The Los Angeles Rams remain near the top of the early 2026 season power rankings.
The Los Angeles Rams were one game away from punching their ticket to the Super Bowl, and they also have an MVP quarterback in Matthew Stafford.
One of the lingering questions for the team was whether or not Stafford would return, and he announced just that at the NFL Honors. With the core roster still being a playoff contender, the Rams have not dropped much in the early 2026 season power rankings.
Despite the success the Rams had in 2025, they need to address some major issues. One being the special teams.
Nobody could say the muffed punt by Xavier Smith in the NFC Championship game was the reason the Rams lost; it certainly did not help matters. This led to the team moving on from Chase Blackburn during the season.
Bubba Vetrone, formerly of the Cleveland Browns, will now lead the special teams for the 2026 season.
Special teams is a major focus, according to Sarah Barshop and ESPN, which released early 2026 power rankings. Per the rankings, the Rams sit at No. 3.
" The Rams' special teams unit played a major part in four losses. In their playoff loss to Seattle, wide receiver Xavier Smith muffed two punts, including one the Seahawks recovered before scoring a touchdown on the next play. Coach Sean McVay tried to fix the issues at midseason when he moved on from kicker Joshua Karty and long-snapper Alex Ward. He later fired special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn after Los Angeles' Week 16 loss to the Seahawks. The first item will be deciding on a special teams coordinator, whether that means keeping Ben Kotwica or starting fresh at the position," Barshop wrote.
Special teams isn't the only aspect for the Rams that needs to be addressed. The offensive line could go through some changes, as Rob Havenstein may or may not be retiring.
With Kevin Dotson and Warren McClendon Jr. getting hit with injuries, the Rams will need to bolster that unit with second and third-tier players that can step in and keep Stafford upright, and the offense rolling.
A true WR3 will also help. Davante Adams was suffering from a lingering hamstring injury, and Puka Nacua cannot remain the only viable weapon for Stafford. While tight end Colby Parkinson emerged as a solid pass catcher, his emergence was not a season-long element.
The Rams need another solid wide receiver to take the pressure off the usually successful duo, but present more opportunities when they are bottled up.
Los Angeles is not many aspects away from being a Super Bowl champion, and they proved that by nearly beating the Seattle Seahawks. They just need to fine-tune that roster, but getting Stafford back makes them an immediate playoff contender.