Can anyone beat the Rams? Are the Patriots Super Bowl contenders? How much did the Packers’ injuries hurt their chances?
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 latest top 10 heading into Week 16 of the NFL season.
Herd Hierarchy for Week 16: Packers out, Bears rise, Will the Broncos be on top? | The Herd
“Seven of their last nine wins have come in one-score games. They’re 3-5 when allowing 21-plus points … Their defense, it’s excellent. Their roster, it’s excellent. But I don’t trust Jalen Hurts or Nick Sirianni in big spots. … This offense feels like it’s been broken since Week 1.”
“You can’t run on them. And Liam Coen has done wonders for Trevor Lawrence’s confidence, he’s running more. They have the No. 1 scoring offense and No. 2 scoring defense on their five-game winning streak. Do I trust them in a big spot? No.”
“They got totally worked for the first half of that game after losing to New England. Everybody thinks, ‘Wow, they scored on five straight touchdown drives.’ Ok. They do run the ball, but are so overly dependent on Superman at quarterback. Yes, Josh Allen has been very good in December games, I’ll give you that. And in the last couple of weeks, they have almost 600 total yards — Josh Allen does.”
Josh Allen has led the Bills to a combined 28-10 record in December and January since his arrival in 2018. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
“Elite coaching. Maybe the best coaching staff this year in the league. [Robert] Saleh, on defense, doing it with smoke and mirrors; and Kyle Shanahan, four straight wins, all by more than 10 points. Brock Purdy, finally this week, I think he looked totally healthy. He had a lot of juice, a lot of energy. … This is a very dangerous team.”
“Seattle has an oversized defense. Sam Darnold, yes, he leads the NFL in giving up, but he also leads in yards per attempt. It’s a big-play offense that can also play with an edge. They can play conservatively and win because they can run the ball. Well-coached. Play defense. Second-best odds right now to win the Super Bowl. Twenty-three games in a row not allowing anyone to rush for 100 yards… I think they’re going to be a really tough one.”
“They’re a young team, they’re missing their left tackle and their left guard. Their problem is they’re not very good in the red zone on either side of the ball, and that’s why I don’t think they’re a Super Bowl team. They’re not good defensively.”
“Tell me what they don’t do? They play great in bad weather. They run the ball. They’re dynamic. Great offensive coach. Great offensive line. They take the ball away. What don’t they do? They’re built for January… 8-2 in their last 10 games. Number one rushing offense since Week 5. Number two in big plays. They feel like a team that could end up in the conference championship.”
The Bears’ last appearance in the NFC Championship Game was in 2010. Will Caleb Williams propel Chicago back to the conference title this season? (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
“I think the Texans defense is the best unit in pro football. They’re 8-0 if they can score 20 points. Number one scoring defense… I’ve always liked CJ Stroud. I don’t understand the criticism. If you give him 2.5 seconds, he’s outstanding. I really like Houston. I think they’re going to make the AFC Championship.”
“Desire [quarterback Bo Nix] It was a little more consistent, but the guy is an incredible athlete. He doesn’t take sacks, he’s a right-handed Steve Young. …We have to stop doubting him. Opposing teams, by the way, are 3-10 after facing Denver. “Then they hit you and beat you.”
“The most complete roster in the NFL… They outscored their opponents, in the last month, by over 500 yards. Blake Corum has now excelled at running back, so they’re 1-2. They’ve got four tight ends that are capable.”
Herd hierarchy for Week 16: Packers out, Bears on the rise, Will the Broncos be on top? | the pack
Colin Cowherd lists his NFL power rankings entering Week 16, including the Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos, excluding the Green Bay Packers.
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