Can the NFL’s least-intimidating franchise really be the NFL’s scariest team?

The Cincinnati Bengals haven’t a won a playoff game in 24 seasons — the longest run of futility in the NFL — but dominant 3-0 Cincy is playing the best football of any team so far this season. Maybe 2014 is the year the Bengals’ playoff skid ends.

The Seahawks may be better. The Broncos may be more explosive. But right now, no one has put together a better opening month than Marvin Lewis and company.

Where’s the weakness? When Week 3 ends on Monday night, the Bengals should have a top 10 offense and defense. They’ve given up 33 points, which is the lowest in the NFL (with the exception of Carolina, who plays tonight). The team’s 80 points scored are second-most in the AFC, behind only Indianapolis. And no other team has a longer current home winning streak than Cincinnati’s 11. (No, not even Seattle.)

Andy Dalton is playing the same efficient quarterback that took him to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons. (Who cares whether he’s “elite.”) The rushing game is adept at eating up clock. Though Giovani Bernard had an off day Sunday, he still scored twice and was part of a balanced attack that gained 116 yards on the ground. A.J. Green is simply one of the best three wide receivers in football. And offensive coordinator Hue Jackson hasn’t missed a beat in replacing Jay Gruden. His creativity keeps defenses on its toes and makes receiving stars out of the unlikeliest targets.

(That was Andy Dalton, becoming the first Bengals QB in history to catch a touchdown pass.)

Cincinnati’s defense, anchored by Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap, is near the top of the NFL with seven takeaways. Their blitz-happy ways help that opportunism — staying aggressive while Baltimore was trying to crawl back into their Week 1 game was a key reason for Cincy’s opening victory.

Yes, It’s early. The schedule hasn’t exactly been a murderer’s row (Baltimore, Atlanta, Tennessee). And while a bye next week helps Cincy get healthy, it’s early for a team that hopes to be playing deep into January. But these are minor things. Given Cincinnati’s early-season play, their clear status as alpha dog in the AFC North and throw in the good karma of the Devon Still story, what’s not to love?