The Seattle Seahawks are flying high to start the season, as the only team in the NFC West with a 2-0 record. Their lone status in first place has fans in the Pacific Northwest feeling great, but it apparently has not impressed everyone. ESPN recently listed the Seahawks as "pretenders" when they went through all the 2-0 teams in the league.

However, one who is impressed is Fox Sports' Colin Cowherd. During the NFL season, Cowherd gives his weekly rankings of who he believes are the Top 10 teams in the league. He calls it his "Herd Hierarchy." Making the Hierarchy for the first time this season are Cowherd's hometown team, the Seahawks.

Cowherd has Seattle ranked at No. 8, which is right above the San Francisco 49ers and just behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Cowherd sang the praises of quarterback Geno Smith, the emergence of head coach Mike Macdonald, as well as Seattle's top weapons in DK Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Tyler Lockett.

Could it be possible Geno Smith is finally gaining some national recognition? His play through the first two weeks has been nothing short of stellar, as he is carrying this inconsistent Seahawks offense.

Seattle is 2-0 and have a great opportunity to improve to 3-0 this weekend against a Miami Dolphins team without their starting quarterback. Miami will still be a challenge to face, but if the Seahawks defense can shore up their ground defense and Smith stays hot, the team in the Emerald City might continue getting a little more national love.

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This article originally appeared on Seahawks Wire: Colin Cowherd ranks the Seahawks at No. 8 on his NFL rankings