Former Alabama QBs Lead the Only Undefeated Teams In the NFL

Week 3 of the NFL ended with the New York Giants losing to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football, bringing the number of undefeated teams in the league down to two: the Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles. Both teams are led by former Alabama quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts respectively.

Tagovailoa was named as one of Miami's captains right before his third season in the league began. In his first game, he threw for 270 yards and one touchdown in a 20-7 win over former Alabama quarterback and teammate Mac Jones and the New England Patriots.

Week 2 might just prove later in the season to be Tagovailoa's breakout performance, as he put up a career high 469 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions to comeback from a 21-point fourth quarter deficit on the road to beat the Baltimore Ravens 42-38. He also won AFC Offensive Player of the Week after his performance.

Tagovailoa and the Dolphins had their hardest test in Week 3 against the Buffalo Bills, who came into the game with a 2-0 record and outscoring their opponents, who were both playoff teams last season, 72-17. He went for 186 yards and one touchdown to narrowly beat the Bills 21-19, resulting in Miami being the AFC's only undefeated team left. The last time the Dolphins were 3-0 was in 2018. The last time they went both 3-0 to start a season and went to the playoffs was in 1998.

Hurts was also named captain of his team before the season began, but unlike Tagovailoa, this was his second straight season of earning the role. In his first game, Hurts threw for 243 yards, rushed for 90 yards and had a rushing TD in a 38-35 win over the Detroit Lions.

Also like his former college teammate Tagovailoa, Hurts had what may just prove to be his breakout performance in Week 2 in primetime on Monday Night Football. In his home opener against the Minnesota Vikings, he put up 333 passing yards, one touchdown, one interception and only five incompletions, as well as rushing for 57 yards and two rushing touchdowns.

In Week 3, Hurts and the Eagles were pitted against the Washington Commanders and former Philadelphia quarterback Carson Wentz. Hurts went for 340 yards passing and three touchdowns in a 24-8 division win to improve to a 3-0 record overall. The last time the Eagles started 3-0 was in 2016. The last time they started 3-0 and made the playoffs in the same season was in 2004.

The Miami Dolphins go on the road to face the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday, Sept. 29, at 7:15 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed on Amazon Prime Video with a subscription.

The Philadelphia Eagles play at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Oct. 2, at noon CT. The game will be aired on CBS in certain locations.