Contenders and Pretenders: Which 3-0 NFL Teams Could Be Due to Stumble?
We are now three weeks through the NFL season, and this is the point where we start getting an idea of which teams could actually compete for playoff spots this season.
Through three weeks, there are six teams in the NFL that remain undefeated, but how real are those records? Are they contenders, or could they be pretenders hiding behind a good record? Here is a ranking of all six teams in
1. Buffalo Bills
This all starts with Josh Allen. As long as that guy is the quarterback in Buffalo, they will always have a chance to win. He is putting together another MVP caliber season with nearly 900 total yards and seven touchdowns through three games.
Buffalo has also gotten spectacular production from James Cook out of the backfield, who ranks second in the NFL with 284 rushing yards and leads the NFL with four rushing touchdowns. The defense has turned things around too after giving up 40 points to the Ravens in Week 1.
This team doesn’t exactly have a gauntlet of a schedule coming up, either. They host the New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots over their next two games before traveling to Atlanta to take on the Falcons in Week 6 before their Week 7 bye. 6-0 heading into that bye is not only possible, it should be the expectation at this point.
2. Philadelphia Eagles
Yes, the Eagles were very close to being 2-1 until Jordan Davis blocked a field goal and returned it for a touchdown to clinch a win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Despite that, what about Philadelphia suggests a slowdown is coming anytime soon? Jalen Hurts has not put up gaudy numbers, but he is managing games at an elite level and has seven total touchdowns through the first three games. The concern offensively is that Saquon Barkley hasn’t really gotten going yet, and if it continues for a few more weeks, we may simply have to accept he’ll be a bit slower this year after a historic year in 2024.
Nothing about the Eagles has stood out statistically through three games, but they are finding ways to win and look very confident. As the Super Bowl champs, they should be confident, and they probably aren’t going away anytime soon.
3. Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers have built an identity of a a ground-and-pound football team who thrives in the running game and on defense. They are a top-five scoring defense and rank among the top 10 in both pass yards allowed and rush yards allowed.
Offensively, the Chargers will have to rely on Omarion Hamption to carry their running game after Najee Harris was lost for the season with a torn Achilles. The rookie is capable of being a lead back at the NFL level as he’s shown through three games.
The revelation that has been Quentin Johnston has been incredible too. He is on pace for about 79 receptions, 1354 yards, and 17 touchdowns this season. The Chargers are a very complete team, and they may now have a true WR1 for Justin Herbert to throw to.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Buffalo Bills, and Indianapolis Colts are the only three teams left that have not committed a turnover. Obviously, all three of those teams also are 3-0 as a result, but despite Tampa Bay’s turnover efficiency, it feels like something is missing right now.
Their offense has been fine, but it hasn’t been overwhelmingly productive as their 5.0 yards per play rank 22nd in the NFL. Luckily, Emeka Egbuka looks like an early favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year with a very impressive start to the season, otherwise who knows where this offense would be right now.
Tampa Bay has a chance to prove themselves as a real contender this year over the next few weeks. From Weeks 4-7 they will host the Philadelphia Eagles, travel to Seattle, host the 49ers, and travel to Detroit. If Tampa Bay emerges from that stretch 5-2, it should be considered a success. Regardless, though, it looks like this team is going to run away with the NFC South.
5. San Francisco 49ers
We can’t talk about the San Francisco 49ers without bringing up injuries. They’ve been able to get to 3-0 without Brock Purdy, but their offense has only broken 20 points once this season (Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints).
Even worse, the 49ers will now be without Nick Bosa on defense for the rest of the season when he tore his ACL. It comes as Bosa had started off with an electric season, totaling 17 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery through three games.
Unless San Francisco’s offense can start turning things around when Brock Purdy gets back on the field, it might be difficult for this team to really compete for a Super Bowl.
6. Indianapolis Colts
I hate doing this to a team that I really want to root for, but I need to see it for a couple more weeks. Obviously, the Colts have been an elite team through three weeks. They rank second in points, second in total yards, ninth in points allowed, and seventh in total yards allowed.
Jonathan Taylor has been the best running back in the NFL through three weeks, totaling 60 carries for 338 yards and three rushing touchdowns while also catching eight passes for 93 yards and a touchdown. Daniel Jones is playing like a legit starting QB right now too with Tyler Warren being a great target for him at tight end.
It’s very difficult to say just how good this Colts team is after wins against the Dolphins, Broncos, and Titans, but if they keep playing with this type of efficiency, they will be very difficult to beat.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Reference.
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