The NFL has six unbeaten teams a quarter of the way through the season. The Packers, Falcons, Broncos and Bengals are all improved to 5-0, while the Patriots and Panthers sit at 4-0.
So do any of these teams have a shot to go unbeaten in 2015? Let’s rank their chances.
6. Carolina Panthers
Carolina had their bye this week, so there’s nothing new to report. Cam Newton has taken the offense on his shoulders and has decided he will run as much as is necessary to win games. Their defense has been stellar, even without star LB Luke Keuchly. They’ve benefitted from a weak schedule however, and it’s about to get tough quickly.
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A Week 6 tilt at Seattle looms large, as does a Week 8 home game against the Packers.
5. Denver Broncos
We’re more than a quarter of the way through Denver’s season, and Peyton Manning’s decline is real. He has more interceptions (7) than touchdowns (6). He’s been picked off at least once in every game in 2015, and the running game is in shambles.
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Yet, their incredible defense has them at 5-0, and there’s no reason to believe it will slow down. It’s hard to envision Manning’s duck-like throws and newfound tendency to throw it to the wrong jerseys make it hard to believe in this team as a candidate to go unbeaten, but if Peyton can flip the switch, the sky’s the limit.
4. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons have the most impressive running back of 2015 in Devonta Freeman, but their victories continue to be too close for comfort. They got a fortunate fumble recovery in the end zone by Julio Jones in this one, and needed the final seconds of the game to overcome the Redskins, who were on the road.
Defensively, they’ve made plays but remain vulnerable to a top-flight offense. Atlanta has the easiest schedule of any team on this list, but they have two dates remaining with the Panthers that will be difficult.
3. Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals have a much higher degree of difficulty because of their division, but the Ravens’ loss at home to Cleveland means that maybe the AFC North is a bit overrated. The Bengals’ offense has been scary good, especially much-maligned QB Andy Dalton. A.J. Green is almost unstoppable, and the RB tandem of Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard has struggled at times individually, but made for a potent combo. Also, TE Tyler Eifert has emerged as a premier player at the position.
Their schedule contains landmines, but this team is proving each week it is elite.
2. Green Bay Packers
The Pack are still arguably the league’s best team, even after two pedestrian (by his standards) outings by Aaron Rodgers. They need to get RB Eddie Lacy going at some point, but James Jones has been a revelation, and the Packers defense has been better than expected.
It’s not easy to lose games with the best quarterback in football, so if they can get through back-to-back road games vs. the Broncos and Panthers, they’ll have a reasonable path to a perfect season.
1. New England Patriots
The Pats came out of their bye week and slaughtered the Cowboys in Dallas. This offense is the best in the NFL, even when Rob Gronkowski has a quiet afternoon. Julian Edelman, and RBs Dion Lewis and LeGarrette Blount become lethal weapons with Tom Brady at the helm, and the AFC East slate doesn’t look like much of a threat to Bill Belichick and co.
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