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NFL power rankings: 32-team post-preseason breakdown ahead of Week 1

By Peter Panacy

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 13: Quarterbacks Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons and Carson Wentz #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles meet after their game at Lincoln Financial Field on November 13, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Falcons 24-15. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 13: Quarterbacks Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons and Carson Wentz #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles meet after their game at Lincoln Financial Field on November 13, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Falcons 24-15. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 03: Defensive end Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams reacts after a tackle on quarterback Blaine Gabbert #7 of the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 3, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Rams defeated the Cardinals 32-16. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 03: Defensive end Aaron Donald #99 of the Los Angeles Rams reacts after a tackle on quarterback Blaine Gabbert #7 of the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 3, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Rams defeated the Cardinals 32-16. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

. . Previous: . Los Angeles Rams. 3. team. 51

At the time of this article being written, the Los Angeles Rams are very close to inking powerhouse defensive tackle Aaron Donald to a new contract after he had been holding out for the second camp and preseason in a row.

Good for L.A. The team spent a considerable amount of capital and effort signing so many other players to extensions. Why not Donald?

Donald is the Rams’ best player. A close second is running back Todd Gurley, who boasted MVP-like numbers in 2017. And it sure seems as if head coach Sean McVay’s efforts on offense have turned L.A. into the team to beat this season.

It’s a super team in the making, for sure. Especially after adding cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters. Perennial 1,000-yard wide receiver Brandin Cooks is in the fray, adding a speed threat to quarterback Jared Goff’s arsenal.

And, yeah. Donald and Gurley are pretty good too.

But we’ve seen this storyline before. Remember the Redskins back in 2000? Or how about the Eagles back in 2011? Both of those squads stockpiled talent galore but ended up finishing a disappointing 8-8 those years.

This isn’t to say the Rams will suffer the same fate. It’s just to point out how it’s impossible to gauge a team’s overall success based off projections.

Yet we’re still trying to do that with NFL power rankings, aren’t we? Hey, these are fun, at least.