2024 NFL season, Week 3: What We Learned from Sunday's games

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• RE-WATCH: Giants-Browns on NFL+

Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Jones, Giants emerge from hibernation. Criticism has rained on Daniel Jones like a monsoon early this season, but he started to find some shelter in Week 2 by leaning heavily on Malik Nabers in a loss to Washington. Whatever the Giants worked on between Weeks 2 and 3 paid off in droves Sunday, because Jones finally looked like a quarterback who was capable of executing consistently. After a roughing the passer penalty wiped out what would've been a Jones interception, the quarterback quickly settled in, leading a 13-play, 81-yard touchdown drive. He worked in concert with coach Brian Daboll all afternoon, keeping drives alive by taking what Cleveland's defense gave him, and delivered in a huge way in the final two minutes of the first half, connecting with Nabers on a touchdown pass in the back corner of the end zone and converting a takeaway into another touchdown to Nabers just before the break. The Giants ran into stiff resistance in the second half, but when the dust settled, Jones had a final line -- 24 of 34, 236 yards, two touchdowns and most importantly, zero interceptions -- of which he can be very proud. The Giants left Cleveland as winners, and Jones' critics will be forced to pipe down for a week.
2. Cleveland's offense is in a dark place. Through three weeks, the Browns have zero offensive identity. Deshaun Watson followed up an encouraging Week 2 performance with another tumultuous, wildly inaccurate and clearly frustrating showing. He was under constant durress behind a banged-up offensive line. New York's defense pressured him 27 times (57.4%) and sacked him eight times. Jerome Ford carried the ball just 10 times, and after ripping off a couple of nice gains in the running and passing games, he fumbled a handoff in a key moment during Cleveland's failed comeback attempt in the fourth quarter. Kevin Stefanski's play-calling remained mystifying at times, especially in a third-and-short situation in the fourth in which New York stuffed a predictable Jameis Winston sneak, which Stefanski followed up by asking Watson to execute a run-pass option (Watson froze and the Browns turned it over on downs). Watson spent most of Sunday lost at sea, and it's clear his coach does not have a map for his quarterback.
3. Nabers is a legitimate star. Jones depended on Nabers to keep the Giants' offense afloat in Week 2, and in Week 3, they truly found their sea legs. Nabers finished with eight catches for 78 yards, mossed Browns corner Martin Emerson for a key gain along the sideline just before half, put Emerson in a blender with a beautiful route run for his first (incredibly acrobatic) touchdown catch, and spent most of the afternoon terrorizing Cleveland's defense. It wasn't until the Browns dedicated Denzel Ward to cover Nabers that they found a way to contain him, and by then it was too late. The Giants have had a rough go in the first month of the season, but Nabers' quick emergence is a great reason to keep an eye on them going forward. He'll be a household name soon enough.

Next Gen Stats Insight from Giants-Browns (via NFL Pro): Nine Giants defenders generated multiple pressures in Sunday's win, including six from defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. Offseason acquisition Brian Burns led the Giants with a career-high seven pressures and finished with a sack in the victory.

NFL Research: With eight catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns Sunday, Malik Nabers became the first player in NFL history with 20-plus receptions, 250-plus receiving yards and three-plus receiving touchdowns in his first three career games.

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• RE-WATCH: Bears-Colts on NFL+

Eric Edholm's takeaways:

1. Colts’ defense leads way in first win of the season. The Colts’ defense ranked as one of the NFL’s statistically worst through two games after losses to the Texans and Packers, especially against the run. But Sunday, the Bears couldn’t get much going on the ground, averaging 2.3 yards per carry with a long run of 9 yards. That in itself was a major step up from what we saw the first two Sundays. The pass defense gave some ground, but Colts defensive back Jaylon Jones had his first two NFL interceptions (both on great plays, too) and the Colts sacked Caleb Williams four times, including a huge strip sack by Laiatu Latu deep in the Bears’ end of the field to set up the massive fourth-quarter touchdown that put the game out of reach. Chicago shot itself in the foot with the three turnovers, plus a turnover on downs, a missed field goal and an offsides on a late punt that gave the Colts a freebie first down. But this was still a game performance by the Colts’ defense, preventing a 0-3 start and helping take some of the heat off coordinator Gus Bradley. 
2. The Bears' offense remains an exercise in frustration. Caleb Williams threw for 363 yards – more than he had in the first two games combined – and his first two NFL touchdown passes, and yet the product on offense has looked maddeningly inefficient in all three games so far. New offensive coordinator Shane Waldron likely shares a lot of the blame with Williams and the other Bears players, and it’s hard to say what the team’s identity on offense is right now. The run game has been more bad than good. The pass blocking has been bad at times, and yes, play-calling is part of that. Complaining about play calls is often a fool’s errand, but the fth-and-1 short-side option play safely can be defenestrated, please. So can any play where a Bears tight end is asked to block a top pass rusher in a gotta-have-it situation. Laiatu Latu strip-sacked Williams in a one-score game midway through the fourth quarter that led to a Colts TD, putting the game out of reach. Right now, the Bears need to take a hard look at how they’re designing game plans and how better to help their rookie QB. Sunday showed he can make some “wow” throws, but the total package remains a mess.
3. Can Richardson be more consistent? Anthony Richardson made some late plays to help the Colts finish off the Bears for their first win of the season, but the second-year QB remains a work in progress. There are only so many bouquets to pass around after another trying passing game (10 for 20, 167 yards, two INTs), and he was close to throwing a third pick in the first half on a play that was blown dead. His red-zone pick was just a putrid decision. Richardson did hit on a few big passes to Alec Pierce and Kylen Granson , but it just wasn’t consistent enough – to the point where Shane Steichen opted to hand the ball off to Jonathan Taylor on fourth-and-3 instead of putting the ball in his QB’s hands. After watching Richardson airmail a pass five feet over the head of a wide-open Michael Pittman, it’s easier to see the coach’s perspective there. Richardson has been a 50% passer who’s averaging two INTs per game so far this season, and they essentially won in spite of him Sunday. That needs to change.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Bears-Colts (via NFL Pro): Colts edge Laiatu Latu generated seven pressures and one sack on 28 pass rushes against the Bears in Week 3 (25.0%). Latu’s seven pressures are the most by any rookie in a single game this season. Five of Latu’s pressures came on 19 one-on-one matchups against Bears LT Braxton Jones (26.3%).

NFL Research: The Colts allowed the most rushing yards (474) through two games but only 63 rushing yards on 28 carries Sunday against the Bears. The Bears had four negative-yard rushes that totaled minus-20 yards. 

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• RE-WATCH: Texans-Vikings on NFL+

Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Flores' D bamboozles Stroud, Texans offense. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores had C.J. Stroud in a spin cycle, vacillating between bringing pressure and faking it to confuse the second-year quarterback. Minnesota's defense started the game with a first-official-play tipped pass interception and never looked back. Before a garbage-time final drive by backup quarterback Davis Mills, Flores' defense allowed just 224 total yards to the Stroud-led Texans. The Vikes generated two INTs, five sacks and completely controlled the line of scrimmage. Former Texans edge rusher Jonathan Greenard subjugated his former squad, generating three sacks on the afternoon and six QB pressures. The Vikings had a feeding frenzy at the quarterback. Ten Minnesota defenders earned at least two QB pressures, including six apiece by Greenard and Jihad Ward. The pressure got to Stroud, who looked as uncomfortable as he has in his career. The QB's second interception of the game was a woeful pass well behind his intended target. It was the type of pass that comes from a QB getting hammered all day by a Flores defense.
2. Darnold continues his career renaissance. The Vikings offense took advantage of short fields on its first two drives to open up a 14-0 lead and never looked back. Sam Darnold calmly zipped passes to Justin Jefferson (six receptions for 81 yards and a touchdown) on key downs to move the chains. Twelve of the Vikings' 19 first downs came through the air, including all eight in the first half. It wasn't the most prolific afternoon for Kevin O'Connell's offense, generating just 274 total yards, but Darnold made plays when needed. Minnesota going 4 of 5 in the red zone underscored Darnold's capability in critical situations. The QB threw four touchdowns on the day, marking the first time in his career he has thrown multiple touchdowns in three straight games. In 66 games with the Jets, Panthers and 49ers, Darnold earned one game with four touchdowns. He's already hit that mark in three tilts with KOC. Darnold's sterling play was underscored by legit concern when the QB got hit low in the second half. Luckily, he missed just one play.
3. Everything that could go wrong went wrong for the Texans. It was a "bury the ball" game for DeMeco Ryans' club. From the first-snap tipped-pass INT, there was bad juju in the air for Houston. On the ensuing drive, Ka'imi Fairbairn missed a field goal. Poor coverages and missed tackles troubled the Texans. Penalties also plagued Houston, particularly of the pre-snap variety. Midway through the second quarter, the Texans drove to the Minnesota 25-yard-line, but four consecutive pre-snap penalties turned a third-and-4 into a fourth-and-19 and a punt. Every bounce of the ball seemed to go against the Texans. For example, a third-quarter would-be sack-fumble on Darnold was picked up by Brandon Powell for a 7-yard gain. Sometimes – particularly on the road – bad things cascade. All Ryans can do is burn the tape, clean up the correctable errors, and move on.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Texans-Vikings (via NFL Pro): After blitzing C.J. Stroud on over half of his dropbacks in the first half (54.4%), the Vikings dialed back the aggression and sent five-plus pass rushers on just 27.3% of Stroud's dropbacks in the second half. Stroud struggled against the blitz, completing 9 of 15 for 103 yards, a touchdown, and an interception (-15.6% CPOE).

NFL Research: Sam Darnold became the fourth quarterback in Vikings history to start a season 3-0, joining Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton, Daunte Culpepper and HOFer Brett Favre.

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• RE-WATCH: Eagles-Saints on NFL+
• READ: Eagles' Gardner-Johnson calls out former team after Philly win

Eric Edholm's takeaways:

1. Barkley, Goedert save Eagles in New Orleans. If games were judged on yards alone, the Eagles would have won in a blowout. But that’s not how it works in football, and in spite of outgaining the Saints, 366-98, in the fourth quarter after Saquon Barkley's 65-yard touchdown run, they led only, 7-6. After the Saints scored their only touchdown of the game, they somehow led, 12-7, with two minutes remaining, but Dallas Goedert's 61-yard catch-and-run set up Barkley’s go-ahead touchdown (and two-point conversion) in a stirring win. The Eagles were without wide receiver A.J. Brown, and they lost right tackle Lane Johnson and wide receiver DeVonta Smith to injury on Sunday. Even still, they moved the ball consistently all game but were foiled time and time again by giveaways, turnovers on downs, a missed field goal and a blocked punt. Jalen Hurts didn’t play his cleanest game ever, but he made big plays and his two remaining workhorses – Barkley and Goedert – and a beat-up offensive line made just enough plays to win a big one. This had to be especially redeeming for Barkley after his late dropped pass in the shocking loss to the Falcons.
2. Saints’ offense stalls for too long. Derek Carr was 8-of-15 passing for 59 yards entering the fourth quarter, as the Eagles had completely befuddled the NFL’s hottest offense through two weeks of the 2024 season. But the Saints somehow trailed only 7-6 thanks to enough timely plays on defense, and Carr and the offense finally got on track with field goal and touchdown drives against an Eagles defense that lost cornerback Darius Slayton and was reeling late. After the Eagles took the lead late, though, Carr forced a deep interception to the Eagles’ Reed Blankenship, and the Eagles got out alive. The Saints just never looked comfortable offensively, losing Erik McCoy to injury on the first series, causing some issues up front. The Eagles were using five men on the line to help with their run defense on base downs, and four on nickel downs, and it worked as Alvin Kamara was kept under wraps most of the game. Carr and Chris Olave connected for the late TD in Olave’s best game of the season, but Carr was 0 for 5 targeting Rashid Shaheed and couldn’t get much else going through the air. It was a big step back for the offense after two brilliant games.
3. Eagles’ defense steps up with a statement performance. The Eagles’ run defense was atrocious the first two games of the season, but it responded in a big way against the Saints. Kamara was held in check in spite of a heavy workload, at least until the fourth quarter. The Eagles started bending late, but Blankenship’s late pick was the save they needed. Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and Milton Williams all played forcefully up front. Zack Baun and Nakobe Dean each made big plays on the second level. And a secondary that lost Slay to injury held together in the fourth quarter when the Saints finally found a little rhythm, making enough plays to win. The offense gained a lot of yards but couldn’t score. The special teams suffered a missed field goal and a blocked punt in the second half. Even Nick Sirianni’s decision-making once more stood to be a big postgame talking point. But because the defense clamped down for the majority of the game, the Eagles had a chance – and they turned it into a signature victory right when the doubters were circling.

Next Gen Stats Insight from Eagles-Saints (via NFL Pro): Derek Carr was pressured on 11 of his 27 dropbacks (40.7%), the highest pressure rate he’s faced in a game this season. Carr was pressured on only 23.8% of his dropbacks in Weeks 1-2, which was the fifth-lowest rate in the NFL.

NFL Research: Dallas Goedert had the most receiving yards (170) by a tight end in Eagles history on Sunday.

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• RE-WATCH: Chargers-Steelers on NFL+
• READ: Chargers QB Herbert aggravates ankle injury in loss

Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Fields takes a big step forward. Justin Fields' first couple of games didn't require him to make many plays with his arm, and the Steelers found ways to win without much of an aerial attack. That changed Sunday in a game that quickly became Fields' best outing as a Steeler. The Ohio State product completed his first 10 passes for 58 yards, properly executed a read option in a goal-to-go situation for a 5-yard rushing score and consistently delivered on-target passes all afternoon, finishing with a 25-for-32, 245-yard, one-touchdown passing line. He threw an interception on a dump-off attempt that ricocheted off a handful of players, which looks bad in the box score, but didn't hurt the Steelers. In total, Fields handled the job with newfound confidence and seems to be maturing right before our eyes. Don't be surprised if Russell Wilson doesn't get his job back anytime soon.
2. Chargers meet their match. Through two weeks, Los Angeles won with a physical style and a defense that limited opponents on the scoreboard. In Week 3, the Chargers might as well have been one half of the Spider-Man pointing at Spider-Man meme, because they encountered a Steelers team that wins with the same identity, but does it better. With Justin Herbert battling through an ankle injury, the Steelers went hunting, sacking Herbert twice and registering a pressure rate of 40% before Herbert exited due to the same ailment. Los Angeles managed to jump ahead early, but its offense ran aground from there, failing to score at all in the second half. For the first time in 2024, the Chargers' running game fell short, too, tallying just 61 net rushing yards as a team in a contest that remained close throughout. If Week 3 was a measuring stick, the Chargers now know they're tough enough to compete, but need to be better to get over the hump against the NFL's stingiest defenses. And if they don't have Herbert available in the weeks ahead -- Taylor Heinicke finished this game in underwhelming fashion -- the challenge will only grow.
3. A new contributor emerges. As the Brandon Aiyuk saga unfolded in the latter stages of the summer, most everyone saw Pittsburgh as a great fit for the receiver because of their lack of established contributors at the position. When that fell through, the Steelers decided to proceed without making another addition, and through two weeks, Pittsburgh's passing game largely depended on the likes of George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth. That reality shifted Sunday, thanks to the production of Calvin Austin III, who finished as the Steelers' leading receiver (four catches, 95 yards, one touchdown) and proved to be a trusty slot receiver, catching multiple passes down the seams for key pickups. His 55-yard score in the fourth quarter was fitting, given how he'd stepped up in big spots all afternoon, and finally provided Pittsburgh with another worthy pass catcher outside of the aforementioned two. He'll undoubtedly attract more attention in future weeks, but it had to be at least slightly comforting for Steelers fans to see Fields connect with someone other than Pickens and Freiermuth.

Next Gen Stats Insight from Chargers-Steelers (via NFL Pro): Pittsburgh's deep edge-rushing group shined Sunday thanks to the effort of Nick Herbig, who replaced the injured Alex Highsmith and generated a career-high four pressures and two sacks on just eight pass rushes.

NFL Research: This is the fourth 3-0 start for the Steelers under Mike Tomlin and Pittsburgh made the playoffs each time previously (2007, 2010, 2020).

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• RE-WATCH: Broncos-Buccaneers on NFL+
• READ: Payton: Nix is 'going to be something' special after first win

Christian Gonzales' takeaways:

1. Nix has best game so far in win. Right from the beginning of the game, Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix was dialed in. On the first drive, Nix went 4-of-4 passing for 70 yards and capped off the drive with a 2-yard rushing touchdown. Denver’s momentum continued after Brandon Jones came up with an interception. On a fourth-and-inches near the goal line, Jaleel McLaughlin put a Bucs defender on skates to force his way to the corner of the pylon for six. In the second half, the Broncos and Nix managed the game clock. Nix finished the game completing 25 of 36 passes for 216 yards, zero touchdowns and zero interceptions. Even though Nix hasn’t thrown a touchdown through the first three weeks of the season, his performance on the road showed that brighter days could be ahead for the Broncos with him under center.
2. Buccaneers’ offense goes missing. It wasn’t Baker Mayfield's day. To start the game, the Bucs’ offense had a three-and-out. Mayfield, on the next drive, made an erred throw by forcing the ball to Mike Evans , which Brandon Jones picked off and led to the Broncos scoring an easy touchdown. Tampa Bay took advantage after a mistake from Javonte Williams. The Broncos RB fumbled the ball late in the second quarter, which led to the Buccaneers' lone score of the afternoon. It started with rookie Bucky Irving contributing two big runs (32 and 13 yards), leading to a 6-yard TD catch from Chris Godwin . Other than the one scoring play, Irving was the only bright spot in the Bucs’ offense on Sunday. The Oregon product outrushed Rachaad White, 70-17. Despite the poor outing from Tampa Bay’s offense, head coach Todd Bowles found another playmaker with Irving’s burst and big-play potential.
3. Vance Joseph’s defense shines in Sunshine State. The Broncos’ defense smothered Baker Mayfield and did not let him find a rhythm until the final minutes of the first half. Denver forced Tampa into four punts and two turnovers. In the closing minutes of the game, the Broncos defense didn’t allow any hope of a comeback. Second-year cornerback Riley Moss forced a fumble after Cade Otton caught a pass near the red zone. Brandon Jones scooped the ball up and returned it for 34 yards to put the finishing touches on the win. The Broncos finished the game with seven sacks and nine QB hits. Joseph’s defense was on point from start to finish to complete the upset for Denver’s first win of the season.

Next Gen Stats Insight from Broncos-Buccaneers (via NFL Pro): The interior of the Broncos’ offensive line -- Ben Powers, Quinn Meinerz and Luke Wattenberg -- did not allow a single pressure against the Buccaneers’ pass rush.

NFL Research: The Broncos finished the game with seven sacks. It was the first time Denver had seven or more sacks since Week 6, 2019 vs. Titans.

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• RE-WATCH: Packers-Titans on NFL+
• READ: QB Willis beats Titans in return, leaves LaFleur stunned

Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Willis destroys former team as Packers roll sans Love. Malik Willis tortured his former Titans teammates, making plays with his arm and legs. From the jump, the Packers quarterback generated big plays, earning two 30-yard passes on the opening drive, including a deep 50/50 ball to Christian Watson, and capping it off with a 5-yard touchdown scamper. On the afternoon, Willis generated four passes of 30-plus yards. When he wasn't hitting targets in stride for yards after catch, Willis was escaping the pocket to pick up big first downs with his leg. During his time with Tennessee, former Titans coach Mike Vrabel often lamented Wills' propensity to bail backward in the face of pressure. On Sunday, he frequently stepped up and through to earn scramble yards -- a sign of growth in Green Bay. It took just the first half for Willis to set a career high with 158 passing yards through two quarters. He finished 13-of-19 passing for 202 yards with a touchdown for a 120.9 passer rating and added a game-high 73 yards rushing and another score on six totes. Credit Packers coach Matt LaFleur for getting the best out of Willis. With the inside run game stymied by Tennessee, the Packers dominated on the edge and with quick, easy passes for Willis. The past two weeks, LaFleur sublimely managed his backup QB. 
2. Another week, another backbreaking Levis turnover. It wasn't an ill-advised flip or meme-inducing head-exploder, but turnovers continue to plague Will Levis. Following a splendid opening drive, in which Levis drove Tennessee 10 plays to paydirt, another brain cramp struck. Levis stared down first read DeAndre Hopkins and threw a telegraphed ball that Jaire Alexander easily jumped for a pick-six. The play gave the Packers a 10-point lead, and the game would never get closer. Levis later fumbled in scoring range after right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere got burned. A late-game Hail Mary-type INT also goes on Levis' ledger. As with the first two games, the second-year QB has flashed some playmaking, including good back-shoulder rapport with Hopkins, who looks fully healthy. However, the big mistakes have been too much for Brian Callahan's 0-3 club to overcome.
3. Hafley's defense continues to make plays. This is the type of defense we expected when the Packers signed defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley this offseason. In addition to Alexander's pick, Xavier McKinney nabbed his third INT in as many games. The safety's pick marked the Packers' seventh of the young season (seven all off last year). The defensive backs are playing with eyes on the ball and anticipation. Sunday, the defensive line dominated the Titans up front. Hafley's crew generated eight sacks, including two by defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt. Kingsley Enagbare was all over the field, earning 1.5 sacks, three QB pressures, a tackle for loss, and a forced fumble. The Packers D was playing on a string Sunday. When it faces an overmatched O-line, Hafley's crew can dominate.

Next Gen Stats Insight from Packers-Titans (via NFL Pro): Xavier McKinney as the nearest defender in coverage this season: four targets, three interceptions, one reception allowed (8 yards).

NFL Research: Malik Willis had more rushing yards in the first half (73) than any Packers QB has had in a game since 1990 (Don Majkowski: 88 in Week 4, 1990 at DET).

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• RE-WATCH: Panthers-Raiders on NFL+
• READ: Pierce: Raiders made 'business decisions' in home loss
• READ: Dalton paces Panthers to first win after 'heavy week' in Carolina

Christian Gonzales' takeaways:

1. Panthers look better with Dalton. Carolina made some heads turn when it decided to bench Bryce Young and start Andy Dalton heading into Week 3. In Dalton’s first start in nearly a year, the Red Rifle was firing on all cylinders to start the game. Dalton threw three touchdowns in the first half on Sunday. Leading, 21-7, at halftime, the Panthers managed to put up more points in the first 30 minutes in Las Vegas than over the last two weeks combined (13 points). Carolina’s offense came to life with Dalton under center as he connected with eight different receivers. Dalton finished the game 26-of-37 passing for 319 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions. Panthers head coach Dave Canales was brought in to develop 2023 No.1 overall pick Young, but his decision to start a veteran Dalton paid off on Sunday for Carolina’s first win of the season.
2. Raiders’ offense struggles. Gardner Minshew struggled in his first game at Allegiant Stadium Sunday afternoon after leading the Raiders to an upset win in Baltimore. Minshew didn’t look like himself and credit to Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and his defense for minimizing Davante Adams and Brock Bowers to seven catches and 81 yards. With 9:11 left in the fourth quarter and the Raiders trailing, 33-15, Minshew threw an ill-advised pass to Adams, who appeared to not expect to be targeted and threw his hands up questioning the decision. Las Vegas’ final drive featured second-year QB Aidan O'Connell in the final minutes of the game. O’Connell took advantage of his opportunity as he commanded a 13-play, 70-yard drive with Tre Tucker capping it off with a touchdown. If Minshew repeats an outing like Sunday’s, Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce has a familiar option waiting on the sidelines in O’Connell.
3. Dalton unlocks Johnson’s potential. After being acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers in the offseason, Johnson had his best game as a pro. Johnson had a career-high 122 receiving yards on nine catches and one touchdown. In his first two games as a Panther, Johnson only caught five passes for 34 yards. On Sunday, Johnson extended plays after the catch as he weaved through multiple defenders. Andy Dalton’s trust in his WR1 was notable with the QB targeting Johnson 14 times. With the passing game opened up, running back Chuba Hubbard contributed 21 carries for 114 yards. It was the first time this season for Carolina an RB and WR reached 100 scrimmage yards in a game. Johnson and Co. will look to continue their momentum when they host the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 4.

Next Gen Stats insight from Panthers-Raiders (via NFL Pro): Panthers outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney finished with a team-high eight pressures and a sack, including four pressures in under 2.5 seconds in the victory.

NFL Research: Andy Dalton’s three touchdown passes in the first half of a game was a first for a Panthers QB since Cam Newton in Week 15, 2015 vs. Giants. 

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• RE-WATCH: Dolphins-Seahawks on NFL+
• READ: Dolphins QB Thompson dealing with 'pretty painful' rib injury

Eric Edholm's takeaways:

1. Seahawks were clunky offensively, but it was enough to get to 3-0. Through the game’s first 20 minutes, the Seahawks’ offense was mostly doing its job, even with Geno Smith throwing a hurried interception off Zach Charbonnet’s hands. The Seahawks scored on three of their first four drives, taking a 17-3 lead, and were in position to increase it. But Jason Myers missed a 57-yard field-goal attempt, and the offense went south for the middle portion of the game. From 4:40 in the second quarter to late in the third quarter, the Seahawks had only one first down -- and that semi-promising drive ended in another Smith pick. Smith had several nice moments in this game, including a 71-yard bomb to DK Metcalf, but also some warts. The offensive line (three sacks, too many pressures allowed) didn’t have a great game. The late 98-yard TD drive was a good show of strength. There are signs of this being a good team and not a fluky 3-0 club. It’s not a complete picture yet, and the biggest challenges have yet to come, but the unbeaten Seahawks lead the NFC West, which is as much as you could ask for to start the Mike Macdonald era.
2. Dolphins’ offense takes even more hits in loss. Mike McDaniel said this week that Skylar Thompson “deserved the opportunity” to lead the Dolphins in Tua Tagovailoa’s absence, but Thompson struggled badly and was knocked out of the game in the third quarter due to a chest injury, giving way to Tim Boyle, who was elevated from the practice squad prior to Sunday’s game. Thompson couldn’t convert dream field position at the Seattle 6 in the first half, following a turnover. The Dolphins settled for a field goal and never drove more than the 31 yards they got on the opening drive. That one ended in a missed field goal. Even with good starting field position the whole first half, Miami was stuck on three points. Boyle, who’s on his seventh team since 2021, made some competitive throws after replacing Thompson, but it’s hard to be too encouraged about the QB situation until we receive more clarity on the health of Thompson. Making matters worse, right tackle Austin Jackson left the game late, thinning out an already lean offensive line, and fullback Alec Ingold also got hurt. The Dolphins are in awful shape, health-wise, and have gone seven quarters without a touchdown. They are reeling at 1-2 with the bye still three weeks away.
3. Macdonald’s defense will be a problem before long. It’s tough to judge this performance too favorably considering the Dolphins’ offensive issues. But when you step back and look at what this Seahawks defense has done through 12-plus quarters, it’s been very encouraging. It harassed Broncos rookie QB Bo Nix in the opener. Even with hiccups at New England, it held the Patriots to 20 points in overtime. And in Week 3, the Seahawks turned in their best performance to date. The Seahawks are the first team to start 3-0 and allow fewer than 150 passing yards in each game since the 1979 Steelers, via NFL Research. Holding Miami to a field goal after the turnover deep in their own zone was a strong statement. They also played the majority of this game without Leonard Williams and rookie Byron Murphy II and all of it without Uchenna Nwosu, so it’s clear they've built some quality depth up front. Boye Mafe has sacks in three straight games now. Derick Hall had two sacks and a forced fumble Sunday. There were some shaky moments watching Boyle lead Miami down to a goal-to-go situation -- in a two-score game -- but the Seahawks held when they needed to. Bigger challenges lie ahead, with the Lions and 49ers coming up soon, but the Seahawks have shown some early juice on defense.

Next Gen Stats Insight from Dolphins-Seahawks (via NFL Pro): Dre'Mont Jones (five), Derick Hall (four), Boye Mafe and Jarran Reed (two apiece) each had multiple pressures against Dolphins quarterbacks Sunday. As a team, Seattle had three sacks and 16 total pressures on 34 Miami dropbacks.

NFL Research: With his 71-yard TD catch Sunday against the Dolphins, DK Metcalf now has three career receiving touchdowns of 70-plus yards, which is tied with Daryl Turner for the most in Seahawks history.

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• RE-WATCH: Lions-Cardinals on NFL+

Nick Shook's takeaways:

1. Lions grind out a win. If you'd caught just the first 18 minutes of this game, you'd have thought the Lions would've put up 35-plus points and won by at least two possessions. That's how easy it looked for them early in this contest. But as is often the case in the ultra-competitive NFL, Detroit found itself in a bit of an offensive logjam in the second half, going scoreless in the final two quarters, ending drives with a giveaway (Jared Goff interception), on downs and three straight punts. Even as the Lions struggled to put away a road win offensively, their total team effort shined thanks to their defense, starting with a turnover on downs forced by a fourth-down stand deep in their own territory, plus three more stops that never saw the Cardinals move close enough to seriously threaten to tie the game. That's the mark of an established contender, a role the Lions have only known for the last year. To see it come through in a less-than-perfect fashion Sunday was telling of this team's toughness.
2. Cardinals offense comes up short. Arizona seemed prepared to keep up with the Lions' offense, matching an opening touchdown drive with an eight-play scoring march. But the Kyler Murray-Marvin Harrison Jr. connection that paid off in droves a week earlier didn't sustain through four quarters, and because Arizona struggled mightily to run the ball for the first time this season, the Cardinals' offense ran out of steam. Murray found scrambling to be more difficult, and instead of creating by extending plays, he was often forced to get rid of the ball in order to avoid catastrophe. He was visibly frustrated by the end of the game, especially after Detroit started dedicating two or more defenders to Harrison. The time of possession difference -- 36:49 to 23:11 in favor of Detroit -- tells the story in itself, as do the multiple empty fourth-quarter possessions. The Cardinals will take valuable lessons from this tape, and shouldn't feel too discouraged. They'll just wish they had a few more plays back in the second half of what was a winnable game.
3. Johnson digs into his bag to power Lions offense. David Montgomery was a consistent force on the ground Sunday, averaging 4.6 yards per carry and finishing with 105 yards and a touchdown on the ground, while Jahmyr Gibbs balanced out the attack with 83 yards on 16 rushes. The pacing of the offense was excellent through two quarters, highlighted by offensive coordinator Ben Johnson's sly decision to dial up a hook and lateral for a Gibbs touchdown just before halftime. That play produced the best highlight, but the most inspiring result came on the Lions' final drive, in which Goff ripped a rocket down the seam to Amon-Ra St. Brown for a key first down before the two-minute warning, then scrambled for a first down to ice it. Like its defense, Detroit's offense delivered in ways that didn't appear on the scoreboard to earn a hard-fought win.

Next Gen Stats Insight from Lions-Cardinals (via NFL Pro): After completing all five of his deep attempts for 156 yards and three touchdowns in Week 2, Kyler Murray was just 1 for 7 on such attempts (including an interception) Sunday.

NFL Research: Jahmyr Gibbs became only the second player in the Super Bowl era to score a receiving TD in a game in which he had zero receptions. He scored on a hook and lateral play.

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• RE-WATCH: Ravens-Cowboys on NFL+

Kevin Patra's takeaways:

1. Ravens sprint out to big lead, hold on late in Dallas. Derrick Henry was rolling early as Baltimore built a 28-6 lead, which it held midway through the fourth quarter. Then the offense sputterd, Justin Tucker missed a field goal, and the defense allowed three consecutive touchdown drives to make things interesting. Lamar Jackson hit Zay Flowers with a clutch third-down pass to help ice the game. He sealed it with a 10-yard keeper to get Baltimore in the win column. The Ravens ran over Dallas' defense early, with Henry and Jackson finding lanes and gashing the Cowboys up the gut. Henry galloped 25 times for 151 yards (6.0 YPC) with two touchdowns. Combine that with Jackson's 14 carries for 87 rushing yards and a score, and the Ravens performed like we presumed they would on the ground entering this season. Baltimore bullied its way for 274 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 45 carries. Getting up big allowed John Harbaugh's team to grind down a questionable run defense with Henry. The King showed that while he might not be the engine of the Ravens' offense every week, he still can maul opponents when needed.
2. Cowboys' furious comeback bid falls short. Mike McCarthy wanted to get off to a fast start, electing to receive the ball to start the game. A first-drive punt coupled with an inability of his defense to get off the field scuttled those plans, as the Cowboys got down, 14-3, in the opening frame. Mike Zimmer's defense deserves a lion's share of the blame for getting gashed on the ground again. However, the offense's inability to sustain drives and a CeeDee Lamb fumble in scoring range was a major factor in the 28-6 deficit. Credit Dak Prescott for finding playmakers late to make things interesting, but it was too little too late. McCarthy's club once again hasn't played consistently for four quarters through three games. Early in the contest, it looked like they'd get boat raced at home for the third consecutive time dating back to the last postseason. Maybe the Cowboys can build upon the end-of-the-game performance, but an L is an L.
3. Best kicker in NFL torch is officially passed. We've known for a while that Brandon Aubrey was the best booter in the NFL. Sunday confirmed it, with former crown-holder Justin Tucker in attendance. Aubrey booted through both of his field goals, a 51-yarder to close the first half and a seemingly nonchalant 65-yard hammer in the first quarter -- one yard shy of the 66-yard league record owned by Tucker. The ease with which Aubrey slams the pigskin is wondrous. He deserves a shot at a 70-yarder at some point. The Cowboys kicker also pulled a rabbit out of his head with an excellent watermelon-style onside kick that actually worked. Meanwhile, Tucker continued to struggle, missing a 46-yarder early in the fourth quarter. We knew the torch would be passed from Tucker at some point. Sunday made it official.

Next Gen Stats Insight from Ravens-Cowboys (via NFL Pro): Dak Prescott threw into a tight window on 35.3% of pass attempts in Week 3, his highest rate in a game in over six seasons (since Week 4, 2018). Prescott struggled on tight window throws against the Ravens, completing 5 of 18 such pass attempts for 66 yards (-7.0% CPOE).

NFL Research: Derrick Henry had his 12th career game with 150-plus rushing yards and two-plus rushing touchdowns, tied for second-most in NFL history tied with LaDainian Tomlinson and one behind Jim Brown. Henry is the first 30-plus year old with such a game since the Vikings' Adrian Peterson in Week 12, 2015.

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• RE-WATCH: 49ers-Rams on NFL+

Jeremy Bergman's takeaways:

1. Rams save season with comeback. After going down, 14-0, in the first 14 minutes and responding with two punts, Los Angeles looked lifeless. But despite being down serious offensive firepower, the Rams somehow turned the tide and avoided their first 0-3 start of the Sean McVay era. The comeback began with a 16-play TD drive that lasted half of the second quarter on the back of Kyren Williams (26 touches, 116 total yards, three touchdowns). After allowing a TD drive to start the second half, L.A. responded quickly with one of its own (credit to Isaac Yiadom, whose 48-yard pass interference penalty set up the score). The Rams stayed in it until the dam broke on San Francisco's defense in the fourth. Without Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, Matthew Stafford sliced and diced the 49ers secondary, evenly spreading his targets between the likes of Tutu Atwell, Tyler Johnson, Demarcus Robinson and Jordan Whittington. After a missed Jake Moody 55-yard field goal with 2:48 to go, Stafford hit Atwell 50 yards the other way to set up a game-tying TD. One quick stop and a Xavier Smith 38-yard punt return later, the Rams were set up for a 37-yard chip shot from Joshua Karty, who banged it home and saved Los Angeles from its worst start since 2011.
2. Jennings has the game of his life. With three of their top offensive options out with injury, the 49ers turned to a fifth-year receiver who inked a new deal with San Francisco this offseason. No, not Brandon Aiyuk and his $120 million pact. The former first-round pick was merely a decoy for the real star of the day, Jauan Jennings. The 2020 seventh-round selection enjoyed a career afternoon against Los Angeles, hauling in a career-high three TDs -- more than his last two seasons' total combined -- and 175 yards on 11 catches. Jennings' previous career high in receiving yards was a mere 94 yards (also against the Rams). His three scores were the most by a 49ers receiver since Terrell Owens (!) in Week 5, 2001, and Jennings' performance was the first 10-plus catch, three-receiving TD day for a 49ers WR since Jerry Rice (!!). That might be the first and last time those three are uttered in the same sentence. Regardless, Jennings' breakout day underscores SF's depth and ability to navigate an unfortunate early-season spate of injuries -- and explains why the 49ers were open to letting Aiyuk walk this summer.
3. McVay gets one over on Shanahan. With Pete Carroll out the door in Seattle, Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan are now the old heads of the NFC West. But save for the 2021 NFC title game, the latter has dominated the former, staking his claim to the true king of the division. On Sunday afternoon, however, McVay was the man of the hour. As shorthanded offensively as his nemesis across the field, the Rams coach made lemonade of lemons and avoided a humiliating start to his eighth season in Los Angeles. McVay didn't panic down, 14-0, hammering the banged-up 49ers front with Williams. The Rams coach went away from 11 personnel, utilizing 12 personnel on 44.6% of snaps, his highest usage since Week 16, 2022. Typically conservative on fourth down, McVay opted for two key fourth-down attempts (and successful conversions) in the second and fourth quarters -- the former was a fake punt run from Rams territory and the latter was a Williams dive deeper into 49ers territory when down 10. Both led to touchdowns. After Week 2's blowout loss to Arizona, McVay and Los Angeles needed to re-establish their identity against their hated rivals. They did just that on Sunday.

Next Gen Stats Insight from 49ers-Rams (via NFL Pro): Only 16.7% of the 49ers' passing yards came after the catch in Week 3, the lowest percentage of team passing yards coming after the catch the 49ers have recorded in game during the Kyle Shanahan era (since 2017), and the only game under 20%.

NFL Research: Jauan Jennings joined Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice as the only 49ers players to have at least 10 receptions and three receiving TDs in a single game in team history (Rice did it three times).

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• RE-WATCH: Chiefs-Falcons on NFL+

Grant Gordon's takeaways:

1. Chiefs dial up pressure, victory. With an offense still struggling to find its footing, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo did what he does best: dial up pressure. With Kirk Cousins given the opportunity to post another riveting prime-time rally, the Chiefs defense came up clutch. Linebacker Nick Bolton clinched the win when he stopped Bijan Robinson butt-cold on fourth-and-1 for a 3-yard loss. K.C. was stout against the run on the night, allowing just 82 net yards on the ground, but it was an improved pass rush that did the most damage and discombobulated the Falcons’ offensive attack. Entering Sunday night, the Chiefs’ pass rush was ineffectual to the tune of a 23.7 QB pressure rate, which was 31st in the NFL, according to Next Gen Stats, and better than only the Falcons’. That changed much to Cousins’ dismay as he was pressured on a season-worse 41.9% of his dropbacks. Tershawn Wharton had a team-high three QB pressures, while Drue Tranquill had two plus a pair of QB hits. Everyone contributed. In a razor-thin game, the Chiefs held the Falcons to just three points over their last six possessions (excluding a first-half kneel-down).
2. No back-to-back comebacks for Kirk. Kirk Cousins and the Falcons’ offensive momentum carried over from the last drive on Monday night to the first of Sunday evening. Then it sputtered, thanks in large part to Steve Spagnuolo’s pass rush. Cousins, who led the Falcons to an improbable comeback win over the Philadelphia Eagles just six evenings prior, marched Atlanta 70 yards -- yes, the same distance as their game-winning drive on Monday night -- in less than four minutes. He found Drake London for a 14-yard touchdown, and it felt like an offensive showdown was developing. Nope. And most problematic for the Falcons is it’s clear they’re still finding their way even after the rally against the Eagles. Cousins was rattled by the Chiefs’ pressure, completing just 5 of 11 passes for 92 yards with an interception. Atlanta can hang with the heavyweights, but there’s much work still to be done.
3. Rice, Steele put in work to give Chiefs offense hope. This wasn’t the sexiest offensive performance from the Chiefs, but the Patrick Mahomes-led contingent got a pair of valuable performances from wide receiver Rashee Rice and running back Carson Steele. While Steele’s sister was having her wedding, the Chiefs rookie running back was winning. As noted on the NBC broadcast, Steele’s sister was tying the knot while her brother was getting an increased workload with Isiah Pacheco out with a broken fibula. The UCLA product had just nine total carries in his first two weeks as a pro but filled in admirably with 17 carries for 72 yards (4.2 per carry). If he can keep up this pace -- and improve along the way -- it will bode huge for K.C. in Pacheco’s absence. As for Rice, he has emerged as Mahomes’ top target -- and that includes tight ends. Eight receivers were targeted by Mahomes, but Rice’s 14 targets were nearly three times as many as anyone else, with Travis Kelce next up with five. Rice rewarded the attention with 12 catches for 110 yards and a 13-yard touchdown to get the Chiefs on the board. The Chiefs have been slow to get going offensively, but the good news is a pair of young talents showed promise Sunday night.

Next Gen Stats Insight for Chiefs-Falcons (via NFL Pro): The Chiefs pass rush posted a 41.9% pressure rate, which was their highest this season and the worst of the year allowed by the Falcons.

NFL Research: Falcons safety Justin Simmons, who previously played with the Broncos, recorded his sixth career interception against Patrick Mahomes and picked off the Chiefs QB for the fourth consecutive game. Simmons’ six INTs are the most by any player against Mahomes, who’s never been picked off by any other player more than twice.