Seven of the 32 NFL teams remain undefeated after 3 games. How do they stack up? Which undefeated teams are for real and what teams should come down to earth.
7. San Francisco 49ers
The Niners were 17-47 in their previous 4 seasons. So, 3-0 borders on stunning … until you realize their opponents in 2019 have a collective 1-8 record. They catch a bye week to enjoy this high mark. However, when they return to action the next couple games are the Browns in SF and at the Rams. Cleveland may be 1-2 but it certainly isn’t Tampa Bay, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh (without Ben Roethlisberger).
6. Green Bay Packers
Green Bay has been known for Aaron Rodgers and offense. New coach Matt LaFleur has unleashed a superb defense under the guidance of Mike Pettine. It hasn’t been an easy road to 3-0 with divisional victories over Chicago and Minnesota before they caught the winless Broncos in Week 3. Green Bay is in a stretch of 5 of 6 at home with the Eagles up Thursday before a trip to Dallas. They figure to be tested in these two and in Weeks 8 and 9 with trips to Kansas City and the Los Angeles Chargers.
5. Buffalo Bills
The Bills are perfect heading into a home game against the perfect Patriots. Talk about an unlikely sentence. The Bills are tied for the AFC East lead with New England as they meet in Week 4. The defense is stellar. The offense is not as dependable as was seen in the Week 3 victory over the winless Cincinnati Bengals. However, they survived the “trap” game and could not have a better scenario to prove themselves as legit with the Super Bowl champs visiting in a clash of the undefeateds. One cautionary note: This is a team that somehow fell behind the Jets, 16-0, in Week One.
4. New England Patriots
The Patriots are perfect against imperfect opponents. New England’s first 3 foes — Pittsburgh, Miami and the New York Jets — are a collective 0-9. So before anyone gets ready to raise a seventh Super Bowl flag, know the schedule can only get tougher. It starts Sunday at Buffalo. The true gauntlet is Weeks 8-14 with games at home against the Browns, at Baltimore, a bye, then at the Eagles, home to the Cowboys, at the Texans and home to the Chiefs. That stretch will tell the tale.
3. Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes is doing things few quarterbacks have done. The Chiefs have won 10 straight games in September. Do they peak too soon or are they threats to make their way through the AFC to the Super Bowl? The next 3 weeks are intriguing: KC is at the 2-1 Lions then plays host to the Colts and Texans. The offense is elite. The defense needs to tighten up.
2. Dallas Cowboys
Dallas has done itself proud in going to 3-0. While its foes have one collective win — pending the Redskins’ game with the Bears Monday — the Cowboys have looked strong on offense and are middle of the pack on defense. That’s a sturdy combination. The next couple games won’t be as easy, going into New Orleans — albeit without Drew Brees — and then playing host to Green Bay. This version of the Cowboys appears to be legit and can prove themselves to be just that in the next couple weeks.
1. Los Angeles Rams
The Rams have earned their spot as the top unbeaten team in the NFL. They went into Carolina and toughed out a 3-point victory. They handled the Saints, who did lose Drew Brees in the game, and they went into Cleveland and won another road game with a solid effort. The Bucs are up this week with a road trip to Seattle to follow then a home game against San Francisco. They are not going to be an easy team to take down.
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