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The NFL is actually all about wild, wild west early on.
With the NFL season in full swing, we’re getting a greater image of what to anticipate this season, and thru three weeks, there are many surprises throughout the league, largely occurring out within the AFC and NFC West.
The three-0 Cardinals sit tied with the Rams atop the NFC West proper now, with Kyler Murray’s MVP candidacy pushing Arizona nearer to contender than they’ve been lately. Within the AFC, the undefeated Raiders and Broncos each sit tied atop the division — whereas the mighty Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs fall to 1-2 and within the cellar of the division.
The excellent news: It is simply Week 3, so 14 video games remaining will possible inform the story.
Listed below are your Week 3 winners and losers:
MORE: Which 2020 NFL playoff teams are in trouble after Week 3?
NFL Week 3 winners and losers
Winner: Daniel Jones, Giants
The Giants might have misplaced (once more) and wasted one other good Daniel Jones efficiency (once more) however Jones’ optimistic development via the primary three video games this season is a uncomfortable however honest trade-off for New York’s 0-3 begin.
Turnovers have plagued Jones via the primary two years of his Giants profession, however this yr he is saved it fairly clear, and with that, he is limiting questions of his viability as a franchise passer shifting ahead for the Giants.
To not say Jones has been good, as a result of that is not essentially the case: He nonetheless has the pocket consciousness of a toddler in a crib and his ball placement leaves one thing to be desired. However with out Darius Slayton and Sterling Shepard for many of Sunday’s matchup vs. the Falcons, Jones went 24-of-35 passing for 266 yards. No touchdowns, although.
Jones has been one of many lone stars of the Giants’ early season — and he might keep that means if New York does not flip it round, and switch it round quick.
MORE: How Matt Nagy, Bears set up Justin Fields to fail in starting debut
Loser: Matt Nagy, Bears
It is perhaps the Windy Metropolis, however there is no excuse for the Bears offense to blow like this.
The Bears have been handed an enormous, demoralizing L by the hands of the Myles Garrett and the Browns on Sunday. It was a loss so unhealthy it ought to depend for 2.
Justin Fields was hit all recreation vs. the Browns, sacked 9 instances within the 26-6 drubbing. Fields was sacked 9 instances within the loss, throwing the ball 20 instances and connecting on simply six passes. Nagy and the teaching workers ought to maintain lots of duty for the way unhealthy Fields bought battered and the way atrocious the offense regarded.
Simply contemplate it: Figuring out Fields was the passer of the longer term and might be in recreation sooner quite than later, the teaching workers’s incapability to regulate — or worse, gameplan — for Fields’ distinctive skillset implies that there appears to be little or no teaching occurring in Chicago. That may’t occur for a man in his fourth season as head coach.
Winner: Justin Tucker, Ravens
All of the hype surrounding numbers this yr, abut “66” is perhaps probably the most spectacular.
Even with the assistance of the crossbar, Justin Tucker ekeing within the 66-yard discipline objective to get the Ravens the win and escape Detroit with their second win of the season is barely factor. The kick masked Hollywood Brown’s two touchdown-pass drops and gave Baltimore an enormous win over a surprisingly gutty and gritty Lions staff.
MORE: NFL rookie QB grades for Week 3
Loser: Rookie quarterbacks
Because it seems, possibly you must give rookie passers greater than two weeks earlier than anointing them saviors, or busts or OK, or unhealthy or something, actually.
The Bears’ Justin Fields, Patriots’ Mac Jones, Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence and Jets’ Zach Wilson all have been cooked like soccer Sunday chili in Week 3, and all have been handed losses on Sunday. The Ls introduced the 2021 NFL Draft beginning QB data to a mixed 1-9 altogether, with Lawrence, Wilson and Fields all nonetheless looking for their first win.
That is perhaps unfair, contemplating all of the conditions and expectations are totally different, however to this point, not one of the rookie passers have precisely been lighting the league on hearth. Wow. Take into account that — Rookies taking part in poorly.
Who’da thunk it?
Winner: Matthew Stafford, Rams
Stafford’s nationwide coming-out occasion is off to an excellent begin with the 3-0 Rams knocking off the defending champion Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon. Stafford has been cash to this point for Sean McVay, definitely rewarding the religion for Les Snead and the Rams to ship two future first-round picks to the Lions for his providers.
LA’s divorce with Jared Goff has labored out effectively for everyone concerned: Stafford threw for 343 yards and three touchdowns within the win on Sunday, whereas Goff will get a second likelihood at beginning in Detroit, and he hasn’t precisely blown the chance simply but. That counts for one thing, proper?
MORE: Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger blames self for loss to Bengals
Loser: Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
The Steelers’ scenario feels eerily acquainted to that of what the Giants went although with Eli Manning in 2019: Saddled with growing older franchise passers and fairly unhealthy offensive strains, the each groups opted to draft working backs in an effort to take the strain off their QBs and masks points elsewhere.
Whereas the choices for future passer weren’t precisely rampant (they by no means are) this previous offseason for Pittsburgh, the Steelers opted to pick out Najee Harris within the first spherical to attempt to masks the problems of Roethlisberger. That hasn’t precisely labored to this point, and the 39-year-old appears to be like markedly worse at his level than he did final yr.
With a one-TD, two-INT efficiency on Sunday, the Steelers fell to 1-2 on the yr and are actually watching a division which may be primed to move them by, with every staff boasting a younger QB of their very own.
This is hoping Roethlisberger and the Steelers do not remorse their resolution to run it again once more. To date, it does not look promising.
Winner: Broncos protection
Even with out Bradley Chubb, the Broncos protection destroyed the Jets at dwelling and pushed Denver to their first 3-0 begin since 2016, the final yr of Peyton Manning’s tenure.
Sure, the win was towards the hapless, winless Jets, however good defenses make the most of unhealthy offenses and do not relaxation on their laurels and popularity. We’ll see how far Teddy Bridgewater can carry the offense, however the Denver protection to this point is definitely holding up its finish of the cut price: They’ve allowed simply 26 factors via their first three video games. That’ll play.
Loser: John Mara, Giants
Mara, Giants proprietor, was booed by Giants followers through the Eli Manning quantity retirement ceremony on Sunday afternoon. That is not an excellent search for a reasonably proud NFL franchise.
However, who can blame the Giants trustworthy? New York is 0-3 and bought pantsed by the Falcons on the buzzer on Sunday afternoon. What’s worse: They’re really losing good video games from Daniel Jones, who has been fairly turnover-free via three video games to this point this season.
The Giants are dealing with a troublesome stretch of their schedule, with street video games vs. the Saints and Cowboys earlier than returning dwelling to play the Rams. It is early, however their playoff window may slam shut if they do not decide up some wins within the coming weeks.
Winner: Los Angeles soccer
The Rams and Stafford appear to be early Tremendous Bowl contenders.
The Chargers and Justin Herbert appear to be professional threats within the AFC West after upending the Chiefs on Sunday.
Whereas there have been extra Cowboys followers in attendance final Sunday than there have been Chargers followers, Justin Herbert will make sure to make it possible for will not be the case shifting ahead if he continues to play how he did on Sunday.
Loser: New York soccer
I imply, good god, can it get any worse for New York soccer?
The Jets and Giants are a mixed 0-6 to start out the season they usually as soon as once more are winless within the month of September.
The worst half about it: Each NYC groups aren’t precisely discovering new methods to lose. The Jets have regarded noncompetitive via three video games and the Giants have misplaced heartbreakers via their first three video games. Usual track and dance.
The losses by the #Giants and #Jets imply they closed the month a mixed 0-6. Over the past 10 seasons, the NY groups are 20-49 in September, with only one profitable opening month for every staff in that span.
The NFL’s largest market. Two groups. Irrelevant earlier than October. Once more.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) September 26, 2021
Perhaps at some point NYC pigskin followers can get via September with out trying ahead to Knicks basketball.
Effectively, there’s at all times subsequent yr, Jets and Giants followers. Once more.
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