Can the Bills finally reach the Super Bowl? Are the Rams still the NFL‘s top team? Just how good are the Jaguars, Texans and Seahawks?
Those questions, and more, were answered by Colin Cowherd in the most recent edition of the “Herd Hierarchy.”
Remember, Cowherd isn’t ranking teams based on what they’ve done lately or their record. Rather, it’s an encapsulation of where each team in the NFL stands, holistically, taking into consideration which opponents each team has beaten, how healthy they are and their ceiling for the rest of the year.
That said, let’s take a look at Cowherd’s latest top 10 heading into Week 17 of the NFL season.
“Josh Allen [is] harm. Did you see the offense as soon as he went for an X-ray? They have been held below 200 passing yards in three of the final 4 video games. They cannot cease the run. I’m not as excessive on Buffalo as everyone else is. … I do not see this as a workforce that may win three playoff video games. They haven’t any passing assault downfield.”
“I believe you possibly can actually beat this workforce on the backend. Christian McCaffrey, 27 touches [in Week 16 win over the Indianapolis Colts]. They’re 0-4 [in] the sport after he has 27 touches.”
Is San Francisco a darkish horse Tremendous Bowl contender? | The Herd
“Opposing quarterbacks this yr have a passer ranking of 74. I do assume they’d be ugly, however I believe they’ll get to the convention championship. I just like the coach, I just like the quarterback. If Woody Marks is wholesome, they’ll run the soccer.”
“The protection because the Week 12 bye has gotten worse. It is permitting 26 a recreation because the bye and it is not the offense … Groups that play Denver are 3-11 the next week. That tells you they seem to be a actually bodily workforce.”
“They had been 4-of-5 within the crimson zone, and groups had struggled all yr in opposition to the Broncos within the crimson zone. Six-game successful streak, onerous to run in opposition to them. I like their story. … Their receiving core is the true deal. Hear, while you’re dangerous for years and have top-10 draft picks, you bought dudes. And Jacksonville at six has dudes.”
“I like Philadelphia … There’s solely two groups within the league, the Rams one, Philly’s the opposite, which might be high 5 in crimson zone offense and crimson zone protection. That is Philadelphia.”
“They performed a simple schedule, however they’re 11-2 since Week 3. They don’t give the ball away, and so they take the ball away. That’s actually good going into the playoffs. Their quarterback — he is younger, however he is dynamic. Situationally, I like their head coach. … I don’t care that they get outplayed within the second quarter. I care they win video games.”
Herd Hierarchy for Week 17: Bears keep put, Texans fall, Will the Rams be dethroned? | The Herd
Colin Cowherd lists his high groups getting into Week 17, together with the Chicago Bears, Houston Texans, and Los Angeles Rams.
“They’ve had one stinker within the final 10 weeks, and so they dominated the Buffalo Bills within the first half of that recreation they misplaced. I like them — 7-0 on the highway [and] they’re doing it now with out their left deal with and left guard. And the weakest a part of this workforce proper now could be their run recreation as a result of they’re all beat up on the offensive line. … Their receiving core is means, means underrated.”
“They misplaced to Seattle, I will put them at two. Three straight video games with 500-plus yards, outgaining opponents this yr by virtually 1,100 yards. No person can cease Puka [Nacua], they’re doing it with out Davante Adams now. Two working backs, three tight ends I like, getting a cross rush.”
“Seattle turns the ball over an excessive amount of, however they’re superb in opposition to good groups. They could not beat the Rams twice, beat them as soon as. … It’s not simply Sam Darnold. I’ve stated it. For those who flip the sound down while you watch the Seahawks, they appear like the very best workforce within the league. They’ll flip the ball over and nonetheless blow groups out, they’ll get outplayed for three-and-a-half quarters and nonetheless beat wonderful groups.”
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