Thirteen weeks of football down already. So why not give a quick rundown of who the best teams in the league really are? Here are my top 10 teams in the NFL right now.
1) New Orleans Saints:
Did the Saints lose to the Cowboys last Thursday night, Nov. 29? Yes. But that one loss won’t drop them down on the power rankings. All the credit has to go to Dallas here, and I can’t say many bad things about this Saints team. We still can’t forget the 10-game winning streak that they had and the fact that their offense contains some of the best in league with Drew Brees, Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas. Moreover, their defense is ranked No. 1 in rushing. The Saints are still the best team in the league.
2) Los Angeles Rams:
This is an offense filled with talent. Todd Gurley is no doubt the best running back in the league and already has 19 total touchdowns. Jared Goff has made an enormous improvement this season and has thrown 27 touchdowns. This offense is one of the best in the league. Defensively, they have struggled, but do have talent. Let’s not forget that they have one of the best defensive players in the league in Aaron Donald. They’ve already clinched the division title. The Rams have to be No. 2.
3) New England Patriots
That debacle in Tennessee seems so far away at this point. Now, New England is clicking again, and that’s on both sides of the ball. Offensively, they are ranked No. 7 in points per game. They have the best playing quarterback who now has an established a strong run game with Sony Michel, a healthy Rob Gronkowski and Josh Gordon and Julian Edelman who have both looked good. Defensively, they are No. 9 in points per game and capable of making key stops and getting the job done. Of course, on the sidelines is the mastermind head coach, Bill Belichick. The Patriots are in great shape right now.
4) Kansas City Chiefs:
The loss of Kareem Hunt definitely hurts their offense. But Kansas City’s offense doesn’t necessarily need Hunt to win a super bowl. This offense is still dynamic and one of the best in the league. There aren’t many worries there. It’s the defense that’s the issue. No. 27 in points per game is not something to brag about. Overall, the Chiefs are still a super bowl contender, but I’ll give the Patriots the edge over them.
5) Los Angeles Chargers:
The Chargers are more than just a wild card team; they are one of the best teams all around, and one of the most complete, at that. There is definitely the possibility that they pass the Chiefs for the division title. But there’s also the possibility that they could go 13-3, and still be a wild card team, which is crazy to think about. Philip Rivers only has a few years left in the NFL, so maybe this is the year that he finally gets that ring. They have the talent to do so on both sides of the ball. Whether they’re a No. 1 seed, or a No. 5 seed, the Chargers should be feared by everyone.
6) Houston Texans:
How does a nine-game winning streak sound? Houston has been rolling lately and are a legitimate contender. After starting off 0-3, the Texans are now 9-3 and are the current three seed in the AFC. The Deshaun Watson to DeAndre Hopkins connection is one of the best in the league and the addition of Demaryius Thomas to the receiving core only makes them better. Their defense is one of the best in the league, and it features one of the best in the game with J.J. Watt. Houston should not be ignored. This win streak is telling us something about the Texans. They are for real.
7) Chicago Bears:
Chicago is one of the biggest surprises this season. They had a bad loss to the Giants last week, but it isn’t that much of a concern, since Mitchell Trubisky did not play in this one. Chicago’s defense is a big reason for their success this season. Bringing in Khalil Mack proved to be a tremendous move for them. This defense is No. 4 in points per game and first in turnover differential. It includes a defensive backfield with Kyle Fuller and Eddie Jackson who are each in the top five in interceptions. Their dominant defense and efficient offense makes them a Super Bowl contender.
8) Dallas Cowboys:
Thursday night, Nov. 29, Dallas pulled off a win that many thought wasn’t possible. They held the Saints to only 10 points and completely shut down their offense. Dallas played a great game and deserves all of the credit. The way they can win games is through their phenomenal defense, strong run game and safe play with Dak Prescott. We saw that on Thursday, and if they continue to do that, we have to start taking this team more seriously to possibly represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
9) Seattle Seahawks:
The No. 1 rushing offense finds themselves in a current wild card spot. Their offense may not be filled with a ton of stars, but they are still No. 9 in points per game, and their defense is also in No. 9 overall. What puts Seattle over the top is their excellent run game. Russell Wilson is leading their passing game with 29 touchdowns and only five interceptions. All around, Seattle isn’t the flashiest team, but they are efficient on both sides of the ball and are in good shape for a wild card spot.
10) Pittsburgh Steelers:
Pittsburgh has been very up and down all year. They had a six-game winning streak recently, but now have lost their last two. They find themselves in the fourth spot in the AFC and still lead the AFC North. However, Baltimore is hot, and could pass the black and gold very easily. Pittsburgh’s offense can be one of the best in the league. With Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Conner, they have the fourth-best offense in points per game. Defensively, they have struggled lately. A first round bye is slipping away from them, but winning the division is still in the picture.
