NFL Week 3 overreactions: Commanders are back, Vikings Super Bowl bound
Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills have been dominant. Patrick Mahomes and the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs continue to pull out close victories. And the Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks and Pittsburgh Steelers are off to 3-0 starts in 2024.
The Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams pulled off big-time wins, while the Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, New York Giants and Indianapolis Colts got into the win column in Week 3.
The Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers are searching for answers after their 1-2 starts, just like the Las Vegas Raiders, whose loss to the Panthers last week led coach Antonio Pierce to question his players’ work ethic after the game.
But things could be worse: Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals, Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Tennessee Titans are the only 0-3 teams in the league.
Here's more on the most notable overreactions from Week 3:
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Aaron Rodgers is back!
Aaron Rodgers’ Thursday Night Football performance was vintage to say the least. Rodgers looked crisp, his passes finding their targets seamlessly as they did for much of his career. His arm is still live, and he even showed he still has enough in his legs to get away from pressure and gain some yards after his Achilles injury.
You might discount his nearly 300-yard performance against the Patriots on a short week, but don’t discount the idea there’s still room for him to ascend into MVP form.
Rodgers and the Jets have all the pieces to make a run this season, from a vaunted defense spearheaded by coach Robert Saleh with key playmakers at all levels, to an offense that finally can orchestrate behind a respectable offensive line.
Star running back Breece Hall, top receiver Garrett Wilson, veteran receiver Allen Lazard, rookie running back Braelon Allen and tight end Tyler Conklin form a strong core for Rodgers to lead to the playoffs.
Saleh just needs to ease up on those awkward sideline hugs after touchdown drives.
The Washington Commanders are also back!
After all the gloom former owner Dan Snyder brought to the franchise, Washington is finally on the other side. And, boy, is the future enticing after rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels’ coming out party on Monday Night Football.
New Commanders owner Josh Harris has made all the right moves: Daniels at quarterback, a veteran coach like Dan Quinn to lead the team, and an offensive coordinator hire like Kliff Kingsbury, who wisely realized a college-like, run-pass-option scheme would immediately showcase Daniels’ abilities as a runner and passer.
Washington is the first team in the Super Bowl era to not have a turnover or punt in two straight weeks, and still has some room to grow to contend with the Eagles for the NFC East. But there’s plenty to be excited about after their decisive win over the Bengals in Week 3.
Commanders fans, enjoy this. You’ve deserve this. It’s been a long time coming.
The Minnesota Vikings are Super Bowl contenders
It’s like the stars aligned perfectly for quarterback Sam Darnold, coach Kevin O’Connell and defensive coordinator Brian Flores. They’re a match made in heaven for Minnesota this season. The Vikings are off to a 3-0 start and clicking on all cylinders: Darnold has revived his career, while O’Connell and Flores are a 1-2 coaching punch finding their groove in their second season together.
Darnold, the No. 3 pick in the 2018 NFL draft, leads the NFL with eight touchdown passes, and is top 5 in QBR, passer rating, yards per attempt, and just outside the top 10 at 11th in yards. He has finally found a coach in O’Connell and a supporting system to flourish. It also helps having the best receiver in the NFL in Justin Jefferson at his disposal.
Flores’ defense is arguably the best in the NFL (if not, better than Steve Spagnuolo’s defense with the Chiefs). It’s a dynamic and chaotic defensive scheme, where rushers crowd the line of scrimmage to either blitz or drop back into coverage with nickel and dime packages on the backend. It’s a nightmare for quarterbacks and offensive coordinators to digest.
If the Vikings keep this up, they could be in for a deep playoff run.
Mike McCarthy’s hot seat is only getting hotter
How many big games are the Cowboys going to lose at home? The 48-32 playoff loss to the Packers last season was a debacle. The 44-19 loss to the Saints in Week 2 was just as embarrassing. And the Cowboys’ late comeback that fell short in a 28-25 loss to the Ravens just adds fuel to the flame under McCarthy’s hot seat.
I mean, it’s not like Jerry Jones is going to fire himself.
To make matters worse for the Cowboys, Jones had to swallow his pride and say, “We couldn’t afford Derrick Henry,” after the star running back rushed for 151 yards with two touchdowns last week.
A short week could help Dallas, but even the Giants are showing signs of improvement with rookie receiver Malik Nabers appearing like a saving grace for Daniel Jones.
Back to the Cowboys: McCarthy must get them in shape and in a hurry – anything short of victory against the Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers and Lions in the next three weeks could lead to his firing by the Week 7 bye.
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