We’re through Week 2 and 10 NFL teams remain undefeated at 2-0 entering Week 3. That’s almost a third of the league, and naturally, not all of them will go on to have spectacular seasons. While being 2-0 isn’t as good an indicator of success as being 0-2 is for having a disappointing season, we can still learn a lot from which teams have made it unscathed thus far. This time last year, we were talking about how awesome the Saints looked. Clearly, not every 2-0 team will go on to great things. But which ones are legit, and which ones might be frauds?

I think most of us can agree that the Eagles, Rams, Bills and Packers are basically living up to expectations as contenders. But the other six teams — the Colts, Cardinals, 49ers, Bengals, Chargers and Buccaneers — are more of a conversation.

Which of these teams might be legit, and which are on fraud watch? Let’s examine:

Cincinnati Bengals

It’s been a tough two weeks for Bengals fans. For years, the story of the early stretch of the season in the Joe Burrow-era in Cincinnati has been slow starts. Ever since they played in the Super Bowl following the 2021 season, the opening weeks have not been kind. Even in 2022, a year they went to the AFC Championship Game, they started 0-2. In 2023, they started 0-2 and 1-3, and then last season, they went 0-3 and 1-4 to start the season.

In both 2023 and 2024, the Bengals finished the season 9-8 and missed the playoffs. By the end of the year, they’d be one of the best teams in football, but they played so poorly to open each season that they dug themselves a hole they couldn’t get out of.

This season was supposed to be different. Burrow and the starters played drives in multiple preseason games, something they’d never done before. Coaches and players alike indicated the intensity in training camp would be amped up — all with the goal of getting the team more prepared to hit the ground running and start the season stronger.

Well, though two games, the Bengals are undefeated. So mission accomplished, in that sense. But they haven’t looked good at all, struggling to a one-point win against the Browns in Week 1 before mounting a furious comeback to steal a game against the Jaguars in Week 2. The Browns might be the worst team in the NFL, and Cincinnati mustered seven total yards of offense against them in the second half. Seven! They needed a pair of freak interceptions off dropped passes to pull that one out.

Out of the Jacksonville game, the big talking point is Burrow’s injury. He’s out for at least three months with a serious turf toe injury that requires surgery. If the Bengals are still in playoff contention by then, he could return for the final few games, but that’s a big if. The Bengals face a gauntlet over the next few weeks, with the Vikings, Broncos, Lions and Packers on deck. Backup QB Jake Browning overcame three interceptions to get the win last week, but asking him to keep the team afloat through that schedule is a tough task.

Verdict: Fraud Watch

Arizona Cardinals

With wins over the Saints and Panthers, it hasn’t exactly been a murderer’s row for the Cardinals to get to 2-0. But they’re here, tied atop their division, and the schedule’s about to start picking up. What have we learned about Arizona through two weeks?

Well, for starters, this defense could be legit. Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon is known for his strong defensive schemes, but he hasn’t had the personnel to run them effectively since arriving in Arizona. The Cardinals made major additions to the defensive line and secondary this offseason, however, and it’s transformed their defense.

Bringing ED Josh Sweat over from the Eagles gives them a bona fide top pass rusher who can win on money downs. Third-round ED Jordan Burch is proving his athleticism can translate, and he’s been productive early. First-round DT Walter Nolen hasn’t even played yet, and he’s a monstrous pass rusher who will only boost this defense when he returns.

Second-round CB Will Johnson slid in the draft due to injury concerns, but he was viewed as a top-10 talent at one point and he’s looking like it through two weeks. Injuries to CBs Garrett Wilson and Starling Thomas have thinned the group, but Johnson, Max Melton, and Kei’Trel Clark can ball — if they can stay healthy. Both Johnson and Melton are questionable this week.

If there’s one area of concern so far for the Cardinals, it’s that the connection between QB Kyler Murray and WR Marvin Harrison Jr. still doesn’t look quite right. For whatever reason, Harrison hasn’t looked like the same player in the NFL he was at Ohio State. He was viewed as a can’t-miss prospect last year when Arizona took him at No. 4 overall, and they need to get him right for this offense to live up to its full potential.

I was high on the Cardinals before the season because I believed in the talent they added to their defense, and it’s looking even better than I expected. If Johnson and Melton stay healthy, this is a good group.

Verdict: Potentially Legit

Indianapolis Colts

I said before the season that the Colts were a high-floor team, and they could sneak into the playoffs with even average quarterback play. Colts HC Shane Steichen was 17-17 through two seasons, barely missing the playoffs in 2023 with Gardner Minshew at quarterback and only falling out of contention in the final weeks last year despite the rollercoaster that was the Anthony Richardson/Joe Flacco experience.

Still, I had no idea the offense would look this good. Through two weeks, Indianapolis looks borderline elite on offense, second in the NFL in EPA per play behind only the Bills. First-round TE Tyler Warren looks like a future All-Pro, the Colts’ retooled offensive line is playing well, and the weapons at receiver are gelling. Star RB Jonathan Taylor is turning back the clock to when he led the league in rushing in 2021, making this attack balanced and hard to stop.

The linchpin of it all has been QB Daniel Jones, a free agent brought in to offer a stable floor at quarterback. He won a close competition for the starting job with Richardson in camp, and he’s making the coaching staff (and front office) look very smart right now. He looks calm and collected in this offense, dealing to his playmakers and pushing the ball down the field more than he usually has in his career.

On defense, the Colts have a new coordinator in Lou Anarumo and brought in some premier free agents like CB Charvarius Ward and S Camryn Bynum who are making immediate impacts, and the defense does look improved overall. The unit struggled against the Broncos in Week 2, but they were down Ward and ED Laiatu Latu, a first-round pick in 2024 who was PFF’s highest-graded edge rusher in Week 1.

Beating the Broncos legitimized this team in a lot of people’s eyes, but this schedule is going to get a lot tougher. Games against the Rams and Chargers in the coming weeks will tell us if this team is actually a contender or, more likely, a fun playoff team with a ceiling. I expect the Colts to make the playoffs and they could win their division, but I have a hard time seeing Jones making a lot of noise once they get there.

Verdict: Potentially Legit

San Francisco 49ers

Both of the 49ers’ early wins came on the road, which is certainly a testament to this team. San Francisco has been decimated by injuries early in the year, especially on offense. Top WR Brandon Aiyuk is still recovering from an ACL tear last season, TE George Kittle is on IR with a hamstring injury, WR Jauan Jennings is dealing with several injuries of his own. The bottom of the wideout room has been hit hard too, with WRs Trent Taylor and Jacob Cowing both on IR and WR Demarcus Robinson with one more game to serve on his suspension.

Most importantly, starting QB Brock Purdy is out at least another week with an injury of his own. Backup QB Mac Jones is a high-floor guy capable of winning you a few games. He did just that last week, winning at New Orleans, and will have a home test against the Cardinals on Sunday. His ability to win this next game or two until Purdy returns will be critical. Stealing a few wins without your starting quarterback is a gift in the NFL.

Starting in Week 5, the 49ers have a potentially season-defining stretch in their schedule: at the Rams, at the Buccaneers, home against the Falcons and at the Texans. Even going 2-2 in those games would make the 49ers a serious wild card team.

Ultimately, when healthy, we know this offense is electric. I have doubts as to if they’ll ever get fully healthy this season, however. And the defense is young and inexperienced outside of established stars like LB Fred Warner and ED Nick Bosa. I’m skeptical if they can keep this momentum going as the schedule stiffens.

Verdict: Fraud Watch

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs are about as close as you can get to an 0-2 team for one that’s 2-0. Both wins required late-game heroics from QB Baker Mayfield, in part because Mayfield has struggled with consistency through two weeks.

Against the Falcons in Week 1, Mayfield had four turnover-worthy plays. He was chucking the ball to the defense all afternoon, though Atlanta’s defensive backs didn’t really make him pay for it. Even so, the offense was stuck in the mud for most of the game, only getting things clicking in the fourth quarter. Once it did, Mayfield and company put up a lot of points, including an epic game-winning drive cap-stoned with a beautiful pass to first-round WR Emeka Egbuka.

Speaking of Egbuka, he’s been phenomenal so far. With WR Chris Godwin not yet ready to return from a knee injury suffered last season, Egbuka has stepped right into his role, absorbing his targets as the chain-mover at wide receiver.

The Bucs are starting to get pretty banged up on defense and along the offensive line. Young DT Calijah Kancey is out for the year with a torn pec and RG Cody Mauch is out indefinitely with a knee injury. Top-tier LT Tristan Wirfs has yet to make his season debut, and RT Luke Goedeke is on IR with a foot injury, though he should return this season.

The offensive line injuries are particularly damaging for an inconsistent offense. Kancey’s absence hurts, too, as he was arguably their best pass rusher. I am not confident in this team as a contender, and if I could hedge my bets here I would. Still, they will probably still win their division with nine or 10 wins, so I can’t call them fraudulent.

Verdict: Potentially Legit

Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers got the season started off with a bang, taking down the Chiefs in impressive fashion in São Paulo on the second night of the season. They followed that up with another division win over the Raiders, and have a chance to cement themselves as a real contender in the coming weeks.

Two things have stood out to me about the Chargers amidst this 2-0 start. First, QB Justin Herbert has thrown 61 passes across two games, averaging 30.5 pass attempts per game. That’s a significant jump from what we expect in a HC Jim Harbaugh and OC Greg Roman offense, as both coaches usually employ a run-heavy approach.

They are unleashing Herbert, frequently throwing on early downs, a trend we saw towards the end of last season, as well. It’s opening up this offense, and third-year WR Quentin Johnston is starting to make more consistent plays, as well. Second-year WR Ladd McConkey is still the top guy in this passing game, but Johnston being a big-bodied field-stretcher is a big development.

The second thing is their defense. The Chargers are third in the NFL in points allowed per game and top 10 in total yards allowed, despite playing two explosive offenses (at least in theory). This is also a continuation of a trend from last season, when the Chargers had one of the NFL’s best defenses.

Los Angeles passed their early test with the Chiefs, and they get another one on Sunday against the Broncos. With Herbert unlocked and this defense playing to their potential, I’m a believer in the Chargers.

Verdict: Potentially Legit