There isn’t a team in the NFL that looks better on paper than the Los Angeles Rams. They’re the favorites to win the Super Bowl, with their odds improving after Aaron Donald announced his return.
They will face some stiff competition in the NFC, though. The Seahawks are the reigning champs, and the Eagles, 49ers, Packers, Lions, Cowboys and Bears all have a lot of potential.
But even with all the talent throughout the conference, it’s clear the Rams are the best team. The Athletic’s Mike Sando polled six NFL executives and asked them to rank all 16 NFC teams. Four of the six had the Rams winning the conference, with the other two picking Los Angeles to finish second.
The two executives who picked the Rams to finish second had the Seahawks and Bears
winning the conference. The Rams’ average ranking was 1.3, significantly better than the next-closest team, the Seahawks (2.7).
"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."
Every year at this time I check in with #NFL execs for a snapshot of preseason expectations, knowing there will always be surprises
— Mike Sando (@SandoNFL) September 2, 2026
Here's one surprise: One of six execs took a flier on the #Bears to win the NFC#Rams come out solidly on top, with #Seahawks and #Eagles next… pic.twitter.com/mxY7949pc5
Elsewhere in the conference, the Seahawks' median ranking was second, the 49ers' was 5.5 and the Cardinals' was, well, 15.5 – tied for the worst with the Falcons. Every executive picked Atlanta to finish last or second-to-last.
There's a clear top-eight in the NFC because after the Lions, the Saints, Bucs and Panthers are much further behind; Detroit's median ranking was seven, followed by the Saints and Bucs at 10.5.
What makes the NFC so fascinating is that all of those top eight teams could conceivably contend for a spot in the Super Bowl.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Poll shows NFL executives love the Rams to win the NFC
