The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL

Drafting the 15 best offenses in the NFL

Aug 18, 2026 · 1h 19m

Summary

Hosts Robert Mays, Dave Richard, and Derek Shapka rank the top 15 NFL offenses for the 2026 season using EPA per play. Dave selects the Bills first for stability, while Derek picks the Cowboys for their high ceiling. The group debates the Rams' health risks, the Patriots' offensive line concerns, and the Bears' potential under Caleb Williams, ultimately balancing safe picks against high-upside projections.

Topics discussed

Intro ads: Gab screen time solution and Pura home scents Draft rules and EPA per play metric explanation Pick 1: Buffalo Bills vs. Los Angeles Rams debate Pick 2: Los Angeles Rams offensive analysis Pick 3: Dallas Cowboys offense and tight end depth Pick 4: Philadelphia Eagles offensive line concerns Pick 5: Detroit Lions skill talent and floor Pick 6: Chicago Bears upside and Caleb Williams Pick 7: Baltimore Ravens offense and Lamar Jackson Mid-roll ads: Bill, Quince, and Gusto Pick 8: Los Angeles Chargers vs. Cincinnati Bengals Pick 9: San Francisco 49ers and Kyle Shanahan Pick 10: Green Bay Packers and Jordan Love Ads: ASPCA, Wayfair, and NYT Games Pick 11: Jacksonville Jaguars and Trevor Lawrence Pick 12: Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes Pick 13: Minnesota Vikings vs. Arizona Cardinals Pick 14: Seattle Seahawks and Geno Smith Final picks recap and white knuckle teams Outro and iSave529 ad
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