Some NFL teams have gotten off to very good starts this season.
Although, due to competition, it is fair to wonder if they are pretenders.
These three teams all have winning records, yet we need to see more before considering them contenders for postseason success.
Every year some teams get off to hot starts and then fade down the stretch.
For example, the Arizona Cardinals started last year 7-0 before finishing the year 4-6.
Here are three teams that should be considered pretenders so far.
New York Giants
The Giants started the year 2-0, before losing their first game to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3.
But, this New York team looks like a fluke despite their winning record.
The biggest issue with this team is that their offense is not explosive.
They have Saquon Barkley who is a very good running back, but the rest of their offense leaves a lot to be desired.
Daniel Jones is not an effective quarterback, plus he has nothing to throw to.
Game Over dice Trevon Diggs 😤😤
📺: @ESPNDeportes#MundoNFL #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/nqbSh1X3Ad
— Mundo NFL (@MundoNFL) September 27, 2022
The Giants signed wide receiver, Kenny Golladay to a massive contract and he has been a disappointment.
He has two catches for 22 yards on the year and might be in danger of getting released.
The other two top receiving options are Richie James and Sterling Shepard.
With the latter now out for the season after suffering a torn ACL in Week 3.
The Giants’ defense is good enough to keep them in some games but not against the top offenses.
Despite the 2-1 start to the year, it would be surprising if the Giants do not finish the season under .500.
Chicago Bears
Another 2-1 team that has almost no chance of competing this season is the Chicago Bears.
This team has beaten the San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans both at home.
Neither win is all that impressive when you factor in the opposing team’s QB and weather.
In a passing league, the Bears have the worst passing offense by far.
It is almost like they are afraid to throw the ball.
After three games, quarterback Justin Fields has only 45 pass attempts.
Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears passing offense have completed just 23 passes through three games…. The first team with so few completions in 40 years pic.twitter.com/BVdTuXF3bD
— Football Perspective (@fbgchase) September 28, 2022
It is going to be hard to win games if that keeps up.
They are dead last in the league in yards per game and are averaging 78.3 yards passing.
Chicago might be the worst team in the NFC North, so they are clear pretenders through three weeks.
Philadelphia Eagles
While the Philadelphia Eagles may be pretenders they are in a different category than the Giants and Bears.
They seem to have a good team that has not played top competition.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts has had a breakout three games and looks developed as a passer.
But, many people believe this is the best team in the NFL, and the favorite to win the NFC.
That is where they are pretenders.
Look no further than the 2019 Baltimore Ravens for comparison.
Lamar Jackson took over the league that year and won MVP.
But, when it came to their first playoff game they got crushed by the Tennessee Titans.
We have just not seen the elite running QBs, like Jackson or Hurts have success in the playoffs.
In Hurts’ first playoff appearance last year, the Eagles got hammered by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Even though the Eagles look good through three weeks, it will be interesting to see how they do against some of the league’s best teams later in the year.
