Like many observers, Colin Cowherd is jumping to conclusions after the NFL’s opening week.
With Week 1 in the books, the Fox Sports pundit ranked his top-10 teams on Tuesday’s The Herd. His No. 1 team probably wouldn’t have garnered much consideration for the spot entering the 2025 season.
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Cowherd ranked the Green Bay Packers first following Sunday’s 27-13 statement win over the Detroit Lions.
“I thought the most complete team I saw was Green Bay,” Cowherd said. “… I don’t see the weakness.”
Why Cowherd loves the Packers
Feb 1, 2016; San Francisco, CA, USA; Radio personality Colin Cowherd broadcasts on radio row at the Moscone Center in advance of Super Bowl 50 between the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-Imagn Images© Jerry Lai-Imagn Images
Cowherd called Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley a “stud,” noting that Green Bay shut down Detroit’s prolific offense despite new acquisition Micah Parsons only playing 45 percent of the snaps.
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Although first-round pick Matthew Golden registered 16 yards in a quiet NFL debut, Cowherd is impressed by Green Bay’s draft success. Two 2023 picks, Jayden Reed and Tucker Kraft, scored touchdowns on Sunday.
Cowherd noted that Jordan Love has 11 passing touchdowns to no interceptions in his last eight regular-season games. (He threw three picks in Green Bay’s first-round playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.) The 61-year-old is buying Packers stack after a balanced performance and defensive display that reminded him of the last Super Bowl participants.
“Coaching: elite. Protection: elite. Run game: elite. Quarterback playing elite. Wide receiver and tight end talent: good and getting better. And Micah Parsons opens up lanes and space for everybody else,” Cowherd continued.
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“I said I have a right to overreact in Week 1. Packers blew me away. I haven’t seen them play that kind of aggressive defense — that was Kansas City defense. That was Philadelphia defense. They were playing with their chest out.”
The rest of Cowherd’s top teams
Cowherd placed the Packers ahead of the Eagles, who began their title defense with a 24-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys. He’s concerned that “drama” will follow A.J. Brown receiving one target in Week 1.
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The Buffalo Bills placed third after their comeback victory over the Baltimore Ravens, whom Cowherd ranked fourth. Cowherd has the Los Angeles Rams fifth, declaring that Sean McVay might be the NFL’s best head coach after Andy Reid.
Cowherd placed another pair of Week 1 AFC opponents side-by-side, positioning the Los Angeles Chargers sixth and the Kansas City Chiefs seventh after Friday’s clash in Brazil. He thinks the Chiefs deserve to be home underdogs in this Sunday’s Super Bowl rematch against the Eagles, but Cowherd believes they’ll be “fine” moving forward.
Cowherd ranked the Washington Commanders eighth following a dominant win over the New York Giants. The Minnesota Vikings began Cowherd’s top 10 after rallying to defeat the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football, and he placed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ninth after an NFC South road win over the Atlanta Falcons.
This story was originally reported by The Spun on Sep 9, 2025, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.