Seattle took the No. 1 spot in Colin Cowherd's final preseason "Herd Hierarchy" for Week 1, one day before opening the 2026 season at home against New England.
Los Angeles ranked No. 2, with Cowherd placing the defending Super Bowl LX champion Seahawks just ahead of the Rams after both clubs entered 2026 as the league's top carryover powers.
That ordering contrasts with at least one other recent national ranking from Bleacher Report, which put the Rams first and Seattle second.
Cowherd's nod also stands out because national debate around Seattle has been mixed, with his co-host Jason McIntyre drawing backlash from Seahawks fans over skeptical takes on the team and quarterback Sam Darnold.