NFL Rankings 2018: Rams Ahead Of Chiefs, Dolphins, Buccaneers As Best Undefeated Team

Week 3 of the 2018 NFL season isn’t even over yet, and only four teams remain without a loss. The Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams and Miami Dolphins all improved to 3-0 with wins Sunday afternoon. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 2-0 with a chance to stay perfect on “Monday Night Football.”

Each team has performed like a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Will they all be able to keep it up throughout the regular season and into the playoffs?

Here is a ranking of the NFL’s undefeated teams, based on their Super Bowl chances:

1) Los Angeles Rams

Starting the season tied for the best Super Bowl odds in the NFC, L.A. has done exactly what’s been expected of them. The Rams have taken care of business against the Oakland Raiders, Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Chargers, beating each team by double-digits. Los Angeles far and away has the NFL’s best point differential of plus-66. Todd Gurley might be the league’s best running back, and the addition of Brandin Cooks has made the Rams’ offense even more explosive than it was in 2017. Spending all that money on defense in the offseason has Los Angeles ranked first in points allowed and eighth in total defense.

As impressive as they’ve been, the Rams haven’t exactly been tested. Their opponents have a combined 1-8 record. Los Angeles can make a real statement Thursday night when they host the Minnesota Vikings, who figure to be a top NFC Super Bowl contender.

2) Kansas City Chiefs

If it wasn’t for a defense that’s last in yards allowed and 30th in opponents’ yards per play, the Chiefs would top this list. Kansas City’s offense has looked unstoppable for three weeks, rankings third in yards per play—one spot ahead of the Rams—and first with 39.3 points per game. The Chiefs have scored at least 38 points in each game with Patrick Mahomes putting up historic numbers. We’ve seen enough to know that the second-year quarterback is the real deal, setting a record with 13 touchdown passes in the first three games of the season. Mahomes still hasn’t been picked off, and he might have the best array of weapons in all of football. Kareem Hunt, Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce and Sammy Watkins continue to make big play after big play.

Kansas City has quality victories with road wins against the Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers before defeating the San Francisco 49ers at home. They can take full command of the AFC West with a road win over the Denver Broncos in Week 4.

3) Miami Dolphins

Who could’ve predicted Miami would enter Week 4 with a two-game lead in the AFC East? That’s the position the Dolphins find themselves in after beating the Raiders Sunday. Miami hasn’t exactly been dominant, winning each game by one score, but they deserve plenty of credit for their hot start. The Dolphins have been solid on both sides of the ball, ranking sixth in both yards per play and points allowed. Ryan Tannehill and Adam Case continue to form a winning combination. The duo is 10-1 in their last 11 games together, and Tannehill is fourth among all quarterbacks with a 121.8 passer rating.

Miami’s Week 1 win over the 2-1 Tennessee Titans looks more impressive now, though victories over the winless Raiders and 1-2 New York Jets should be kept in perspective. The Dolphins have their chance to prove they are a real threat to win the division when they visit the New England Patriots next week.

4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Set to host the Pittsburgh Steelers Monday night, the Bucs are the only undefeated team that sits at 2-0. Statistically, they’ve done it with the best offense in the league. Tampa Bay easily ranks first with 8.0 yards per play—the Chargers are second with 6.9 yards per play—and Ryan Fitzpatrick has been nearly perfect with a 151.5 passer rating. The defense remains a concern, ranking 29th in opponents’ yards per play and 28th in points allowed per game. Fitzpatrick certainly won’t keep up this pace, and and it’s unknown for how long he’ll be the starting quarterback, considering Jameis Winston can return from his suspension in Week 4. Tampa Bay might play in the NFL’s best division, and a loss to Pittsburgh would put them in a three-way tie with the New Orleans Saints and Carolina Panthers.

The Bucs can go a long way in proving their doubters wrong by defeating the Steelers. That would be a third straight win over a playoff team. Tampa Bay defeated New Orleans and the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles in the first two weeks.