Colin Cowherd Ranks the 10 Best NFL Teams After Week 15 – December 17th (Full Video at Bottom of Page)
10. Houston Texans (9-5): "Are they wildly inconsistent? Yes. But are they good? Yes, they're good. They have not lost back-to-back games all season. They're one of the best teams in the league in third down percentage, rushing offense, and total offense. Deshaun Watson and Steve Young are the only players in NFL history with multiple seasons of 25+ passing touchdowns and 5+ rushing touchdowns. They're just dynamic enough to go beat a Kansas City or a New England. They're inconsistent but very good at their best."
9. Buffalo Bills (10-4): "I think the Bills have the best defense in the NFL. They have the second best scoring defense and opposing quarterbacks have the second lowest passer rating. Josh Allen gives them just enough with his arm to always make things interesting. There are ceilings to every NFL team not named Baltimore and San Francisco but the Bills have earned their spot. They have won 4 of their last 5 games and their only loss was to the Ravens in a very competitive game. It's time to give the Bills some credit."
8. Green Bay Packers (11-3): “I can't really wrap my arms them. They're a finesse team who is very good on script but they don't adjust terribly well. In the last 18 non-first quarters for Aaron Rodgers he is completing less than 60% of his throws and only has 4 touchdown passes. Aaron Rodgers has been good this year but he hasn't been 'special'; only completing 63% of his passes. They're in the bottom third of the league in second half scoring. I don't trust this team and could see a lot of teams going in Lambeau and shutting them down."
7. New England Patriots (11-3): "I like their coach and I think coaching really matters at this time of the year, however, they've become way too dependent on 42-year-old Tom Brady taking below average offensive personnel and saving them. According to multiple reports, Julian Edelman is physically falling apart. They don't have an 'A' running back, and haven't addressed their tight end situation. They lead the league with a +19 turnover differential and have a great quarterback in crisis, but this offense has a ceiling and has been resorting to trick plays and blocked punts to win. That's not getting past Kansas City or Baltimore."
6. Minnesota Vikings (10-4): "Love this roster, they're fourth in takeaways, they play fast and aggressive, Mike Zimmer might be the most underrated coach in the league, and for the first time since 2009 they're 6-0 at home. But here's my problem: they're not going to be playing at home for the playoffs and I'm not sure I trust them beating teams on the road."
5. San Francisco 49ers (11-3): "San Francisco leads the league in third quarter scoring. That is a BIG deal; it means they adjust exceptionally well and coaching is huge at this time of the year. You know exactly what Green Bay is giving you after 10 minutes and that's their ceiling, but San Francisco comes full bore with that defensive front and Jimmy G, then by half they give you another wave of energy and new looks. They're the second highest scoring team in the NFL and you're in for a fireworks show when you play the 49ers."
4. Kansas City Chiefs (10-4): "They're the only team in the league who hasn't lost a game by more than 7 points the last two seasons. They're more special at quarterback than San Francisco with Mahomes, and Mahomes and Andy Reid are going to be a very tough out. They're getting healthy, while San Fran is all banged up on defense. A lot of this league is about attrition and where your health is. The team I called a 'windbreaker' team who couldn't win in the elements looked great in the snow versus Denver."
3. Seattle Seahawks (11-3): “This is all about Russell Wilson. They're probably going to play on the road in the playoffs but I trust Seattle on the road. They're great on the road and in any time zone. Are they too Russell Wilson dependent? YES, and that's why I don't have them winning the Super Bowl. The fact they're third in rush offense, third in pass percentage, and third in total offense, with an offensive line and receiving corps that is below average tells me that it is all Russell Wilson. But I get a Hall of Fame coach, they travel well, and they can eat the clock and take the ball away from a Jimmy G, Aaron Rodgers, or Drew Brees."
2. New Orleans Saints (11-3): “I get a lot of explosive athleticism and they don't make any mistakes. They've allowed the second fewest sacks in the NFL and have the fewest giveaways as well. I love the teams who give me all the fireworks and dynamic athletes and don't make any mistakes. They're also fourth in sacks so their line play is unbelievable. However, they don't throw the ball over the top much and that's why I have them at number two."
1. Baltimore Ravens (12-2): "They don't make mistakes and have all the athletes but have a little more explosiveness over the top than New Orleans. You can't always be a 13-play drive team in this league and occasionally you need a 'freebie' from a big play by Lamar Jackson's legs or from those tight ends/wide receivers. They have 21 straight games with 20+ points and that's hard to do in this league with bad weather. They remind me of Carolina in 2015 where they're unique at quarterback and the league is playing catch up. I have the Ravens in the Super Bowl."