NFC power rankings

BY CARL STEWARD

Last year’s record: 13-3

OK, Crescent City, we get it. You got hosed. You should have been in the Super Bowl. You probably should have won it. Time to stop whining about the pass interference No-Call Of The Century against the Rams and get back to the line of scrimmage. Drew Brees is still one of the quarterbacking greats of all time but it’s clear he’s running out of time, too. The sense of urgency for the Saints to win now, plus the large chip on their shoulder, should push them through to another stellar regular season. New Orleans lost some significant pieces in running back Mark Ingram and defensive end Alex Okafor but they still have running back Alvin Kamara and superreceiver Michael Thomas and now add tight end Jared Cook to an electric offense, and the defense is still more than solid enough to get through an average NFC South.

Last year’s record: 12-4

So how many NFC West defensive coordinators were taking notes on how effectively Bill Belichick thwarted quarterback Jared Goff in the Super Bowl? Was it a onegame fluke or did the Patriots mastermind actually unlock the secret to slowing down an offense that wasn’t stopped much throughout 2018? We’ll find out this season, but it seems unreasonable that effervescent young coach Sean McVay won’t be able to correct the issue and the Rams will be just fine. They certainly have the weaponry on both sides of the ball, but running back Todd Gurley’s balky knee may be a problem all season if L.A. doesn’t have an effective Plan B. Gurley’s 1,231 yards and 17 TDs were a big part of the program and it showed when he faltered. Moreover, beyond Gurley, the Rams were one of the league’s healthiest teams in 2018 and can they count on that again? They have to, because there are still a lot of PSLs to sell for that new Hollywood Park mega-stadium opening next year.

3.

Philadelphia Eagles

Last season’s record: 9-7

After a charmed 2017, the Eagles didn’t have a lot of health luck last season. They had the second-most games lost to injury in the NFL and were particularly decimated on defense. That said, they were a solid second half from making it to the NFC title game but the plug got pulled after they took a 14-0 lead against the Saints in the divisional round. With Nick Foles gone to Jacksonville, the reins return to the younger Carson Wentz to keep the Eagles in the postseason hunt. If Wentz performs well — as he should reflecting on his preinjury rookie season — Philly has the talent and balance on both sides of the ball plus Doug Pederson’s innovative shotgun attack to challenge anybody. Oh yeah, for added excitement, DeSean Jackson’s back in town as a still-dangerous deep threat.

Nagy seemed to develop a good working relationship with developing quarterback Mitch Trubisky in his first season as head coach. Mack, meanwhile, had 12 ½ sacks and pretty much was the holy defensive terror the Bears thought they were getting. Now if they can only find a kicker who can avoid uprights and crossbars …

6. GREEN BAY PACKERS

Last year’s record: 6-9-1

4. DALLAS COWBOYS

Last year’s record: 10-6

Whatever the Raiders couldn’t figure out as far as getting the most out of Amari Cooper, the Cowboys did. He had 59 catches for 723 yards and six touchdowns in nine games as Dallas went 7-2 down the stretch. He had seven catches for 106 yards in a win over Seattle in the playoffs, and six more grabs with a touchdown in a narrow loss to the Rams. Now Cooper can go through a camp with quarterback Dac Prescott and refine the rapport. The Cowboys have a terrific corps that’s young as well — Prescott and Cooper are 25, running back Ezekiel Elliott is 23, promising linebacker Leighton Vander Esch is also just 23 and edge rusher Jaylon Smith 24. Defensive end stalwart DeMarcus Lawrence, 27, also signed a new five-year deal. The Cowboys look ready to roll.

Mike McCarthy is finally gone and the Packers now turn to 39-year-old offensive wunderkind Matt LaFleur, fashioned from the same mold as his two pals, the Rams’ McVay and the 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan. LaFleur got off on the wrong foot when he ruptured an Achilles playing basketball shortly after he landed the job. Now he has to forge a relationship with the sometimes prickly Aaron Rodgers, who has voiced a desire to have more control at the line of scrimmage this season. Not to worry. LaFleur should get the most out of Rodgers’ play-action strengths and allow him to be more aggressive downfield. If the Packers get some better defensive play — better health is one big key to that — Green Bay could be tough to beat come December and January.

49ers. Jimmy Garoppolo should be ready to start the season after last season’s ACL setback. An improving defense not only added top rookie Nick Bosa but vet passer rusher Dee Ford. Garoppolo has a formidable cast of young receivers in Dante Pettis, rookie Deebo Samuel, tight end George Kittle and vet speedster Marquise Goodwin. There’s running back depth with Tevin Coleman, Matt Breida and Jerick McKinnon. The loaded defensive line will set an angry tone and take the pressure off a secondary still in development. The 49ers also have the game’s most reliable kicker in Robbie Gould. No question, it’s time to make a move down the field and up in the standings.

9. MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Last year’s record: 8-7-1

5.

Chicago Bears

Last season’s record: 12-4

The entire city of Chicago can still hear the clink-clank of the double-kiss field goal miss that cost the Bears a victory over the Eagles and advancement beyond their first NFC playoffs game last January. It was a bitter pill for a team that had enjoyed its best regular season since 2006 and looked to go deeper. Sporting the top-ranked scoring defense in the league led by former Raiders star Khalil Mack, the Bears have to retool a bit now that defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has left to become the head coach at Denver and has been replaced by Chuck Pagano. But Matt

Seattle Seahawks

Last year’s record: 10-6

The Legion of Boom took another off-season personnel hit with the free agent departures of safety Earl Thomas, defensive end Frank Clark and cornerback Justin Coleman and is now looking more like the Legion of Whom. Could Pete Carroll’s club actually be vulnerable on defense this year? It’s a fairly unrecognizable group right now beyond middle linebacking wonder Bobby Wagner, which puts more pressure on quarterback Russell Wilson, now the highest-paid player in the league after he signed a new long-term contract. Hard to see how Wilson does more, though — he’s never missed a start in his NFL career and has now played in 112 straight games, and last year passed for 35 scores with just seven interceptions. But as the legendary defense disappears, a return to the Super Bowl also seems farther downfield each year.

There is little question that the Vikings are built around defense under Mike Zimmer, and they should remain stout on that side of the ball with 10 of 11 starters returning from a team fourth in the NFL in fewest yards allowed last year. The question is how Gary Kubiak’s role as the new assistant head coach and offensive “advisor” impacts offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski’s play-calling, and perhaps more important, Kirk Cousins’ play at quarterback following a decent first season in Minnesota. Cousins completed more than 70 percent of his passes, threw for 30 touchdowns and 10 picks, but also took 40 sacks. Bottom line: Better blocking could take this team to a higher level, but whether they can get it is a big purple “if.”

10. ATLANTA FALCONS

Last year’s record: 7-9

Injuries and offensive line woes sabotaged a 2018 Falcons team a lot of experts thought had serious playoff potential. They still have standout quarterback Matt Ryan, after all, and maybe the best receiving corps in the league in Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu and Calvin Ridley. Atlanta beefed up its offensive line in the offseason to give Ryan more time to find those wideouts, so the real question is whether the defense is up to snuff. Head coach Dan Quinn is leaving nothing to chance: He appointed himself to be the new defensive coordinator. Things didn’t start well, though, as veteran safety J.J. Wilcox blew an ACL on the first day of camp. Not a good omen.

8. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Last year’s record: 4-12

Are they ready? Can the John Lynch-Kyle Shanahan duo finally put pedal to metal in Year 3? They have to prove it, but a lot of things finally look to be in place now for the

11. CAROLINA PANTHERS

Last year’s record: 7-9

Everything hinges on the repaired hinge in

Cam Newton’s right shoulder. Newton had surgery in 2017 to repair a torn rotator cuff but struggled with his throwing throughout the 2018 season and required a second surgery in January to clean up troubling scar tissue from the initial procedure. He was cleared for training camp but if the shoulder doesn’t respond, the Panthers are in big trouble. Adding to fears is that Newton still takes so much punishment as a runner -- more than 100 snaps on his own last season. Defensively, the Panthers have not only made numerous personnel changes but they’re switching from a 3-4 to a 4-3 front, which could dramatically alter how star linebacker Luke Kuechly has to play. In short, loads of questions and concerns.

The New Orleans Saints and running back

Alvin Kamara seemed on track for the Super Bowl last year, but were sidetracked by a questionable pass interference no call.

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14. WASHINGTON

Last year’s record: 7-9

12. DETROIT LIONS

Last year’s record: 6-10

There’s not much doubt longtime assistant Matt Patricia has aspired to turn the Lions into something akin to Patriots Midwest after 14 seasons being mentored by Bill Belichick. It’s even more obvious now after Detroit signed pass rusher Trey Flowers and wide receiver Danny Amendola, both formerly New England fixtures, to free agent deals, although Amendola took a detour through Miami last season. But can Matthew Stafford ever approximate Tom Brady? Stafford is a solid QB but he threw for under 4,000 yards for the first time in eight seasons and just 21 touchdowns, his fewest since 2012. Part of it may a scheme issue as Patricia aims for a more short- to medium-yardage approach a la New England. They figure to be solid on defense, but they may need more Patriots attributes to win consistently.

Alex Smith still has another full year of recovery from a catastrophic leg injury before he can return to playing, which could drop the ball into the lap of hometown hero and Ohio State rookie phenom Dwayne Haskins, although roving NFL rent-a-QB Case Keenum is around to step in if Haskins isn’t ready, as is roving backup Colt McCoy. And then there’s the penniless running back Adrian Peterson, whose recent tales of a lost fortune at least bode well for a motivated season. He needs the cash. More likely, it may be up to the defense, which is well-stocked up front with studs like Jonathan Allen to save offensiveminded head coach Jay Gruden’s job. It just never seems to work out for everyone’s favorite lovable owner, Dan Snyder.

15. NEW YORK GIANTS

Last year’s record: 5-11

If there is a less popular sports figure in Manhattan than Knicks owner James Dolan, it may be Giants general manager Dave Gettleman, who traded away Odell Beckham Jr. and then made the controversial No. 6 draft pick of Duke quarterback Daniel Jones (over Haskins). The verdict will be out on that selection at least to start the season as 38-year-old Eli Manning is still around. The Giants are clearly in rebuilding mode on defense as well, having selected a down lineman (Dexter Lawrence) and a cornerback (DeAndre Baker) with their other two firstround picks. It will surely be another long season for the Giants.

Last year’s record: 5-11

The Bucs made the most intriguing off-season coaching move by coaxing Bruce Arians out of retirement. Arians can certainly coach, as he proved in Arizona, but why would a 66-year-old man with health concerns want to take on this gnarly project for the next four seasons? He must have gotten very bored in his year off because Tampa has issues after going 10-22 the past two seasons. Oh yeah, ousted Jets coach Todd Bowles is here, too, as the new defensive coordinator, and the Bucs appear to be making all their first big steps on D, signing Ndamukong Suh to anchor the line, then drafting LSU linebacker Devin White with the fifth pick. Offense? Jameis Winston is still the QB but lost some key weapons, including receiver DeSean Jackson. The colorful Arians may wish he stuck to shuffleboard.

16. ARIZONA CARDINALS

Last year’s record: 3-13

The Kliff and Kyler Show sounds like something you’d see on Nickelodeon on Saturday mornings, not Sunday afternoons in the NFL. In a much-needed house cleaning, the hapless Cards now have a new coach in Kliff Kingsbury and a new quarterback in dynamic 5-foot-10 former Oklahoma multitasker Kyler Murray. Arizona is all-in on Murray revolutionizing the league with the Sooners’ “Air Raid” approach. So is Murray after the former A’s No. 1 draft choice chose football over the much safer baseball path. But it’s a tall task for such a short man so slight in experience, regardless of his arm strength and foot speed. If this grand experiment flames out, he could be back in the green and gold by age 24, shagging flies.