With Week 3 officially in the books, let’s take a look at which teams have separated themselves from the rest of the pack and landed themselves in my top ten so far.
#1 Kansas City Chiefs
Is there any real surprise here? The Chiefs have been straight up dominant through their first couple of games, which, when you have Patrick Mahomes, is expected. Mahomes is averaging just under 300 yards per game and has a completion percentage of 67% and an average passer rating of 114.3. Pair a quarterback of his caliber with two of the fastest receivers in the league, Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman, one of the best tight ends in Travis Kelce, and one of the most creative play-callers in Andy Reid, and you get a team that averages over 30 points a game. Many people doubted the Chiefs going into their Week 3 showdown with the Baltimore Ravens, as they would be going up against one of best pass defenses in the league, but they definitely proved the doubters wrong. Kansas City made a stellar Ravens squad look like any other average team, with Mahomes racking up five total touchdowns and the Chiefs defense holding Lamar Jackson to just 97 passing yards. The Chiefs are in a league of their own this season, and their rampage isn’t going to end anytime soon.
#2 Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers have taken the league by storm this season. Aaron Rodgers is playing like he’s in his prime; his passer rating of 121.7 this season is incredibly close to his 2011 rating (122.5), the year in which the Packers won the Super Bowl. Last week’s matchup against the Saints proved that he does need his star receiver Davante Adams in order to have a great passing performance. The dynamic offense of the Packers not only lies in the passing game, but on the ground too. Aaron Jones is averaging over 6 yards per carry, 100 yards per game, and has had a touchdown in every game this year. The running game is good. The Packers defense has allowed 28 points per game, but it hasn’t mattered because the Packers are averaging 40! This team has all of its bases covered, and they are red hot right now.
#3 Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are coming off a disappointing Week 3 showing against the Chiefs, in part due to Lamar Jackson’s subpar passing performance and another due to their crumbling defense. Though they were able to get the ground game going, it's hard to win games when your reigning MVP only throws for less than a hundred yards.
Despite their disappointing Week 3, the Ravens still remain an elite squad that will continue to get better. Few teams in the league have an answer to the Ravens’ dominant run-heavy offense, which will continue to improve on their already impressive 166.7 rushing yards per game as rookie JK Dobbins gains more playing time. The Ingram, Dobbins, and Edwards trifecta is a three-headed monster, and that’s not even accounting for Lamar. With the roles being switched each week, it will be difficult for opponents to have a gameplan for the run.
#4 Seattle Seahawks
Let Russ cook. Three words echoed across the league, and three words every team should be afraid to hear. Russell Wilson is on pace to have the greatest season ever from a quarterback, already setting an NFL record for the most passing touchdowns (14) in the first three games of a season. Wilson’s incredible start has primarily been spurred by the arrival of the offensive tools he’s been lacking for the past few years, tools that allow Wilson to use his talents and skill to its fullest. Tyler Lockett had a ridiculous game against the Cowboys (three touchdowns and 100 receiving yards), DK Metcalf is turning into an elite deep threat receiver (other than the Desean Jackson-esque play), and Russ is backed up by a respectable ground game. Wilson is the frontrunner for MVP so far this season (sorry Aaron Rodgers) and has put his team on his back, carrying them to the number four spot on this list.
#5 Pittsburgh Steelers
Big Ben is back. He has thrown for a solid 777 yards and seven touchdowns, giving the Steelers’ offense the life that it was lacking last year. But Big Ben’s return isn’t what landed them a spot this high- it’s their defense. The Steelers undoubtedly have a top five defense, averaging a league-leading five sacks a game (thanks to TJ Watt’s 3.5 sacks), 290 yards allowed per game (second best), and a +2 turnover ratio. The Steelers have stars on both sides of the ball, and it is hard to make a case against such a solid team.
#6 Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen, Josh Allen, Josh Allen. Wow, has he been stellar this season. He looked absolutely amazing in Week 3 against the Rams. Allen led the Bills to four consecutive touchdowns, and when things got a bit sketchy in the final minutes, he clutched up and delivered a perfect drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Tyler Kroft with 15 seconds left. No disrespect to Russ, but Allen is bound to get at least one MVP vote if he continues at this pace.
#7 New England Patriots
Patriots fans had one question in mind this offseason: who would carry the torch at QB for them after Brady left for the Bucs? The answer? Cam Newton. Newton looked stellar in Week 2 against the Seahawks, passing for 397 yards and rushing for two touchdowns. Similar to the Ravens, the Patriots’ three man backfield in Sony Michel, James White, and Rex Burkhead have found them success, giving the Patriots over 175 rushing yards per game. In their most recent showdown with the Raiders, the strength of their run game was on full display as they put up 250 yards on the ground. The Patriots should and will continue to find success running the ball, especially with the return of running back Damien Harris.
#8 Los Angeles Rams
The Rams suffered a heartbreaking defeat in Week 3, but that comeback says enough. Down 28-3 midway through the third quarter (sorry Falcons fans), the Rams began clawing their way back for the next 15 minutes, losing 32-28 on a controversial pass interference that led to the walk-off touchdown. Still, the heart and skill the Rams played with in their near successful comeback proved that they are a force to be reckoned with.
#9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The GOAT is in Tampa, and that can only mean good news. Tom Brady played out of his mind in the first half of Week 3, throwing for three touchdowns in a near-perfect half. The Bucs have gotten better through the weeks, and with Brady continuing to build chemistry with his new team, the Bucs have the potential to become serious contenders by the end of the season.
#10 San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers have been the unluckiest team in the league this season, and it’s not even close. They’ve lost their quarterback, two running backs, their tight end, a wide receiver, and two of their best defensive players. Despite all of these setbacks, Kyle Shanahan has created a game plan genius enough to lead the 49ers to two convincing wins in Week 2 and 3, scoring over 30 points in both weeks and playing phenomenal defense. This is the team to keep an eye on, especially after their key players recover from their injuries.
Honorable Mentions
Tennessee Titans (11), Indianapolis Colts (12), New Orleans Saints (13)