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What we learned, winners and losers from NFL Week 3

Jim Reineking   Paste BN

This is the Paste BN Sports' NFL newsletter, 4th and Monday. If you're not already receiving this football-themed newsletter, click here to subscribe.

NFL Week 3 is (almost) in the books, and here are some key takeaways from the games:

➤ Game of the day: Los Angeles Rams 27, San Francisco 49ers 24 — The Rams pulled off an improbable fourth-quarter rally, having trailed by 14 early in the third quarter and by 10 in the fourth quarter before a frantic finish at SoFi Stadium. Jake Moody's miss on a 55-yard field goal attempt set the stage for the Rams comeback. Joshua Karty made a 33-yard field goal to trim the 49ers' lead to seven. Then, Matthew Stafford connected with Tutu Atwell for a 50-yard gain that set up a touchdown run by Kyren Williams. After a Ronnie Bell dropped pass forced a 49ers punt, Xavier Smith – who was elevated from the Rams' practice squad for this game – went 38 yards on his first career return to put the Rams in position to win it.

➤ Quotable: "I would have booed us, too." — Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce, whose team got absolutely trounced by the previously putrid Carolina Panthers. Pierce was rightfully grumpy during his postgame press conference, saying after the game that some Raiders players "made business decisions … And we’ll make business decisions going forward, as well."

➤ "2-0 prove it game" winners: 

  • Minnesota Vikings: Is Sam Darnold the (very) early favorite for MVP? While the vagabond quarterback has the Vikings offense humming, defensive coordinator Brian Flores has a unit that bullied C.J. Stroud and the potent Houston Texans offense in one of two matchups this weekend between 2-0 teams. The Vikings defense registered five sacks on Sunday to become the first team in the last 23 seasons to have at least that many sacks in each of its first three games.
  • Pittsburgh Steelers: Speaking of intimidating defenses – which is seemingly an annual tradition in the Steel City – T.J. Watt and Co. held the Los Angeles Chargers offense to just 168 total yards. The Steelers also are just the fifth team since 2000 to win each of their first three games while allowing 10-or-fewer points in each win, joining the 2009 Broncos, 2005 Colts, 2004 Seahawks and 2001 Packers. Keeping things tidy on offense is quarterback Justin Fields, the presumed preseason backup to Russell Wilson who seems determined to hold onto the starting job.

➤ How about the ...!

  • Carolina Panthers: The Panthers looked like an actual pro football team with 14-year veteran Andy Dalton behind center. Dalton led a touchdown drive on the Panthers' first possession against the Raiders, and the "Red Rifle" finished with 319 yards and three touchdowns passing. The Panthers also had their highest point total since Week 16 of the 2022 season.
  • Denver Broncos: Rookie quarterback Bo Nix threw for 216 yards and rushed for 47 more as he helped the Broncos defeat the previously unbeaten Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road. In the statement win, the Broncos defense sacked Baker Mayfield seven times as Denver avoided an 0-3 start ahead of a Week 4 matchup against Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets.
  • Green Bay Packers: When starting quarterback Jordan Love went down with a knee injury, it seemed the Packers' season might be cooked before it barely even got going. Enter Malik Willis, who was jettisoned by the Titans in a late-August trade for a meager seventh-round pick, then returned to Tennessee and severely out-played Will Levis as the Packers improved to 2-0 with Willis under center. New defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley's unit punished Levis, who was sacked eight times. After getting two interceptions on Sunday to push their season total to seven, the Packers already have matched last season's interception total.
  • Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles were coming off a humbling "Monday Night Football" loss against the Atlanta Falcons, during which star running back Saquon Barkley dropped a key third-down pass, which helped the Falcons rally for the win. The team earned a massive, bounce-back win in New Orleans against a Saints team that had dropped consecutive 40-burgers to open the season. Barkley redeemed himself with a big game, rushing for 147 yards and two touchdowns.
  • Seattle Seahawks: Granted, the Seahawks improved to 3-0 while playing against the Miami Dolphins' backup quarterback, Skylar Thompson, and then the third-stringer, Tim Boyle. But Sunday's win, coupled with the crazy finish at SoFi Stadium, gave the Seahawks an early two-game lead in the NFC West.

➤ What's up with the ...?

  • Chicago Bears: A busy offseason reimagined the roster of an NFC North doormat, only for said doormat to find itself still at the bottom of the division. The offense is struggling to find its identity under No. 1 pick Caleb Williams.
  • Cleveland Browns: Deshaun Watson looks lost, and the talent-rich Browns are off to a disappointing start as a result.
  • Dallas Cowboys: After winning 16 straight regular-season home games, the Cowboys have now lost two in a row at "Jerry World."

➤ Don't forget: There are TWO "Monday Night Football" games: Hope you have a two-TV setup, because there will be NFL games going on simultaneously as the Buffalo Bills host the Jacksonville Jaguars (7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN) and the Cincinnati Bengals host the Washington Commanders (8:15 p.m. ET on ABC). Both the Bengals and Jaguars are looking to avoid 0-3 starts.

📸: PHOTOS: Best of NFL Week 3

NFL Week 3 key storylines

➤ Winners and losers: If there has been one theme thus far in the 2024 NFL season, it has been the palpable presence of unpredictable upsets.

➤ 32 things we learned: From Justin Fields' stint as the Steelers' starter no longer looking like a temporary matter to Andy Dalton giving the Panthers a chance, Week 3 in the NFL provided some stark truths at the game's most important position.

➤ Jerry Jones: Cowboys 'couldn't afford' to sign Derrick Henry: Dallas couldn't afford Derrick Henry, Jerry Jones said. That was after the owner of the most valuable franchise in sports watched Henry, wearing a Ravens uniform, light up his team.

➤ 'No pity parties' for injury-riddled 49ers: The 49ers have dug themselves into an early season hole. Can they dig themselves of out it? History says yes, but they have work to do.

➤ Eagles player trashes Derek Carr, former team after win: The Eagles' 15-12 win over the Saints was merely the beginning of the C.J. Gardner-Johnson show. The former Saints defensive back did not withhold much while meeting with the media after the game.

➤ Andy Dalton rejuvenates Panthers after Bryce Young benching: Dalton didn't take long to reward Dave Canales for the Carolina Panthers coach's bold move. Dalton provided a much-needed moment of relief for the franchise just six days after it benched Young, the 2023 No. 1 pick.

📸: PHOTOS: Fans, mascots, cheerleaders and celebrities at NFL games

NFL Week 3 results

➤ Complete 2024 NFL schedule

Coming up this week

➤ Monday: Week 3 features two "Monday Night Football" games! The Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills kick off from Highmark Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET (ESPN), then the Washington Commanders and Cincinnati Bengals kick off from Paycor Stadium at 8:15 p.m. ET (ABC).

➤ Tuesday: Paste BN Sports offers its power rankings for all 32 NFL teams after Week 3.

➤ Thursday: Week 4 kicks off with an NFC East matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on "Thursday Night Football" (8:20 p.m. ET, Prime Video). Before the game, make sure to check out our expert picks for every Week 4 game.

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