
NFL Week 3 overreactions
USA Today’s Lorenzo Reyes breaks down the biggest NFL storylines from Week 3.
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Almost three full weeks of the NFL schedule is in the books and there are just six unbeaten teams remaining in the league: The Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers and Indianapolis Colts in the AFC and the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC.
Which team will end up being the last team to lose a game this season?
Barring a tie, at least one team will drop from the ranks of the undefeated in NFL Week 4 as the Eagles and Buccaneers face off on Sunday, Sept. 28. The Bills host the 0-3 New Orleans Saints that same day, while the Chargers play at the winless New York Giants. The Colts are at the 2-1 Los Angeles Rams and the 49ers host the 2-1 Jacksonville Jaguars.
How many of the undefeated teams will fall this week? We don’t have to wait long to find out with the NFL Week 3 schedule concluding with the Detroit Lions at Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football on Sept. 22 and the NFL Week 4 schedule starting with the Arizona Cardinals hosting the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football on Sept. 25.
Check out our NFL Week 4 power rankings for this week, with three of the unbeaten teams leading the way. Previous ranking in parenthesis.
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32. New Orleans Saints (25)
Tyler Shough attempted two passes in the blowout loss to Seattle. Might the Saints turn to the rookie in place of Spencer Rattler sooner than expected? Can any QB have success with this New Orleans roster?
NFL Week 3: Lost to Seattle Seahawks, 44-13NFL Week 4: Sunday at Buffalo Bills (Sept. 28)31. Tennessee Titans (29)
Cam Ward may have been the No. 1 overall pick, but he is still very much a rookie for the Titans, who have been outscored by 43 points in their three losses.
NFL Week 3: Lost to Indianapolis Colts, 41-20NFL Week 4: Sunday at Houston Texans (Sept. 28)30. New York Jets (28)
The good news for the Jets? They have some very winnable games on deck after opening with losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are a combined 8-1 this season.
NFL Week 3: Lost to Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 29-27NFL Week 4: Monday Night Football at Miami Dolphins (Sept. 29)29. Miami Dolphins (27)
The Dolphins looked respectable for much of the game against the Bills, but Mike McDaniel’s seat as the coach in Miami is getting very hot. The Week 4 game could be a must-win game for Miami.
NFL Week 3: Lost to Buffalo Bills, 31-21NFL Week 4: Monday Night Football vs New York Jets (Sept. 29)28. New York Giants (26)
Cam Skattebo continues to do Cam Skattebo things in the NFL, with the rookie being a bright spot amid a rough 0-3 start for the Giants, who get to face the undefeated Chargers in NFL Week 4.
NFL Week 3: Lost to Kansas City Chiefs, 22-9NFL Week 4: Sunday vs Los Angeles Chargers (Sept. 28)27. Houston Texans (24)
The Texans have only given up 51 points in three games. The problem is, they have only scored 38. You aren’t going to win many NFL games (if any) by averaging fewer than 13 points per game.
NFL Week 3: Lost to Jacksonville Jaguars, 17-10NFL Week 4: Sunday vs Tennessee Titans (Sept. 28)26. Atlanta Falcons (17)
Too big a drop for the Falcons? Not after getting shut out by a previously winless team. Michael Penix Jr. was 18-for-36 for 172 yards, with two interceptions in the loss.
25. Cleveland Browns (31)
Cleveland scored 13 points in the final 3:38 of the fourth quarter to shock the previously unbeaten Packers, winning with a 55-yard field goal from Andre Szmyt as time expired. The schedule isn’t easy for Cleveland with the Lions, Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers up next.
Too big a rise for the Bears? We have to reward Chicago, which looked much-improved in this game. Caleb Williams had four touchdown passes to four different teammates in the game, giving Bears fans hope.
NFL Week 3: Beat Dallas Cowboys, 31-14NFL Week 4: Sunday at Las Vegas Raiders (Sept. 28)23. Carolina Panthers (30)
Did the Panthers find something in the desert? They have outscored opponents 49-0 since falling behind to Arizona 27-3 in the third quarter in NFL Week 3.
NFL Week 3: Beat Atlanta Falcons, 30-0NFL Week 4: Sunday at New England Patriots (Sept. 28)22. New England Patriots (22)
The Patriots have two tough home losses to the Las Vegas Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers, but they may have something in the Drake Maye to Hunter Henry connection. The two combined for two touchdowns in NFL Week 3.
NFL Week 3: Lost to Pittsburgh Steelers, 21-14NFL Week 4: Sunday vs Carolina Panthers (Sept. 28)21. Las Vegas Raiders (21)
Las Vegas has to find a way to protect Geno Smith better after he was sacked five times for 28 yards in the loss to the Commanders. The Raiders have a lot of issues right now, though, including allowing 201 yards on 32 carries to the Commanders.
NFL Week 3: Lost to Washington Commanders, 41-24NFL Week 4: Sunday vs Chicago Bears (Sept. 28)20. Dallas Cowboys (18)
The Cowboys turned the ball over four times in the loss to the Bears. Chicago didn’t turn it over. Is it any wonder the score was so lopsided? CeeDee Lamb’s status looms large over Dallas.
NFL Week 3:Â Lost to Chicago Bears, 31-14NFL Week 4: Sunday Night Football vs Green Bay Packers (Sept. 28)
The Broncos have dropped two straight games on last-second field goals, making their Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals very important. Is Bo Nix (14-for-25, 153 yards, 1 TD) progressing for Denver?
NFL Week 3: Lost to Los Angeles Chargers, 23-20NFL Week 4: Monday Night Football vs Cincinnati Bengals (Sept. 29)18. Cincinnati Bengals (6)
Yes, the Bengals are 2-1, but the Joe Burrow injury could send Cincinnati’s season spiraling fast. The Bengals only had 171 total yards in the loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
NFL Week 3: Lost to Minnesota Vikings, 48-10NFL Week 4: Monday Night Football at Denver Broncos (Sept. 28)17. Arizona Cardinals (13)
The Cardinals lost much more than a very winnable football game against the San Francisco 49ers in NFL Week 3, reportedly losing RB James Conner to a season-ending injury. Arizona is 2-1, but it doesn’t feel like it.
NFL Week 3: Lost to San Francisco 49ers, 16-15NFL Week 4: Thursday Night Football vs Seattle Seahawks (Sept. 25)16. Pittsburgh Steelers (20)
The Steelers only had 203 total yards. They gave up 369 yards. But, they forced five turnovers, with the Patriots losing four fumbles on the day. Their NFL Week 4 game in Ireland against the Vikings could be very interesting.
NFL Week 3: Beat New England Patriots, 21-14NFL Week 4: Sunday vs Minnesota Vikings in Dublin, Ireland (Sept. 28)15. Jacksonville Jaguars (23)
The Jaguars could very easily be 3-0 right now, their lone blemish allowing the Bengals to rally for a 31-27 win in Week 2. Things could get difficult for Jacksonville with the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs up next.
NFL Week 3: Beat Houston Texans, 17-10NFL Week 4: Sunday at San Francisco 49ers (Sept. 28)14. Kansas City Chiefs (14)
The Chiefs are just 1-2 this season, but they are still the Chiefs. Kansas City hosts the Baltimore Ravens this week in one of the games to watch on the NFL Week 4 schedule.
NFL Week 3: Beat New York Giants, 22-9NFL Week 4: Sunday vs Baltimore Ravens (Sept. 28)13. Seattle Seahawks (16)
Sam Darnold was an efficient 14-for-18 for 218 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Saints. Seattle has looked good after its season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
NFL Week 3: Beat New Orleans Saints, 44-13NFL Week 4: Thursday Night Football at Arizona Cardinals (Sept. 25)12. Minnesota Vikings (19)
This Minnesota defense can give the Vikings a chance in every game. Isaiah Rodgers had a 66-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown and an 87-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Bengals. Not too shabby.
NFL Week 3: Beat Cincinnati Bengals, 48-10NFL Week 4: Sunday vs Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin, Ireland (Sept. 28)11. Detroit Lions (11)NFL Week 3: Monday Night Football at Baltimore Ravens (Sept. 22)NFL Week 4: Sunday vs Cleveland Browns (Sept. 28)10. Washington Commanders (10)
Washington’s Marcus Mariota showed why having a good backup quarterback is key, going 15-for-21 for 207 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for a score against the Raiders.
NFL Week 3: Beat Las Vegas Raiders, 41-24NFL Week 4: Sunday at Atlanta Falcons (Sept. 28)9. Los Angeles Rams (7)
The Rams led this game in the third quarter, 26-7. Ouch. They held Saquon Barkley to 46 yards on 18 carries. This is the kind of loss that can motivate you or linger. It can’t linger with the undefeated Indianapolis Colts up next.
NFL Week 3: Lost to Philadelphia Eagles, 33-26NFL Week 4: Sunday vs Indianapolis Colts (Sept. 28)8. Indianapolis Colts (12)
Yes, Daniel Jones has been impressive for the 3-0 Colts, but Jonathan Taylor (17 carries, 102 yards, 3 TDs) continues to deliver for Indianapolis.
NFL Week 3: Beat Tennessee Titans, 41-20NFL Week 4: Sunday at Los Angele4sd Rams (Sept. 28)7. Green Bay Packers (3)
All the good vibes from Green Bay’s impressive wins over the Lions and Commanders disappeared on Andre Szmyt’s 55-yard game-winner for Cleveland. 14 penalties for 75 yards didn’t help.
NFL Week 3: Lost to Cleveland Browns, 13-10NFL Week 4: Sunday Night Football at Dallas Cowboys (Sept. 28)6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9)
The Buccaneers have won their three games by a total of six points. How good is Tampa Bay? We’re about to find out in NFL Week 4 against the Philadelphia Eagles in a matchup of unbeatens.
NFL Week 3: Beat New York Jets, 29-27NFL Week 4: Sunday vs Philadelphia Eagles (Sept. 28)5. San Francisco 49ers (8)
The 49ers have won three very ugly games to start the season, but they are 3-0 and have been without Brock Purdy for two of them. Christian McCaffrey had 27 touches against the Cardinals.
NFL Week 3: Beat Arizona Cardinals, 16-15NFL Week 4: Sunday vs Jacksonville Jaguars (Sept. 28)4. Baltimore Ravens (4)NFL Week 3: Monday Night Football vs Detroit Lions (Sept. 21)NFL Week 4: Sunday at Kansas City Chiefs (Sept. 28)3. Los Angeles Chargers (5)
The Chargers are 3-0 on the season with wins over their three AFC West rivals, who are now all 1-2 on the season. Justin Herbert and company couldn’t have asked for a better start.
NFL Week 3: Beat Denver Broncos, 23-20NFL Week 4: Sunday at New York Giants (Sept. 28)2. Buffalo Bills (2)
How long could Buffalo remain unbeaten? After the Saints this week, it has the Patriots, Falcons, and Panthers up next. Josh Allen and the Bills’ offense are so hard to stop.
NFL Week 3: Beat Miami Dolphins, 31-21NFL Week 4: Sunday vs New Orleans Saints (Sept. 28)
1. Philadelphia Eagles (1)
The Eagles have been far from dominant, but they continue to win. Tampa Bay provides a tough test on Sunday. The Buccaneers beat the Eagles in Week 4 last season, 33-16.
NFL Week 3: Beat Los Angeles Rams, 33-26NFL Week 4: Sunday at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sept. 28)
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