Coming into week nine of the NFL season, there were four undefeated squads: Broncos, Panthers, Patriots, and Bengals. Not we have three. Andrew Luck’s beard did it’s part to help rain on Peyton Manning’s homecoming to Indianapolis with a Colts’ upset victory.
The question remains: Which of the three remaining undefeated teams is the best?
New England Patriots
The Patriots have one hell of an advantage over the other two teams at the head coach position. Bill Belichick is a Jedi Master with scheming opposing offenses and taking away their best threat while Matt Patricia’s defense keeps opposing offenses off kilter.
The QB position leans heavy NE but the running backs are a draw at best. Dion Lewis provides matchup problems and Blount is just brutal to tackle for 4 qtrs.
The TEs: Gronk. Enough said.
WRs are second. But they are deadly with what they’re asked to do.
New England’s defense had always been known to give teams fits, but it is susceptible to allowing yards and points to a strong opponent.
Carolina Panthers
Riverboat Ron has this squad pounding away. The defense is the best of the remaining the and ties in seamlessly with the offense’s philosophy to run the ball.
Cam Newton is making one hell of a case to be the league’s MVP and its much deserved. After losing Kelvin Benjamin to a knee injury, Newton has booked up with Greg Olsen on a regular to lead this team to this 8-0 start. After Greg Olsen, the WR core is the weakest of the three teams, but are extremely effective.
Jonathan Stewart and Cam hold down the majority of the running duties and they do it well. Best running offense out of the final three.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals are off to a historic start behind the lights out play of Andy Dalton and Tyler Eifert. Eifert had already tied the franchise record in touchdown receptions for a tight end in just eight games. Add in AJ Green, Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones, and you have the baddest aerial attack amongst the lossless.
Giovanni Bernard and Jeremy Hill tote the note for the orange and black and have shown to be a solid 1-2 punch.
The Bengals defense is solid. Definitely good enough to get them a couple wins in the playoffs and hold teams off until the offense gets rolling.
Conclusion
If I have to choose one team that would go the furthest in the playoffs, it would be to be the Patriots, with Carolina a close second.
Carolina’s ability to run the ball to control the clock had already been to the demise of Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers: one of the best offenses in the game.
If they can get a little more from another wr ::eh hem:: they can be a force to be reckoned with. The corp is effective but could be the demise when a team commits to stopping Greg Olsen.
New England i s always a favorite because of the pedigree. You know what you’re gonna get as long as 12 and Bill are there.
The Patriots game plan and scheme better than any team out there. Coach Belichick gives his players assignments and they execute them flawlessly.
In week 10, Carolina visits Tennessee, New England draws the Giants, and AJ Green and the Bengals play host to DeAndre Hopkins and the Texans in a battle between two of the league’s top pass catchers.
