan to arrive in Melbourne just 24 hours beore kickoff.
The plane
The Qantas A380 offers a highly distinct, four-class layout configuration that will allow the Rams’ star players, coaches, and support staff to divide themselves based on premium comfort requirements.
Premium Upper Deck vs. Main Deck
The plane separates its cabins across two full levels:The Upper Deck is a completely private premium sanctuary containing 70 Business Class suites and 60 Premium Economy seats.
The Main Deck houses 14 ultra-luxury First Class suites at the front, with 341 Economy seats occupying the rest of the lower level.
znModeratorNiners game update.
Report: George Kittle, Nick Bosa will travel to Australia
49ers tight end George Kittle’s chances of playing in Week 1 are going up.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Kittle will travel to Australia with the team ahead of their matchup with the Rams in Melbourne. Kittle has practiced the last two days and, per the report, is trending in the right direction to play.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan said earlier this week that he’d prefer not to take Kittle to Australia if it looked like he would not be ready to play on the Achilles he tore in January. Making the trip doesn’t guarantee he’ll be in the lineup, but it is certainly a good sign.
Rapoport reports that defensive end Nick Bosa will also travel with the team on Wednesday. Bosa did not practice for much of training camp as he recovers from a torn ACL, but General Manager John Lynch said on Tuesday that he’ll be ramping up his work with an eye toward playing in the opener.
znModeratorI’ve been saying it for a while. Young was Darnold’s achilles heel last year against the Rams D. Darnold did better when he could escape to his right unimpeded. Young was too fast to allow that. That is, until he had to play hurt, which includes the last 2 Seattle games.
….
Byron Young made his greatest impact of his career last year
The Pro Bowler has a unique opportunity to garner even less (blocking) attention this year with the storm of Garrett & Donald. In a contact year for BY, the stats could be even more inflated. This Dline sure is loaded! pic.twitter.com/whf0fY2X9y
— RAMS ON FILM (@RamsOnFilm) September 3, 2026
znModeratorRams release depth chart for Week 1 vs. 49ers
The Rams listed Stetson Bennett as QB2 and Tutu Atwell as the No. 7 WRCameron DaSilva
The Los Angeles Rams are just a week away from kicking off their 2026 season in Australia, starting the year with a rivalry game against the San Francisco 49ers. Their 53-man roster is set and on Thursday, the Rams released their first unofficial depth chart of the regular season.
It’s much briefer than the preseason depth chart because there are 37 fewer players on it, and even though it’s unofficial, it’s still useful to see how the team looks heading into Week 1. While it’s not a direct reflection of how the coaching staff views starters and backups, it does show where the Rams are deepest and where they could use some more depth.
The Rams have plenty of talent at wide receiver with seven players on the depth chart, but it’s clear they’re a little thin at offensive tackle. Keagen Trost’s injury makes David Quessenberry the backup at left and right tackle. Tutu Atwell is buried as the No. 7 wide receiver, behind CJ Daniels and Xavier Smith.
At quarterback, Stetson Bennett is penciled in as the backup to Matthew Stafford, though Sean McVay has yet to commit to a QB2 between him and Ty Simpson. As was the case in the preseason, the Rams have four co-starters at tight end: Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen and Terrance Ferguson.
There are no real surprises on defense. Aaron Donald, who was a late arrival after coming out of retirement, replaces Braden Fiske as a starter at defensive end, joining Poona Ford and Kobie Turner up front.
Wesley Bailey is behind Desjuan Johnson, which was to be expected, but he could still be active on game days. Cornerback is obviously a little bit light with only four players, but the talent is unquestionably there with Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Josh Wallace and Emmanuel Forbes Jr.
Xavier Smith is once again expected to be the punt returner, backed up by Konata Mumpfield. Jordan Whittington and Ronnie Rivers will handle kick returns, as well.
znModeratorSarah Barshop@sarahbarshop
The Rams utilized the 50 percent down rule to lower Donald’s 2026 cap number. He will earn $10M in base salary, up to $10M in per-game roster bonuses, capped at 15 games, and up to $3.7M in Likely to Be Earned incentives in 2026.These are treated as a signing bonus and prorated over 5 years with void years added to the contract. He only counts $5.826M against the salary cap this year. There are also up to $6.25M of Not Likely To Be Earned Incentives available, which will count against the 2027 cap.
Base: $8.7M
Per Game Roster Bonuses: $10M
Cap: $5.826M
NLTBEs $6,250,000***
from AI:
What is the 50 Percent Down Rule? Definition: Under NFL salary cap regulations, certain non-base salary components—such as specific per-game roster bonuses or incentive compensation—can be treated and prorated like a signing bonus under specific criteria (often tied to meeting or falling within structural percentage benchmarks of the player’s compensation).Application: It allows teams to shift portions of player compensation away from an immediate, heavy base-salary cap burden, spreading or re-allocating how money hits the annual ledger.
znModeratorThe Rams don’t get a conventional Bye this year. As part of the “Let’s make the Rams’ schedule as difficult as possible” agenda, their Bye gets swallowed up with a Wednesday game, instead of having 4 more days “off.” The following week, they play on Thursday, and then they get what every Thursday team gets… a game Sunday next.
Yeah, the week after the bye is cut short. But they still get 9 days w/out a game. Then they get 9 more days between the 12/3 Chiefs game and the 12/13 SF game. so after ARZ on 11/15 they play 3 games in 28 days. Basically 3 9 day game weeks (with 1 day more).
10 Sun November 15 4:05PM ET @ Arizona Cardinals
11 Bye Week
12 Wed November 25 8:00PM ET Green Bay Packers
13 Thu December 3 8:15PM ET Kansas City Chiefs
14 Sun December 13 4:25PM ET @ San Francisco 49ersAnd to be frank, outside of Arizona, their opponents in that stretch look pretty shabby….
…
znModeratorPFF@PFF
Highest pct of plays with big time throws over the last 10 seasons
(min. 2000 attempts)Russell Wilson 6.6%
Josh Allen 5.8%
Aaron Rodgers 5.6%
Matthew Stafford 5.6%
Tom Brady 5.3%znModeratorPuka Nacua's ex-girlfriend makes new abuse claim as Rams await suspension verdict: 'What broke me' https://t.co/mJud2z8Wq1 pic.twitter.com/cREzbreFya
— New York Post (@nypost) September 1, 2026
znModeratorThis team is so good that it can only disappoint.
I don’t know, man.
Every year, seems like, the Rams adjust things at the bye and come out stronger. Last year it was the offense that did that.
I can’t wait to see how they adjust everything after this bye.
Like, why not just line up Garrett and Donald on the DL, + 9 DBs.
They could call it the “party like it’s 99 + 9” defense.
…
September 2, 2026 at 3:47 pm in reply to: around the Rams — season previews coming out of the preseason #165787znModeratorHow the 2026 Rams Measure Up to the 2021 Super Bowl Champions
With Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett in the mix, is this year’s team better than the one that beat the Bengals in Super Bowl LVI?Gilberto Manzano
https://www.si.com/nfl/2021-or-2026-debating-which-rams-roster-is-better
I hesitated to call the 2026 Rams the most hyped preseason Super Bowl favorite since the 2007 Patriots because the Rams had a star-studded roster not that long ago that won it all.
I still stand by my words because the hype wasn’t the same for the 2021 Rams, who acquired Odell Beckham Jr. and Von Miller later in the season, and Jalen Ramsey had already been in L.A. a couple of seasons.
For this year’s Rams, the hype has been building since they lost a thriller to the Seahawks in the NFC championship game. In case you forgot, which is understandable, considering all the moves the Rams have made since then, they opened the offseason by trading for Trent McDuffie in March. That was followed by the splash signing of Jaylen Watson, the blockbuster trade for Myles Garrett and now the return of Aaron Donald after a two-year retirement.
But now I’m thinking more about what I wrote in June. While the hype wasn’t the same in 2021, the star power might have been as bright when comparing the two rosters. So, here’s the question many football fans are thinking: Is this year’s Rams roster better than the one that won Super Bowl LVI against the Bengals?I decided to examine both rosters to settle the debate. But before we do, here are some fun facts about the two rosters. Six players remain from the team that won it all in 2021 (it was only four a few days ago): Donald, Matthew Stafford, Coleman Shelton, Alaric Jackson, Tyler Higbee and Tutu Atwell, whose return to L.A. didn’t generate as much attention.
Keep in mind that Higbee and Atwell weren’t on the Super Bowl roster due to injury. For this exercise, I’m going only to compare the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI active roster and this year’s initial 53-man roster.
One more fact: Brian Allen and Robert Woods played for the Rams in 2021 and now are assistant coaches on the 2026 staff. (I should ask them which roster is better.)
All right, let’s settle the debate of which Rams roster is better.
Quarterback
2021: Matthew Stafford, John Wolford, Bryce Perkins2026: Stafford, Stetson Bennett IV, Ty Simpson
Maybe it’s best to call it a draw when debating which version of Stafford is better. This year’s Stafford is coming off an MVP season, but the one who won the Super Bowl was five years younger.
Instead, let’s focus on the backups. Simpson was the No. 13 pick in April’s draft, and Bennett was a 2023 fourth-round selection who won two national titles at Georgia. Wolford and Perkins went undrafted, but Wolford did start a playoff game in a very brief appearance. Draft status gets the edge here.
Advantage: 2026 Rams
Running back
2021: Cam Akers, Sony Michel, Darrell Henderson Jr., Jake Funk, Buddy Howell2026: Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, Ronnie Rivers
Akers was a reliable runner who brought physicality to the offense, but never quite played up to expectations as a 2020 second-round pick. The same can be said for Michel, a 2018 first-round pick of the Patriots.
Let’s put it this way: Akers, Michel and Henderson never rushed for 1,000 yards in a season nor had 10 rushing touchdowns in a season. Williams has accomplished both in three consecutive seasons.
Williams needs more respect for what he’s done for the Rams, but there’s a chance he loses touches to the talented Corum this season.
Advantage: 2026 Rams
Wide receiver
2021: Odell Beckham Jr., Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson, Ben Skowronek, Brandon Powell2026: Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, Tutu Atwell, CJ Daniels, Konata Mumpfield, Xavier Smith, Jordan Whittington
Now, this is a spicy debate.
Beckham and Adams both fit the description of former No. 1 receivers in the twilight of their careers. (Beckham now has a new description as a grizzled veteran who fought his way back onto an NFL roster after two seasons away.)
From the two groups, Kupp might be the top receiver based on what he did in 2021 as a triple crown winner. Still, Nacua is an elite playmaker and a handful for opposing defenses.
I’ll side with this year’s Rams due to their depth. Keep an eye on Daniels and Mumpfield this year. I would have given the 2021 Rams the edge here had Woods stayed healthy and been available for the Super Bowl.
Advantage: 2026 Rams
Tight end
2021: Kendall Blanton, Brycen Hopkins2026: Colby Parkinson, Terrance Ferguson, Tyler Higbee, Davis Allen, Max Klare
Even if the 2021 Rams had Higbee, who got injured that season, this still wouldn’t have been a close race. It’s rare for a team to have this much depth at tight end.
Parkinson is an excellent blocker who emerged as a reliable pass catcher last season, with a career-high 43 receptions for 408 yards and eight touchdowns. You can say the same for Higbee and Allen.
As for Ferguson, he could be a breakout star based on his upside in the passing game. The 2025 second-round pick still needs to improve as a blocker, but he won’t be asked to do much of that as a hybrid playmaker who can also line up at wide receiver.
Advantage: 2026 Rams
Offensive line
2021: Brian Allen, Austin Corbett, Coleman Shelton, Alaric Jackson, Bobby Evans, Tremayne Anchrum Jr., David Edwards, Andrew Whitworth, Rob Havenstein2026: Jackson, Steve Avila, Shelton, Kevin Dotson, Warren McClendon Jr., Beaux Limmer, Dylan McMahon, Bill Murray, David Quessenberry
The Super Bowl winners get on the board here.
Whitworth was still viewed as one of the league’s best left tackles at the time, and Havenstein, who retired this offseason, was a longtime reliable right tackle. Quietly, Edwards has had a productive career as a standout starting guard for the Rams, Bills and now the Saints.
If there’s a weakness on this year’s Rams squad, it might be on the offensive line. A lot is riding on McClendon as the long-term answer to replace Havenstein, and Jackson could face a lengthy suspension due to his legal issues.
Advantage: 2021 Rams
Interior defensive line
2021: Aaron Donald, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Greg Gaines, Marquise Copeland, A’Shawn Robinson, Bobby Brown III, Michael Hoecht2026: Donald, Kobie Turner, Poona Ford, Braden Fiske, Tyler Davis, Ty Hamilton
Part of me wants to give the 2021 Rams the edge because Donald was in the midst of his prime and we don’t know whether he’ll be the same this season after a two-year retirement.
Still, it’s hard to overlook how much the Rams have at this position. They don’t need Donald to play more than 50% of the snaps. This group can get by most of the season with Turner, Fiske and Ford.
The 2021 Rams needed all of Donald and didn’t have depth as a luxury.
Advantage: 2026 Rams
Edge rusher
2021: Von Miller, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Chris Garrett, Terrell Lewis, Leonard Floyd, Justin Hollins2026: Myles Garrett, Byron Young, Josaiah Stewart, Wesley Bailey, Desjuan Johnson
Miller vs. Garrett is a good debate if we’re discussing which future Hall of Famer is better in their prime.
But Miller was in the back end of his prime when he was traded by the Broncos midway through the 2021 season. You could argue Miller had a rapid decline after leaving the Rams and signing a massive six-year, $120 million deal with the Bills in ’22.
With Garrett, it doesn’t seem his production is going to drastically fall off any time soon, especially after generating 23 sacks last year with the Browns. Additionally, this year’s Rams have plenty of depth with Stewart and Young, who had 12 sacks in 2025.
Advantage: 2026 Rams
Inside linebacker
2021: Travin Howard, Ernest Jones IV, Troy Reeder, Christian Rozeboom2026: Nate Landman, Omar Speights, Shaun Dolac, Grant Stuard
Maybe I’m trying to make this a fair fight by reaching for a win for the Rams of five years ago. But there’s not much to choose from here since the Rams have never really prioritized the inside linebacker position under GM Les Snead and coach Sean McVay.
However, Jones was an impactful rookie who had an impressive performance in the Super Bowl against the Bengals, with seven total tackles and one sack. L.A. would have been better off keeping him because Jones went on to become a starting linebacker for Mike Macdonald’s Seahawks. But with so much star power, the Rams couldn’t afford to prioritize every position. They did, however, find a gem in Landman last season.
Advantage: 2021 Rams
Cornerback
2021: Jalen Ramsey, Darious Williams, Dont’e Deayon, David Long Jr., Blake Countess, Grant Haley2026: Trent McDuffie, Jaylen Watson, Emmanuel Forbes Jr., Josh Wallace
Here’s another close one. It’s star power vs. depth.
I’ll side with a prime Ramsey, who might have been the league’s best cornerback at the time. Ramsey shifted from inside to outside to defend that week’s No. 1 wide receiver.
Expect McDuffie to do the same this season. I’ll regret siding with the old Rams if Watson turns out to be a legitimate No. 2 option. He had his ups and downs in Kansas City.
Advantage: 2021 Rams
Safety
2021: Eric Weddle, Taylor Rapp, Terrell Burgess, Nick Scott, Jake Gervase2026: Kam Curl, Kamren Kinchens, Quentin Lake, Jaylen McCollough
Once again, it’s numbers against notable names.
While the Rams’ current safeties group doesn’t have any big names, there’s plenty of talent with Curl and Lake, two defensive backs who got second contracts from the team this offseason. But Kinchens might be the best player from the bunch.
The Rams don’t win the Super Bowl if Weddle hadn’t come out of retirement that season. He knows exactly what Donald is about to face in his comeback season.
Advantage: 2026 Rams
Specialists
2021: Punter Johnny Hekker, kicker Matt Gay, long snapper Matthew Orzech
2026: Punter Ethan Evans, kicker Harrison Mevis, long snapper Joe Cardona
I still have several questions about the Rams’ special teams after how poorly this unit played last season in key situations.
It’s not a given that Mevis is the starting kicker all season. He joined the team halfway through the 2025 season to provide some stability at the position.
However, Gay was an accurate kicker, going 32-of-34 on his field-goal attempts in ’21. Hekker was a four-time first-team All-Pro and one of the best at his position for a decade-plus.
Advantage: 2021 Rams
Final score: 2026 Rams 7, 2021 Rams 4
September 2, 2026 at 11:22 am in reply to: around the Rams — season previews coming out of the preseason #165786znModeratorSeptember 2, 2026 at 10:27 am in reply to: around the Rams — season previews coming out of the preseason #165784znModeratorfrom NFL execs rank NFC teams: Rams, Seahawks clear favorites.
Mike Sando
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7557099/2026/09/02/nfc-rankings-rams-seahawks-eagles-cowboys-bears/
With the NFL preseason finished, it’s time to check in with team executives to set expectations for the coming 2026 season one final time.
The six executives polled this week ranked teams 1-16 in each conference, under the condition of anonymity to allow them to speak freely. I also asked them to place each team into four buckets: Super Bowl contenders, division contenders, sub-.500 teams and likely top-10 pickers in the 2027 draft.
We start with the NFC, where the Seattle Seahawks are reigning champs, but the Los Angeles Rams are the strong betting favorite. One of the execs had the Chicago Bears atop his ballot, on the thinking that seasons rarely play out as expected. Teams are ranked below in median order, with average as a tiebreaker.
1. Los Angeles Rams
Votes: 2-1-1-1-1-2 | Avg: 1.3 | Median: 1 | Vegas wins: 11.5 (1st-NFC)Tier votes: SB contender: 6
All but two voters moved the Rams to the top of the NFC after an offseason that saw Los Angeles overhaul its defense with Myles Garrett, Aaron Donald and two cornerbacks from Kansas City.
“I think they are the best team in the NFC by far,” a former GM said. “Beyond all the defensive additions, Matthew Stafford is just surgical. So impressive.”
The Rams went 1-2 against Seattle last season largely because they finished those games with a -26.7 EPA differential on special teams.
“It is hard for me to go against Seattle being the top team in the NFC,” the voter putting the Seahawks atop the conference said. “Talent-wise, it is going to be really close.”
One other voter had the Bears first, partly on the theory that things tend to play out unexpectedly.
“I would say there is a clear gap (between the Rams and the rest of the NFC) with the return of Aaron Donald,” another voter said.
“I think Myles Garrett puts them over the top,” another exec said.
2. Seattle Seahawks
Votes: 1-2-3-2-2-6 | Avg: 2.7 | Median: 2 | Vegas wins: 10.5 (T-2nd-NFC)Tier votes: SB contender: 5 | Division contender: 1
The Seahawks have an unproven offensive coordinator (Brian Fleury) after Klint Kubiak’s departure to become the Raiders’ coach. They spent their offseason extending key players (Leonard Williams, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Devon Witherspoon) while the Rams were adding big names from the outside. The cornerback situation remains a worry, and it’s unclear whether their top defensive chess piece, Nick Emmanwori, will be at his best physically following ankle surgery.
“It’s hard for me to see them continuing to get better now that they are a marked man,” one exec said. “A lot of people got paid. Is the hunger still there?”
The transition from hunter to hunted affects every Super Bowl winner.
“I don’t know about Super Bowl, but they are going to go deep in the playoffs,” another exec said. “I think them and the Packers are probably the next (NFC) teams after L.A.”
Voters trust Seattle’s defense while taking a wait-and-see approach with the offense.
“It is hard for me to think you’re not going to have some kind of dropoff going from Kubiak to Fleury, even if it is in the same schematic realm,” one voter said. “You lost Kubiak, you lost the Super Bowl MVP (Kenneth Walker III). I know you’re excited about Jadarian Price, but …”
3. Philadelphia Eagles
Votes: 3-4-5-3-3-4 | Avg: 3.7 | Median: 3.5 | Vegas wins: 10.5 (T-2nd-NFC)Tier votes: SB contender: 4 | Division contender: 2
With Seattle on “Hard Knocks” and the Rams making splash after splash this offseason, the Eagles are about as under the radar as can be. Reminder: Philly leads the league in regular-season victories over the past four seasons (50) while ranking second to Kansas City in postseason wins (six).
“They could go either way, to be quite honest,” one exec said of the Eagles, who finished 11-6 last season. “I think they will be better. The thing that was really good for them is a potential concern, and that is the receiver position and running back. Saquon (Barkley) did not have a great year. The offensive line health and age is a concern. They will still be formidable.”
Will A.J. Brown’s departure be addition by subtraction? One voter said the pressure’s on quarterback Jalen Hurts, whose relationship with Brown had grown cold and who will be playing in an overhauled offensive system under new coordinator Sean Mannion.
“It was hard for me to ding Philly even if the offense is unknown, even if they are taking a step back without A.J. Brown,” another exec said. “Vic Fangio and that defense is going to be top five. That O-line is going to be pretty good. It is still Saquon Barkley. Could they win 16-13 every week? Probably.”
4. Dallas Cowboys
Votes: 5-8-2-4-4-3 | Avg: 4.3 | Median: 4 | Vegas wins: 9.5 (T-6th-NFC)Tier votes: SB contender: 3 | Division contender: 3
All agree the Cowboys’ offense appears formidable. How much can the defense improve?
“Anything is better than what they did last year on defense,” the voter placing Dallas second in the NFC said. “They shocked the system by trading Micah Parsons, and I just think generally speaking, new coordinators on defense create variance.”
No team is seeking greater variance on defense from last season than the Cowboys, who ranked 32nd in EPA per play by a wide margin, per TruMedia. They replaced Matt Eberflus with first-time coordinator Christian Parker.
“Quinnen Williams is good, and they have a little more girth up front, so it should be better, but they’ve got some unknowns there too with coaches and philosophy,” the voter ranking Dallas eighth said.
The voter ranking Dallas fifth thought the Cowboys’ defense might outrank the Packers’ defense, notable in light of the Parsons trade last year.
“I like the coordinator,” this voter said of Parker. “He is going to help maximize what they have. The secondary is still not a strength, but they have an impressive front seven.”
Linebacker DeMarvion Overshown’s health is a key variable multiple voters highlighted.
“I have defensive concerns, for sure,” one said. “Do they have enough pass rush? How healthy is Overshown? How good are the corners? But they did address the interior with Quinnen Williams and Kenny Clark, and I like Caleb Downs. They will be better up the middle.”
5. Chicago Bears
Votes: 4-7-6-7-5-1 | Avg: 5.0 | Median: 5.5 | Vegas wins: 9.5 (T-6th-NFC)Tier votes: SB contender: 2 | Division contender: 4
The one voter ranking Chicago atop the NFC said the Bears have an elite coach in Ben Johnson, a rising, super-talented quarterback in Caleb Williams and enough talent to take another step.
“I know all the regression stuff,” this voter said, alluding to the Bears’ ability to win seven games last season after trailing in the final two minutes. “The coach is really good, they have a really good ascending quarterback, the roster is super talented. They did all the right things in the offseason to fight the regression.”
The top three teams in the NFC North are tightly bunched in these rankings.
“I love the whole NFC North,” one voter said, “but the top three all have defensive concerns.”
New safety Coby Bryant’s season-ending knee injury hurts Chicago. The Bears still have uncertainty at left tackle.
“Can they win a playoff game again?” an exec asked. “Sure, but I guess that’s where I cap the Super Bowl contender of like, do I see them coming out of the NFC over the Rams? I can’t see it. Kyle (Shanahan), (Brock) Purdy and the Niners, they have been there, done that. Even Detroit, I trust.”
Another voter thought the Bears’ rise under Johnson last season painted a target on their backs heading into 2026.
“I’m going to double down on them,” the exec placing the Bears fourth in the NFC said. “They are not going to catch people by surprise this year, and the NFC North will be tough. I still think they’ll be OK.”
6. San Francisco 49ers
Votes: 7-6-4-5-8-5 | Avg: 5.8 | Median: 5.5 | Vegas wins: 10.5 (T-2nd-NFC)Tier votes: SB contender: 3 | Division contender: 3
There’s a gap between the 49ers’ Vegas win total (tied for second in the NFC) and where voters see them headed this season. Should there be?
“I think they are going to be just fine,” the voter ranking the 49ers fourth in the conference said. “Veteran team, not concerned. The quarterback (Brock Purdy) is really good. We forget, because he’s not this in-37-commercials guy.”
So much of the noise around the 49ers should be separate from what happens on the field, unless the injuries coach Kyle Shanahan suffered in a car accident limit him in any way. The science doesn’t support concerns over the electrical substation near their practice fields. Owner Jed York’s arrest shouldn’t be more than something to discuss in the locker room. The situation with Brandon Aiyuk is largely a social media fixation, while the 49ers imposter receiver has nothing to do with the product on the field.
This is still a team banking on some aging players with injury concerns.
“There is something missing with that group,” the voter ranking San Francisco sixth in the NFC said. “You can break down their personnel and come out with average in a lot of places. I would probably take Philly’s history over San Francisco. They are very similar to Detroit, but I think Detroit is probably first.”
7. Green Bay Packers
Votes: 6-3-9-8-6-8 | Avg: 6.7 | Median: 7 | Vegas wins: 9.5 (T-6th-NFC)Tier votes: SB contender: 1 | Division contender: 5
The Packers’ best players on both sides of the ball — tight end Tucker Kraft and pass rusher Micah Parsons — are rehabbing season-ending injuries. Kraft could see his snaps limited early in the season, while Parsons will miss at least the first four games. Throw in Josh Jacobs’ arrest on domestic-violence charges, and the buzz is subdued.
“Figuring out how to sort through the contenders came down to: Who do I trust?” one exec said. “I didn’t trust Green Bay’s O-line and Parsons’ injury and the run game with Josh Jacobs’ situation.”
The Packers finished 9-7-1 despite their injury situation last season.
“Jordan Love’s quietly become a really good Tier 2 quarterback, and he can do some top-level stuff,” one of the voters ranking the Packers sixth said. “And then I think you’re going to see the maturation of previous draft classes. They’ll get something out of (Matthew) Golden. I think they’ve had some good drafts.”
Much depends on Kraft and Parsons returning to health.
“I have concerns about their O-line, concerns about what they are doing at some of the skill positions, and we’ll see,” another exec said. “I’m not super high on them. It’s a tough division, tough schedule.”
The voter ranking Green Bay third did so because he thought Love was improving and could help the Packers take another step. This voter also didn’t like how the Packers’ defense finished and thought new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon could provide a boost.
8. Detroit Lions
Votes: 8-5-7-6-10-7 | Avg: 7.2 | Median: 7 | Vegas wins: 10.5 (T-2nd-NFC)Tier votes: SB contender: 1 | Division contender: 4 | Sub-.500: 1
The voter projecting Detroit to finish 11th in the NFC last year was an outlier. He also came closer than anyone else in the rankings (the Lions finished ninth).
Others have come around entering 2026.
“They are teetering on the seesaw of whether they’re going to go into one of those two-year dips to restock the roster with draft picks,” said the voter ranking Detroit lowest.
Detroit’s Vegas win total ranks far higher than voters’ expectations here.
“Detroit, I just don’t know if they have all they need on defense to hold up,” another exec said. “Offensive line is still a concern for me with those guys, but I like what they have in place on that side of the ball. Defensively, I think it’s going to be a struggle to produce the style of play they need.”
Another voter drew parallels between the 49ers and Lions as teams that remain strong but have peaked.
“I questioned whether I could really have Dallas over San Francisco and Detroit, but I know what I’m getting with that (Cowboys) offense,” another exec said. “That is a top-five offense with continuity, while the Lions are breaking in a new OC, and the Niners are coming off all the injury woes.”
znModerator:4 Matthew Stafford (QB, Rams) | Top 100 Players of 2026
znModerator#14: Aaron Donald (DT, Rams) | Top 100 NFL Players of 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7Fyrqva9KI#15: Aaron Donald (DT, Rams) | Top 100 Players of 2017 | NFL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXVwUzgE33UAnalyst, Brian Baldinger, breaks down why Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle, Aaron Donald, is the 2018 Defensive Player of the Year.
#1: Aaron Donald (DT, Rams) | Top 100 Players of 2019 | NFL
#3: Aaron Donald (DT, Rams) | Top 100 NFL Players of 2020
#2 Aaron Donald (DT, Rams) | Top 100 Players in 2021
#2 Aaron Donald (DT, Rams) | Top 100 Players in 2022
#11 Aaron Donald (DT, Rams) | Top 100 Players of 2023
znModeratorznModeratorHenry Ellard should be in the Hall Of Fame pic.twitter.com/mAHIkIselP
— Old Time Football 🏈 (@Ol_TimeFootball) September 1, 2026
znModeratorznModeratorCould Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett break the combined sack record of teammates this season?
Former @RamsNFL DT and Super Bowl Champ D'Marco Farr weighs in 💬 pic.twitter.com/v7GhDwM3sh
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) August 31, 2026
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