Six weeks into the 2014 NFL campaign, there are no remaining undefeateds. But there are six teams -- three in each conference -- with just one loss:
Harrison: Power Rankings, Week 7
Another chaotic week in the NFL brings about another major shakeup in Elliot Harrison's league pecking order. **READ**
» Cincinnati Bengals (3-1-1)
» San Diego Chargers (5-1)
» Denver Broncos (4-1)
» Philadelphia Eagles (5-1)
» Dallas Cowboys (5-1)
» Arizona Cardinals (4-1)
While it's safe to say nobody's too shocked by this start from the defending AFC champion Broncos, some of the other squads listed above have taken the league by surprise. Inevitably, though, at least a few of them will fall back to the pack as the season unfolds. Going forward, which of those teams induces the smallest degree of confidence in your eyes? Which one-loss team appears most suspect?
- !
- Judy Battista @JudyBattista
Bengals provide plenty of concerns
Having been in Foxborough to witness the Patriots' demolition of the Bengals in person, I'll say I'm most concerned about the tenuousness of Cincy's strength as a one-loss team. First of all, the Bengals' run defense has been gashed in the past two weeks. They also have been struggling to generate a pass rush (not good, considering they are facing Andrew Luck this weekend). And while the offense managed to roll up a ton of yards and points last week despite the absence of a slew of quality players, I worry that receiver A.J. Green will be limited all season by his toe injury.
Another problem: the schedule. The Bengals have the Colts, Saints and Broncos, in addition to their opponents from a very strong AFC North.
- !
- Adam Schein @AdamSchein
Andy Dalton and Marvin Lewis? No thanks
Andy Dalton is the Bengals' quarterback. Marvin Lewis is the head coach. It's been proven consistently that you cannot count on this tandem, regardless of record, feel or overall talent. That Sunday night debacle a few weeks back, when the previously undefeated Bengals were trounced by a Patriots team that entered the game with its season on the brink, was a reminder of this. As was that tie with Carolina. (Cincy had ample opportunities to win, even before Mike Nugent's horrendous missed field goal.) Or I can simply reference the three straight first-round playoff exits.
I do not trust Cincy. I will not trust Cincy.
- !
- Charley Casserly @CharleyCasserly
Given DeMarco Murray's injury history, the Cowboys could be due for regression
I would say it is Dallas. The 2014 Cowboys have built their success around DeMarco Murray. The fourth-year pro is having an MVP-type season, but he is on pace to carry the ball 424 times. That would be an NFL record. Murray's previous high: 217.
Murray has missed time in each of his previous NFL seasons. If he were to go down, the Cowboys could fall back to the pack.
- !
- Dave Dameshek @Dameshek
Whole lotta questions around Marvin Lewis' team -- and Marvin Lewis himself
Here in the "What Have You Done For Me Lately?" League, the only answer to the question is the Cincy Bengals, whose allegedly mighty defense was humiliated by an allegedly washed-up QB named Brady, then gave up 37 at home to the Panthers (whose QB, by the by, deserves -- and gets -- a little more due here).
The "Can Andy Dalton do it in January?" questions will persist until ... Andy Dalton does it in January. But perhaps the bigger question mark is Marvin Lewis: Now in his 12th year with Cincy, he's the second-longest tenured head coach in the league -- and remains winless in the postseason. Has any coach ever kept his job for so long with such mediocre results?
- !
- Gregg Rosenthal @GreggRosenthal
Don't get fooled again by an annually erratic NFL outfit
The Bengals are the least convincing, because we've seen this show before. They can look like world-beaters for three weeks, then randomly fall off a cliff. Andy Dalton still can't hit throws outside the numbers and the defense has given up 80 points over the past two weeks. Cincy couldn't get pressure on Cam Newton at home and was steamrolled on the ground in New England.
Coordinator Hue Jackson has definitely improved the offense overall, but Baltimore looks like the more complete AFC North team. (With the better quarterback.)
