Rekubit Exchange:Dolphins, Eagles or 49ers: Who will be last undefeated NFL team standing?

As the NFL puts a bow on Rekubit Exchangethe first month of the 2023 season, only three teams exit September with an unblemished record: the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers.

All three have soared above the competition en route to a 3-0 mark, though their runs have not been without the occasional challenge. With each outfit boasting a high-powered offense (all three rank in the top seven in scoring) and promising quarterback, this group looks to have staying power.

But which one will be the last to fall?

We asked USA TODAY Sports' NFL writers and columnists: Who will be the last undefeated team remaining this season?

Their answers:

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49ers

The San Francisco 49ers are the most complete football team in the NFL right now, and they aren’t dependent on the quarterback position. Running back Christian McCaffrey leads the NFL in rushing and wide receiver Deebo Samuel is third in the league in yards after catch. On defense, they’ve allowed just five big plays (rushes of 10+ yards or receptions of 20+ yards), the fewest in the NFL. The 49ers play a physical brand of football and their style of play travels well. Home battles against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5 and the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8 will be difficult, but the 49ers should come out on top. The 49ers will likely be favored in every game on their schedule until a Week 13 showdown at Philadelphia. – Tyler Dragon

Team + Schedule = Longest Unbeaten Streak. Theoretically, after handling the Arizona Cardinals this weekend as heavy favorites, San Francisco will get a handful from the Cowboys in Santa Clara in Week 5. The 49ers eliminated Dallas from the playoffs in tight games in each of the past two seasons, leaving the Cowboys with the gut-check litmus test to prove that they can actually beat their longtime rival. I'm guessing that given all of the issues with an injury-stung O-line and the spotty results in the red zone, the Cowboys won't measure up against San Fran's D. Maybe if they meet again in the playoffs, if Dallas' line is healthy, etc., they might. But not anytime soon. Meanwhile, the Dolphins and Eagles could be on a collision course to meet as unbeatens in a Sunday night showdown at The Linc in Week 7. Of course, Miami has to deal with Buffalo on Sunday. The Eagles will be favored in their next three against the Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Rams and New York Jets. So, one way or another, a (projected) perfect record for Philly could be prevailed on to withstand (or not) the force of the NFL's most prolific offense. And if, somehow the Eagles and 49ers keep winning past Turkey Day without setbacks, this question could be settled when they will meet in the City of Brotherly Love in Week 13. – Jarrett Bell

This, to me, is a question about scheduling. Each of the Dolphins, 49ers and Eagles has shown that they have talent and depth to make deep runs into the postseason. Miami’s offense has been electric, San Francisco is balanced and Philadelphia has been steady, even with some early season sluggishness that more or less wore off in Week 3.

I have the Dolphins losing this weekend to Buffalo; at a certain point, a regression to the mean is to be expected with Miami’s offense and Buffalo is second in total defense, first in interception rate, first in sack rate, second in red zone defensive efficiency and second in scoring defense. Simply: this will be Miami’s toughest test, and it comes on the road against a Bills team that has had recent success against Miami.

I think of the three undefeated teams, the Eagles are the ones that are perhaps most vulnerable. Yet, Philly’s schedule sets up nicely with very winnable games against the Commanders (2-1), Rams (1-2) and Jets (1-2). It isn’t until an October 22 game against the Dolphins where the Eagles could be in trouble.

Which leaves the Niners. They should be favored in every game they play for the foreseeable future, though the Cowboys and Cleveland Browns present thorny matchups in Weeks 5 and 6. The Bengals could course correct and also prove to be a tough foe in Week  8. But I wouldn’t be concerned about San Francisco until December 3, when the 49ers travel to Philadelphia for a rematch of last season's NFC Championship Game. – Lorenzo Reyes

Eagles

The Eagles got out to an 8-0 start in 2022 and seem well positioned to again be the last unbeaten squad in 2023. Yes, they lost their first game last year at home to the Commanders, who are headed to Philadelphia this weekend. But even though the NFC champs haven’t been dominant the first few weeks, they have been getting incrementally better while adapting to two new coordinators and several new starters on defense – a unit that looked plenty imposing Monday night in Tampa. And with visits to the Rams and Jets in subsequent weeks, seems a pretty safe bet the Eagles are 6-0 when the Dolphins, who have a tough game at Buffalo on Sunday, come calling in Week 7. – Nate Davis

This felt like an illogical choice because of the three teams, the Eagles have been the most inconsistent – on both sides of the ball. But they have strength of schedule on their side with this debate. The Commanders will play them tough on Sunday, and next week on the road in Los Angeles against the Rams won’t be a walk in the park either, but they should keep a goose egg in the loss column once those finals horns sound. Week 6 is a road matchup against the Jets. Win. Hopefully the Dolphins can also keep their winning streak going for a primetime “Sunday Night Football” showdown of undefeated squads in Week 7. – Chris Bumbaca

Dolphins

Sure, the Dolphins have a tough one on the road this week against the Bills. But their next two games afterwards − against the Carolina Panthers and New York Giants − are quite winnable. And they could head into Philadelphia undefeated for a Sunday night matchup against the Eagles in Week 7. The Dolphins are in Year 2 of Mike McDaniel's leadership and the offense has reached new heights with its tremendous start this season. They're also primed this week to avenge their late season losses to Buffalo last year. If Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill and the Dolphins take care of business in Buffalo, there's a good chance they could be the last remaining undefeated team well into October. –Safid Deen