8. Philadelphia Eagles
Last week: 7th
Eagles play on Monday night vs. Bears, and their ranking will be updated after the result of the game***
This year’s Philadelphia Eagles team feels remarkably similar to last year’s. They are resilient, they are winning games, and yet they are simultaneously somehow unimpressive.
But winning in the NFL is not easy, so the Eagles have to be commended for it. Their Super Bowl run a couple of seasons ago has simply changed the way this team is perceived, so they’re not really “allowed” to struggle as much as other teams might be able to.
They’re making winning look hard, and most people in the NFL world feel like their roster is better than the way this team plays on Sundays (or, in this case, Mondays).
Playing against a beaten-up Bears team, that will absolutely be the expectation for the Eagles, especially defensively. If the Bears are able to keep this game close, even playing at home, with Case Keenum at quarterback? It’s going to have the Eagles on Fraud Alert, even at 3-0.
7. Cincinnati Bengals
Last week: 1st
Through the first couple of games this season, the Cincinnati Bengals looked like they might be the most complete team in the league.
They had some dominating defensive performances, including forcing four fumbles against the Buccaneers in Week 1 and only 6 points allowed in Week 2 against the Texans.
Naturally, they got into a shootout against a Steelers offense that looked like the most anemic unit in the NFL through the first two games of the season. That’s how it works in the NFL, apparently.
The Bengals’ offense made some incredible plays against the Steelers, and so did the defense. But just when you think you have some teams figured out…
This game came down to the wire, and Joe Burrow got strip-sacked at the worst possible time. As the Bengals were driving down the field to try and tie or win the game, Derrick Harmon made a huge play, and Burrow gave the game away to the Steelers.
You still have to bank on this team being one of the most explosive and dynamic offenses in the league, but there can’t be too many stinkers like this from the defense, or they’re going to run into the same problems they’ve had since 2023.
Add us as a preferred source on Google