LOS ANGELES RAMS (11-6)New faces: DT Ndamukong Suh Dallas Cowboys Randy Gregory Jersey , CB Marcus Peters, CB Aqib Talib, WR Brandin Cooks, CB Sam Shields.Key losses: LB Robert Quinn, CB Trumaine Johnson, LB Alec Ogletree, WR Sammy Watkins Youth Robert Newhouse Jersey , WR Tavon Austin, LB Connor Barwin, offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur.Strengths: Offense returns with every important part from last season's highest-scoring team in NFL, including entire line. Offensive Player of Year Todd Gurley will be healthy, hungry after getting no playing time in entire preseason. Rams likely upgraded receiving corps by replacing Watkins with Cooks, who fits coach Sean McVay's plans. Defense's addition of three veteran stars should boost overall performance, particularly with two elite cornerbacks creating time for Aaron Donald and Suh to wreak havoc. Special teams units with four Pro Bowlers also return intact.Weaknesses: Defensive Player of Year Donald missed second straight training camp in holdout. Regular-season schedule is NFL's fifth toughest Robert Newhouse Jersey Stitched , with opponents carrying combined .523 winning percentage from 2017. Like most teams with big stars, roster is top-heavy at some positions, including quarterback, receiver, defensive line. Rams must hope untested Cory Littleton is capable replacement for leading tackler Ogletree. Linebacker Mark Barron has barely practiced and hasn't played in camp or preseason. Right guard Jamon Brown suspended for first two games of season. Opposition might have better ideas on slowing down McVay's offense in second year.Fantasy Players To Watch: Gurley. Dynamic running back poised to remain prime fantasy contributor and centerpiece of offense. Gurley racked up 1,305 yards rushing and 788 yards receiving last year despite sitting out season finale and will have ball in his hands constantly.Vegas Says: Super Bowl 11-1. Over/under wins 10.Expectations: Rams' flashy offseason signings confirmed they expect to contend for first championship in 19 years. If McVay and Wade Phillips prove they weren't one-season wonder combo, LA clearly has talent and experience to be among NFC's top teams. Would be major step to defend NFC West title and win first back-to-back division crowns since 1979. Rams were solid road team last year Youth Daryl Johnston Jersey , and contention will depend on surviving another midseason stretch with just two of nine games at Coliseum. Time to find out if McVay can do it again.Cowboys @ Panthers expert picks: Cowboys comfortable as underdogs The Cowboys travel to Carolina on Sunday in the season opener and are looking to get the season started on the right foot.The Cowboys are slight underdogs heading into the Sunday afternoon game against the Panthers. The oddsmakers have the Cowboys as 3-point underdogs in Carolina, which isn’t really that much, given that the oddsmakers generally start with a base 3-point advantage for home teams in the NFL. The over/under is set at a moderate 42.5, indicating that about a half dozen touchdowns are to be expected, but perhaps not a blowout.As far a season openers go, pre-game predictions often don’t mean all that much. Whether or not the experts have a good feel for what will happen on Sunday remains to be seen, but here’s what those experts are predicting for the game.Sporting News (Steele): Panthers 33 Daryl Johnston Jersey Stitched , Cowboys 24Miami Herald (Cote): Panthers 27, Cowboys 23NFL (Harrison): Panthers 24, Cowboys 21Pro Football Talk (Smith): Panthers 24, Cowboys 14.CBS (Prisco): Panthers 21, Cowboys 14Pro Football Talk (Florio): Panthers 17, Cowboys 13.Wisconsin Post-Crescent (Kohn): Cowboys 31, Panthers 17New York Times (Hoffman): CowboysLas Vegas Sun Times (Keefer): Cowboys78% of the experts and algorithms tallied by NFLPickwatch.com favor the Panthers over the Cowboys Youth Chuck Howley Jersey , but NFL games can often go in an entirely different direction than one would have expected. And with this being the season-opener, almost anything is possible on Sunday.Overall, the Cowboys are the underdogs in the court of public opinion, a role that has suited them well in the past and may fuel their 2018 season.What are your expectations for the game?