NFL Week 3 Reactions: Seven Seconds in Rio, Case Keenum and Absolute Chaos

Seven seconds in Rio. Case Keenum on Monday Night Football. The Raiders somehow 3-0. The Packers getting bullied. NFL Week 3 made absolutely no sense.

Week 3 had just about everything.

The Packers got embarrassed at home. The Raiders are somehow 3-0. Case Keenum came back from the dead on Monday Night Football.

And then there was Brazil.

Seven seconds. One Lamar Jackson missile. One Tyler Loop 56-yarder. Game. Blouses.

Here are our reactions from every game in NFL Week 3.

Falcons 35, Packers 14 — The Packers Got Bullied

The Packers fucking sucked. There really isn't a nicer way to put it.

Green Bay got completely manhandled up front. Atlanta ran for 242 yards while the Packers managed 17 rushing yards on nine attempts. Seventeen.

Bijan Robinson ran for 194 yards and two touchdowns. Drake London added 194 receiving yards. Green Bay had absolutely no answer for either of them.

I'm not putting all of this on Jordan Love. When your quarterback has to throw 53 times because the offensive line can't create a running lane and the entire rushing attack gives you 17 yards, you're already screwed.

Matt LaFleur needs to figure this out quickly. Green Bay clearly knows the offensive line is a problem after immediately adding help up front, but what we watched against Atlanta was embarrassing.

The Packers didn't just lose. They got bullied.

Bills 24, Chargers 16 — 0-3 Is Getting Ugly

For a while, it looked like the Chargers might finally get one.

They jumped Buffalo early and went into halftime tied 10-10. Buffalo turned the ball over five times. The opportunities were there.

It didn't matter.

James Cook eventually took over, finishing with 154 rushing yards and a touchdown, and Josh Allen did what Josh Allen does when Buffalo needed him.

The Chargers are now 0-3, and that's becoming a serious problem. Justin Herbert hasn't looked like himself, the offense hasn't been able to consistently finish drives, and they just wasted a game where Buffalo practically begged them to win.

Browns 21, Panthers 18 — Cleveland's Defense Is Legit

Deshaun Watson threw for only 144 yards. Quinshon Judkins finally got something going on the ground, and Harold Fannin Jr. had a big day with 51 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

But the biggest takeaway is Cleveland's defense.

Carolina moved the football, and Bryce Young approached 300 passing yards, but Cleveland kept them out of the end zone for most of the afternoon and came up with the interception that ended the game.

The Browns are somehow 2-1.

And I'm considerably more impressed by their defense than anything happening offensively.

Lions 31, Jets 24 — Gibbs vs. Bijan Is Becoming a Real Conversation

The Jets made this much more competitive than I expected.

Geno Smith threw for 321 yards and three touchdowns. Garrett Wilson went over 100 yards with a score, and Kenyon Sadiq broke out for 105 yards and a touchdown.

But Jahmyr Gibbs was ridiculous.

He finished with 164 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns, including the eventual game-winner.

At this point, I think the conversation for best running back in football is becoming pretty simple:

Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs.

Pick your guy.

The Jets also have to watch Breece Hall's injury going forward, which could create a much larger role for Braelon Allen.

Colts 19, Texans 17 — What Happened to C.J. Stroud?

This was a huge game for two 0-2 teams.

There's a massive difference between getting out of Week 3 at 1-2 and staring at an 0-3 hole.

Indianapolis escaped. Houston didn't.

Daniel Jones wasn't spectacular, but he did enough. Houston forced three turnovers and didn't commit one themselves — and still lost.

That's brutal.

The Texans simply don't have an offense right now. Missing Nico Collins obviously hurts an already depleted receiver room, but C.J. Stroud hasn't looked anything like the quarterback we saw early in his career.

Ever since he told Caleb Williams to stop taking all those hits, it feels like Stroud's career trajectory flipped.

Houston is 0-3.

Nico coming back will help.

Chiefs 24, Dolphins 10 — When It Rains, It Pours

Miami actually hung around for a while.

Then Kansas City did what Kansas City does.

Patrick Mahomes wasn't perfect, but it didn't matter. Kenneth Walker continues to look like a great addition to the Chiefs offense, scoring both on the ground and through the air.

But the biggest story isn't Kansas City.

It's Miami.

The Dolphins are 0-3, their offense is already depleted, and now De'Von Achane is done for the season with a torn ACL.

That's devastating for an offense already searching for playmakers.

When it rains, it fucking pours in Miami.

Giants 12, Titans 7 — Just Gross Football

This game was disgusting.

Rain. Basically no offense. Four Giants field goals. One touchdown between the two teams.

Jameis Winston looked awful. Cam Ward wasn't much better.

The Giants somehow escaped and moved to 2-1, but apparently watching that offense was enough for New York to go out and add J.J. McCarthy afterward.

Then you add Brian Burns tearing his ACL and suddenly even the win feels expensive.

New York survived.

Tennessee is 0-3.

Nobody should feel particularly good about what happened here.

Steelers 30, Bengals 27 — Vintage Aaron Rodgers Finally Showed Up

An AFC North game turning into a shootout wasn't exactly what I expected.

But this was easily the best Pittsburgh's offense has looked.

Aaron Rodgers looked like Aaron Rodgers again: 292 yards and three touchdowns.

Jaylen Warren was awesome too, finishing with 176 yards from scrimmage, while DK Metcalf, Roman Wilson and Ben Skowronek all found the end zone.

Cincinnati's offense played well too. Joe Burrow threw for 282 yards and three touchdowns, with both Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins scoring.

But the takeaway for me is Pittsburgh.

We've been waiting to see whether Rodgers could still unlock something in this offense.

For one week, at least, the answer was absolutely yes.

Commanders 33, Seahawks 31 — Nobody Expected This

This was one of the biggest surprises of Week 3.

Sam Darnold nearly threw for 400 yards and had four touchdowns. Seattle moved the football.

Washington still found a way.

Marcus Mariota deserves a ton of credit for keeping the offense steady without Jayden Daniels, but Washington's defense changed this game.

Sonny Styles made plays all over the field, and Kain Medrano's pick-six was massive.

I also loved what David Blough did in the fourth quarter. The Commanders didn't have some offensive masterpiece, but when they needed drives and first downs late, he pushed the right buttons.

Nobody expected Washington to pull this out.

Mariota kept them alive, the defense made the game-changing plays, and Blough helped finish it.

Jaguars 35, Patriots 6 — New England Was a Disaster

This was an ass-kicking.

New England's offense was abysmal. Drake Maye turned the ball over three times, the Patriots never scored a touchdown, and Tommy DeVito eventually came in when the game was completely gone.

Trevor Lawrence didn't need to do anything crazy. He threw three touchdowns, Bhayshul Tuten had a strong day on the ground, and Travis Hunter recorded his first NFL interception.

But maybe the funniest moment came late.

Lawrence broke toward the end zone and had a chance to score — then voluntarily took a knee at the 1-yard line.

Fantasy players and bettors everywhere lost their minds.

Tuten scored immediately afterward anyway.

Football is stupid sometimes.

49ers 36, Cardinals 30 — Purdy Is Cooking

Brock Purdy was on fire.

297 yards. Four touchdowns. Zero interceptions.

George Kittle looks completely healthy again, finishing with 82 yards and two touchdowns.

Then we got maybe the strangest stat line of Week 3.

Deebo Samuel: zero receptions, 80 receiving yards, one touchdown.

That's what happens when you take a lateral 80 yards to the house.

Arizona deserves some credit too. They fell behind 23-6 and could've folded, but instead fought all the way back.

Michael Wilson continues to look worth the contract, and Jeremiyah Love looks more and more like the clear No. 1 back in Arizona.

San Francisco is 3-0.

And when Purdy and Kittle are rolling like this, that offense is scary.

Vikings 23, Buccaneers 16 — Brian Flores Is Carrying Minnesota

Minnesota is 3-0.

It isn't because the offense is lighting anybody up.

Kyler Murray returned and looked rusty. Justin Jefferson got hurt. The Vikings finished with only 230 total yards.

And they won anyway.

Why?

Brian Flores.

Minnesota's defense sacked Baker Mayfield six times and held Tampa Bay to 2-for-16 on third down. The Buccaneers couldn't establish the run, couldn't sustain drives and eventually lost Baker to a thumb injury.

Special teams helped too, including an 86-yard punt-return touchdown.

Minnesota has plenty to figure out offensively.

But Flores' defense keeps giving them a chance to win every single week.

Ravens 34, Cowboys 31 — Seven Seconds in Rio

Game of the week.

Maybe game of the year so far.

Baltimore and Dallas went back and forth all afternoon in Rio.

Lamar Jackson was incredibly efficient. Derrick Henry scored twice. Dak Prescott played well. CeeDee Lamb went over 100. George Pickens had another strong game.

Dallas fought all the way back and tied it at 31.

Seven seconds remained.

Overtime, right?

Nope.

Lamar Jackson fired a missile to Zay Flowers for 27 yards. Timeout with one second remaining.

Out comes Tyler Loop.

Fifty-six yards. In Brazil. For the game.

Good.

Ravens win 34-31.

Seven seconds was all Baltimore needed.

Dallas looks better than its 1-2 record, but eventually you have to start winning these games.

Baltimore's offense looks dangerous as hell.

And Tyler Loop just gave us the moment of Week 3.

Raiders 35, Saints 27 — The Raiders Are Somehow 3-0

I don't think anybody had this.

Kirk Cousins and the Las Vegas Raiders are 3-0.

New Orleans actually led entering the fourth quarter, and Tyler Shough continues to give Saints fans something to be excited about after throwing four touchdowns.

Then everything fell apart.

Four Saints turnovers. Thirteen unanswered Raiders points in the fourth.

Ballgame.

Brock Bowers also returned and immediately reminded everyone what he can do: 10 catches, 116 yards and a touchdown.

New Orleans actually outgained Las Vegas.

Didn't matter.

You turn the ball over four times, you're probably going to lose.

And somehow, some way, the Raiders are 3-0.

Broncos 30, Rams 26 — Talanoa Hufanga Stole It

The Rams probably should've won this game.

They led 16-0 at halftime and finished with 482 total yards compared with Denver's 257.

Matthew Stafford threw for 390 yards. Davante Adams had 137. Konata Mumpfield looked good.

Then Talanoa Hufanga took over.

Stafford threw one directly into his hands in the fourth quarter, and Hufanga took it back for a pick-six.

Then the Rams got one final possession.

Stafford drove them all the way down the field.

One final shot at the end zone.

Hufanga again.

Second interception. Ballgame.

I'm still not sold on Bo Nix or this Denver offense. They continue to look stagnant for stretches.

But they found a way to erase a 16-point deficit.

And Hufanga completely stole this game from Los Angeles.

Bears 27, Eagles 7 — The Case Keenum Game

Case fucking Keenum.

Thirty-eight years old. Hadn't thrown a regular-season pass since 2023.

Monday Night Football against Philadelphia.

And he lights them up.

Keenum finished with 247 yards, two passing touchdowns, another touchdown on the ground and zero interceptions.

But this wasn't just a Case Keenum story.

This was a Ben Johnson masterclass.

Chicago controlled the football, ran it effectively with D'Andre Swift and consistently put Keenum in situations where he could succeed. Kalif Raymond continues to impress, while Luther Burden had a big night as well.

Then came the strangest sequence of the game.

Philadelphia had the ball at the Chicago 1. Jalen Hurts was pulled for a concussion evaluation.

Andy Dalton comes in cold.

One pass.

Interception.

Hurts eventually returned, but Philadelphia never scored again.

The Eagles offense looked completely broken, while Ben Johnson took his 38-year-old third-string quarterback and completely controlled the game.

Chicago is suddenly 2-1.

And Case Keenum just gave us one of the best stories of Week 3.

Final Thoughts

Three weeks in, the NFL makes absolutely no sense.

The Raiders are undefeated. The Chargers and Dolphins aren't. Case Keenum just beat the Eagles by 20. The Vikings keep winning with defense. The Packers just ran for 17 yards in an NFL football game.

And Baltimore needed seven seconds to win in Brazil.

That's why we watch.