This is an article version of the CBS Sports HQ AM Newsletter, the ultimate guide to every day in sports. The NBA collectively posted the highest offensive rating in league history last season. As shot selection and shot-making continue to steadily improve, there is a strong chance the 2026-27 season will deliver even more growth on that end of the floor.
If that comes to fruition, which team will best exemplify offensive expertise? There are a number of capable squads. Our Sam Quinn ranked all 30 offenses ahead of the season, and there are a few teams in the top 10 that stand out considering where they finished last year.
These lineups could be in for a huge step forward: 7. 76ers (2025-26 offensive ranking: No. 16) 9. Pacers (25-26: No. 28) 10. Jazz (25-26: No. 22) On the other hand, not all of last year's elite shooting teams will replicate their success.
We're not predicting huge declines for the Nuggets, Celtics and the like, but after it led the league in offensive rating a season ago, we think Denver could be in for a hint of regression. Still, Quinn is not buying a complete downfall for the Nuggets. Nikola Jokić alone is enough to keep them at No. 5 in the preseason rankings.
Week 5 is already off to a topsy-turvy start. The Cowboys were more than a touchdown favorite against the Buccaneers and lost on "Thursday Night Football." Who's the next team to fall victim to an upset? Our Tyler Sullivan named a few candidates, and the most striking are the Lions, who hold a 5.5-point edge over the Cardinals.
Sullivan says it would not shock him if Jacoby Brissett throws for 350 yards against the hapless Detroit defense. It also would not surprise him if the 49ers pull off a modest upset of the Seahawks to establish themselves as the clear Super Bowl favorites. Our Jordan Dajani is also taking San Francisco straight up as a road underdog.
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