ESPN “First Take” analyst Stephen A. Smith is known for his unwavering opinions, and when it comes to his weekly top-five NFL teams, he always labels the list as “fluid.” However, this week, he made some subtle changes after a few shifts in performance.
Smith had previously declared the Buffalo Bills as the best team in the NFL over the past few weeks. But after their shaky 24-21 win over the New England Patriots in Week 16, he reassessed his rankings. Despite the win, the Bills’ performance wasn’t enough to hold onto the top spot.
With Week 17 approaching and the NFL playoffs on the horizon, the great teams are starting to separate themselves from the pack. In Smith’s eyes, after backing both the Bills and Detroit Lions for much of the season, the team now at the top is none other than the 14-1, back-to-back Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
This time, there was no debate. On Christmas Eve, Smith named the Chiefs as the best team in the league without hesitation, offering little explanation—just confident certainty.
.@stephenasmith‘s top 5️⃣ NFL teams after Week 16 🎄
1. 👀
2. 👀
3. Detroit Lions
4. Minnesota Vikings
5. Philadelphia Eagles pic.twitter.com/JVgGjJUWGv— First Take (@FirstTake) December 24, 2024
“I can’t do it anymore, I can’t do it anymore,” Stephen A. Smith exclaimed. “The Kansas City Chiefs—damn it, they’re 14-1! They’re 14-1! They’re 14-1! And here’s the thing: Patrick Mahomes keeps finding a way to defy all odds.”
Trailing the Chiefs, Smith has the Philadelphia Eagles in the No. 5 slot, despite their loss to the Washington Commanders in Week 16. The Minnesota Vikings occupy the No. 4 spot, riding a red-hot streak and improving to 13-2. The Lions come in at No. 3, a team the Bills recently defeated, which was Smith’s pick for the second spot.
However, Buffalo still holds the head-to-head advantage over the Chiefs this season. But with a win on Wednesday, Kansas City would clinch the No. 1 overall seed in the AFC, just three weeks ahead of the postseason.