Week 3 was a cruel reminder: in the NFL, sometimes your kicker is your best hope… until he isn’t. Games swung on blocked field goals, quarterbacks crumbled, and whole seasons felt like they ended before October.
Eagles 33, Rams 26 – Big Men Run Faster Than You
The Eagles were dead, buried, and down 26-7 when the game flipped. Jalen Hurts finally remembered A.J. Brown exists (6 catches, 109 yards, TD), dragging Philly back. But the real dagger came on special teams: 336-pound Jordan Davis blocked Joshua Karty’s game-winning attempt and returned it for a touchdown at nearly 19 mph. Rams bettors are still crying.
Injury watch: Lane Johnson (Eagles) left with an ankle injury.
Browns 13, Packers 10 – Cleveland Survives in the Gutter
This was football stripped to its barest misery. The Browns trailed 10-0, managed only field goals, and still walked out winners. Why? Because Jordan Love threw an interception at the worst possible moment, and Shelby Harris blocked a Packers FG in the dying seconds. Andre Szmyt’s 55-yarder finished it.
Quinshon Judkins’ TD was the only one Cleveland managed, but it was enough. The Browns’ reward: false hope.
Buccaneers 29, Jets 27 – Baker Mayfield, Patron Saint of Chaos
The Jets erased a 20-6 halftime deficit, tied it with a Will McDonald blocked FG return TD, and took a late lead. Then Baker Mayfield killed them slowly. A few completions later, Chase McLaughlin drilled the walk-off kick. Tampa Bay is 3-0 with three last-minute wins.
Mike Evans exited with a hamstring injury. The Bucs’ offense without him is a bleak thought.
Colts 41, Titans 20 – Indiana Jones Rolls On
Daniel Jones is 3-0 and playing like a man possessed: 228 yards, 1 TD, 27 rushing yards, still no turnovers this year. Jonathan Taylor (118 yards, three TDs) made sure Tennessee never had a chance. Kenny Moore added a pick-six for good measure.
The Titans are left staring at Cam Ward, who played badly in garbage time and worse everywhere else.
Chiefs 22, Giants 9 – The Boo Birds Feast
Kansas City avoided an 0-3 start, but nobody enjoyed watching it. Mahomes did just enough: one deep strike to Tyquan Thornton, one red-zone setup for Kareem Hunt.
Russell Wilson, meanwhile, managed boos louder than his throws. A red-zone interception killed New York’s only hope. Rookie RB Cam Skattebo (121 scrimmage yards, 1 TD) was the only Giant who looked like he belonged on the field.
Vikings 48, Bengals 10 – Rodgers’ Massacre
Isaiah Rodgers turned into a one-man apocalypse: a pick-six, a fumble-return TD, two forced fumbles, all in one half. Carson Wentz didn’t even need to be good — just present.
The Bengals, starting Jake Browning, were non-competitive. Without Joe Burrow, they aren’t just bad. They’re hopeless.
Bears 31, Cowboys 14 – Caleb Williams Arrives, Dallas Dies
Caleb Williams threw for 298 yards, 4 TDs, 0 sacks, dismantling a Cowboys defense that looked like wet tissue paper. Ben Johnson’s offense ran flea-flickers while Dallas flailed.
CeeDee Lamb tried to play through an ankle injury, failed, and left. Without him, Dallas had no weapons and no hope.
Chargers 23, Broncos 20 – Herbert Survives, Harris Doesn’t
Justin Herbert pulled another rabbit out of his helmet: a late TD to Keenan Allen and a drive that set up Cameron Dicker’s game-winning 43-yarder.
The cost was steep. RB Najee Harris tore his Achilles in the first half. Denver fought behind J.K. Dobbins’ big runs but collapsed late, again.
Panthers 30, Falcons 0 – Penix Punted to the Bench
Michael Penix Jr. produced one of the worst QB performances of the year (18/36, 172 yards, 2 INTs, pick-six) before being benched for Kirk Cousins. The Panthers didn’t need to be good — they just needed to watch Penix self-destruct. Rookie WR Tetairoa McMillan made plays, Chau Smith-Wade housed a pick, and Carolina shut out Atlanta.
Seahawks 44, Saints 13 – Special Teams Murder
Seattle buried New Orleans by halftime (38-3). Sam Darnold threw TDs, Tory Horton scored twice (punt return + reception), and the Saints’ special teams committed career suicide with a blocked punt, a long return, and a missed FG.
The Seahawks join the NFC West party at 2-1. The Saints are already irrelevant.
49ers 16, Cardinals 15 – Ugly, but Alive
Nick Bosa left early, James Conner’s knee gave out, and both teams treated the red zone like a crime scene.
Arizona briefly led after Kyler Murray found Trey McBride, but Dominick Puni’s holding penalty gave the Cards a safety. Christian McCaffrey and Kendrick Bourne bailed San Francisco out with clutch grabs, setting up the winning FG.
Patriots 14, Steelers 21 – Gift-Wrapped Loss
New England outgained Pittsburgh 369–203 but fumbled five times. Rhamondre Stevenson coughed it up twice, Antonio Gibson once, and Drake Maye added two turnovers of his own. Rookie TreVeyon Henderson only got snaps once the game was lost.
The Steelers did almost nothing right. The Patriots did everything wrong. Pittsburgh still won.
Jaguars 17, Texans 10 – QB Comedy Hour
Trevor Lawrence and C.J. Stroud both played like they were being paid by the turnover. Each threw critical late picks; Stroud even fumbled away a chance at the winning drive.
The Jags “won” when Houston allowed a touchdown intentionally to get the ball back. Stroud rewarded that faith with an interception to end it.
Redskins 41, Raiders 24 – Even Mariota Wins
Washington didn’t even need Jayden Daniels. Marcus Mariota was accurate, mobile, and efficient. The Raiders’ defense allowed 201 rushing yards, the offense gave up five sacks, and special teams were a disaster.
If Pete Carroll thought he’d fix this Raiders team quickly, Week 3 spat in his face.
Injury Report: The Body Count
- Najee Harris (Achilles) – out for the season.
- Nick Bosa (49ers) – left early, status TBD.
- James Conner (Cardinals, knee) – likely multiple weeks.
- CeeDee Lamb (Cowboys, ankle) – uncertain for Week 4.
- Mike Evans (Buccaneers, hamstring) – week-to-week.
- Lane Johnson (Eagles, ankle) – pending evaluation.
Week 3 reminded us that games aren’t always won by quarterbacks, or coaches, or even common sense. They’re won (or lost) by blocked kicks, broken bodies, and quarterbacks who forget which colour jersey to throw to. For some teams, the season’s already over.
