The NFL season has already completed two weeks of competition, and we’ve got a better idea of how the best teams are shaping up for the season.
There are nine teams currently undefeated in the NFL, with a whopping seven coming from the NFC and a only two coming from the AFC.
While not all of these 2-0 teams will necessarily make the playoffs, we do think they’ve all got cases right now they can make for January football.
We’ve gone through all nine of these NFL franchises to give percentages on the confidence meter of how likely we think they are to live into the 2-0 hype.
We’re more confident in some teams than others, but all of these teams at least catch our attention. Let’s see where these teams fall.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons are delivering on the promise of 2022 that they’d be able to better close out games with a more talented roster after playing in an absurd amount of one-score contests last season.
The team’s defense has taken a dramatic uptick, and 2023 first-round pick Bijan Robinson is quickly ascending into the elite tier of NFL playmakers. Second-year quarterback Desmond Ridder has had some ugly lowlights, but his inspired play in the fourth quarter this season is a legitimate reason why Atlanta is winning games right now. His highlights are promising.
However, the Falcons might not be as much Super Bowl contenders as they are just a vastly improved football team that can win the NFC South. Their 2023 success will depend on Ridder’s improvements and overall cohesive play over four quarters. We’re not sure what the ceiling is for Atlanta, but we really do like the team’s floor of at least being a tough out every week.
CONFIDENCE METER: 65%
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens only have a recent spat of injuries holding them back as being maybe the team to beat in the AFC right now. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is playing like even better than the MVP candidate he was in 2019, in part because he has real weapons in the passing game other than Mark Andrews.
The team’s defense is also formidable as all good Ravens teams have been known to field, and getting healthy will be this team’s ace in the hole come playoff time. We really like the Ravens right now, with offensive coordinator Todd Monken already looking like a fantastic hire for this team’s future.
This really could be the year it all comes together for Baltimore in the Jackson era, but they’ll have to stay healthy to get to February football. Outside of some ailments, things look good for the Ravens right now.
CONFIDENCE METER: 85%
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys might be the best team in the NFL. The team’s Megatron defense is one of the best the franchise has ever utilized, as defensive coordinator Dan Quinn could very easily position himself for a promotion in the next head coaching cycle.
This defense is deep and ferocious, and it’ll keep Dallas in games even when the offense isn’t firing. It’s built for January football.
However, the offense is pretty darn good, too. Quarterback Dak Prescott is playing good football, and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is emerging as one of the premiere talents in the game at his position. If this franchise can shake out of its recent playoff woes, they’re bona fide Super Bowl contenders.
CONFIDENCE METER: 95%
Miami Dolphins
Mike McDaniel is emerging as a very serious Coach of the Year candidate as his Dolphins might be the best team in the AFC right now with Baltimore dealing with the injury bug. Tua Tagovailoa is also playing like an MVP candidate in his fourth season as Miami’s quarterback.
This offense just looks too difficult to fully contain in the passing game, and the run game gives them a nice counterpunch. The offensive line is very dependant on Terron Armstead’s health, but if he’s there, that’s the stabilizer.
Vic Fangio’s defense is also feisty and talented at all levels, and they’ll possibly get Jalen Ramsey in December to boost the secondary. Even now, they’ve got the players to keep pace with the AFC’s better offenses.
Tagovailoa’s health will continue to be a point of concern for Miami, but as long as he stays on the field and plays at the level he’s at right now, they’re Super Bowl contenders. McDaniel’s team is giving us a lot of hope.
CONFIDENCE METER: 90%
New Orleans Saints
The Saints are exceeding expectations on defense with a buzzsaw unit that has decimated the Carolina Panthers and held the Tennessee Titans in check. Quarterback Derek Carr has been so-so, but he’s bolstered by a deep passing attack led by Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and Michael Thomas.
The team’s running game will get better once Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams get back into the lineup, but it’s a point of concern right now.
New Orleans plays one of the lightest schedules in the NFL, but the NFC South has three undefeated teams right now. The race for the division is going to be as hard as any in football.
New Orleans fielding the same caliber defense we’re used to seeing in the Big Easy makes us think they can push for the division. We just aren’t sure how much Carr and the offense can keep pace for 17 games in what now looks like one of the tougher divisions in the NFL.
CONFIDENCE METER: 55%
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles are still really good. They’re not perfect, but they’re still really good. Quarterback Jalen Hurts is playing solid ball, and the team is still one of the most purely talented in all of professional football.
It’ll be fascinating to see if Philadelphia really can get back to the Super Bowl in what looks to be a much more competitive NFC this year. However, it’s hard to bet against them right now against most any team they’ll face. Those two Dallas games won’t be easy, but we still think the Eagles will fly high this season and make a real push for another NFC title.
CONFIDENCE METER: 85%
San Francisco 49ers
Unless you’re a firm believer in the Cowboys, the 49ers would be your best team in the NFL right now. Head coach Kyle Shanahan continues to field one of the most wholly excellent teams in all of football, and second-year quarterback Brock Purdy runs his offense with plenty of ease.
The 49ers defense also isn’t missing much of a step with Steve Wilks calling plays, and that will be huge as San Francisco tries to make it back to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2019 season.
The Cowboys, Eagles and 49ers feel like the big three in the NFC, and we feel like one of those teams have the best odds to represent the conference in the big game next February. We like the 49ers to keep dominating this fall. Running back Christian McCaffrey just needs to stay healthy.
CONFIDENCE METER: 90%
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
If there’s any 2-0 team that feels a little shaky right now, it’s the Buccaneers. It’s not to say quarterback Baker Mayfield isn’t playing good football right now; he is. The Bucs have a ton of talent on both sides of the ball, and that defense is playing especially inspired football.
However, the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears are both 0-2, and it might not look as impressive in a couple of weeks that the Bucs were able to carve up those defenses as they might be among the league’s worst.
Once the Bucs start playing better teams, will Mayfield be able to keep this up? It’s a big question, and one that should give all Bucs believers some pause before anointing them as major contenders in the NFC. They’ve been good so far, but we’re wondering if this is more mirage than meaningful.
We do really like this defense, though, and that could be what keeps them relevant as NFC South contenders if the Falcons and Saints ever falter.
CONFIDENCE METER: 40%
Washington Commanders
The Commanders are one of the more surprising 2-0 teams this season, but it shouldn’t be as big of a surprise when you look at that defense.
Washington has fielded a championship-caliber defensive front for the past few years, but they’ve been waiting for the rest of the team to catch up. Quarterback Sam Howell and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy have done nice work together, but the competition has been against two of the worst teams in the NFL: the Arizona Cardinals and the Denver Broncos.
The Commanders have a tough hill to climb in the NFC East as one of three 2-0 teams alongside the Eagles and Cowboys. However, not winning the division isn’t the end of the world. If Washington can keep this up against better teams, they could very realistically push for a Wild Card spot.
As long as Howell continues to develop, the Commanders reminds us a lot of the Falcons. We’ve got roughly the same amount of confidence in those teams right now.
CONFIDENCE METER: 65%
