Through three weeks, only three NFL teams remain unbeaten, and they aren’t necessarily the ones we would have predicted entering the 2014 season. The 3-0 Bengals are the AFC’s only team without a loss, while the Cardinals and Eagles sit atop the NFC at 3-0 themselves.
Although all three teams have looked impressive in their victories, most observers likely wouldn’t consider the unbeaten squads to be the class of the NFL at this point. The Cardinals have won their first three games in spite of backup Drew Stanton taking over for the injured Carson Palmer, while two of the Eagles’ three victories required significant second-half comebacks. The Bengals have looked the strongest of the three squads so far, though their schedule has yet to feature a 2013 playoff team.
The Bengals and Cardinals have byes in Week 4, so each team’s loss column will remain unblemished for at least one more week, but it won’t be easy keeping those winning streaks going starting in Week 5. Cincinnati faces a four-week stretch of games against the Patriots, Panthers, Colts, and Ravens, while the Cardinals will head to Denver to play the Broncos before facing the Redskins, Raiders, and Eagles. As for the Eagles, starting in Week 4, they’ll play in San Francisco before hosting the Rams and Giants in advance of their Week 7 bye.
What do you think? Which of these teams will stay unbeaten the longest? And is it because that club is the strongest of the bunch, or is it just a case of favorable scheduling?