A week after declaring the Buffalo Bills the top team in the NFL, Colin Cowherd has dramatically reshuffled his Herd Hierarchy following Buffalo’s messy loss to the Patriots — the Bills tumbled out of the top spot and now sit outside his top five. Cowherd promoted a new No. 1 and added three previously unranked teams into the top 10: the Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons and Indianapolis Colts. The Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions and Las Vegas Raiders dropped out entirely, and the unbeaten Minnesota Vikings didn’t make the list.
Cowherd’s Week 4 Herd Hierarchy (10–1):
10. Dallas Cowboys (2-2) — Previously unranked
Cowherd isn’t a fan of the coaching staff, but he’s slotting Dallas into the top 10 based on offensive firepower. Despite poor run defense and yielding big plays, Dak Prescott’s connection with CeeDee Lamb and the overall offensive production keep them afloat in Cowherd’s view.
9. Indianapolis Colts (2-2) — Previously unranked
Cowherd likes the Colts’ roster and coaching fit more than public opinion does. He notes their rough defensive numbers are skewed by a tough opener vs. Baltimore and a matchup with Kansas City, but he sees improvement, likes Jonathan Taylor and the offense’s 28 points-per-game output, and is willing to back Shane Steichen with Daniel Jones at QB.
8. Atlanta Falcons (2-2) — Previously unranked
Cowherd doesn’t see the Falcons as a flash in the pan: Bijan Robinson is elite at running back, Drake London is a strong receiving option, and Kevin Stefanski has added structure. Atlanta leans heavily on Robinson but has solid pass protection and a promising offensive setup under Michael Penix; defense is only so-so, but Cowherd trusts the coaching.
7. Los Angeles Rams (2-2) — Previously ranked 8
Statistically explosive on offense but more modest in scoring, the Rams’ offense can sputter because Matthew Stafford is a pocket passer without much mobility, Cowherd says. Still, their yardage numbers and a stingy defense on long plays make them a contender; he ranks them seventh.
6. Buffalo Bills (3-1) — Previously ranked 1
After recent sloppy play and a loss to New England, Cowherd dropped Buffalo, criticizing their inconsistency and defensive lapses. While the Bills average 32 points per game, he questions whether an offensive-minded coaching approach and a leaky defense will limit them, so he places them at No. 6.
5. Chicago Bears (3-1) — Previously ranked 1
Cowherd trusts Ben Johnson’s coaching and believes Chicago’s defense is outperforming its personnel largely because the offense dominates time of possession. Their ability to keep opponents off the field has helped the defense look better than it might if it were on the field more.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-1) — Previously ranked 6
The Jaguars impress Cowherd with a strong turnover margin and point differential, plus better quarterback play from Trevor Lawrence under Liam Coen’s guidance. He praises their physical defense, Lawrence’s recent hot streak, and creative use of Travis Hunter, and ranks Jacksonville fourth.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (4-0) — Previously ranked 4
Cowherd sees the Chiefs as legitimately excellent on both sides of the ball, though injuries to receivers Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton raise questions. Kansas City’s lack of consistent pass rush and recent stretch without sacks are concerns, but overall they remain a top team in his eyes.
2. Seattle Seahawks (3-1) — Previously ranked 3
Despite turnovers and penalties (notably a costly game vs. the Chargers), Seattle keeps finding ways to win. Cowherd highlights the team’s young athletic talent, strong defense similar to last season, and an offense that’s scored 30+ points in three straight games.
1. San Francisco 49ers (4-0) — Previously ranked 2
Cowherd puts the 49ers atop his list thanks to their prolific scoring and dominant offensive production so far. While acknowledging injury and age concerns on the roster, he praises the leadership of players like George Kittle, Fred Warner and Trent Williams and calls their locker room one of the league’s best.
Fan Take: This shake-up matters because it shows how quickly perceptions can shift in an offense-driven league — one bad performance can cost a team its standing. For fans, these rankings fuel debate about which teams are truly built for the long run versus those simply riding hot streaks, and they can influence narratives heading into the trade deadline and second half of the season.
Source: www.foxsports.com
