Man, what a roller-coaster Week 3 was in the NFL. Between last-second heroes, special teams chaos, and a few teams looking nothing like their hype, there was so much to digest. If you love drama, this is your jam.
đ What Went Down: Big Wins & Momentous Upsets
- Cleveland Browns stunned the Green Bay Packers 13-10 â and they did it with defense, hustle, and a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown as time expired. The Packers let a 10-0 lead slip away in the final four minutes.
- Chicago Bears beat the Dallas Cowboys 31-14 in what might be Dallasâs worst outing to date. Chicagoâs defense forced turnovers (including a fumble by Javonte Williams), the offense clicked, and Dallas looked disjointed.
- Seattle Seahawks laid waste to the Saints 44-13 at home. From the jump, Seattle was in full control â rookie Tory Horton returned a punt 95 yards for a TD (their longest in team history), and Kenneth Walker III added two rushing scores. Special teams, run game, defense â everything worked.
- Kansas City Chiefs ended their skid with a 22-9 win over the Giants. The offense wasnât flashy, but they made the important plays. Patrick Mahomes managed the game well; the defense forced key mistakes from New York.
â ď¸ Letdowns, Quirky Finishes & What Didnât Work
- Special teams were a theme: multiple blocked kicks returned for touchdowns; broken coverage; missed chances.
- Some powerhouse teams underwhelmed. The Packers folding late; the Cowboys looking lost on both sides; defenses getting exposed. Itâs only Week 3, but these cracks are showing early.
đ What We Learned
- You canât sleep on special teams. A blocked field goal, a punt return touchdown â those swing games. A few of them this week decided games.
- Consistency is rare early in the season. Even good teams are messy. Spotty QB play, defensive breakdowns, lack of execution â itâs showing.
- Momentum can shift fast. Lead at half? Doesnât mean a thing if you let off the gas. Teams like the Browns showed that trailing late doesnât always spell doom if you fight till the end.
đ Coming Up: Monday Night Football Preview
Tonightâs equipped to be one of the more interesting Monday slate games so far:
Matchup: Baltimore Ravens vs. Detroit Lions
- Why it matters: The Ravens are favored by about 5.5 points at home. With Lamar Jackson running things under the lights, especially at home, there’s a lot of confidence around them.
- Storylines:
- Can the Lionsâ offense keep up and avoid getting dominated? Theyâve had mixed results so far.
- Ravensâ primetime track record is strong â Jackson tends to elevate in these big moments.
- Turnovers and special teams will likely be decisive. Given how chaotic Week 3 was, one or two big plays could tilt this game.
Prediction angle: If Baltimore gets ahead early, they could control the clock and rhythm. But if Detroit stays close, they have enough firepower to make it interesting, especially if they force mistakes.
đ Key Takeaways Before Tonight
- Teams that can clean up special teams and avoid turnovers are going to win tight games.
- Momentum from a big Week 3 win could carry into tonight. Likewise, a team frustrated by a bad loss might show up with extra motivation.
- Watch how coaches adjust. Teams that make halftime or mid-game corrections could make significant swings.