Herd Hierarchy: Colin Cowherd Ranks the 10 Best NFL Teams After Week 16
(VIDEO SEGMENT ABOVE)
10. Cleveland Browns (10-5) (7)
“Listen, I’m still going to put the Cleveland Browns into it. In the Jets game they were missing too many players. Here’s what worries me – NOT that they’ve lost two of three; what worries me is that they’re the only team with a winning record in the NFL that has a negative point differential. That’s something Vegas looks at. THAT is not a Super Bowl winning team. They’re a playoff team, and I do think they’ll beat Pittsburgh on Sunday and make it in. They have the highest graded offensive line in the NFL. I’ve told you before, they remind me of the Dallas Cowboys in Dak’s rookie year; great running game, great o-line, talented but limited quarterback, and they’ll probably lose their first playoff game.”
9. Chicago Bears (8-7) (unranked)
“I don’t know what to say about the Chicago Bears, this is the nuttiest turnaround I have ever seen. They were AWFUL and everybody was getting fired, and now they’ve scored 30+ points in four straight games – Chicago hadn’t done that since the 60’s. Matt Nagy is hot, and Mitch Trubisky, for all his issues, is 25-12 during the Matt Nagy era. They’re on a three-game winning streak, and if they can beat the Packers on Sunday they are in. I don’t think they’ll beat the Packers but I like their defensive personnel. Trubisky runs around a lot and they’ve got a little bit of a ‘Baltimore’ feel to them, and that they’re a little contrarian to the league. They throw good enough if the running game is moving, and frankly, the coaching staff and Matt Nagy deserve a ton of credit because I thought this team was DEAD. I had a shovel and was about two scoops from burying them officially.”
8. Miami Dolphins (10-5) (5)
“I do worry, not psychologically that Tua was benched, but he’s struggling. He’s not throwing for a lot of yards, and it’s a lot of safe stuff, underneath stuff, doesn’t move the chains, and a lot of three-and-outs. They have won 4 of their last 5 – the Chiefs their only loss, and they have the number one scoring defense in the NFL. They feel like a playoff team, but can’t win a playoff game; it’s very much a Cleveland feel. But I do like their coach, and I think Brian Flores is the next superstar coach in this league.”
7. Baltimore Ravens (10-5) (unranked)
“I probably have them too low. The running game is rolling, they’re good on third down, and Lamar is absolutely on fire. If they beat the Bengals they’re IN. In the last four games in points, rushing, third down percentage, and passer rating Lamar is top three. I have the same questions you do – what can they do in the postseason? How will they play TRAILING against an elite playoff team? I don’t know the answers and that’s why I put them at seven, but I would NOT have any interest playing Baltimore if I’m in the AFC.”
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-5) (10)
“I put them at six because of Tom Brady. He’s been in so many playoff games and so many close games that you give him the edge over Baltimore. I know it’s against junk defenses, but his last three games he’s absolutely on fire. Here’s what worries me though and this is why I don’t think they’re a Super Bowl winning team: they’re 9-0 against teams that are .500 or worse, and are 1-5 against winning teams. There’s a Mike Tyson quality to them. They beat up on average fighters, but you put in a Lennox Lewis or Evander Holyfield, somebody punches back, and they just don’t have a second or a third gear. I will say that Brady and Mike Evans are really aligned right now, Brady is using Gronk more, Ronald Jones, who’s explosive will come back, so I think they’re clearly capable of winning a playoff game or two.”
5. Seattle Seahawks (11-4) (6)
“I worry about their offensive line. Can you win a Super Bowl with that offensive line? But since Jamal Adams got healthy and Carlos Dunlap came over they have solved their pass rush issue which has simultaneously helped their ‘OK’ corners. They need to draft a cornerback and everyone in the building knows it. I got a Super bowl coach and I got a winning quarterback. That Rams game is exactly what the Seahawks do. Their offense looks like junk for three and a half hours, and then Russell end of the half, Russell end of the game, and you look up an you’ve won another division. Their scoring defense since Week 10 has held each of their last 5 opponents under 20 points and that matters.”
4. New Orleans Saints (11-4) (4)
“I have concerns though. Since coming back from the rib injury – I speak from experience, I have a rib injury! – Drew Brees has an 86 passer rating, and is completing 56% of his throws. It worries me. I’d love for him to take a week or two off. They’ve allowed 30+ points in back-to-back games because they’re not moving the chains because they’re giving the ball back. I do think when healthy this is the best overall roster in the NFL. I do think they’re a tough matchup for Green Bay, but right now because Drew isn’t quite right I put them at four.”
3. Kansas City Chiefs (14-1) (2)
Yes, the Chiefs have won seven straight games, but all by six points or fewer. That’s NOT a top team in the NFL. They have 7 giveaways in the last three games, they have the worst red-zone defense in the NFL, and Patrick Mahomes struggled in December – 8 touchdowns, 5 turnovers, and a passer rating in the high 80’s. Their ‘floor’ is really high; they can play poorly and win, but at some point that’s in the regular season. In the playoffs you’re going to face the best coaches, the best coordinators, the best teams, and the best momentum in the next two weeks, and they’re just not clicking.”
2. Green Bay Packers (12-3) (3)
“My only concern is that they’ve had the easiest schedule in the NFL. A lot of this feels like fluff, but their scoring offense is profound, Davante Adams and Aaron Jones, their two key weapons, are both healthy, their offensive line is good enough, they’ve won 7 of their last 8 games, Aaron looks comfortable, Matt LaFleur has improved, and I think they’re a better second half offense than they were last year when I thought they were very good on \-script, but very average post-halftime. They feel like the second best team, and they are humming and hitting on all cylinders, and Kansas City is not and that’s why they’re above them.”
1. Buffalo Bills (12-3) (1)
“This is the third week in a row they’re no. 1. They’re a Hail Mary from nine straight wins. They have 24+ points in eight straight games, their defense now is playing well -- that was their only question, and they’ve held four of their last five opponents under 20 point. Stefon Diggs is essentially uncoverable, and he’s the hottest receiver in the league with Davante Adams. They give me EVERYTHING – they give me clever coaching, playmakers, star quarterback, weaponry on the outside, and playing great situational defense. I think Buffalo’s the best team in the league, Green Bay is second, Kansas City third, and the best roster in my opinion, New Orleans, is at four.”
FULL Segment Above
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