Another week means another round of thrilling NFL matches.
The schedule for this week has something for everyone: There are a number of unbeaten teams attempting to build on strong starts, as well as a number of desperate teams still looking for their first victory and players seeking atonement.
The Jets’ victory over the Patriots on Thursday marked the start of Week 3 action. There are 13 games on Sunday before a doubleheader of “Monday Night Football” to cap out the weekend: At 7:30 p.m. ET, Jacksonville (0-2) takes on Buffalo (2-0), and at 8:15 p.m. ET, Washington (1-1) plays Cincinnati (2-2).
Here are five intriguing plots for Week 3 that are worth following. (Here is the schedule to find.)
1. Who improves to 3-0?
By Week 3, nine out of 32 teams were still unblemished. The Bills, Buccaneers, Chargers, Chiefs, Saints, Seahawks, Steelers, Texans, and Vikings are the elite group.
This weekend’s schedule includes two games between teams that are still unbeaten: the Chargers at the Steelers and the Texans at the Vikings. That means that at least two of these teams will have their pristine records tarnished.
In their opening two games of the season, the Texans—led by coach DeMeco Ryans and second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud—showed tenacity and fortitude. They defeated the Colts 29–27 on the road in Week 1 before overcoming the formidable Bears defense last Sunday night at home. They now face a Vikings team that has surprised many this early in the season.
Many predicted that when Kirk Cousins left for the Falcons, Kevin O’Connell’s club would regress a little. Rather, Sam Darnold, the team’s new starting quarterback, appears to be a man reborn. Darnold, the third selection in the 2018 draft, was viewed as a flop following terrible experiences with the Jets and Panthers. He spent the previous season as a backup in San Francisco before joining Minnesota as insurance for the rookie quarterback it intended to draft. However, the Vikings went to Darnold after J.J. McCarthy suffered a season-ending knee injury in August, and he has already produced two excellent performances to help Minnesota establish an early lead in the NFC North. Can Darnold maintain his comeback against a Texans team that is second in terms of yards allowed and third in terms of
Chargers vs. Steelers should feel nostalgic in the meantime. With a heavy reliance on a potent run game (running back J.K. Dobbins leads the NFL with 266 rushing yards) and superior defense (227.5 yards and only 6.5 scores allowed), new coach Jim Harbaugh has led Los Angeles to back-to-back triumphs. With a high ankle sprain, quarterback Justin Herbert (three touchdown passes, one interception through two games) is questionable, so the Chargers may need to rely more on their rushing assault and strong defense on Sunday. Pittsburgh, interestingly, takes a similar tack. The Steelers defense under Mike Tomlin has also been outstanding after two weeks, giving up only 8.0 points per game and 260.5 yards. The running offense, which averages 139 yards per game, combined with that defense has relieved some of the strain on Justin Fields, who is
Although it may not be glamorous, both sides have benefited from this strategy. Which formidable team will remain unbeaten? (Texans versus Vikings and Chargers versus Steelers, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET.)
2. Desperation rising for 0-2 teams
From teams with a 2-0 lead to those with a 0-2. The Bengals, Broncos, Colts, Giants, Jaguars, Panthers, Rams, Ravens, and Titans are among the nine clubs still seeking their first wins. The Bengals and Ravens are not supposed to be in the lower level. Despite having reasonable expectations going into the season to contend with Kansas City for the AFC title, neither has been able to return to their peak performances.
Though it is early, the stakes are high. Just four NFL teams have made it to the playoffs after a 0–3 start in the previous 25 years.
The Ravens, who were humiliated by the Raiders last week, will go to Dallas, where the Cowboys are in disarray following their crushing defeat at the hands of the Saints. After a season of upheaval that saw the departure of playmakers Patrick Queen and Jadeveon Clowney, as well as defensive coordinators Mike Macdonald, Anthony Weaver, and Dennard Wilson, Baltimore’s defense has underperformed thus far. The typically reliable team has let up 26.5 points per game, which is the fifth-highest in the NFL. The offense is likewise fraught with frustrations. With 417.5 yards per game, Lamar Jackson and company do lead the league. However, the Ravens have dropped from scoring 28.4 points per game in 2023 to 21.5 through two weeks in 2024, indicating that things are not clicking when it matters most.
Cincinnati, on the other hand, has a history of weak beginnings and is still looking for offensive coherence following a preseason marred by contract disagreements between the team and its top wide receivers, Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase. The Bengals’ 0-2 record is the result of an upset loss to the Patriots in Week 1 and a one-point loss to the Chiefs. While throwing for 258 yards and two touchdowns last week, Joe Burrow was more like himself, while Chase only managed 35 yards on four grabs. Is this the week that the Bengals offense finally finds its offensive groove again, at home against the Commanders?
Which of these projected AFC powers will regain their footing before it’s too late? (Ravens at Cowboys, 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday; Commanders at Bengals, 8:15 p.m. ET Monday.)
3. Saints’ legitimacy
Given Carolina’s problems, it seemed premature to celebrate the Saints’ Week 1 thrashing of the Panthers, 47-10. However, the Saints defeated the Cowboys 44-19 when they visited Dallas. Dallas is thought to be among the NFC’s top teams. Therefore, is this once mediocre New Orleans club for real? Was quarterback Derek Carr and his teammates really that much different after Klint Kubiak took over as offensive coordinator? And is a Saints defense that has only allowed 14.5 points per game to opponents just as good? When will we be certain?
This week, when they host the Eagles, the Saints will have another chance to establish their mettle. Philadelphia recently lost to Atlanta 22–21 after blowing a lead in the fourth quarter. Despite this, the Eagles are still thought of as a strong opponent because of their potent attack and solid defense. Though it is unclear if Jalen Hurts will be without his best wide receiver, A.J. Brown (hamstring), Dallas Goedert, DeVonta Smith, and Saquon Barkley still provide plenty of offensive punch. If the Saints can keep this unit in check while still lighting up the scoreboard, it might be time for us to reassess our perception of them. Eagles at. Saints, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
4. Panthers’ truth-teller game
Bryce Young, the team’s second-year quarterback, was benched in favor of 14-year veteran Andy Dalton by rookie head coach Dave Canales following two appalling performances by the quarterback and the offense. The Panthers selected Young first overall in the previous season, fired coach Frank Reich after just 11 games, and now, despite Young’s little preseason activity, want him to lead a new offense to a high standard. This makes the move very puzzling.
In his first two games, Young may have made bad choices because he threw three interceptions and no touchdowns. In addition, he was fired six times. However, he is undoubtedly not at fault for every other issue pertaining to insufficient talent. Canales, on the other hand, believes that Dalton offers the Panthers the best chance to defeat the Raiders this week and is unwilling to lose the locker room. Regardless of who starts as quarterback, can Dalton help halt the bleeding, or is this squad as dismal as it seems? (Raiders vs. Panthers, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)
5. Will Levis’ last stand?
About young quarterbacks on a tight leash, let us just say. Last week, Titans coach Brian Callahan’s annoyance with second-year quarterback Will Levis, who is prone to turnover, reached a breaking point. Levis had already started the season with a fumble and an interception that was returned for a score in a 24–17 loss to the Bears. In a further 24–17 loss, this time against the Jets, he added another fumble and two interceptions. After giving Levis a tongue-lash on the sideline, Callahan did not hold back when questioned about the quarterback’s errors during his postgame press conference.
Levis flips it backwards and its a Jets fumble recovery!
📺: #NYJvsTEN on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/nZ38jEOfOo— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024
Levis admitted that he needed to improve, but how many more opportunities will he get? Callahan and general manager Ran Carthon think they have a strong squad that includes both young, developing players and seasoned veterans. They think the Titans are capable of competing in the AFC South. But when your quarterback makes bad decisions under duress, it makes it difficult to win games.
Levis’s more composed performance could have helped Tennessee, which is 0-2 overall, scrape and claw its way to two victories. He will have an opportunity to show progress this week when Green Bay is in town. Should Levis’ problems with turnover persist, might fifth-year veteran Mason Rudolph be on the horizon? (Packers against. Titans, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
(Top photo: Alex Slitz / Getty Images)
