Top 10 Offenses in the NFL: Where do Chiefs, Titans Come In?

 As the NFL has evolved over the years, the game has slowly but surely transitioned from a primarily defensive league to a primarily offensive league. Back in the 1900s, holding a team under 20 was expected and routine but now is considered a major accomplishment if done so in 2021. Offense is so fun to watch with all of the explosive players we have in our game today. With all of that being said, what teams reign supreme on offense. Today I rank my top 10 offenses in the game heading into 2021. 

10. Arizona Cardinals

QB: A-
RB: B
WR/TE: A
O-Line: B

The Cardinals have been building up a stellar offensive unit over the past few years, starting with Kyler Murray and then pulling off the trade for DeAndre Hopkins. Aside from those two massive additions, they have built a sneaky good supporting cast around the elite duo. RB is their weakest point and it isn't even that bad. Chase Edmonds is the presumptive starter and he has shown flashes of dynamic ability over the course of his Cardinals career. They also brought in former Steeler RB James Conner who has shown he can thrive with a good O-line. Speaking of that line, a B might seem low to give them, but it's a major step in the right direction for this team. O-line play has been one of their biggest issues over the past decade and this could be the best unit we've seen them roll out in that span of time. Rodney Hudson who they traded for at center is going to prove to be a MASSIVE addition to boost the pass pro on this team. At WR they obviously have a top 2 guy in Hopkins along with speedy rookie Rondale Moore and seasoned veteran AJ Green who was signed this off-season. This is a top 10 offensive unit overall and should not be overlooked any longer. 

9. Los Angeles Chargers

QB: A-
RB: B+
WR/TE: B+
O-Line: B+

The scary part for future opponents of the Chargers is their new look offensive line. The Chargers were a near elite offense last season with a rookie QB under center and probably the worst line in the league. Now with Justin Herbert even more ready to play and an offensive line that has transformed from one of the worst in the league to one of the best, the Chargers offense could be lethal. The Chargers drafted LT Rashawn Slater with the 13th pick in the draft as well as went out and paid big money for former Packers All-Pro center Corey Linsley. These two adds are massive. Both elite talent at their respective positions and will be difference makers in the pass protection game for their wonderkid signal caller Herbert. We all know how good Herbert was as a rookie, potentially the greatest rookie QB in NFL history. Aside from QB and O-line, the Chargers have more to gush about. Austin Ekeler is one of the most versatile RBs in the game as he can catch as well as receivers out of the backfield but is also an elusive runner in his own right. At WR, the Chargers boast Keenan Allen who is one of the league's best route runners and Mike Williams who is a promising young jump ball receiver who just needs to stay healthy. With all of this, we believe the Chargers make the jump inside the top 10 for offense in 2021 along with making a return to the playoffs after a multi-year hiatus. 

8. Tennessee Titans

QB: B+
RB: A+
WR/TE: A
O-Line: C+

If the Titans offensive line was somewhat more polished, they could be looking at an inside the top 5 offense for 2021. That is not the case however but it isn't all bad at all for this squad. With the blockbuster trade addition of Julio Jones earlier this month, the Titans have catapulted their offense into the elite tier. With a QB who seems to be getting better by the year in the mobile Ryan Tannehill who also has a cannon arm, this offense has benefitted big time. Obviously, the real leader of this offense is none other than Derrick Henry. The best RB in the game. Henry is fresh off of a 2000 yard rushing season in which he carried the Titans literally. He will have some pressure taken off of him this year with Jones in the fold. Another name we are yet to mention is AJ Brown. The stud WR entering his third season in the league has had two stellar seasons already. Pairing him with Julio Jones gives the Titans arguably the league's best WR duo. Despite all of this elite talent they have, the offensive line is pretty below average. It will create some problems for this offense which is why they are not ranked higher but in the end, the sheer talent will make them a top 10 unit in the league this season. 

7. Buffalo Bills

QB: A
RB: C+
WR/TE: B+
O-Line: B+

Some might have expected the Bills offense to be ranked higher than this, but one position group really holds them back from being considered one of the very best offensive units. The RB position is just such a question mark for the Bills. Their top two RBs Zack Moss and Devin Singeltary have been disappointing thus far in their young careers and towards the end of last season the Bills essentially ditched the run game altogether. They ran like 10 times a game. That is just not sustainable. If the Bills want to remain one of the league's best teams and offenses they will need to learn to incorporate the run game even a little more than they have now. Aside from that, the Bills have an elite offense. QB Josh Allen had an MVP vote receiving 2020 season and looks to have an amazing career ahead of him. He has maybe the biggest arm in the league and has looked more and more accurate by the game. Around him, the Bills offensive line has really turned into one of the league's best in the pass protection game. At WR, the Bills have Stefon Diggs who proved his worth as an elite WR in 2020. He led the league in receiving yards with 1500 and showed that he is better than the Vikings valued him when they traded him to Buffalo a year ago. Cole Beasley is also one of the most underrated slot receivers in the game and finds his way open. The Bills are a young and hungry offense that seems to be getting better and better, they are easily in the top 10. 

6. Dallas Cowboys

QB: A-
RB: B+
WR/TE: A
O-Line: B+

After a pretty disappointing 2020 campaign, the Cowboys are back and healthy and ready to regain their position within the top 10 offenses in the NFL. When star QB Dak Prescott went down with a season ending leg injury early on in the season, nothing was the same for the Boys' offense afterwards. Andy Dalton couldn't really get it done despite the talented offense around him and as a result, everyone on the team's numbers went down. Back to full health, the Cowboys boast a top 6 offense in the league. Dak Prescott is one of the best QBs in the game and gives their offense a massive boost. When Dak is healthy and the O-line is in a good place, RB Ezekiel Elliott thrives. Without the help, Elliott has proven he isn't as good but now that it will be there, expect a return to elite level for Zeke. As far as pass catchers go, the Cowboys are pretty stacked as well. Amari Cooper is one of the more underrated WR1s in the NFL, he finds his way to 1000 yards every year and is a flat out playmaker. On the rise as well is 2020 first round pick CeeDee Lamb who showed tremendous flashes in year 1 and should be expected to have a major breakout year in 2021 with the return of Dak Prescott. Michael Gallup also might be the best WR3 in the NFL. The O-line is nowhere close to the old Cowboys o-line that dominated the league for years, but they are still a respectable group when healthy. Zack Martin is the second best guard in football and anchors that line. Expect the Cowboys offense to pick right back up at an elite level in 2021 just as it was when Prescott was healthy. 

5. Seattle Seahawks

QB: A+
RB: B+
WR/TE: A+
O-Line: B

Somehow a team with so much elite offensive talent is still underrated yearly. That is what it is for the Seahawks. Almost never are they spoken of as a top offense in the league but they really are. In the first half of last season, when Russell Wilson was cooking and seemingly on his way to an MVP, the Hawks were the best offense in football. They fell off due to uncreative play calling towards the end of the year and it led to their demise. With a new creative offensive coordinator in Shane Waldron (the Rams former passing game coordinator) the Hawks should be back to the 'Let Russ Cook' in 2021 and we can't wait to see it. Wilson is a clear top 4 QB in the NFL and makes plays no one else can. Future Hall of Famer. At RB, the team is pretty strong. Chris Carson when healthy is probably a top 10 RB. They also have elusive weapons Rashaad Penny and DeeJay Dallas out of the backfield. At pass catcher, the Hawks are LOADED. DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett are a top 3 WR duo in the league, both had 1000+ yards and 10+ TDs last season and only look to improve this year. The team also spent their top pick on speedster WR D'Wayne Eskridge in this draft and he will only make their core even more impossible to guard. The team also signed former Rams TE Gerald Everett who is so big and fast for a TE and knows the system already. Russ has possibly the best weapons he's ever had. The main knock for the Hawks O has been the O-line but even that is looking up. LT Duane Brown remains one of the elite blindside protectors in the NFL and the team also traded for elite guard Gabe Jackson to help give Wilson more time. 2nd year guard Damien Lewis also had a really good rookie year and looks poised to make another jump in 2021. The Hawks offense has so much going for it and we might see the best season of Russ' career in 2021. The Hawks are definitely a top 5 offense in my mind.

4. Cleveland Browns

QB: B
RB: A+
WR/TE: A-
O-Line: A+

What an incredible job the Browns have done at building up their roster following their horrendous winless season in 2017. The defense is a whole other impressive story for another day but we are focusing on the top tier offense they have made. Sure, Baker Mayfield has not been everything the Browns hoped when they took him number 1, but he is above average and benefits from the great roster the Browns have put around him. If he does well this season, he is in line for a big payday. RB might be the strength of the whole roster. The Browns boast the best backfield in the NFL. Headlined by bruising, old school runner Nick Chubb, the Browns also have elite elusive back Kareem Hunt right behind him. The duo makes one of the best one-two punches we've ever seen in NFL history. Aside from the best RB duo in the league, the Browns have either the best or second best offensive line in the game as well. Guard Wyatt Teller made an incredible jump from an unknown player to an All-Pro in 2020. Joel Bitonio and Jedrick Wills are also two incredible young pieces the Browns have developed. In 2019 the Browns also spent big time money on elite tackle Jack Conklin. As you can see, the Browns offensive line is no joke and it allows Baker Mayfield time that he desperately needs and makes big holes for the incredible RB duo. WR and TE is also so good as they have Jarvis Landry and OBJ as their WR duo. OBJ is yet to really be healthy in Cleveland so we are all ready to see what he can do in a full season. WR3 Rashard Higgins is also a super underrated player and will have a big impact again this year. The team also drafted the fastest player in this draft in Anthony Schwartz who should have a big impact as well in year 1. Head coach Kevin Stefanski is an offensive genius and we cannot wait to see how high the Browns soar in 2021.

3. Green Bay Packers (with Aaron Rodgers)

QB: A+
RB: A
WR/TE: B+
O-Line: A-

Without Aaron Rodgers, the Packers don't even sniff this list. As of now, Rodgers is a Packer so therefore we are counting that and we see the Packers offense as top 3 unit heading into 2021. We all know how good Aaron Rodgers is. The reigning MVP silenced any doubters with his season in 2020 and we all know he is still in his prime. At RB, the Packers also have one of the league's top duos with the shifty Aaron Jones leading the way and second year tank AJ Dillon as a premium second option. Other than Davante Adams, the Packers don't have much in the receiving game. Robert Tonyan developed into a top 5 TE last season but just Adams and Tonyan is not enough. Adams is probably the best WR in the game right now but it keeps biting the Packers in the butt when they don't have a real WR2. Marquez Valdes-Scantling just can't cut it time and time again. The offensive line is one of the league's best. Headlined by David Bahktiari, the Packers also have young stud Elgton Jenkins. They have made life so much easier for Aaron Rodgers of late and were massive reasons he won MVP in 2020. HC Matt LaFleur also runs such a creative offense that utilizes the strengths of every weapon on their offense. Rodgers and Adams is unstoppable as we've seen. Despite all the turmoil in GB this off-season, they remain a top 3 offensive unit. 

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

QB: A+
RB: A-
WR/TE: A
O-Line: A

The defending champs might have one of the most balanced offenses in football. Consistently at every spot on this offense, they have elite contributors. Just like Aaron Rodgers, nothing needs to be said for Tom Brady. His name speaks for itself. We all know how crazy he is. Can't really even put it into words at this point. At RB, Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones are a really good duo. Neither have proven to be able to consistently be their top bellcow RB but with them splitting action it has done wonders for the offense. Pass catchers are just insanely stacked on this roster. Chris Godwin and Mike Evans are among the top 3 WR duos in the game but behind them they also have Antonio Brown who is still a really good contributor and speedster Scotty Miller. Hell, even 2019 fifth rounder Tyler Johnson has made amazing catches in big situations for the Bucs. At tight end the team also has the ageless Gronk along with Cameron Brate and returning from injury the explosive OJ Howard. If all of this wasn't enough, the Bucs have gone from terrible to elite on the offensive line in the span of a year. 2019 first rounder LT Tristan Wirfs has proven to be a home run pick. He is already one of the league's best tackles after just one season. Donovan Smith and Ali Marpet are two veterans that have also been high level anchors to the line. Center Ryan Jensen is coming off of an amazing season in which he was a top 3 center in the game. Tom Brady picked such a good offense to join, he has everything he could ever need around him. Oh, and head coach Bruce Arians is one of the best offensive coaches of the 2000s. It's unfair. The Bucs are beyond elite on offense. 

1. Kansas City Chiefs

QB: A+
RB: B
WR/TE: A+
O-Line: A

The Chiefs finally best the Bucs on a list! I still believe the Bucs are the better team and probably the overall favorites to win the Super Bowl again in 2021, but the Chiefs offensive unit alone is better and the league's top dog. Patrick Mahomes is just too good. We have never seen this level of dominance from a QB this age. He took the league by storm the second he entered the Chiefs starting lineup and never looked back. He already has a league MVP, a Super Bowl ring, and a Super Bowl MVP in just 3 seasons as a starter. He also has been to a second Super Bowl in which he did everything he could but his offensive line just failed him miserably. That's what is so scary about this new look Chiefs offense. The O-line which was one of the league's worst in 2020 was revamped and overhauled in this off-season and now looks like a top 3 unit in the NFL. The Chiefs found a way to win the bidding war for All-Pro talent Joe Thuney at guard, they drafted Center Creed Humphrey in the NFL draft and traded a first for one of the league's best young tackles in Orlando Brown. This offensive line is going to put in serious work for Mahomes this season. Their pass catchers are undoubtedly the best in the game. Travis Kelce has improved his game every season and is looking like he will go down as the best TE in NFL history. WR1 Tyreek Hill is also improving every year and we cannot forget when he torched the Bucs for 200 yards in the first quarter when the teams first played in the regular season of last year. Mecole Hardman also is one of the fastest WRs on the planet and is always a threat to get open behind Hill and Kelce. Don't sleep on dynamic fourth rounder Amari Rodgers either who the team stole out of Clemson. He could end the season as the team's WR2. Mark my words. The only weak spot on this offense is RB. Clyde Edwards-Helaire has serious potential, but I don't love his fit on this offense. He is a small, shifty back that needs to get touches to get going. The Chiefs love to throw the ball. It's tough for Clyde to get the touches he really needs. Behind him, the Chiefs are also very weak at the position. Despite this RB hole, the Chiefs still easily have the best offensive in the league. It is crazy explosive and with Patrick Mahomes, we can only expect him to be even better this season. What a year for offense it is going to be. The Chiefs take the top spot in the offensive rankings.