What we’ve learned about NFL’s undefeated and winless teams

Three weeks into the 2024 NFL season, we’ve already seen plenty of upsets, comebacks, head-scratchers and electric highlights.

While a team’s season is not won or lost in September, early success can tell us a lot about a squad — and so, too, can early stumbles. Five teams find themselves on a season-opening win streak to kick off the campaign at 3-0 while three are looking for bright spots as they search for their first win and begin to contemplate an 0-4 start should they suffer yet another loss this weekend.

What have we learned about the NFL’s undefeated teams so far this season? And how should we look at the three winless clubs?

With all that in mind, we’re examining the 3-0 and 0-3 teams to identify what’s going so right — or so, so wrong — for each squad.

THE UNDEFEATED TEAMS

MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Opponents so far: @ Giants (28-6), vs. 49ers (23-17), vs. Texans (34-7)

OK, Sam Darnold, you’ve officially got our attention. The resurgence of the seventh-year quarterback, now on his fourth team, is one of the best stories of this young season so far. Under the guidance of Kevin O’Connell and his QB-friendly playbook, the 27-year-old leads the league in touchdown passes and has thrown just two interceptions. But while Darnold’s play has been integral to the Vikings’ success, he isn’t stealing any games here — he doesn’t need to, thanks to a defence that’s far exceeded expectations out of the gates.

Minnesota’s five interceptions on the season are second only to its divisional rivals in Green Bay, and the pass rush is looking lethal. They’ve registered at least five sacks in three straight games, leading the league with 16 so far, thanks in large part to Jonathan Greenard and Patrick Jones II, who are tied for third league-wide in sacks, with four each.

According to Sharp Football Analysis, the Vikings have the third-toughest schedule in the whole league. Don’t believe in them yet? How they fare in their first divisional battle in Green Bay on Sunday will surely hold plenty of sway in terms of how we talk about the Vikings going forward.

Next three games: @ Packers, vs. Jets (London), Week 6 bye, vs. Lions

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Opponents so far: vs. Broncos (26-20), @ Patriots (23-20), vs. Dolphins (24-3)

There’s a reason Mike Macdonald was one of the most sought-after coaches last off-season, and there’s a reason the rookie head coach chose Seattle as his destination. The Seahawks’ secondary boasts an enticing bunch of young stars, and Macdonald’s defensive genius has got them taking off already. Through three games, Seattle has locked down opponents’ passing attacks, limiting teams to a league-low 7.8 yards per reception and allowing 4.7 yards per attempt overall (also a league-best mark).

But while Macdonald’s known for his defence, Seattle’s offence is flying, too. While no one’s doubting Smith’s abilities at this point, there’s concern around the unit playing in front of him. The Seahawks’ offensive line is porous at best, which could spell trouble when it comes to keeping the team’s season-opening win streak intact.

Has Seattle truly been tested? They faced a Broncos squad with a brand-new Bo Nix in Week 1, an anemic offence in New England in Week 2 and a Skylar Thompson and Tim Boyle-led Dolphins team last Sunday. With two prime-time matchups in the next three weeks, featuring two NFC heavyweights, they’ll be battle-tested soon enough.

Next three games: @ Lions (MNF), vs. Giants, vs. 49ers (TNF)

BUFFALO BILLS
Opponents so far: vs. Cardinals (34-28), @ Dolphins (31-10), vs. Jaguars (47-10)

Can Josh Allen do it all? That was one of our 24 questions as we approached the launch of the 2024 NFL season — and so far, the answer is an all-caps YES.

With 634 passing yards for seven touchdowns (plus two rushing TDs to his name), a 75 per cent completion rate and no interceptions, Allen’s off to the hottest start of his career and has an early stranglehold on the MVP conversation because of it. His offensive line should get plenty of credit, too, the group allowing just two sacks so far. The Bills have more total touchdowns (14) than anyone else, lead the league in rushing scores (six, tied with the Saints and Commanders), and have as well-balanced an offence in terms of target share as you can get.

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If their first two wins of the season didn’t grab your attention, Buffalo’s beatdown of Jacksonville Monday night certainly did. This squad is making football look easy, posting an average scoring margin of plus-23.1 over opponents, but their next slate of challengers should present some tougher tests. We might just have a triple-header of potential AFC Championship previews coming up.

Next three games: @ Ravens (SNF), @ Texans, @ Jets (MNF)

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Opponents so far: vs. Ravens 27-20 | vs. Bengals 26-25 | @ Falcons 22-17

Those of us eagerly anticipating the (re)launch of Kansas City’s signature explosive offence may need to exercise a little patience, but the wins are still coming nonetheless — and in typical Chiefs fashion, these matchups are going down to the wire. Close games have become the Kansas City way. Their combined point differential through three weeks is just plus-13. Compare that to Buffalo’s plus-64 and, well… it becomes clear this offence has a little work to do. Mahomes stated post-game Sunday night the team has yet to play up to its own standards, and that shows — which is why of all five teams on this list, the Chiefs might be the most intriguing, considering they have yet to play their best ball.

Losing running back Isiah Pacheco to a fractured fibula puts a lot more onus on Mahomes and his cast of pass-catchers, while the defence will continue to be leaned on heavily to pick up any slack. The back-to-back champs built an entire Super Bowl defence on their ability to lock down opponents, and this season is so far looking like more of the same.

Next three games: @ Chargers, vs. Saints (MNF), Week 6 bye, @ 49ers

PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Opponents so far: @ Falcons (18-10), @ Broncos (13-6), vs. Chargers (20-10)

An undefeated squad with just three offensive touchdowns? There’s only one team we could be talking about, and they wear black and yellow. Defensive football is what the Steelers do best, and that’s been on full display so far this season as Pittsburgh has allowed just 26 total points against through three weeks of play, not giving up more than 10 in a single game.

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Justin Fields is doing just enough to help them win games, playing efficiently and taking care of the ball. A stifling defence can take you a long way, but there may come a point when the Steelers need to win a shootout. Is Fields up to the task?

The Steelers defence should put on another dominant showing in Week 4. Against a Colts offence that’s struggled with turnovers — Anthony Richardson’s league-high pick count is already at six on the season — we may not need to see Fields flex his offensive muscles much just yet.

Next three games: @ Colts, vs. Cowboys (SNF), @ Raiders

THE WINLESS TEAMS

TENNESSEE TITANS
Opponents so far: @ Bears (24-17), vs. Jets (24-17), vs. Packers (30-14)

When Will Levis trends on Sundays, it’s not for good reason. The second-year quarterback has consistently played himself into bad situations with risky plays and poor decision-making, and while the Titans’ winless record can’t all be laid at his feet, his bad habits aren’t exactly doing his team any favours.

And it feels like it’s getting worse. Picks in Weeks 1 and 2 were direct results of Levis trying to improvise, chasing big plays while scrambling behind an offensive line that hasn’t been as advertised so far this season. Week 3’s toss to Green Bay Packers Jaire Alexander, however, was simply a lack of awareness and a bad read — two errors that, when repeated enough and combined with his other bad habits, can be fatal to one’s career as a starter.

Lucky for the Titans, they’ve got company at the bottom of their own division in the Jaguars, also 0-3. An early bye week could be a blessing, too.

Next three games: @ Dolphins (MNF), Week 5 bye, vs. Colts, @ Bills

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Opponents so far: @ Dolphins (20-17), vs. Browns (18-13), @ Bills (47-10)

Back-to-back 9-8 seasons in Jacksonville showed promise, but also pointed to the team’s struggles with consistency — especially last year, which ended with a losing streak and no playoff berth. Three losses into the new campaign, the Jaguars are going in the entirely wrong direction, made worse by owner Shad Khan’s proclamation last month that this roster is “the best team assembled by the Jacksonville Jaguars, ever.”

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Trevor Lawrence’s performance in the first two games of the season was concerning, to say the least, but the Jaguars’ 47-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night raised the temperature in Jacksonville several hundred degrees and sounded alarm bells. Lawrence, who just signed a massive contract this past off-season, has stalled in his development and has looked lost this year so far. Another 9-8 season would feel like a bit of a coup at this point.

Next three games: @ Texans, vs. Colts, @ Bears

CINCINNATI BENGALS
Opponents so far: vs. Patriots (16-10), @ Chiefs (26-25), vs. Commanders (38-33)

Tempting as it may be to blame the guy with the frosted tips for the Bengals’ winless September so far, Joe Burrow is not the problem. While the quarterback wasn’t his best in the season-opener — a trend we’ve noticed during his tenure — he was excellent against the Chiefs (what else is new!) and Commanders. Burrow tallied 582 yards and five touchdowns between the two games, and this season has thrown zero interceptions. He was nearly perfect Monday night against Washington, a game that featured zero turnovers and no punts, with Burrow’s Bengals marching down the field for a score on every second-half possession.

Things haven’t been so great on the other side of the ball. Cincinnati’s defence didn’t have any answers against Washington, and that’s sounding the alarm bells on the Bengals’ season. The squad rallied against Kansas City, as is tradition at this point, but has otherwise looked uninspired on defence. Major questions at secondary and a struggle to apply pressure could be the story of this campaign if things don’t get cleaned up.

And, in a plot twist we didn’t see coming, the man who could extend the Bengals’ record to 0-4 this Sunday is none other than Andy Dalton. The Football Gods sure do work in mysterious ways.

Next three games: @ Panthers, vs. Ravens, @ Giants (SNF)