So we’re over the hump and officially into the 2nd half of the NFL season. Everybody and their mother does NFL rankings every week, and they’re all more or less the same. But here at TakeZone we’ve just been sitting back, watching all these idiots talk about Philly and Minnesota being legit contenders, waiting for the right time to strike. Well, everybody, that time is now. I don’t have the intelligence or attention span to rank all 32 teams (spoiler alert, Cleveland’s last), but here’s our top 10.
10. Houston Texans
This right off the bat shows what a joke the NFL is this year after a select few good teams. The Houston Texans? The team that dropped $72 million on Brock Osweiler, a guy who is currently 28th in the NFL is QBR? The team who’s best defensive player has been hurt (or is it injured?) all year? Yup, that’s what the NFL has become. I blame Goodell.
9. Seattle Seahawks
Russell Wilson has been a bit of a disappointment this year, sitting just above Osweiler at 27th in QBR and throwing for just 5 TDs through 8 weeks (they play Buffalo on MNF tonight). The play of Christine Michael has softened the blow of Marshawn Lynch’s retirement a bit, and the defense is still a strong one, but make no mistake: this team is only in first place because of a weak division. Oh and also, they were part of the worst NFL game to ever be played.
8. New York Giants
With Peyton finally done stealing as his spotlight (and Archie’s love), Eli has been a top-10 QB this year. The Giants are dead last in the NFL in rushing, yet still sit at 5-3 with a great shot at a Wild Card spot (they’re not catching Dallas unless Romo comes back). The defense is a strength and Odell has finally come out of his early season funk, but much of this team’s success has to be credited to Eli.
7. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings were an awesome early season story. Lost their QB for the season in late August, snagged Sam Bradford for a bag of chips, and somehow remained undefeated through 5 weeks. The honeymoon is over, though, and after 3 straight losses and an offensive coordinator quitting they’re now in a battle with Green Bay and Detroit for the NFC North. The defense is still arguably the strongest in the league and the offense has kept it together despite the absence of AP (who should be back soon I think?), but the ice is getting thinner.
6. Kansas City Chiefs
Felt weird putting them this high, but it’s deserved. Alex Smith has been just good enough, completing 66% of his passes and leading this team to a 6-2 record despite the spotty play of Jeremy Maclin and a 24th ranked defense. You gotta think it’ll be hard to keep up this success, and a playoff spot seems unlikely regardless on account of sharing a division with Oakland and Denver, but nonetheless the Chiefs have been a pleasant surprise in KC.
5. Denver Broncos
Say what you want about Trevor Semien, but you could argue he’s exceeded expectations this year. CJ Anderson and the running game as a whole have been a let-down, and their aging receiving core hasn’t helped a ton either. What keeps this team in the thick of things is that goddamn defense, which currently sits at 4th in the league and features some of the most talented defensive players in the league, including shutdown corner Aqib Talib and All-World LB Von Miller (both Grade A d-bags, by the way). Again, hurts them that their division is so talented, but Denver should be in the hunt come playoff time.
4. Atlanta Falcons
Everyone’s just waiting for the day that this Falcons team completely implodes, but they’re managing to stick around in the NFC. Matt Ryan has emerged as an early-season MVP candidate, and Julio Jones just keeps on doing Julio Jones things. Freeman and Coleman have emerged as a dynamic duo in the backfield, and even the defense, a problem in the past, has been solid thus far, allowing Atlanta to stay in games late and let their explosive offense win them games. They currently sit at 6-3, leading the NFC South by 2 games, and should run away with the division barring any major setbacks.
3. Oakland Raiders
Easy choice here. I said last week that the Raiders are the only team in the AFC that I’m afraid of come playoff time. This offense is legit. I’ve been on Derek Carr for a few years now, and he’s finally proving me right, currently 10th in the NFL in QBR and throwing for 17 TDs with only 3 picks. Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree have both been consistently reliable options for him, and Latavius Murray, despite some injury trouble, is a real solid back. The defense hasn’t been phenomenal, but it’s done enough to help get this team to 7-2 and make them the favorite in the talented AFC West. I’m telling you; don’t sleep on this Raiders team, no matter how many penalties in 1 game records they break.
2. Dallas Cowboys
How bout em??? Currently at 7-1 and riding a 7 game winning streak, Dallas is without a doubt the most complete team in the NFC. Dak Prescott is a favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year at this point, sitting at 2nd in QBR and throwing for 12 TDs and only 2 INTs (with 4 rushing TDs as well). And then there’s Zeke, the other favorite for Offensive ROY thus far. Still leads the NFL with 891 rushing yards and has found the end zone 7 times in 8 games. Yes he has an incredible offensive line, but this guy has been dynamic and elusive since day 1 and has at time singlehandedly kept this team moving through injuries and other issues. As long as Jerry Jones doesn’t go Jerry Jones on us and bench Dak for Tony Romo, this team has got to be the Super Bowl favorite from the NFC. With Romo, however, it’s a much different story.
1. New England Patriots
Duh. This is the best team in the NFL, hands down. Brady is the best QB in the league, hands down. Gronk is the best TE in the league, hands down. Belichick is the best coach in the league, hands down. Am I just a douchey Pats fan? Kinda, but it’s all true anyway. It was impressive enough that this team went 3-1 without Brady, but what they’ve done since he came back is even more impressive. What do Kirk Cousins, Eli Manning, and Dak Prescott have in common? They’ve all thrown for as many touchdowns (12) as Tom Brady, and they’ve done so in twice as many games. He’s completing 73% of his passes. He still has yet to throw an interception. It’s not even a question; as long as Tom Brady is still breathing, the Patriots will be the best team in the NFL.
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