Beat LAR 33-26
This team was a blocked field goal away from receiving their first loss of the season, and whether you call that luck or not, is up to you. I will say, everyone, myself included needed to see more AJ Brown or a better passing attack for this team to be able to beat contenders, and they showed it. Side note: The false start on the tush push has got to be called,
Beat MIA 31-21
Miami looked better against the Bills, but I think it's clear to anyone watching the game that Josh Allen wasn't going to lose. Moving the ball just looks way too easy for them.
Beat BAL 38-30
This is a completely different team than the team that got embarrased by the Packers in week 1. The Lions have woke up, and they are picking up where they left off last season.
Beat TEN 41-20
You can argue they haven't played any good teams, and that they were a leverage call away from losing to the Broncos, but this team is doing everything extremely well. In terms of all around EPA, there is no one better in the league. Daniel Jones isn't just putting up numbers, either. If you are watching the games, he looks like a different QB, and an elite one at that. Sure i'd like to see them play a true contender, but I have to give them their respect.
Beat DEN 23-20
I think the Chargers sit here fine at 5. They are also really solid all around, and Justin Herbert has looked like a different animal this season.
Lost 13-10 to CLE
Is this a really bad loss? Absolutely. Am I worried about them moving forward? Not really. The Packers will be fine, they just need to get some stuff sorted out on offense, which having these young guys on offense develop will help.
Beat NYJ 29-27
On one hand, I think you are excited that Baker has looked great and he has lead a game winning 2-minute drill in each game. On the other hand, when you look at the quality of opponents they are doing it against, it becomes a little less exciting. I'm not worried about them, but I kind of would like to see them win a game handedly, and not play down to their opponent.
Lost 38-30 to DET
The Ravens offense has looked amazing through 3 games, it's just that they are 1-2, and lost to two contenders. Still a great team, who will bounce back.
Lost 33-26 to PHI
In many ways, the Rams outplayed the Eagles. The one way they didn't was in the redzone. If they had cashed in more touchdowns instead of field goals, they wouldn't have had to worry about the Eagles coming back. They played great, but not perfect.
Beat LV 41-24
It is interesting that for Mariota starts the team all-around plays slightly better. I don't know why, but it is something to watch if Daniels is out another week. The Commanders know how to win games in different ways.
Lost 23-20 to LAC
The Broncos have lost on back-to-back game winning field goals against two very strong opponents. That's not to say that this team should be playing better on both sides of the ball, as I expected the offense to still be sluggish, but I expected this to be far and away the best defensive unit in football, and so far they have been good, just not great.
Beat NYG 22-9
I don't really give the Chiefs much credit for this one. The Giants completely handed them the win on a silver platter, but I certainly can't knock them down the rankings for it (despite feeling that Seattle is a better team).
Beat NO 44-13
The game was over by halftime. Complete and utter domination in all 3 phases of the game. This team putting it together is scary for the NFC.
Beat ARI 16-15
Got to give props to the Niners, because despite the ugliness of their games and their injuries, they are 3-0.
Beat CIN 48-10
I don't know if I feel comfortable putting the Vikings any lower than this. The upside for this team is that of a top 3 team in the sport, and when JJ is back, and if they start putting it together, not a team you want to play against.
Lost 16-15 to SF
The Cardinals should have won this game, but they gave it away. They got a safety with a little over 2 minutes left in the game, and they had only let up 13 points all game. A couple first downs and there is no issue, but that's not how it played out. I want to believe in this team, but these are games you can't lose.
Beat ATL 30-0
I understand that this may seem egregious to many, and it likely is. But do you know how hard it is to pitch a shutout in an NFL game, let alone a game you weren't favored in? There are signs of life on the Panthers defense, and Bryce Young played a clean game on offense. If the defense can find a way to keep replicating that, and letting Bryce find ways to score, then they can be a sneaky team. They are 11th in the leage in NET EPA/play.
Beat HOU 17-10
On one hand, this team is playing better than I had thought they would, but there are still a ton of concerns. The offense is not clicking how it should be, as the passing game isn't there. Their passing defense and ability to run the ball is the reason they are where they are, but until I see the passing game elevate to where it should be, this is as high as I'll put them.
Beat NE 21-14
This looks like another season of mediocrity for Pittsburgh so far. Offensively, it has been a let down, and this past week was their first good game on defense.
Lost 30-0 to CAR
I was a bit early to pull the trigger on the Falcons last week, and now I can see that they aren't there yet, at least on offense. There is stuff to play with on offense and defense, it just hasn't marinated in a meaningful way yet.
Beat DAL 31-14
I'm not going to overreact to this performance by the Bears offense, but I will say I do think it can be a get right game for them.
Lost 31-14 to CHI
This Cowboys defense looks bad, like, very bad through 3 games. I don't know if Dak has enough on offense to help him overcome this defense to win games.
Lost 21-14 to PIT
Drake Maye has looked great, but everything else has looked bad for New England so far. That's the only way to put it.
Lost 17-10 to JAX
I had a feeling the Texans would be underwhelming this season, but I didn't expect 0-3. The offense is stagnant and can't seem to do much of anything.
Beat GB 13-10
Great upset win, but this is as much as I can reasonably move them up. I mean, they were pointless for 57 minutes of the game. I will say their defense is very very underrated.
Lost 48-10 to MIN
I think it's time for some self-reflection for the Bengals. They are playing bad, and many have suggested them acquiring a QB while Burrow is out, but would this roster be good enough even if Burrow was healthy? Doubtful.
Lost 29-27 to TB
Pretty competitive for having a back-up QB against a top 10 team. This team may not amount to much this season, but I think they will at least be a fun watch.
Lost 41-24 to WSH
I think we are a couple of weeks away from asking the Raiders when is an okay time to bail on the Geno situation. This is a game against a backup QB, the bare minimum should have been a competitive game, but it just simply didn't feel close at all. Things do not look good in Vegas.
Lost 22-9 to KC
I'll start by saying: Benching Wilson for Dart accomplishes absolutely nothing. Daboll did it just to simply try and save his job, but Dart will not succeed in this offense, with this schedule, and most importantly, this play-calling. I think it is a shame that this is the second time in his Hall of Fame career that Russell Wilson has been set up to fail from the get-go with a new team(first being the Broncos). Dart will make his debut against a top 10 defense in the Chargers, so, good luck?
Lost 41-20 to IND
It's not looking great in Tennessee. I tried to be optimistic, but this team doesn't have an identity, and I'm starting to worry for Cam Ward's health behind that offensive line.
Lost 31-21 to BUF
Their scoring drives looked great, it's just they never really had a shot to begin with. The roster is not good enough to compete with the likes of the Bills.
Lost 44-13 to SEA
Honestly, this may be a hot take, but I don't think Rattler has looked all that bad so far. I think through 3 weeks it's been an obvious overall team difference, but Rattler is doing what he can with what he has. Something to keep an eye on.