Parity rules for Bears, Chiefs, Dolphins, Saints

Another reason the NFL is the best league going: Because the league is so evenly balanced, there's always a chance to have a meaningful season, even after a losing effort. The latest example: Of the seven teams that currently stand at 3-0, four of them - the Bears, Chiefs, Dolphins and Saints - didn't make the playoff last year.

And since the NFL went to the current 12-team playoff format that was first instituted in 1990, at least four teams have made the playoffs each year that weren't in the tournament the previous season.

While there's still plenty of season left, 3-0 is usually a good omen for a playoff run; 75.4 percent of teams teams that started 3-0 since 1990 have gone on to make the postseason.