With one quarter of the NFL season in the books (for every team except for the Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers) a staggering five teams remain undefeated: The Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, and New Orleans Saints.
As of now, the class of this group appears to be the Denver Broncos. There doesn’t appear to be a team in the entire league that could defeat them at this point, and that’s saying something considering the quality of competition. Peyton Manning’s video game numbers have led this team to a sensational start, and the momentum doesn’t look to slow any time soon. With Von Miller set to return from suspension in a couple of weeks, electric return man Trindon Holliday a threat to go the distance at any time, and the best offense in the NFL firing on all cylinders, the Broncos will continue to be fun to watch in all phases of the game.
Ah, the Seahawks. They may not receive any style points for their dramatic come-from-behind 23-20 overtime victory over the Houston Texans, but any team that can recover from a twenty point deficit on the road deserves a great deal of respect. Pete Carroll’s bunch is a fierce, tenacious group, and even on an off day, Russell Wilson may be the best in the league at extending plays with his feet. With the 49ers off to a bit of a rough start, the NFC West is Seattle’s for the taking.
There really isn’t much to say about the New England Patriots. They’ve been decimated by injuries and exits, and all they do is win. Losing stud nose tackle Vince Wilfork for the season is a devastating blow, but the imminent returns of Danny Amendola and Rob Gronkowski, coupled with Tom Brady’s developing rapport with his young receives can only mean good things for this club. The Miami Dolphins will pose an interesting challenge for the AFC East crown this year, but the Patriots have improved on a weekly basis. They are beginning to find their footing and the timing is just right.
Through four weeks, the undefeated Chiefs have doubled their win total from last year. That is the definition of a stunning turnaround. New head coach Andy Reid has done an excellent job with this group. They are ferocious on defense, and have found ways to get the ball in the hands of their best player, Jamaal Charles. Alex Smith is providing this team with efficient quarterback play and if not for the presence of the juggernaut Broncos, the Chiefs would be the overwhelming favorite to capture the AFC West title. The most surprising undefeated team in the league this year is no fluke, and the pundits are starting to realize it.
I think it’s safe to say that the Saints are happy to have their head coach back. With Sean Payton patrolling the sidelines once again, and Rob Ryan’s underrated defense policing the field, the Saints are one of the hottest teams in the NFL. I don’t think that Drew Brees is capable of throwing for fewer than 300 yards in any game, and Jimmy Graham is playing better football than he did in his remarkable 2011 breakout season. Six touchdown catches in four games? That’s insane production from a wide receiver let alone a tight end. The bottom line is, the Saints are back, and that’s bad news for the entire NFC.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, four teams remain winless through the season’s first quarter: The Jacksonville Jaguars, The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, The Pittsburgh Steelers, and The New York Giants.
I hate beating up on the Jaguars. The media eviscerates this team, and some of it is just mean-spirited. All I will say about the Jags is that they have an excellent chance to acquire a franchise quarterback like Teddy Bridgewater in next year’s draft, and that is the most important step towards building a perennial contender. Additionally, Justin Blackmon returns from suspension this week and fans can enjoy watching this talented young man develop into a potential stud wide receiver. Hang in there Jags fans. I’m really pulling for you and your football team.
The situation in Tampa Bay is bad. Really bad. There is a lot of talent on this team, but the feud between head coach Greg Schiano and benched quarterback Josh Freeman is irreparable. This young man deserves a fresh start, and hopefully he will get one soon. The team is in disarray, but there is always hope for any roster that has Doug Martin, Gerald McCoy, Vincent Jackson, and Darrelle Revis on it. When the situation calms down, I expect the Bucs to be much more successful, provided rookie quarterback Mike Glennon develops into a starting-caliber signal caller. He had enough moments in his debut performance to indicate that the potential is there.
The Steelers are 0-4. Just typing those words feels weird and unnatural, but that doesn’t make them any less true. This team just isn’t as young as it used to be, and that is starting to show. On the heels of a 34-27 defeat at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings in England, the Steelers are at their lowest point in decades. With that said, these are the Pittsburgh Steelers we’re talking about. This is one of the best franchises in NFL history. This very much has the look of a down year and the beginning of a rebuilding phase, but knowing this organization, I doubt it will be long before they re-emerge as a legitimate AFC contender.
As shocking as it is to see the Steelers start 0-4, I would have to tab the New York Giants as the most surprising of all of the winless teams. Two years ago, they were Super Bowl Champions. Last year ended in disappointment with the team barely missing the playoffs, but they still won nine games. To see the G-Men struggle like this has been nothing less than shocking. Eli Manning is absorbing a lot of the blame, but the fact is he is receiving some of the worst protection of his NFL career. It’s difficult to make plays when the pocket collapses right after the quarterback-center exchange. Tom Coughlin has his work cut out for him, but history has shown that if any head coach can turn this ship around, it’s him.
What do you think Last Word Army? Who is the cream of the NFL crop? Who are the true cellar dwellers? Thanks for reading and sound off on social media and in the comments section below.
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