RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Yahoo Sports' "Football 301" podcast hosts Nate Tice and Matt Harmon spent an episode going through their top 10 NFL offenses heading into the 2026 season. Their dueling lists consisted largely of the same teams and featured a fun debate on who should be No. 1. Here's how their rankings broke down:
Harmon's top 10
Tice's top 10
Jaguars
Packers
Patriots
49ers
49ers
Lions
Chargers
Bears
Bills
Bengals
Bengals
Bills
Cowboys
Patriots
Bears
Chargers
Lions
Rams
Rams
Cowboys
Why Dallas can outgun everyone — if the line holds
It's easy to fall in love with the Cowboys' firepower. CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens form a dazzling one-two punch that can win with finesse or rock fights, and newcomer Ryan Flournoy is no slouch as WR3.
"It's one of the only teams where their third receiver is actually dangerous," Harmon raved, pointing out Flournoy's ability to step up if injuries hit.
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The tight end group might be the NFL's most versatile. Jake Ferguson pairs receiving chops with real Y-blocking; Brevyn Spann-Ford is an elite edge-sealer; even the fullback, Hunter Luepke, is a tactical weapon — a "rug that ties the room together," as Tice put it.
But the O-line, long Dallas' calling card, faces a new test. Tyler Guyton is a supreme athlete but, as Tice noted, "He was always hurt in college. Right now, same story … so, can he string together 15-16 games in the NFL?"
Thankfully, Dallas has rare depth. "Nate Thomas wasn't bad last year when he had to play," Tice said, suggesting continuity even if Guyton misses more time.
What sets Dallas apart isn't just stars. The Cowboys are already solving the problems modern defenses throw at them. When teams flood the line with five defenders ("clouds" and 5-man fronts), Dallas answers with pullers and fullbacks, creating mismatches and staying one move ahead.
"That's why I'm so optimistic. They already showed the signs of going supernova … they were good on offense last year. I'm just all systems go," Tice said.
Even weaknesses don't feel fatal. The running back room is solid, if unspectacular. But on this team? "If running back depth is your biggest worry, you're probably going to be alright," Tice said.
With an offense already carving up the trends of 2026 and enough O-line talent to (probably) patch over injuries, the Cowboys are as close as it gets to an offensive sure thing.
If Guyton can string together a healthy campaign — or if Thomas picks up where he left off — expect Dallas to be at the top of every power ranking come Thanksgiving.
The Matthew Stafford-Sean McVay brain trust has been successful in Los Angeles. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) Kevin Sabitus via Getty Images
The case for the Rams
At the core of Harmon's justification for putting the Rams No. 1 on his list is the "MVP at quarterback" in Matthew Stafford and the elite playmaker duo of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams, calling Nacua "a top receiver in the NFL, period, end of story" if healthy. The Rams' offense is built around stars at key positions, giving them the capacity to run their entire passing game through explosive weapons.
The tight end group is another area of strength unique to the Rams. With perhaps "the fastest tight end in the NFL in Terrance Ferguson, who can truly be a sacrificial player from 13 personnel" plus proven producers like Colby Parkinson, the Rams have the ability to seamlessly pivot from multi-tight end sets to 11 personnel when the situation demands.
"They're always ahead of it," Harmon says of Sean McVay-led units. The Rams stay atop modern trends, blending a multiple-tight end attack with tempo and versatility. McVay's willingness to adapt — such as increasing fourth-down aggressiveness from 10% to 29% over his Rams tenure — keeps defenses off-balance and maximizes the roster's strengths.
Despite naming them No. 1, Harmon admits there is a "little bit of a house of cards element" to the Rams' setup. He points out some serious risks: Nacua's offseason legal troubles, Adams' age (34, unprecedented for a WR1), depth concerns at receiver behind the top two, and the durability of key linemen like Alaric Jackson. There's also the wild card of Stafford's health and age; any significant time missed could derail L.A.'s ceiling.
For more NFL insight, tune into " Football 301 on Apple , Spotify or YouTube .
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