How far have the Chiefs fallen? How strong did the Eagles become after the trade deadline? Have the Rams solidified themselves as the NFL’s best team?
Those are the questions Colin Cowherd has answers to 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.
So, let’s take a look at Cowherd’s top 10 teams heading into Week 12 of the NFL season.
1. Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford is the betting favorite to win the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award after 11 weeks. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
“The Rams are the cleanest team in the league. Second year in a row, fewest penalties. They don’t make any mistakes. They’re Seattle without the mistakes, Denver without the penalties … I do think there is value in the Rams not being as flashy or as dynamic as other teams. They don’t get penalized. They don’t turn [the ball] lebih. Anda tidak bisa mencapai angka 27 pada mereka.”
“Saya yakin — dan saya mengatakannya tahun lalu bersama Kansas City — ada tim-tim yang bagus dalam permainan jarak dekat… Denver, tahun ini, hebat dalam permainan jarak dekat. Menurut saya ini tidak terjadi secara acak. Biasanya hal ini terjadi karena perancang permainan elit dan penelepon permainan serta quarterback yang bagus di akhir permainan… Itu adalah Bo Nix tahun ini.”
3. Elang Philadelphia
“Mereka mencatatkan rekor 24-3 dalam 27 pertandingan terakhirnya. Dan mereka hanya dinamit dalam permainan satu skor. Apa yang akan Anda katakan? Inilah hal yang saya sukai dari mereka: Mereka memiliki D-line interior terbaik di liga.”
“Satu-satunya tim yang tak terkalahkan di laga tandang. 3-1 melawan tim pemenang. Tim yang sangat efisien. Pertahanan mereka, dalam sembilan pertandingan berturut-turut, telah bertahan.” [teams] hingga 23 poin atau kurang. Vrabel layak mendapat pujian. Dia pergi dan menghabiskan hampir $300 juta dalam agen bebas, tetapi dia menghabiskannya untuk karakter, pertahanan, pria tangguh, dan fisik. Mereka punya identitas.”
The Ravens telah menang tiga kali berturut-turut sejak Lamar Jackson kembali dari cedera. (Foto oleh Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
“Saat Lamar bermain, mereka rata-rata mencetak 29 gol dalam satu pertandingan… Pertahanan mereka sekarang sehat dan bermain lebih baik. Mereka memiliki playmaker di kedua sisi.”
“Saya pikir Colts akan mengalahkannya [the Bills} if they played … It’s the No. 1 scoring offense. Only team in the league scoring on 50% of their drives. They have the fewest punts in the NFL.”
“They lead the NFL in offensive touchdowns and they average 6.3 yards per play, which is second in the NFL and I think that matters a lot. Josh Allen is playing at another level.”
“My coaching staff of the year in the NFL is San Francisco. I don’t know how Robert Saleh is doing it. By the way, they’re 7-0 when they hold their opponents under 25 … The O-line has been better than I’ve given it credit for … They’re now healthy, they’re dangerous.”
9. Kansas City Chiefs
This is the first time the Chiefs have been 5-5 in the Patrick Mahomes era. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
“They have the second most efficient scoring offense … They’re really good, and they’ve got a good coach … I like their weapons. I like their team. If they beat Indy, I think they’re a playoff team.”
“They have the best point differential in the NFC. They don’t really have a gap in their team apart from the giveaways. JSN is the highest rated receiver, according to PFF. They’ve allowed the fewest sacks on offense. They got playmakers everywhere on both sides of the ball. They can run with power. If they get a lead, they can close out the clock. They make too many mistakes, but they are a great No. 10 team.”
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