Another long, tumultuous and dramatic NFL offseason will soon end. The 2019 regular season can't arrive fast enough and bring with it a new kind of drama for all 32 teams.
Before you settle in to watch the Bears and Packers kick off the NFL's 100th season for real, here is a look at Sporting News' final preseason NFL power rankings, just in time for Week 1.
2019 NFL PREDICTIONS:
Standings, playoff projections, Super Bowl pick
NFL power rankings
1. Kansas City Chiefs (previous preseason ranking: 2)
Patrick Mahomes ended up losing only one starter in the offense around him, giving him a chance to maintain the team's explosive pace from last season. The defense's change to more of a bend-but-don't-break mode in its 4-3 scheme will hold up as a better complementary force.
2. New Orleans Saints (3)
The Saints didn't lose anything offensively, and they got even more juice when they added Jared Cook and Latavius Murray. The defense is also deeper and more impactful on every level. The key will be how quickly they can shake off that frustrating, disappointing ending last season.
3. New England Patriots (1)
The Patriots are finding their new offensive identity without Rob Gronkowski; their deep power running game led by Sony Michel and the return of Josh Gordon's downfield receiving are big helps. Defensively, they will try to carry over the momentum of their Super Bowl 53 dominance despite a few personnel losses.
4. Los Angeles Rams (4)
The Rams are trying to avoid a major Super Bowl hangover, given their offense is what let them down with the most on the line. A healthy Todd Gurley and Cooper Kupp will do plenty to restore their attitude and production there for Jared Goff and Sean McVay. The defense, despite a few departures, won't stop making big plays with Wade Phillips.
5. Dallas Cowboys (11)
The Cowboys are Sporting News' pick to win Super Bowl 54 in part because of their potential to put their ample talent on both sides of the ball together for the playoffs. There should be a resolution in the Ezekiel Elliott holdout soon, which will facilitate Dak Prescott's best NFL season yet under new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.
MORE: Why Cowboys are SN's Super Bowl pick
6. Philadelphia Eagles (10)
The Eagles are much like the Cowboys in their profile and will be right there with them challenging for the division title, armed with a healthy Carson Wentz and loaded across all positions. Philly returning to the playoffs and rediscovering its 2017 form would surprise nobody.
7. Los Angeles Chargers (6)
The Chargers can't seem to avoid personnel issues that keep them away from their full potential, and this year's versions are Derwin James' foot injury and Melvin Gordon's unyielding holdout. With that said, Phillip Rivers is playing the best football of his career, and they have a ton of playmakers still available on both sides of the ball.
8. Cleveland Browns (7)
The Browns hype has abated a little because of their offensive limitations in the preseason, but at the same time, more buzz is building around their Myles Garrett-led defense. On paper, they are the best overall team in the AFC North, and with the leadership of Freddie Kitchens and Baker Mayfield, they should come through.
9. Green Bay Packers (8)
The Packers have kept their new offense under wraps, but they have too much going for them with Aaron Rodgers, their line and their skill players for one to think the unit won't be more balanced and explosive this season. The real reasons to pick Green Bay to win the NFC North, though, are the defensive changes that fit Mike Pettine's 3-4 scheme to a tee.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers (14)
The Steelers look like they will find ways to replace Antonio Brown's receiving production, much like they did with James Conner running in place of Le'Veon Bell last season. Ben Roethlisberger might throw less this season, but he can be justified in doing so as Pittsburgh's defense operates with Devin Bush and an upgraded secondary.
NFL UNIFORM RANKINGS:
Best and worst looks in the league for 2019
11. Chicago Bears (9)
The Bears will hurt a little defensively without Vic Fangio running the show, but the drop-off will be mild. Offensively, there are still some questions about Mitchell Trubisky, but David Montgomery will help give them the running-game foundation they need to get back to the playoffs.
12. Minnesota Vikings (17)
The NFC North will be the NFL's best division in 2019, and no one will be shocked to see Packers, Vikings or Bears win it. Kirk Cousins did his best with what he had last season, offensive line- and play-calling wise. He will get a boost from upgrades up front and a healthy Dalvin Cook. The defense is getting longer in the tooth, but it still has plenty of bite.
13. Baltimore Ravens (13)
The Ravens are feeling good about their run-heavy offense, but they will be challenged to raise their scoring enough to compensate for the losses of Terrell Suggs, Za'Darius Smith, C.J. Mosley and Tavon Young on defense, even with Earl Thomas arriving to replace Eric Weddle.
14. Indianapolis Colts (5)
The Colts are no longer on the list heavy Super Bowl contenders, but they are not out of the playoff hunt, as they still project to be the best team in the weak AFC South without Andrew Luck and with Jacoby Brissett. The offensive line, the skill players and entire defense suggest their village will be strong enough to help Brissett win 10 games.
15. Seattle Seahawks (12)
The Seahawks' defense has been held together with duct tape thanks to Bobby Wagner and the scheming of Pete Carroll and his staff, but the unit has some holes the offense needs to help mask. Russell Wilson is great at covering for and carrying this team, but he faces his toughest test yet.
NFL RIVALRY RANKINGS:
The most heated of the hatred in 2019
16. San Francisco 49ers (15)
The 49ers are a hard team to read, because their promise comes with a lot of unknowns. Will Jimmy Garoppolo find a healthy groove, and will everything around him fall into place? Will their defensive upgrades come together? The Niners' boom-or-bust nature for 2019 makes them perfect for the middle of the pack.
17. Houston Texans (16)
The Texans have dynamic skill players around Deshaun Watson with Duke Johnson now stepping into a bigger role to complement DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller and Keke Coutee. The problem is their atrocious offensive line. Defensively, they are about to miss Jadeveon Clowney up front, and there are plenty of concerns on the back end, too.
18. New York Jets (20)
Le'Veon Bell will be huge for Adam Gase's offense as New York gives Sam Darnold the support he needs to take the next step in his development. Defensively, the Jets have some personnel obstacles, but they have enough talent for Gregg Williams to provide a complementary, aggressive unit. Look for New York to creep into the AFC wild-card conversation this year.
19. Carolina Panthers (19)
Cam Newton's health concerns won't go away, but the offensive upside is there with D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel flanking Christian McCaffrey. The defense has some promise in the switch to more of a 4-3/3-4 hybrid with more pass-rushers, but the linebackers and defensive backs around Luke Kuechly have some weaknesses.
20. Atlanta Falcons (18)
Dan Quinn is taking control of the defense and hoping the returns of Deion Jones, Ricardo Allen and Keanu Neal will create stability. Dirk Koetter returns to operate the offense with Matt Ryan, but the jury is still out on whether the coordinator can commit to the complementary running game with a healthy Devonta Freeman.
MORE: Ranking all 31 NFL stadiums for 2019
21. Oakland Raiders (25)
The Raiders are carrying some good vibes out of their "Hard Knocks" preseason, and now that the Antonio Brown helmet drama seems to be over, coach Jon Gruden can get the best out of a roster made more to his liking thanks to Mike Mayock. Derek Carr and the offense will bounce back, but the defense still has too many holes.
22. Buffalo Bills (27)
The Bills have done a nice job building support for Josh Allen with a deeper running game, an overhauled line and a more streamlined receiving corps. Their defense remains a backbone for coach Sean McDermott, but there are still questions regarding consistent execution in all three phases of the game.
23. Tennessee Titans (22)
The Titans have not looked good in the preseason, and Marcus Mariota hasn't done anything to make us believe he will come through with a healthy and productive season to extend his stay as the franchise QB. They have still have plenty of grittiness to do better than expected under coach Mike Vrabel, but their ceiling in the AFC South remains low.
24. Denver Broncos (24)
The Broncos turned to Fangio in an effort to take their Von Miller-led defense back to elite status, and having Bradley Chubb established on the opposte edge is huge. They will be strong in that area, but the offense — in transition with Joe Flacco in the role of bridge quarterback — is hard to trust.
25. Detroit Lions (28)
File Matt Patricia as another former Bill Belihick assistant trying to operate his team in a no-nonsense, physical manner with running game and defense bearing much of the winning burden. With the offensive line, two-tight end looks and Kerryon Johnson, the former half of the equation is in good shape. But even with some big splurges, the defense will keep Detroit from fully embracing its tougher identity.
MORE: The NFL's most indispensable defenders
26. Cincinnati Bengals (30)
New coach Zac Taylor is in an audit season after taking over for Marvin Lewis, and the Bengals' mess of a defense beyond Geno Atkins makes the transition tough. An injured A.J. Green early in the season hurts, too, and there are concerns about whether Andy Dalton's days as the team's above-average but highly dependent starter are numbered.
27. Jacksonville Jaguars (21)
Nick Foles puts the Jaguars' passing game on the map, but more so in balancing out Leonard Fournette and the running game than lighting up the scoreboard. Jacksonville still has some key roster holes scattered around some elite talent.
28. New York Giants (26)
Daniel Jones looks good for the future, and Ell Manning looks more adequate than expected for the present. The scheme, the line, Saquon Barkley, Sterling Shepard, Evan Engram and (soon) Golden Tate make the post-OBJ situation better than one might think. The problem is the fact that their defense is set up to stink.
29. Washington Redskins (31)
Case Keenum will start at quarterback, but he should have a short leash as the placeholder for first-round pick Dwayne Haskins. Good luck to whoever's under center, given the Redskins have a shaky receiving corps, a running game with durability issues and a missing top left tackle in Trent Williams. The defense can only help so much.
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (23)
Jameis Winston has a ton of optimism around him despite his stepping into a make-or-break season. The influence of Bruce Arians can get the Bucs' franchise QB back on track, but while they put up gaudier, more efficient passing stats, their defense will give up too many big plays and points.
31. Arizona Cardinals (29)
Kyler Murray and Kliff Kingsbury will be a fun duo to watch as they try to turn the league upside down with a spread, pass-happy offense. But their youthful energy also will come with some mistakes and rough outings against better teams. The defense, without Patrick Peterson for six games, is a bigger concern.
32. Miami Dolphins (32)
New coach Brian Flores is in charge of a massive rebuild with a nebulous, short-term quarterback situation. The Dolphins have some skill-position talent, but their offensive and defensive lines combine to be the league's worst at the line of scrimmage.
