With Week 1 of the 2026 season approaching very soon, ESPN's Football Power Index has cemented its pick for the best team in the NFL.
As of this moment, ESPN's FPI has the Los Angeles Rams above the rest of the field with a 5.6 grade. The Buffalo Bills are the No. 2 team with a score of 4.0. Suffice to say, the computer model for ESPN really likes what the Rams have built on paper.
For starters, the Rams have a quarterback in Matthew Stafford who is playing at an incredibly high level. The reigning MVP of the NFL completed 65% of his passes last season for 4,707 yards with 46 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Stafford should have plenty of weapons at his disposal in Davante Adams, Puka Nacua, Colby Parkinson and Kyren Williams.
As for the defense, Sean McVay's unit received a huge boost in the form of Myles Garrett. The Rams acquired the two-time Defensive Player of the Year from the Cleveland Browns earlier this offseason. It's also possible Aaron Donald will return before Week 1.
"We'll see how his body's responding to some of the training and the way that he puts himself through the paces to know what it looks and feels like to be ready to take on what the rigors of an NFL season entail," McVay said. "He's earned the right to be able to do it on his terms. And that's why I think you guys are seeing us take this approach. But I did not ever really think this would be something, but I'm not going to sit here and act like I'm not excited about the possibility of it."
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The Los Angeles Rams will be tested early and often.
If the Rams are going to make a run to the Super Bowl this season, they'll need to take care of a pretty tough schedule.
Not only will the Rams face the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1, they'll take on the Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills before Halloween even arrives. They'll also have showdowns with the Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks.
Do you think the Rams are the team to beat this fall?
