The majority of preseason Super Bowl contenders have looked the part as we enter Week 3 of the NFL season. Despite New England dropping their opener to the Chiefs, the Patriots, Steelers, Raiders, Falcons, and Packers have all shown that they could be playing in February. However, a few teams who were expected to at least compete for the title have resembled bottom feeders. On the flip-side, there are some teams that look dangerous, and more importantly, hungry to prove themselves.
First, lets look at the underachievers.
New York Giants
Is it time to press the panic button for the boys in blue?
After the acquisition of Brandon Marshall, on paper the Giants receiving corps looked like the most lethal in the NFL. The problem is that on the field, Marshall can't catch the ball, Odell is playing injured and looks like a mere shell of himself, and the offensive line is getting manhandled. All of the above has left Eli Manning helpless, and with the run game virtually nonexistent, the Giants haven't been able to deceive the opposition with a balanced attack.
The Giants have a tough inter-divisional matchup this week against the Philadelphia Eagles, and Fletcher Cox has to be licking his chops while watching this offensive line on film. It only gets more challenging in Week 4, as they have to travel to Tampa Bay to take on an up-and-coming Buccaneers team.
Cincinnati Bengals
Maybe not everyone was picking the Bengals to be a Super Bowl contender in the preseason following a 6-9-1 finish last year, but no one saw this coming.
Just 12 days into the season, the Bengals were 0-2, they fired their offensive coordinator, and they hadn't scored a touchdown in eight quarters. While the defense still looks good, Andy Dalton and the offensive line have looked abysmal, which has led to them scoring a total of nine points in two games.
The Bengals have to go into Lambeau Field and take on Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers this Sunday, which is a dangerous recipe for a frustrated team.
Now, let's look at the two surprising teams in the early-going.
Denver Broncos
The AFC West looks, minus the Chargers, amazing on both sides of the ball. The Broncos weren't expected to win the AFC West due to the improvements in Oakland and Kansas City, but following a beat down of the darling Dallas Cowboys this past Sunday, Denver looks as formidable as ever.
Everyone knows about this defense, but how about Trevor Siemian and C.J. Anderson? Siemian has completed over 65% of his passes with six touchdowns and two picks while Anderson has averaged 100 yards per game.
With an elite defense and balanced offense, Denver looks like, at a bare minimum, an AFC West contender.
Detroit Lions
If we're being honest, it's difficult to determine if the Lions are that good after Monday night or if the Giants are that bad. Some will reserve judgment until after this week's showdown versus the defending NFC champion Atlanta Falcons, but after two weeks, the Lions look great.
The offense has always been dynamic but Ameer Abdullah looks improved while the defense has allowed only 33 points over two games along with six sacks.
With the Packers battling injuries, the Lions have an opportunity early in the season to take a multi-game lead that will be crucial come December.
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