Herd Hierarchy: Colin Cowherd Ranks the 10 Best NFL Teams After Week 7 – October 27th
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10. Arizona Cardinals (5-2) (Unranked)
“I know we’re all loving Arizona because they have two big primetime wins in the last 8 days, but they’re still really inconsistent. They’re fun – Kyler Murray is tied for the most rushing touchdowns in the NFL, but Dallas is horrible, and Seattle’s defense is the only one in the NFL that’s even worse. They’re really good against bad defenses, THAT we can say. They’ve won 7 of their last 10 GAME, and they deserve to be on this list, but let’s just bring it down a little. It’s been two games in primetime against the Cowboys defense and Seahawks defense, who make EVERYONE look great. Even Cam and New England looked great against Seattle. Let’s put them at 10 and not go crazy.”
9. Los Angeles Rams (5-2) (9)
“I had the Rams here last week and bet them last night. I like the Rams, and think their offensive and defensive lines are playing a little better than people think. They’re number two in scoring defense. Now, some of that is who they have played, but they’re the only team to allow fewer than 20 points in five games this year. They replaced their defensive coordinator from last year, and I love their weapons. More than previous years with McVay, I think they can make halftime adjustments. They’ve been a slow starting team, but Jared Goff is playing very well in second halves. This is a very good football team and I think they proved it after last night.”
8. Seattle Seahawks (5-1) (5)
“Settle down Arizona, I know you beat them. Seattle controlled most of that football game, and if not for a personal foul penalty on a special teams play they win that game in regulation. It was the first loss for Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson when leading by 4+ points at halftime. It’s not going to happen again. Their defense is atrocious, and I do think they need to make a move to go get an Everson Griffen, or a JJ Watt. They GOTTA make a move, you cannot win a Super Bowl with this defense. Jamal Adams is tied for the team-lead in sacks with two. Myles Garrett has 9! They need a pass rush, or they’re a limited team.”
7. Green Bay Packers (5-1) (8)
“I’m putting Green Bay at number 7 because they have a better defense than Seattle. I think they play great when they’re comfortable, and once again Aaron Rodgers had his third game this year with four touchdowns and no picks. They were my bet of the week in the NFL. They are very good, but I have seen too many times, physical teams line up with them and push them around. So, I’m just going to keep them in this 6 or 7 spot until they change my mind and beat a physical team.”
6. San Francisco 49ers (4-3) (7)
“This may last one week because they are falling apart physically, and Jimmy G has the fewest Air Yards of any quarterback in the league. Some of that is Kyle Shanahan, and that’s just what he does. I really like his team – I like their coach, I like their quarterback, I like their operations, but they’re at Seattle, and then face Green Bay, so the next two weeks we’re going to know a lot about them. Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson, Tevin Coleman, and Deebo Samuel are hurt, and they already have Bosa out. At some point, injuries are an issue, but I’m going to put them ahead of Green Bay for a week, because I think if they had met last weekend, I would have taken the Niners to beat them.”
5. Tennessee Titans (5-1) (2)
“It gets real close here by inches and not feet, I’ll put Tennessee here. They missed a field goal, and would have probably beat Pittsburgh in overtime. Their third down defense is why I put them at five. They really struggle to get people off the field on third down, and a lot of that is because they don’t have a pass rush. They do so many things well, and have a really good coach. Ryan Tannehill is 14-5 since becoming the starter last year in Week 7. He’s a different player, but until they get better consistently on third down in the pass rush, I put them at five.”
4. Baltimore Ravens (5-1) (6)
“The Ravens went out and got a defensive end who is going to upgrade their pass rush. Some of this is who they played, but they have the number one scoring defense, and the number one rushing offense in the NFL. I still think this is a very good team, and they’re favored coming off a bye vs. the Steelers. We’ve gotten into this, ‘Well, Lamar doesn’t play well from behind…’ He does have a winning record when he trails at any point, 64%. If you trail Derrick Henry late, it might be a little different from trailing everyone else late, but let’s not bury the Ravens yet. I still love their roster, I love their coach, and Lamar is still uniquely and bizarrely gifted. This is still a Super Bowl potential team.”
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-0) (4)
“This is the best constructed roster in the NFL, in fact, I think their only weakness is Big Ben. Some of his throws are mind-boggling. That throw against Tennessee late? What are you doing?? You’ve been in the league like 15 years. I like their running backs, and James Conner is better than people think. Their front seven is unbelievable, and I like Minkah Fitzpatrick. I like EVERYTHING about them, but I worry about Big Ben and Mike Tomlin. They are made for each other but they’re just a little reckless. You can get away with all that Alpha stuff, but I do wonder if that will work late in the season against a more buttoned up Kansas City or Tennessee. In terms of a constructed roster there is nothing I don’t like about them. They've got receivers, offensive line, pass rush, and TJ Watt might be a top 15 player in the league now. They are LOADED.”
2. Kansas City Chiefs (6-1) (3)
“I love them right now because they’re not as reliant on Patrick Mahomes. Their special teams are excellent and their defense is playing well. This is why the Le’Veon Bell thing made sense to me. Andy Reid has figured this out, and isn’t going to have this kid throwing 39 times a game. If you’re paying him, then you can’t have a perfect offensive line, and all the weapons. They are becoming more physical and I love that about them, but they aren’t as physical as Tampa.”
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2) (1)
“Point differential, which is a thing Vegas cares about a lot, they are number one in the league. Yardage differential – number one in the league. Sack differential – number two in the league, meaning they protect Tom, and they get to your quarterback. I think they can beat you physically, they can beat you with speed, they can beat you with smarts, they can beat you with experience, they can beat you over the top, and they can pound the football. They’re doing this without Leonard Fournette, Mike Evans, and Chris Godwin. They’re doing this not healthy. Their linebacking corps in the fastest linebacking corps that I have seen in years."
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