Denver Broncos
After enduring an off-season that could be described as chaotic, dramatic, or even foolish, head coach Josh McDaniels has proved doubters wrong with an undefeated start. The key to their early success lies in their much improved defense, which ranked 29th in total defense and 30th in points allowed last season. This year, the story is completely different. Denver currently ranks 3rd in total defense and 1st in points allowed with a mind-blowing 6.5 points yielded per game. Undersized but unstoppable LB/DE Elvis Dumervil has been a pass rushing force with 8 sacks on the season. The defense as a whole has recorded 15 sacks, creating constant pressure on the quarterback.
The Broncos have faced a rather easy schedule so far, beating up on the Browns, Oakland Raiders and inconsistent Dallas Cowboys. However, their schedule will be getting much tougher; in weeks 8-12 they will face the Ravens, Steelers, Chargers, and the New York Giants. These games will really test their mettle and prove if this team is off to a fast start or is a real contender.
Cincinnati Bengals
After three miserable years and being the target of many jokes, the Bengals are currently sitting at 3-1. They could very well be 4-0 if it were not for a lucky bounce against the aforementioned Broncos. Carson Palmer has re-emerged as an elite quarterback after fighting off the injury bug for much of the last few years. While his play has not always been pretty, he shows up when it matters and is winning games. Cedric Benson has found redemption and is a reliable contributor on offense. Travel show host/MLB Dhani Jones is the anchor of a talented linebacker core with youngsters Rey Maualuga and Keith Rivers manning the outside spots. DE Antwan Odom is getting a push up front and the defense ranks in the middle of league in most categories. That can be considered progress for a unit that continually performs among the worst in the league.
A gutsy win against uber-rival Pittsburgh showed that these are not the same old Bengals. There are still 12 weeks left to find out if this team will be any different than those of recent history.
San Francisco 49ers
With a new toughness instilled by head coach Mike Singletary, the 49ers have become competitive in a wide open NFC West. Quarterback Shaun Hill has taken control of the starting position and is careful with the football. Patrick Willis is becoming even more dominant and is a force in the middle of the San Francisco defense. Willis excels in all aspects: he plays the run, is effective at blitzing and drops into coverage well with two interceptions and three pass breakups. Tight end Vernon Davis has quietly been productive, finally putting all of his potential and athleticism to use. Petulant first round pick and holdout Michael Crabtree has not been a distraction as the players that actually suit up have taken advantage of a soft early season schedule. If Hill keeps the ball out of the other team's hands and the defense stays the course, the 49ers could easily win the West.
Difference Maker
The key here is that all three of these teams have improved their play on defense. The old adage that "defense wins championships" still rings true in the NFL. Of course, teams still have twelve games left to play and no team is crowned a champion in October. These franchises have set the groundwork for success. The challenge is to keep it going through into January and February.
