There are six undefeated NFL teams. Most of them aren’t major surprises, but no one saw one of them coming.
The Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles (who play on Monday night against the Bears) and San Francisco 49ers aren’t surprises.
The Minnesota Vikings are talented but had some major question marks entering the season. Their 3-0 start is nowhere near as surprising as the Las Vegas Raiders. Quarterback Kirk Cousins has been impressive through three games, and he powered a win over the Saints on Sunday.
I had Las Vegas at No. 8 last week. Below are my rankings ahead of Eagles-Bears, which will close Week 3.
Record: 2-1
Previous ranking: N/A ↑
Lamar Jackson worked some late magic to beat the Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
The Ravens’ improbable international win spotlighted the warts and blemishes on a team with enough talent to make a Super Bowl run. The defense’s inability to deliver in the clutch was overshadowed by QB Lamar Jackson’s late-game heroics, but the unit must close out games in the fourth quarter against elite squads. Although the two-time MVP is built for those moments, the defense should be able to come through in the fourth quarter, with a star-studded unit loaded with playmakers.
Record: 3-0
Previous ranking: 8 ↓
You like that? Even the most optimistic Raiders fan would not have expected a 3-0 start with Kirk Cousins under center. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
After rallying back against the New Orleans Saints, the Raiders must be viewed as playoff contenders under Klint Kubiak. The offensive wizard has revived quarterback Kirk Cousins with his magical play calls and schematic sorcery. With tight end Brock Bowers returning to the lineup and giving the Silver and Black an explosive weapon in the passing game, the Raiders have enough firepower to topple the league’s middleweights on the way to a 10-win season that earns them a ticket to the postseason dance.
Record: 2-1
Previous ranking: N/A ↑
Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars look unbeatable at home of late. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Trevor Lawrence and Co. continue to dazzle in front of the home folks, with a 35-6 drubbing of the Super Bowl runner-ups. The MVP finalist efficiently picked apart the New England Patriots’ soft coverage, with a series of “dimes” to Parker Washington, Brenton Strange and Jakobi Meyers. The trio’s chemistry and connection with No. 16 is one reason the Jaguars have scored at least 34 points in their last six home games.
Record: 2-1
Previous ranking: N/A ↑
Bo Nix is proving he’s a force close and late. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
Bo Nix’s penchant for clutch, fourth-quarter performances gives the Broncos a chance to beat any opponent. The third-year QB’s 11 game-winning drives and nine fourth-quarter comebacks showcase his ability to perform with the game on the line. With the Broncos knocking off the preseason Super Bowl champs in a late-game shootout, the haters and skeptics are forced to give the Broncos’ QB1 his props as a premier closer.
Record: 2-1
Previous ranking: 1 ↓
The Seahawks scored 31 points in Sam Darnold’s return, but they couldn’t stop Commanders QB Marcus Mariota. (Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
After dropping a game to a winless squad playing a backup quarterback, the Seahawks tumble down the charts after the stinker even after the return of Sam Darnold. The turnovers, mental errors and faulty execution that cost the Seahawks in Week 3 are the only things that could derail their title run.
Record: 2-0
Previous ranking: 5
Running back Saquon Barkley (left) and quarterback Jalen Hurts will take on the Bears on Monday night to close Week 3. (Justin Ford/Getty Images)
The Eagles have two wins by a margin of just six total points and need to take care of the Bears, who will be without injured QB Caleb Williams on Monday. But with veteran QB Jalen Hurts and running back Saquon Barkley leading the way, Philly is a gritty squad that looks well-positioned to make another title run and silence the haters.
Record: 3-0
Previous ranking: 4
Quarterback Brock Purdy has powered one of the best offenses in the NFL to a 3-0 record. (Matthew Huang/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Brock Purdy is quietly creeping into MVP consideration with his stellar Week 3 performance – he completed 15 of 27 passes for 297 yards with four scores – pushing his passer rating to a jaw-dropping number (125.6) that puts him near the top of the charts. As the fifth-year pro settles into his role as a pass-first point guard for a veteran-laden squad, the 49ers’ offense is a well-oiled machine, with a diverse passing game complementing a punishing rushing attack, with running back Christian McCaffrey installed as the feature playmaker.
Record: 3-0
Previous ranking: 2 ↓
Kyler Murray is back, and the Vikings improved to 3-0. (Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
The 2026 Vikings are gritty and never pretty, but their unblemished record speaks volumes about their toughness and resilience. Brian Flores’ defense pummels opponents into submission with a barrage of blitzes and simulated pressures that leave quarterbacks dazed and bewildered. Although Kevin O’Connell will need QB Kyler Murray and the offense to find their way to knock off the heavyweights down the stretch, the Vikings’ suffocating defense can win games with or without a ton of points on the board.
Record: 3-0
Previous ranking: 6 ↑
It was business as usual for Patrick Mahomes on Sunday in Miami. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Don’t look now, but Patrick Mahomes and Co. are back in business as title contenders. The three-time Super Bowl MVP continues to carve up opponents with surgical precision despite posting pedestrian numbers as a passer. As Mahomes rounds back into form with a dominant running back by his side in Kenneth Walker III, the Chiefs suddenly look like the formidable squad that the league feared throughout the 2020s.
Record: 3-0
Previous ranking: 2 ↑
It wasn’t Josh Allen’s best performance, but it was enough for the Bills to remain undefeated. (Kathryn Riley/Getty Images)
After showing the league that they’re not a one-man show on the way to earning their third win, the Bills deserve the top spot on the list. James Cook flashed “take-over-the-game” skills, rumbling for 154 yards on 24 carries as the Pro Bowler showed the football world he can put the offense on his back, even if it was just for one game. With the Bills’ offense featuring a franchise quarterback in Josh Allen and a game-changing running back, the rest of the league must prepare for a balanced squad that can win by leaning on its running game or aerial attack.
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