This week in the NFL, an age-old truth was once again proved: the better team always wins.
We saw it when Baltimore got a last-minute win against Cleveland. We saw it when the Bears held off the Jets. We saw it when Philadelphia fended off Washington. We saw it when the Patriots got the best of the Raiders by game’s end.
The NFL regular season isn’t always the kindest to the underdog, which can make things fairly predictable. But, what happens when Goliath stumbles?
So far this season, three NFL powerhouses, the Packers, the Saints and the 49ers, are all staring a 1-3 record in the face if they all lose in week four. With the Pack traveling to Chicago, the Saints heading to Dallas and the Niners hosting the Eagles, there’s a distinct possibility these three teams could quickly be headed in this direction.
The NFL can be predictable, but it can also be full of surprises. Rookies can emerge to have huge games. Veterans can struggle at all the wrong moments. The Browns can prove to be competitive without their top offensive weapon. Sometimes, you just don’t know what professional football will have in store.
Here are the 10 things I’m thinking after week three.
1. The Broncos and Seahawks’ Super Bowl rematch was the game we needed back in February. Despite being bullied by Seattle for three quarters, the Broncos put up 17 points on Seattle’s defense, including a late-game drive by QB Peyton Manning that looked like the kind of football that usually closes out a movie. Ultimately, the Seahawks were able to pull out the overtime victory, with Denver’s defense unable to contain Seattle’s rushing attack. Both of these teams have legitimate chances of winning their respective conferences, so a literal Super Bowl rematch isn’t out of the cards. I don’t think too many people would complain.
2. Despite not having QB Carson Palmer because of injury, the Arizona Cardinals are rolling right now. The team is 3-0 and atop the treacherous NFC West. Head coach Bruce Arians is doing an excellent job with this team, no doubt about it. Backup QB Drew Stanton deserves a lot of credit. He’s got an 83.5 QBR in his two starts, throwing for two touchdowns. The team is also benefitting from second-year running back Andre Ellington, who has 206 yards on the ground so far this year. However, the Cardinals’ receiving core may be the main cause for celebration. Third year WR Michael Floyd (252 yards) and rookie WR John Brown (109 yards, 3 TDs) are both emerging as dangerous targets, and veteran WR Larry Fitzgerald (107 yards) is as steady as can be. The team’s defense, led in tackling by S Tony Jefferson and LB Larry Foote, is also continuing to create havoc. Seattle is still scary and the Niners could still get it going, but could the Arizona Cardinals win the NFC West? With the way they’re playing right now, I wouldn’t count it out.
3. For rookie QBs Blake Bortles and Teddy Bridgewater, it’s go time. Bortles, the third pick in the draft, and Bridgewater, the 26th pick in the draft, are now going to be starting for their respective teams. For Bortles, the opportunity exists to become the hero of Jacksonville and give the team and its fan base its best quarterback since Mark Brunell. For Bridgewater, he must now head up the struggling Vikings, who have been mired in controversy this season over the Adrian Peterson incident. Both quarterbacks also have major tests in their first weeks at the helm. Bortles and the Jags must travel to San Diego, while Bridgewater and the Vikings must host Atlanta. Even if these quarterbacks aren’t perfect right off the bat, both deserve patience to get accustomed to the game and succeed. Will either, or both, of these rookies be the answer these franchises desperately need?
4. I picked Jets S Calvin Pryor as my Defensive Rookie of the Year favorite, but another defensive back is clearly making himself the frontrunner. Bears rookie CB Kyle Fuller is playing lights out football right now. The former Virginia Tech Hokie is leading the NFL right now in interceptions with 3. He’s not just leading rookies with picks – he’s leading the likes of Richard Sherman, Darrelle Revis and Patrick Peterson. Talk about a way to introduce yourself to the league. If Fuller keeps his level of play up, the DROY award is his for the taking. Hands down.
5. The New England Patriots’ home matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 5 is looking to be one of the marquee matchups of the regular season. The Patriots, who have struggled to get to 2-1 this year, will finally prove their worth against the Bengals, who just might be the best team in the NFL right now. The Bengals have already defeated two respectable teams this season, the Ravens and the Falcons, and winning on the road in New England would be a major statement to the rest of the NFL that they mean business. Mark your calendar for this one.
6. I hope that reports of the Dolphins considering putting QB Ryan Tannehill on the bench don’t come true. What an idiotic move that would be. So far this season, Tannehill has thrown for 624 yards and 4 touchdowns, posting up a 74.1 QBR. It may not put him up there with Manning, but for what some teams are working with at the QB position, the Dolphins should consider themselves lucky. Other than Tannehill, the Fins have Matt Moore, a respectable backup. If Miami makes this moronic move happen, consider their season toast.
7. Tackle Jake Matthews might have become the Atlanta Falcons’ most important player not named Matt Ryan, Julio Jones or Matt Bryant. Atlanta looks like a different team when he’s in the game. When Matthews is playing, the team can play with rival New Orleans and throttle Tampa Bay. When he’s not playing due to injury, the week two loss to Cincinnati happens. Matthews already is proving to be crucial to Atlanta’s success on offense.
8. The Denver-Seattle game unearthed my hatred of the current overtime rules. The idea that a coin toss gets to potentially decide the outcome of a game is sickening. Just imagine if Denver had been able to answer when Seattle got their game-winning touchdown. If a team can’t answer, call the game, but allow the other team to score points of their own, regardless of what the first team does.
9. Something that I learned while watching Monday Night Football: I don’t want the New York Jets’ front seven rushing at me. Yikes – that’s a scary group.
10. After last week’s J.J. Watt touchdown, Bengals QB Andy Dalton decided to join in on the preposterous touchdown fun and catch one of his own against Tennessee. He’s the first QB to catch a TD pass since former Kansas City Chief Tyler Thigpen in 2008.
WOODY’S POWER RANKINGS – WEEK THREE
32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-3)
The Blake Bortles era has begun in Jacksonville – at least for now. Bortles looked solid in his limited time against the Colts, going 14 for 24 for 233 yards and two touchdowns. However, anytime you start a rookie, doubts linger. Is Bortles the answer for the Jaguars? The next three games, a road match at San Diego, a home game against Pittsburgh and another road trip to Tennessee, should be major tests for the rookie QB. The Jags defense is going to have to stop allowing so many points, though. For now, this team is at the bottom.
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-3)
The Buccaneers got absolutely dismantled in their Thursday night road matchup against division foe Atlanta. Their defense had no answer for the Falcons, and their offense just couldn’t get anything done. With QB Josh McCown missing time with an injury, second-year signal caller Mike Glennon must reassume the starting role. Rookie WR Mike Evans has shown flashes at times, so he will need to step up if this team is going to have a passing attack. Injuries to key players like DT Gerald McCoy, LB Mason Foster and RB Doug Martin don’t help the Bucs’ cause. This team needs to get its act together if they’re going to compete this year, but injuries are a part of the Bucs’ struggles right now.
30. Oakland Raiders (0-3)
The Raiders competed with the Patriots at Foxboro for four quarters, even to the point where an Oakland win wouldn’t have been out of the question. Rookie QB Derek Carr needs to continue to be growing into his role. Oakland’s defense deserves a lot of credit for holding the Pats to a touchdown. But, Oakland’s offense is going to need more than field goals if they’re to navigate their treacherous schedule ahead.
29. Minnesota Vikings (1-2)
The Vikings will now put their franchise in the hands of rookie QB Teddy Bridgewater with QB Matt Cassel out with an injury. The Vikings defense looks improved, but their offense is likely without RB Adrien Peterson for the rest of the year. WR Cordarrelle Patterson needs to become the new playmaker for the Vikings if their offense is to succeed. Veteran WR Greg Jennings must also take on a larger role. Head coach Mike Zimmer has his work cut out for him, and Bridgewater is going to need to step up immediately and produce.
28. St. Louis Rams (1-2)
I’ll say this for the Rams: they’re competing. Even though a win over the Bucs doesn’t look that great, the team isn’t doing half bad for starting their third-string QB. Actually, Austin Davis is performing admirably right now for St. Louis. 327 yards and three touchdowns is mightily impressive, even if your team loses. The Rams can’t let games like Sunday’s happen again, though. A win over Dallas would have been a major victory for a team in their shoes. The Rams are competing despite circumstance, but now, they need to start winning.
27. New York Giants (1-2)
The Giants finally show some life in a win over the Texans. QB Eli Manning needs to keep up his chemistry with WR Victor Cruz if this team is going to succeed on offense. Actually, RB Rashad Jennings deserves a lot of credit for establishing a good run game for this team. Jennings had 34 carries for 176 yards and a touchdown. It’s too early to tell if this win means anything for the Giants’ future success, but not falling to 0-3 should be good enough for the Giants right now. Time to win another one.
26. Washington (1-2)
Washington doesn’t look too bad with QB Kirk Cousins slinging the passes. He went 30 for 48 for 427 yards and three touchdowns against the Eagles secondary. Pierre Garcon also had a big day with 11 receptions for 138 yards and a touchdown. Washington has the pieces to be successful, especially with Cousins playing well in Robert Griffin III’s place, but they can’t let games like Sunday’s against the Eagles happen anymore. When you’re up, you need to stay there. It’s tough winning a division game on the road, but you have to when you’re leading. Washington didn’t hold up.
25. Kansas City Chiefs (1-2)
After an abysmal start to the season, the Chiefs finally get a win against the Dolphins. With Jamaal Charles struggling with an injury, RB Knile Davis stepped up in a big way, rushing for 132 yards and a touchdown. RB Joe McKnight made a big impact in the passing game with 64 yards and 2 touchdowns in the air. QB Alex Smith threw for three touchdowns and 186 yards of his own. With the Cheifs’ defense ailing, the offense is going to need to step up and keep their games high-scoring. Charels’ health will be a big factor going ahead.
24. Miami Dolphins (1-2)
Outside of the numbskull idea of benching QB Ryan Tannehill, the Dolphins need to really step it up. With the Patriots not playing at their typical level and the Bills/Jets beatable, this division is more open than people think. The Dolphins have the personnel to win games. It just comes down to execution. Can Miami finally put the pedal to the metal and get back to their week one form? If they don’t, it could be a long season on South Beach.
23. Tennessee Titans (1-2)
The Titans got pummeled by the Bengals on the road Sunday, and with QB Jake Locker potentially in injury trouble, Tennessee might be in trouble. The team’s defense, under the watch of defensive genius Ray Horton, is going to need to step up and win games for Tennessee if Locker misses time. If he’s healthy, Locker is going to have to start playing better. The Titans have too talented of an offensive arsenal to go to waste. Like the AFC East, the AFC South is up for grabs, and the Titans should be playing like it could be theirs.
22. Houston Texans (2-1)
The Texans’ only wins have come over lower-level teams, and they lost to the Giants Sunday. Just how good are these Texans? QB Ryan Fitzpatrick had three picks, but he’s still the team’s best option going forward at the position. The Texans have J.J. Watt on defense, and that alone can get the team places. A home game against the Bills should really show the true nature of this year’s Texans.
21. Cleveland Browns (1-2)
The Browns could be 3-0 right now. Add in a few plays against Pittsburgh in week one and against the Ravens in week three and you’ve got the Browns as one of the league’s best teams. Head coach Mike Pettine is doing a fine job with Cleveland, and QB Bryan Hoyer and the team’s offense are keeping the Browns competitive. As the season goes on, losing close games will start to add up if the team continues to drop close ones. But, Cleveland has the tools to succeed now. That’s saying a lot for what people thought the Browns could do at the start of the season.
20. New York Jets (1-2)
The Jets are going to need QB Geno Smith to continue to grow for this team to win games. The Jets’ defense is playing its heart out right now (that pass rush is terrifying), and they’re making a lot out of what was supposed to be a lacking receiving core. But, after Monday night’s tough loss to Chicago, it’s becoming more evident than ever that Smith is going to have to cut out the mental errors if the Jets are to compete for the AFC East. A home game against Detroit won’t be easy.
19. Indianapolis Colts (1-2)
The Colts are firmly at the top of the AFC South, and if all goes right, they should be able to win it if games against Jacksonville are any indicator of how the division games are going to go this season. And, Indy’s two losses have come to the Broncos and Eagles, two of the league’s best teams. However, Tennessee, Baltimore, Houston, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh all lie over the horizon for the team. The division crown is far from claimed, and the Colts are going to have to play to their potential if they’re going to fully prove their dominance in the AFC.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1)
The Steelers got a convincing win over the Panthers on the road in primetime Sunday night. The defense suffered a few injuries, but WR Antonio Brown is playing with enough spark to make this offense dangerous. The Steelers’ run game also was able to make dents in the highly-vaunted Carolina defense. The Steelers are a hot-and-cold team, and Sunday night shows what they can do when the heat is cranked up. Can they sustain this momentum for a full season?
17. Dallas Cowboys (2-1)
The Cowboys got a comeback win against the Rams, which could say one of two things. One, the Cowboys are on a two-game win streak and are putting together enough talent to overcome mediocre teams. Two, what in the world were the Cowboys doing getting dominated by the Rams for that long? Dallas can’t always account on catching Tennessee on a bad day or a Rams meltdown to get wins. But, they’re sitting at 2-1 when a lot of other, better teams aren’t. The game against New Orleans is a big one. Can the Cowboys go to 3-1 against a desperate Saints team? If they can, we may have to start taking them more seriously.
16. New Orleans Saints (1-2)
A win against a struggling Vikings team may not mean much, but New Orleans got what they needed most – a win. QB Drew Brees looked more like Drew Brees, and the defense held Minnesota’s offense to 9 (as in, three field goals). The Saints have all the talent in the world, and they could easily get back to their winning ways. But, the Sunday night game against Dallas could be a major point for the team this season. Winning on the road against the Cowboys in primetime would be a major statement to the rest of the league. Losing would put them at 1-3. Which would you rather have?
15. San Francisco 49ers (1-2)
The Niners shouldn’t be in the spot they are in. A loss to the Cardinals puts the team with the real possibility of falling to 1-3 on the year with a game against Philadelphia on the slate. The team’s offensive attack in the air doesn’t appear to be struggling, but the rushing attack against Arizona’s defense was not effective in Sunday’s loss. When QB Colin Kaepernick is the leading rusher with the team’s depth at running back, you know that there are problems. The defensive numbers also don’t look promising. San Francisco is very, very talented, but right now, they’re not playing to their roster. Will they get it turned around?
14. Green Bay Packers (1-2)
The Packers may not be the top dogs in the NFC North anymore. They may not even be the second-best in the division. With a road loss to Detroit, the Packers are another team that could go 1-3 on the year. The red-hot Chicago Bears will host their archrivals in week four, and with the way the Bears are playing right now, do the Packers stand a chance to win? I still have a lot of faith in QB Aaron Rodgers, but the rest of this team is going to need to step up in a big way. I had the Packers in my Super Bowl predictions before the season started. Right now, I’m not even sure they can crack a Wild Card spot. But, the Pack always deserves the benefit of the doubt.
13. Carolina Panthers (2-1)
The Panthers took one in the chin against Pittsburgh in a home loss Sunday night, but Carolina is still too good of a team to count out after one loss. The Panthers secondary had no answer for Antonio Brown, and the run defense couldn’t put a cap on Pitt’s rushing attack. The Panthers are better than what this game indicate, but the offense (especially QB Cam Newton) are going to have to learn to put more points on the board than what they’re used to if the defense struggles. The team hasn’t cracked over 19 points on offense this season.
12. Baltimore Ravens (2-1)
The Ravens nearly lost to Cleveland on the road Sunday, but Baltimore got it done late. The team’s rushing attack isn’t suffering as some would have thought (kudos to rookie RB Lorenzo Taliaferro for putting up 91 yards on the ground and a touchdown), and the passing game is getting exactly what it hoped out of veteran WR Steve Smith. The Ravens are playing at a good level right now, but the schedule isn’t kind in the weeks ahead.
11. Buffalo Bills (2-1)
The Bills’ feel-good streak came to a close with a loss to visiting San Diego Sunday. Looking at the stats, Buffalo’s rushing attack can’t be held to the yards it was if this team wants to win more games. After a big week against the Dolphins, rookie WR Sammy Watkins also had a quiet day. It’s clear from the game that Buffalo needs its offense clicking in order to win. On Sunday, that didn’t happen, and the Bills suffered for it.
10. New England Patriots (2-1)
The Patriots are 2-1, but it sure doesn’t feel that way. The team could have easily dropped the game against Oakland – Oakland – at home Sunday, but they got lucky at the end with a turnover. The Patriots haven’t had the hardest schedule so far, but that loss to Miami in week one still is suspicious. This week’s win also feels a bit odd. The Patriots will likely win on the road against Kansas City in week four, leaving the home game against Cincinnati as the team’s first real challenge of the season. Can the Patriots prove they’re still contenders? A loss to Cincinnati might indicate otherwise. Still, Belichick is still Belichick, and he’s been able to work wonders in the past.
9. Detroit Lions (2-1)
The Lions have to be feeling good after edging out the Packers at home on Sunday. Right now, the Lions and Bears are neck-and-neck for the top spot in the NFC North. QB Matthew Stafford didn’t have a great day, and neither did the run game outside of RB Reggie Bush, who had 61 yards and a touchdown. The Lions proved in week one that they can be a high-power offense, and they got a big win against Green Bay under their belt, but a road game against a likely-upset Jets won’t come easy for the Lions.
8. Atlanta Falcons (2-1)
The Falcons absolutely disassembled the Buccaneers on Thursday night. QB Matt Ryan got pulled early because of the large hole the Bucs were in, but if he had stayed in, could you imagine what his stat line would have been? The Falcons must play two games up in the north for the next few weeks (Vikings, Giants), so shaking off their road struggles that showed against Cincinnati will be important. If the Falcons can be as dynamic away as they have been at home this season, they’ll be in good shape. The defense needs to keep their momentum they gained in the win, though.
7. Chicago Bears (2-1)
The Bears should be the talk of the NFL right now after two huge primetime wins against the 49ers and the Jets. Rookie CB Kyle Fuller is the real deal. When the Bears’ line give QB Jay Cutler time to throw, this team can work magic, but when Cutler’s under pressure, it’s a different story. The Bears’ defense holding up will be key down the line, but as long as they’re playing competently and the offensive line is blocking, the Bears have a chance to win the NFC North this year.
6. San Diego Chargers (2-1)
The Chargers should be called the hype busters. In week two, the team ended the Seattle ‘best ever’ hype, and in week three, the team stopped the Bills’ bandwagon well short of where it was headed. QB Philip Rivers is playing outstanding football right now, and their defense did a nice job against Buffalo’s rushing game Sunday. The Chargers are going to need to keep their inspired play up, and the team’s schedule doesn’t look so bad until the Oct. 23 game at Denver.
5. Arizona Cardinals (3-0)
The Cardinals are 2-0 behind backup QB Drew Stanton. Imagine how this team will fare when QB Carson Palmer returns? Rookie WR John Brown had two touchdowns, further cementing his future in this team’s offense, and WR Michael Floyd is getting better. He had 114 in the air during the game. The team gets a week off before having to travel to Denver in week five. Can the Cardinals pull off an upset then and prove to the rest of the league that they’re one of the best?
4. Philadelphia Eagles (3-0)
For the third time this season, the Eagles have come from behind to claim victory. Won’t that start to get old for Philadelphia? Well, if the end of the game always ends in a win, it may not matter. Rookie WR Jordan Matthews ended up being a big red zone target with two touchdowns. The Eagles’ rushing game wasn’t as potent this time around (RB LeSean McCoy missed time in the game with an injury), but Philadelphia still won a game they shouldn’t have. If this team starts winning games out of the gate, they could be even scarier.
3. Denver Broncos (2-1)
In their first loss of the season, the Broncos proved that they’re awfully lucky to have QB Peyton Manning. Manning practically willed a comeback into existence, leading a late-game drive at Seattle that proved why he will always be in the MVP conversation whenever he plays. The Denver defense struggled against Seattle’s offense, and up until the fourth quarter, the Seattle defense had a muzzle on Denver’s offense. The Seahawks might just be the Broncos’ Kryptonite, but the fourth quarter comeback proves that the Broncos are still one of the NFL’s most formidable teams.
2. Seattle Seahawks (2-1)
Admittedly, the Seahawks blew the game in the fourth quarter against Denver. It should have never gotten to where the Broncos had a chance to win with the way that Seattle played for the first three. QB Russell Wilson is quickly becoming one of the league’s best, with Seattle just as balanced on offense as they are on defense. The week two loss indicates that Seattle is beatable on the road, but week three’s wins indicates that no team should want to have to make the trip up to Washington. The team shouldn’t have a challenge until Oct. 26 with a trip to Carolina.
1. Cincinnati Bengals (3-0)
Is Seattle still the worst place to play on the road? With the ways that the Falcons (a quality team) and Titans (a struggling team) lost to the Bengals, Cincinnati should be getting more attention as a vicious road environment. The Bengals look unstoppable at home this season, and coupled with an impressive road win against the Ravens in week two, to be the team to beat in the NFL right now. If the team wins at Foxboro against the Patriots on Oct. 5 after a week four bye, the Bengals should feel even better about themselves. No one should want to play Cincinnati anywhere right now.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK – WR JOHN BROWN, ARIZONA CARDINALS; WR JORDAN MATTHEWS, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES; RB LORENZO TALIAFERRO, BALTIMORE RAVENS
Brown and Matthews both had two touchdowns a piece in games for teams that needed them. Both did a nice job of making themselves known as viable scoring targets for the rest of the season. Taliaferro, another rookie, stepped up in a major way with 91 yards rushing and a touchdown to help the Ravens defeat the Browns.
FIVE GAMES TO WATCH IN WEEK FOUR
GREEN BAY PACKERS @ CHICAGO BEARS (Sunday afternoon)
The Packers are in danger of falling to 1-3 on the season. Will the hosting Bears continue their hot streak, or will the Packers avoid an unflattering record?
CAROLINA PANTHERS @ BALTIMORE RAVENS (Sunday afternoon)
Besides these teams being two of the better ones in the league, this game is worth note because Ravens WR Steve Smith, the former Panther who was cut by the team after many years in blue, will quickly get a chance to prove to Carolina they were wrong to let him go.
DETROIT LIONS @ NEW YORK JETS (Sunday afternoon)
The Lions could go 3-1, and the Jets could drop another home game against the NFC North. This is a must-win for the Jets if they are to get some momentum to close the first quarter of the season.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES @ SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (Sunday late afternoon)
The Niners are another one of the teams who could fall to 1-3. Philadelphia is playing excellent football. Will San Francisco be able to get their first win in their new stadium?
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS @ DALLAS COWBOYS (Sunday night)
The Saints and Cowboys both need this win for different reasons. New Orleans needs it to not fall to 1-3 and become of the league’s lesser teams, and Dallas needs it to improve to 3-1 and prove that they can compete this year.
That’s all for this week, folks! Be sure to stop back by next week for another Film Session.