Perfect no more: Predicting the three most vulnerable 2-0 NFL teams in Week 3

After Week 2, eight undefeated NFL teams remain. But some have a much easier path to a perfect 3-0 start than others. 

Below, we predict the most vulnerable 2-0 teams this Sunday.

3. Cincinnati Bengals

at Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) | This speaks more to the quality of the Week 3 slate than to the Bengals.

Seriously, look at what five other 2-0 teams face:

• The Buffalo Bills host the Los Angeles Chargers (0-2), who are coming off back-to-back 26-14 home losses to the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders, teams that were a combined 6-28 (.176) last season.
• Kansas City, Week 3's largest favorite, plays at the Miami Dolphins (0-2), owners of the AFC's worst point differential.
• The San Francisco 49ers are the first team in three seasons to win their first two games by at least 20 points and host the Cardinals, who lost to the Seattle Seahawks, 31-7, in Week 2.
• Speaking of the Seahawks, they play the Washington Commanders (0-2), who will be without quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow).
• The Philadelphia Eagles wrap Week 3 with a road trip to the Windy City. The Chicago Bears could be down to their QB3, Case Keenum, who hasn't appeared in an NFL game since his last start on Christmas Eve 2023.

By comparison, the Bengals face a gauntlet going on the road against a division rival. 

Pittsburgh will try to get its offense on track after scoring 23 points during a 1-1 start. But unlike in past seasons, the Bengals defense might not be a "get right" unit for opposing offenses. 

A week after forcing four turnovers in Week 1, the Bengals held the Houston Texans (0-2) in check last Sunday. Through two games, Cincinnati has allowed 33 points, tied for its fewest in Weeks 1-2 over the past 10 seasons. (h/t Stathead)

Defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II, acquired during the offseason in exchange for the 2026 draft's 10th overall pick, has been a difference-making force. He has been credited with a league-high 15 impact plays, defined by Sumer Sports as "when a player meaningfully outperforms expectations for their role" based on comparable "historical benchmarks for players in the same role and alignment."

NFL Pro Insights noted that against Houston, Cincinnati allowed one yard per carry in 12 run snaps with Lawrence on the field and eight yards per attempt with him sidelined.

Despite blitzing at the league's lowest clip (13.1 percent), Cincinnati is ninth in pressure rate (41.4 percent) because of its four-man front. Veteran tackle Jonathan Allen, who already has four tackles for loss and ranks 14th out of 91 interior linemen in pass rush win percentage (13.3 percent), is also playing a vital role.

Sunday's game could be a battle of which pass rush is most impactful. On the other sideline, Steelers edge-rusher T.J. Watt already has 3.5 sacks. He also has 14.5 sacks in 17 career games against the Bengals. Watt likely must add to those totals for Pittsburgh to pull off the upset.