The NFL Sunday Review: Week 3

Week 3 was punctuated by some absolutely abject games (Yes, I’m looking at YOU… TNF & SNF), but in amongst that had some intriguing results. Two surprise packages moved to 3-0, 5 winless teams got their first victory, and two of the games’ greatest ever QBs went at it for just the 5th time in their history. There’s lots to discuss, but we start with the biggest game of the weekend: the battle for control of the AFC East.

Time Runs Out On Bills, As 'Fins Hold On For 3-0

What a game. So tense, such high stakes, and an outcome not many would have believed as the seconds ran out on the Buffalo Bills. The team many (myself included) consider to be the finest in the NFL had been beaten. The Bills have owned the Dolphins (7 wins in a row before Sunday), and yet something special is happening in South Beach right now. Tua Tagovailoa showed grit and toughness to overcome a back injury (that seemed to display A LOT of concussion-like symptoms…) and make the eventual key throw, finding Jaylen Waddle on 3rd and 22 for the huge gain that set up Chase Edmonds’ 2nd rushing TD of the day.

Waddle was great on a day where Tyreek Hill was unusually held in check, but the story of the piece is not the Dolphins’ offense as it was a week ago against the Ravens, but this time it’s the young and energetic defense that won Miami this game. Thomas Morstead’s “Butt Punt” was the subject of much social media mockery, but it only came after a truly heroic goal line stand that enabled the Dolphins to find a way to hold on for the win. The safety, in fact, actually helped Miami push the Bills deeper into their own territory (thanks to Morstead’s booming punt), and the Bills couldn’t quite find enough time and distance to give Tyler Bass a chance to win the game. 

In being the lone 3-0 team in the AFC, the Dolphins Defense needs its collective flowers. Melvin Ingram had some big time plays (fumble recovery, sack of Allen), but it’s really unfair to single anybody out, as Wilkins, Holland, Kohou, Baker, Howard, and many others combined for this mammoth effort to hold the Bills to just 19 points. The Dolphins’ defense is as legit as they come. They’re getting contributions from all levels, in all shapes and sizes. They’ll no doubt be tested again with Cincinnati up next on Thursday but… after that… Jets, Vikings, Steelers, Lions, Bears, Browns (still with Brissett), and Texans before their December gauntlet of games. Those are some winnable games.

Sitting at 3-0, Mike McDaniel must think this head coaching lark is super easy. McDaniel became just the 2nd Head Coach in Dolphins’ history to start 3-0, following Jimmy Johnson in achieving that feat. The best part of the whole thing if you’re a Dolphins fan? The Fins won, coming from behind again, not playing at their electrifying offensive best, with a couple of exceptional defensive stands. The Dolphins have beaten the Patriots, the Ravens and the Bills, and done so in completely different fashion each time. Not to mention, they’ve outscored those 3 opponents 45-22 in the second half, which suggests the coaching staff is making in-game adjustments that are working successfully in favour of the Dolphins.

In this game, the Bills scored 14 points in the first 18 or so minutes. In the 42 that followed, they were held to 5. Josh Allen threw for 400 yards, but couldn’t find his way into the endzone in the second half. Buffalo will be absolutely fine. Sure, they have a huge clash next Sunday with Lamar Jackson and the Ravens to look forward to, but this team will have better days.

It was clear that the Florida heat and humidity played a HUGE role, as players were cramping all over the place, and at the end of the game there were exhausted bodies strewn across the turf during the handshakes. Buffalo controlled this game throughout, leading in all major statistical categories, except turnovers, which perhaps puts into perspective just how good a bend-but-don’t-break performance the Dolphins just turned in. The Bills will bounce back, but the Dolphins have shown once and for all they must be taken seriously as a threat in this league. What a performance.

Lamar Makes MVP Claim As Pats Flounder

Boston.com

Lamar Jackson’s early push to be this season’s MVP continues to roll on. Lost in the chaos of the Miami comeback last weekend was Lamar’s ridiculous performance, something that only continued on Sunday with the Ravens victory over the Patriots in Foxborough. Jackson is a phenomenon unlike anything we’ve seen in the NFL. Sure, there are elements of Michael Vick about his running style, but he truly feels like 1 of 1, and continues to do it all for this Ravens team. 218yds passing, 4TDs through the air, plus 107yds rushing and a rushing TD for the 2nd week in a row. Lamar is a force of nature, and this Ravens team could be headed for a deep playoff run if he can stay healthy.

Sure, the loss to the Dolphins last week was a bit of a gut punch, but you saw no dwelling on the past on Sunday. The Ravens took every punch the Patriots could muster, shrugged them off, and rolled towards their second victory of the young season. JK Dobbins made his season debut, but was largely ineffective, meaning Jackson had to be the team’s leading rusher, as well as orchestrating multiple long TD drives, and feeding Mark Andrews, who continues to develop into the 2nd best Tight End in football – at least as far as receiving goes – behind Travis Kelce.

Baltimore move to 2-1, and set up a mouthwatering clash next weekend between the two early season front runners for MVP. Josh Allen is yet to win the award, which Lamar did unanimously back in 2019. This could be take 2 for Jackson, if he keeps up his production at this rate, as the Ravens will surely continue to notch victories also. The Ravens’ schedule is tough, but that only seems to suggest they will be battle-tested and ready to rumble come playoff time in January.

Conversely, The Patriots feel like a team destined to not be playing meaningful football in January. They may have found themselves a WR1 in Devante Parker, who had a great game Sunday, but Mac Jones’ ankle could yet give them problems next weekend when they face the Packers at Lambeau Field. Brian Hoyer is not going to win this team many games, though I truly think they’d be lucky to win 7 even at full strength. The defense hung tough for a while, but Jackon & Andrews were a combo they had little answer for, and despite Rhamodre Stevenson and Damien Harris grinding yardage on the ground, the Pats never built a big enough lead to lean on that run game and try to take the script away from the Ravens.

New England have always seemed to find a recipe to win tight games in the Belichick era, but that was not to be with the Ravens. The Pats now face the improving Packers, scrappy Lions, and tough to stop Browns in quick succession. It’s not impossible that this team could be 2-4 or, whisper it, 1-5 in a few weeks time… Enemies of the Patriots, enjoy this downtime… It won’t last forever.

Rodgers Gets One Over Brady In Tampa

“Brady vs Rodgers 5” was the defensive slugfest the bookies predicted, even if it shouldn’t have been. Numerous turnovers, miscommunication and poor offensive execution combined to limit arguably the two greatest QBs of the last two decades to just 28 points between them. Sure, almost all the big-name wide receivers on these two rosters were out for the game, but Allen Lazard and Romeo Doubs started things nicely for the Pack, as Green Bay built a substantial 14-3 lead early on. Doubs had a really good day, flashing the kind of playmaking ability that made him a draft choice for the Packers this past off-season.

Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon were held largely in check by what is an exceptional Bucs’ defense, and really credit must be given to Matt LaFleur and Aaron Rodgers himself for reading the game so well, and getting just enough points to outlast Tampa. Green Bay have certainly not set the world on fire so far this year, but they’re 2-1, with Patriots, Giants, Jets, Commanders coming up next. We could certainly be looking at a 6-1 team when Green Bay travel to Buffalo for Sunday Night Football in about a month’s time. 

Obviously, Tampa Bay didn’t go down without a fight, but it was mainly down to their fearsome defense that they were able to stay in the game and hang around. Cole Beasley (in his Bucs debut), Breshad Perriman, and Russell Gage tried to keep Tampa Bay moving down the field, but it felt like whenever they built up a head of steam there was a turnover, or a backbreaking penalty that meant the ball (temporarily) went back to Green Bay.

But, with their last chance, Tampa did put a drive together, and Brady found Gage to score the TD to give them hope. However, that would be short-lived. The “delay of game” penalty will get a lot of the headlines, making the necessary 2pt play come from the 7 yard line, rather than the 2, under the shade of the goalposts. Nobody really mentioned the same issue last weekend when it happened to Kyler and the Cardinals, but that may have been thanks to Kyler converting it, as opposed to Brady’s pass being tipped, and the Packers holding on for a narrow win. Having only scored 51 points across 3 games so far, it’s clear that the Bucs need their WRs back and fast, but also shows that maybe they will need to lean a bit more on this elite defense this year.

It’s not exactly a bad recipe to have a superb D to back up the greatest QB of all time… It could definitely see TB have success this year. In the present, both teams are clearly far from at the peak of their powers right now, but you still feel like these squads will just find a way to be in and around the NFC Divisional Round come January. Jalen Hurts’ Eagles and… Someone from the NFC West project to be the other likely contenders. This may have been billed as the last time Brady and Rodgers would ever go head to head, but I wouldn’t bet against seeing this again in January, and giving AR12 one last chance to tie things up in the personal battle against TB12. It would certainly be a great #narrative for the playoffs. 

Thursday Night Throwback:

David Richard / Associated Press

Errrrrrrrm. This game happened. The Browns beat the Steelers. Maybe the most exciting thing that happened was the final play scramble that ended in a Browns defensive TD? Felt like a bad beat for a lot of Fantasy Players in that play… But – in all seriousness – Jacoby Brissett has steadied the Browns amidst the tumult, and has struck up a nice rapport with Amari Cooper (who the Cowboys are definitely missing right now). Chubb and Hunt are always going to do their thing, and all the Browns need from Brissett is sensible consistency to maximise the skill players around him.

The Steelers however are in serious danger of their first losing season under Mike Tomlin. I really want Mitch Trubisky to re-discover his talents that at one point saw him throw 6 TDs in a game for Chicago, but it just doesn’t feel at all likely right now. The “Kenny” chants grow louder by the day in the Steel City… Without TJ Watt causing mayhem up front, it’s hard to see the Steelers finding much (if any) success this season. Najee Harris doesn’t look himself, and rookie WR George Pickens (who made an INCREDIBLE catch, reminiscent of OBJ for the Giants all those years ago) seems to be pissed off at everyone after less than 3 weeks as a fully fledged Steeler. Week 1’s victory over the Bengals feels like a long time ago now for Steeler Nation. They’ll look to bounce back against the Jets next week.

Quick Hits

  • Welcome to the Win column, Indianapolis. The Colts managed to get off the slide with a gutsy display to hold the Chiefs to just 17 points, as Matt Ryan’s men were able to sneak out a much needed Dub. This team hasn’t been able to re-find its “we’re going to run this ball directly down your throat and into your stomach” form from last season yet, but if they do they now know they can scrap with the league’s best and come out on top. 
  • Chiefs? No panic. It happens. Sure, it was disappointing, but there’s no better way to bounce back than by facing Tom Brady’s Buccaneers on Sunday Night Football in Week 4. Cheers to that.
  • The Tennessee Titans finally got their first win of the 2022 season. Mike Vrabel’s hard-nosed team built a 24-10 Half-Time lead, strangely in part due to Derrick Henry catching the ball, as opposed to running it. The worry, of course, is that the Titans were shut out in the 2nd half, and only hanging onto the victory after the Raiders missed a late 2pt conversion for the tie. We’ll learn a lot more about the Titans next week, as they clash with the 1-1-1 Colts. 
  • And, on the other side of the equation, the Las Vegas Raiders are DEAD. Anyone wonder if Davante Adams is regretting leaving Aaron Rodgers for Derek Carr? Only six 0-3 teams have ever rebounded to make the playoffs, and it feels like Josh McDaniels’ debut season is already destined to end in failure. 
  • I’m absolutely gutted for the Detroit Lions. Can’t quite believe that game slipped through their fingers and into the Vikings’ waiting arms. Dan Campbell continues to cover, but Detroit is on the precipice of winning big Division games like that. So close. Keep going MCDC!!
  • Joe Burrow’s Bengals bounced back from their 0-2 start with a comprehensive victory over Joe Flacco’s Jets. Cincinnati are perhaps unlikely to repeat their deep playoff run of last year, but are certainly a team that nobody would want to face come January, due to all their explosive weapons. Next up… Oh, only the 3-0 Miami Dolphins on Thursday Night Football. What a game that could be. Tua and Burrow faced off in an epic Alabama vs LSU shootout once upon a time. Can we run that one back please?!
  • Baker Mayfield got his first win as a Panther over Jameis Winston’s Saints. A very weird game this, as the Saints offense seems like it should be electric but struggled to get going until late in the day. Matt Rhule still needs to create some more consistency in his team, but they can celebrate moving to 1-2, alongside the Saints and Falcons in joint 2nd in the NFC South. As expected, the Bucs may be a significant cut above the rest of the division.
  • The Chicago Bears have only completed 23 passes across 3 games and are 2-1. What an absolute joke. Justin Fields needs to start taking steps forward soon. I can’t believe Davis Mills through the INT and gave Chicago this one. Heartbreak for Houston. Khalil Herbert deserves a shoutout. He stepped up bigtime in David Montgomery’s absence. 
  • Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles are the lone 3-0 team in the NFC (pending the Giants game on Monday). What a start to the season for Nick Sirianni. In stark contrast to his zero catches in Week 1, Devonta Smith was electrifying on Sunday, torching the Commanders throughout and frustrating me as he rotted on multiple Fantasy Team benches I own… Anyway, the Eagles look LEGIT. They’re rolling and winning games with consummate ease. That defense is serious too. 
  • At least the Commanders’ stadium did not try to kill Jalen Hurts this time. Carson Wentz was terrible. This team is poor at best. 
  • Are… are the Jacksonville Jaguars… good!? Doug Pederson has got this team clicking on offense and playing ferocious defense. Sure, game script has helped, but who thought after Week 1’s loss to the Commanders that the Jags would then only concede a combined 10pts to the Colts AND the Chargers across TWO games?! Unreal. Good for Jacksonville. Their game with the Eagles next week could be sneaky fun. 
  • The Chargers need to start researching rib remedies immediately. Justin Herbert didn’t look himself throughout Sunday (aside from a couple of ridiculous throws). I can’t believe this team is 1-2. They’ll surely bounce back, but they need to get Ekeler rolling, and get Herbert and Keenan Allen back healthy ASAP.
  • Cordarelle Patterson’s evolution from gadget player into solid starting-calibre NFL RB is a great story. Good for the Falcons to get a win. Geno Smith has reverted to the Geno Smith we all knew following his Week 1 heroics in Seattle. These two teams will be picking top 5 in next year’s draft.
  • Kyler and the Kardinals dug another hole and this time couldn’t magic their way out of it. Cooper Kupp is turning into Deebo Samuel by scoring rushing TDs now, and Arizona need DHop back in the worst way. However, Kingsbury’s guys do have a decent run of games over the next 6 weeks before these teams meet again. The Rams continue to look thoroughly unimpressive, but now find themselves at 2-1. 
  • And finally… Sunday Night Football. One of the worst games I’ve ever half-watched out of the corner of my eye whilst House of the Dragon was on our main TV. Absolutely miserable. These two offenses are horrific, and anyone suggesting the 49ers are a Super Bowl contender need only watch this, take a long hard look at themselves in the mirror, and then forget that idea ever crossed their consciousness. The Broncos? Yeeeeesh. Nathaniel Hackett still feels like he’s firmly on the warm-and-getting-warmer seat, despite getting his 2nd win in a row in this “honeymoon phase.” But, the ever reliable Jimmy G threw the back-breaking pick that creates his ceiling of “game manager,” and not “Super Bowl winner.” Both these teams will flirt with playoff contention, and ultimately fail to be truly relevant in the postseason.

MNF Prediction: (Season Record: 2-1)

Cooper Neill / Getty Images

Thankfully, both Monday night games last weekend went exactly as they were supposed to. Kirk Cousins did “PrimeTime Kirk Cousins” things, and Josh Allen and the Bills ran all over the Titans. So, thankfully we’re now above .500, and let’s keep it that way!

Monday Night gives us an NFC East clash between Cooper Rush’s 1-1 Dallas Cowboys, and Daniel Jones’ upstart 2-0 New York Giants. The Brian Daboll effect has been instantaneous, with the G-Men winning games they would certainly have previously lost. They haven’t been high-powered offensive onslaughts, but beating the Titans and the Panthers has given the Giants a sense of positivity that has eluded them over the last few seasons.

In Dallas, Dak Prescott’s hand injury threatened to derail the entire season after just one game, but Cooper Rush’s calm performance last week against the Bengals has studied a rocking ship. However, falling to 1-2 (and the Eagles and Giants both being 3-0) would be a huge issue for Jerry’s Team. With Dak allegedly coming back in Week 6 against the Eagles, a win here (coupled with one against Washington next week), would see the Cowboys very much still afloat as their franchise QB returns. 

Much has been made about the Giants start to the season, and especially how good they’ve been defensively, but I really think this is the night the fairytale start gets scuppered. Daboll is building in the right direction, but I remain unconvinced that Daniel Jones can be a PrimeTime winning Quarterback. I’ll put my faith in Zeke Elliott, Tony Pollard & CeeDee Lamb helping find a way for the Cowboys to win.

Week 4 Preview

Now THIS is a slate with some promise. We start Thursday night with that Burrow vs Tua rematch, as the Dolphins’ take their perfect record straight into the Jungle and attempt to go to 4-0 against the Bengals. Then, on Sunday morning (afternoon), we start the London games series! Kirk “Can’t win if it’s not 1pm” Cousins and the Vikings face Jameis “I’ve got broken back and threw 5 INTs the last time I played in London” Winston in what promises to be an absolute car-crash of a game. Plus, Titans-Colts, Jaguars-Eagles, and Bills-Ravens in a sneaky good early window, before Aaron Rodgers and the Packers host the Patriots in the most noteworthy game of the late window. Then, Mahomes vs Brady again on Sunday Night, before we UNFORGIVABLY have to watch Jimmy G in PrimeTime again (ugh!!) against the Rams on Monday Night. Stop putting the 49ers on national TV… PLEASE. 

Anyway, that’s my rant over. As always, thanks for spending a little of your week reading my thoughts. I’m @CallumJDSquires on Twitter and Instagram. Come say hey, and watch out for my #FraudWatch Week 3 Rankings hitting Twitter on Tuesday… Have a great week everyone. Cheers!

Callum Squires

NFL/CFB ANALYST

CALLUM IS FROM LONDON, BUT PLAYED COLLEGE SOCCER AT TRINITY UNIVERSITY IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, WHERE HE LEARNED NEVER TO CHEER FOR THE COWBOYS. CALLUM IS A LONG-SUFFERING DOLPHINS FAN WHO BELIEVES THE TUA HYPE. NOW BACK STATESIDE, HIT HIM UP ON TWITTER @CALLUMJDSQUIRES!

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