Alarmingly, the violet flesh-eaters have returned.
Astonishment in Seattle, Pittsburgh, and Minnesota, whispers in Cincinnati and Baltimore. That's the provisional assessment after the first three weeks of the NFL season. A glance at the current marvels and letdowns.
Astonishment in Seattle, Pittsburgh, and Minnesota, whispers in Cincinnati and Baltimore. That's the provisional assessment after the first three weeks of the NFL season. A glance at the current marvels and letdowns.
Seattle Seahawks shocker
Record: 3-0. Who would have anticipated in the summer that the game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Detroit Lions would be a must-watch in week four? The Lions, yes. In January, they barely missed the Super Bowl with a 31-34 loss in the semifinals against the San Francisco 49ers. A young, vibrant team with Super Bowl dreams. Why not?
But Seattle? In January, the Pete Carroll era ended for the Seahawks. After 14 years, a Super Bowl victory, and a lost championship game. Seattle traded the oldest coach in the league - Carroll turned 73 on September 15 - for the youngest head coach, the 37-year-old Mike Macdonald. On his debut, he promised to uphold the "team culture" established under Carroll.
That sounded good, of course, but was it possible? So far, yes. 26-20 win at home against Denver, 23-20 overtime win in New England, 24-3 shutout against Miami. Quarterback Geno Smith has the second-best pass completion rate in the league (74.8%) and Seattle leads the NFC West, clearly ahead of last year's runner-up San Francisco and 2022 champions L.A. Rams.
historic defense in Pittsburgh
Record: 3-0. That the Steelers would be one of the five undefeated teams after three games was about as likely as Mike Tomlin having been the head coach in Pittsburgh for 18 years since January 2007.
But: a typically great defense (Pittsburgh is the fifth team since 2000 to allow ten or fewer points in each of the first three games) and an offense that "The Athletic" calls a "pleasant surprise" are the foundation for the eighth 3-0 start in Steelers history.
A special mention goes to Arthur Smith. Whatever magic he's working on Justin Fields, it's working. The quarterback, who joined the Chicago Bears in the offseason, was brought down or threw an interception on 13.2% of his dropbacks in the previous three seasons. No quarterback had a worse rating.
After three games in the Steelers jersey, Fields ranks tenth - and has the same rating as Patrick Mahomes with 7.7%.
outstanding defense and offense in Minnesota
Record: 3-0. What's more impressive about the Vikings - the defense or the offense? The answer may not matter much to the fans. Because both defense and offense are playing so exceptionally well, Minnesota is strong. The offense is led by Sam Darnold, who is undergoing a transformation in Minnesota.
And on defense, coordinator Brian Flores has built such a tight-knit unit that last year's runner-up San Francisco and the highly touted Houston Texans combined for just 24 points in their two games. The Vikings defense has recorded at least five sacks in every game so far - something only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2000) and the New Orleans Saints (2001) had done since 1990.
"CBSSports" has already spoken of the return of the "purple people eaters". The Vikings earned this nickname between 1967 and 1977 when their defensive line was the team's pride and joy, and Minnesota made it to the Super Bowl four times.
Burrow and Bengals with a dismal start to the season
Balance: 0-3. As the saying goes, "every first time is special," and that's true for Joe Burrow as well. For the first time in his NFL career, the quarterback has lost the first three games of the season. 10-16 against New England. 25-26 in Kansas City. 33-38 against Washington. "We had our chances, but we didn't capitalize. That's the common denominator in the first three weeks," Burrow said after the loss to Washington.
The Bengals have lost their three games by a total margin of twelve points. It would not be an exaggeration to say that "Cincy" could have won all three games. However, the supposedly easy matchup this Sunday against the Carolina Panthers is now a crucial one, where the Bengals must avoid throwing away their playoff chances in the first month of the season.
What is encouraging is Burrow's form. The 27-year-old is gradually improving after his hand surgery. Against Washington, he completed 29 of 38 passes, gaining 324 yards and throwing three touchdowns, keeping the Bengals in the game. What was missing was the pass rush, the defensive pressure on Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, who had an average of 3.13 seconds to throw his passes.
A loss against the Panthers, led by long-time former Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, would put everyone in Cincinnati under scrutiny, according to "The Athletic". To prevent that, the Bengals must finally start winning close games.
Balance: 1-2. Admittedly, using the word "crisis" in relation to the Ravens is as exaggerated as calling Baltimore a major tourist attraction. Nevertheless, three games, only one win - that's not the start of a team with championship aspirations.
The Baltimore Ravens are meant to represent the epitome of a Super Bowl-winning team. They're perceived as the biggest obstacle for the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC and have the potential to make a significant impact with a victory in the highly anticipated Sunday Night Game against the invincible Buffalo Bills, aiming to recover from their dismal season start.
As noted by star running back Derrick Henry, "Long seasons can be tough, but as long as we stay united and have faith in each other, everything will work out fine." With Henry, the Titans' recent signing, having been named the league's top offensive player in 2020 and having attended the Pro Bowl four times, he's undeniably a major reason why the Ravens remain highly respected this season.
However, the defensive line isn't the intimidating force it once was during the 2019 season, when the Ravens led the league in sacks. With the departure of Jadeveon Clowney, a vital part of the pass-rushing unit, that strength has been weakened. Furthermore, the Ravens are struggling in pass defense, and now, they confront Bills quarterback Josh Allen, currently the league's top passer, who reigns over the league's top-scoring offense (37.3 points per game).
The Seattle Seahawks' surprising 3-0 start has turned their game against the Detroit Lions into an anticipated event in week four. The Steelers' historic defense, allowing ten or fewer points in each of the first three games, has contributed to their 3-0 record, making them one of the undefeated teams this season.
