Week three of the 2015 NFL season has now concluded, and there are seven teams who are still undefeated. The New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons and Arizona Cardinals all currently sit at 3-0. The most impressive of these teams so far this season are the Patriots, Packers and Cardinals.
Let’s focus on New England because everyone is already talking about the Patriots going 16-0, a la 2007, after they started 3-0 for the ninth time in team history. Given that they have Tom Brady (96-of-133 for 1,112 yards with nine touchdowns, and zero interceptions this season) at quarterback, Bill Belichick as their head coach, their schedule the rest of the way, and how well they have been playing, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that it happens. But let’s pump the brakes on the undefeated season talk.
As a lifelong Patriots fan, I would love it if Brady and company pulled it off, and it is a somewhat realistic possibility. Belichick’s team has looked really good through three weeks, dispatching with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars, and outscoring their opponents by 49 points so far. But it is incredibly difficult for an NFL team to go undefeated, and it is too early to talk about the New England Patriots going undefeated.
The Patriots have only played three games so far, and way too many things can happen during their next 13 games. The Pats could suffer a bad injury or injuries, they could have an off week, or they could just run up against an opponent who plays really well in a particular week. The Patriots, as a team, have looked really good so far, but they were better defensively, and at the running the ball in the early part of the 2007 season, than they have been so far in 2015.
For a team to finish the regular season 16-0 said team has to play really well for an entire season, and there has to be some luck on their side. The Patriots going undefeated could happen, but it is far from a sure thing. One thing is for certain though. When Brady feels slighted it usually ends badly for the other 31 NFL teams.
Main Photo:
