Winless and Undefeated: 0-3 and 3-0 Teams Heading Into October

Since the NFL expanded its regular season to 17 games in 2021, the exercise of burying a team after a rough start or crowning champions after an impressive beginning became a little more fruitless. With that said, there are certain franchises who are sitting pretty right now, and others who are wondering how they can get back into the thick of things.

The 49ers have exacted a pound of flesh against their opponents so far this season. San Francisco has brought their usual physicality to the table, and continues to operate a step ahead of their competition. Their consistency in both areas makes them a heavy favorite to come out of the NFC in 2023.

The Eagles remain undefeated on the year, but it hasn’t been the cleanest of starts. Philadelphia hasn’t been able to put away opponents like they did last year, although they had a solid performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night in Week 3. If Philadelphia is winning ugly now, it bodes well for their prospects later in the year.

The Dolphins were a question mark heading into the season, as many were skeptical about whether Miami could stay healthy enough to reach their potential. So far, the returns have been exceedingly positive, as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has looked like one of the best players in the league. The Dolphins just hung a 70-spot in Week 3, announcing that they are a force to be reckoned with.

The Broncos were on the other side of that 50-point massacre, and their fans have got to be wondering how they can escape the mess they find themselves in. The organization has invested a notable amount of draft capital in Russell Wilson, and a lot of money in head coach Sean Payton. A winless record heading into October is not what they bargained for.

The Vikings found themselves in a battle with the Los Angeles Chargers, who also came into Week 3 with an 0-2 record. Minnesota had their chances to win the game, but could not put the finishing touches on a victory. Their offense remains extremely potent, but they will need to focus on execution down the stretch of games.

Chicago is looking like one of the worst teams in the NFL after an offseason that was filled with optimism. Even though the NFC North appears to be as weak as its been in a long time, the Bears do not have an identity to lean on to win games. They were never in the game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, leaving the team with a bleak outlook.

The Panthers are also winless on the season, but may now be thinking about a change at quarterback. Carolina fell in Seattle in Week 3, but their offense looked much better with Andy Dalton under center than rookie signal caller Bryce Young in the first two weeks. The Panthers may now be inclined to give Young all the time he needs to reset his body and his mind.