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Week 3 in the NFL was pretty wild. The Bills nearly fell to the Rams after taking a big lead, but quarterback Josh Allen led an eventful final drive to move Buffalo to 3-0 on the year. The Falcons did fall to the Bears, losing their second double-digit lead in as many weeks. The Titans snuck past the Vikings, the injury-loaded 49ers had no problem with the Giants and the Steelers kept the Texans winless. Oh, and the Eagles and Bengals tied?
All that and more in Week 3‘s biggest takeaways from NFL Nation.
Jump to a matchup:
LAR-BUF | LV-NE | TEN-MIN
HOU-PIT | SF-NYG | CHI-ATL
WSH-CLE | CIN-PHI | MIA-JAX
Standout performer for LAR-BUF: Josh Allen, 311 passing yards, 4 TDs, 1 rushing TD
Josh Allen is the real deal. Facing a late-game deficit for the second consecutive week, Allen led an 11-play, 75-yard scoring drive to secure the Bills’ third win of the year. He took long sacks, he ran for his life and he committed inexcusable penalties, but ultimately, he did what it took to win the game. His third straight 300-yard game gives him more than 1,000 passing yards on the season; his hot start is not a fluke. — Marcel Louis-Jacques
Next game: at Raiders (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)
The Rams can take solace departing Buffalo just short of a historic come-from-behind win against the undefeated Bills. Facing a 25-point deficit early in the third quarter, the Rams forced two turnovers and scored touchdowns on four consecutive possessions to take a 32-28 lead before they eventually fell to the Bills. Halftime adjustments on defense proved critical after the Rams failed to disrupt Allen in the first half. And offensively, quarterback Jared Goff found a rhythm with Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods in the second half. — Lindsey Thiry
Next game: vs. Giants (4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Standout performer for LV-NE: Sony Michel, 117 rushing yards
A running game revival led the Patriots past the Raiders on Sunday. Sony Michel ran with a renewed energy in making a decisive statement to keep his job as the team’s No. 1 back as Damien Harris becomes eligible to return from injured reserve this week. And eight-year veteran Rex Burkhead registered his first career three-touchdown game. In all, the Patriots eclipsed 200 yards rushing in a game for the second time this season, marking the first time they’ve had 200 rushing yards within the first three games of a season since 1983. — Mike Reiss
Next game: at Chiefs (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)
The Raiders stumbled all over themselves after absolutely dominating early when they could have taken a three-score lead. But self-inflicted wounds in the guise of penalties, turnovers by Derek Carr (twice, including a late strip-sack for a TD in the end zone) and Josh Jacobs, a missed field goal and the inability to take advantage of momentum early in each half spelled the Raiders’ doom as they fell to 1-2 on the season. — Paul Gutierrez
Next game: vs. Bills (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Standout performer for TEN-MIN: Stephen Gostkowski, 6 for 6 FGs, including 51-, 54- and 55-yarders
The Titans’ defense continues to be a question mark after giving up 464 yards of total offense to the previously struggling Vikings attack. That’s two consecutive weeks in which teams have gained more than 450 yards against Tennessee. Dalvin Cook rushed for a career-high 181 yards, and rookie receiver Justin Jefferson had a career day in posting 175 receiving yards. But the Titans are now 3-0 for the first time since 2008, and they’ll have a tough matchup next week when the 3-0 Steelers come to town. — Turron Davenport
Next game: vs. Steelers (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
What is it going to take for the Vikings to avoid another monumental collapse, when they hit the road for Houston and Seattle in Weeks 4 and 5? Minnesota is the first team in NFL history to have one player record 175 rushing yards and another player record 175 receiving yards in the same game, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, and the Vikings still lost. When the offense had a chance to pull through for the team’s first victory, it faltered in chaotic fashion on a disastrous final drive. The Vikings aren’t getting any help from the defense this season, either. It’s going to be up to the offense, which put up 464 yards and 30 points in a loss, to get in shootouts to win games from this point forward. — Courtney Cronin
Next game: at Texans (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Standout performer for HOU-PIT: James Conner, 109 rushing yards, 40 receiving yards, 1 TD
The Steelers moved to 3-0 for the first time in a decade with complementary football in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game, thanks to a combination of well-timed defensive stops and the best run game performance of the season. After a slow start, the Steelers sacked Deshaun Watson five times, including a crucial one by T.J. Watt late in the fourth quarter. In the run game, the Steelers rushed for 169 yards on 38 carries, controlling the clock for almost 37 minutes. — Brooke Pryor
Next game: at Titans (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
The Texans were more competitive in their Week 3 loss to the Steelers than they had been through two games, but their early-season weaknesses were on display, including an inability by the defense to get off the field in the second half. Next up for Houston’s poor rushing defense? The Vikings and Dalvin Cook, who ran for 181 yards on Sunday. — Sarah Barshop
Next game: vs. Vikings (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Standout performer for SF-NYG: Nick Mullens, 343 passing yards, 1 TD
The injury-ravaged Niners entered Sunday’s game against the Giants with 10 projected starters out because of injury. And they were returning to the artificial surface of MetLife Stadium, where many of those injuries occurred a week ago against the Jets. No matter — the 49ers dominated the Giants. Yes, it was just another win against another lowly New York team, but that shouldn’t mean the Niners get any less credit for what they did on their two-game New York swing. With winnable home games against the Eagles and Dolphins up in the next two weeks, the Niners have every reason to believe they can be 4-1 when the Rams come calling on Oct. 18. — Nick Wagoner
Next game: vs. Eagles (8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Another disappointment. There really is no other way to say it for Daniel Jones and the Giants. They are 0-3 in Joe Judge’s first season as coach, and Jones has six turnovers in 12 quarters, with two more coming in Sunday’s loss to the decimated 49ers. “Those are costly mistakes,” Jones said. “Certainly need to correct.” If Jones can’t fix his turnover issues, the Giants have to seriously question whether he is their quarterback of the future. With the fumble in the first quarter, Jones now has 20 fumbles in his first 16 career games. The only player with more through their first 16 career games in the Super Bowl era is Tony Banks (24), per ESPN Stats and Information. — Jordan Raanan
Next game: at Rams (4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Standout performer for CHI-ATL: Nick Foles, 188 passing yards, 3 TDs
Head coach Matt Nagy stopped short of naming veteran quarterback Nick Foles the starter for next week’s game at Indianapolis, but Foles earned the job with three second-half touchdown passes in Chicago’s comeback victory over Atlanta. Foles has been up-and-down in his career, but he sees the field better than Mitchell Trubisky, who, once again, had trouble connecting on deep passes Sunday. Foles provides Chicago with a more consistent option at quarterback, and the Bears just need to play more consistent football, period. Chicago is lucky to be 3-0, and Nagy needs to ride Foles’ hot hand until further notice. — Jeff Dickerson
Next game: vs. Colts (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
There has to be some sort of major change made after the Falcons were outscored 20-0 in the fourth quarter to blow a 26-10 lead and fall to the Bears. Coach Dan Quinn appears to be on the verge of being fired, although he avoided talking about his job status. The Falcons threw the ball five times and ran it once during consecutive, fourth-quarter possessions after holding a 26-16 lead. Coupled with a Week 2 loss at Dallas in which the Falcons blew a 39-24 fourth-quarter lead, the Falcons now are the first team to lose twice in one season while holding 15-plus point leads, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. If Quinn isn’t let go, offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter certainly might be in trouble for his late playcalling. — Vaughn McClure
Next game: at Packers (8:20 p.m. ET, Monday, Oct. 5)
Standout performer for WSH-CLE: Nick Chubb, 108 rushing yards, 2 TDs
The Browns have a record above .500 for the first time in six years. They weren’t especially crisp and trailed Washington 20-17 in the fourth quarter. But Cleveland finally got the running game going, and the defense stepped up with a pair of key turnovers. Before Sunday, Cleveland had gone 90 consecutive weeks without a winning record, easily the longest active streak in the NFL. The Browns were last above .500 going into Week 15 of the 2014 season, when they were 7-6 — then lost their final three games of the year. — Jake Trotter
Next game: at Cowboys (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Ron Rivera is sticking with Dwayne Haskins Jr., which shouldn’t be surprising because he sold Dan Snyder on his plan to develop him. Pulling him after three games would be hasty. Haskins, though, needs to start showing more consistency and threaten teams down the field, as his inaccuracy remains an issue, though he did start strong and was more in rhythm before his three interceptions occurred. His development will dictate Washington’s future — not just this year but the next several and then some. Once Washington pulls the plug, that will signal the obvious: It will be in the market for another quarterback in the offseason. Haskins’ mindset after the game was good; he said the only thing that now matters is preparing for Week 4. He’s right. He warrants patience, but at some point this season, he’ll have to reward Rivera for his belief in him. — John Keim
Next game: vs. Ravens (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Standout performer for CIN-PHI: Tyler Boyd, 125 receiving yards
Bengals rookie Joe Burrow showed he is the franchise quarterback the team hoped for when it drafted him with the first overall pick. Even in a tie with the Eagles on Sunday, Burrow looked his sharpest yet in a young rookie season. The LSU product was 31-of-44 passing for 312 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Burrow weathered some big hits to deliver in the second half, completing 19 of his 26 attempts for 218 yards. “He gives us a chance to win,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said after the game. — Ben Baby
Next game: vs. Jaguars (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
It’s officially time to be concerned about the Eagles and quarterback Carson Wentz. The QB made some plays late in regulation to force OT but had his third shaky outing in as many starts, going 29-of-47 for 225 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, as the Eagles moved to 0-2-1. Wentz now has six picks on the year — just one less than he had all of last season. It’s premature to think a changing of the guard is at hand, but there will be plenty of chatter about inserting second-round pick Jalen Hurts into the lineup this week, as a dismayed fan base searches for ways to save a season heading off a cliff. — Tim McManus
Next game: at 49ers (8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday)
Standout performer for MIA-JAX: Ryan Fitzpatrick, 160 passing yards, 2 passing TDs, 1 rushing TD
The Dolphins pulled back from the precipice. Had they added a third loss to their 0-2 start, the drumbeat for the debut of rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa would have gained strength. But after soundly defeating the Jaguars on Thursday night, the Dolphins are back in the AFC East race. And they’ll push forward with a rejuvenated starter in Ryan Fitzpatrick, who opened Thursday night’s game with a career high of 12 consecutive completions. — Kevin Seifert
Next game: vs. Seahawks (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)
The Jaguars keep getting off to slow starts. They gave up an opening-drive TD in Week 1, back-to-back TD drives in Week 2 and back-to-back TD drives again Thursday night against Miami. This time, the Jaguars couldn’t overcome it because the offense struggled to get anything going without DJ Chark Jr. (back/chest) to stretch the field and give the other receivers space to work underneath. The defense continues to have issues pressuring the QB on third down, and opposing QBs are putting up career numbers. — Mike DiRocco
Next game: at Bengals (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)