Welcome to Week 3 of the NFL season, where we are almost certainly going to see a team we expected to make a playoff run fall to 0–3 (the Titans or the Raiders), and the Giants, one of the NFL’s worst teams a year ago, look to climb to 3–0 against a Dak Prescott–less Cowboys team. We’re looking to crown the best team of the early season thus far in a game between the Bills … and the Dolphins. As if we needed another reminder the NFL is a strange place.
So get ready for another crucial week on the NFL schedule.
And to get it kicked off, Albert Breer and Conor Orr will take you through the Sunday and Monday games, noting the best matchups and what they’ll be watching.
We also encourage you to join us Sunday for our live blog, where we can trade notes and discuss what should be a fascinating week.
GAMES OF THE WEEK
Eagles at Commanders, 1 p.m. ET Sunday: It’s hard to imagine the Carson Wentz Bowl as advertised. The most noteworthy aspect of this game may be how many Eagles fans heartlessly rip down Interstate 95 to boo a quarterback who really never did anything wrong to the city of Philadelphia. Sigh. I’ll be watching to see how Ron Rivera defends Jalen Hurts. Last week the Vikings tried to take away the Eagles’ running game, and Hurts had a breakout passing performance in prime time. This week the Commanders will be wary of a stellar all-around skill set. —
Bills at Dolphins, 1 p.m. ET Sunday: Any questions left on the Bills? These two teams go into Sunday’s showdown at Hard Rock Stadium with the same record (2-0) but very different things to prove. For Buffalo, really, what’s left now is showing it can handle being the hunted (seemed to go O.K. for them on Monday night). For the Dolphins, scoring an early win over the Bills would validate their fast start, and what coach Mike McDaniel and the players have built in their first year together. (If the Dolphins win this one, I’d expect it to be on the margins, with good situational play.) —
Ravens at Patriots, 1 p.m. ET Sunday: This has the makings of a disaster for whichever team ends up losing. Ultimately, it’s hard to imagine the Patriots possessing the offensive firepower to score alongside Lamar Jackson, though Bill Belichick has drawn up a few successful defensive game plans in big spots before (you know, the sitting-in-the–Hall of Fame kind). Still, this new offense has had its growing pains. Mac Jones is missing throws and open wide receivers. These are mistakes one cannot make against Baltimore. —
Packers at Buccaneers, 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday: The Packers’ offense struggled in Week 1 with both its tackles injured. Elgton Jenkins returned in Week 2, and the team rushed for 203 yards, Aaron Rodgers posted a 131.1 passer rating and the Packers won going away. So what happens if David Bakhtiari’s back this week? And what happens when the rookie receivers get their feet underneath them? I haven’t lost any faith in my pick for NFC champion, and this week will be a good test for that. A salty Buccaneers defense has allowed one touchdown, and that came in garbage time. —
Rams at Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday: It looked like we were getting the big Rams bounceback last week—and then the Falcons came all the way back from, yes, a 28–3 deficit, and had a first-and-10 at the L.A. 21, down six with 2:38 left. Jalen Ramsey came away with a game-clinching pick two plays later, but the Rams clearly have work to do going into Week 3. And their first road trip of the season will be to visit a team that has revenge on its mind, with the memory of last year’s wild-card round rout still relatively fresh for the Cardinals. —
Cowboys at Giants, 8:30 p.m. ET Monday: This is one of the most important games in recent Giants history. I don’t think this team expected to be in a position to be 3–0 (remember, they have the lowly Bears coming up after this, too) but they are facing a former division rival on at home for the chance to make a massive statement under new coach Brian Daboll. As I mentioned on the podcast, though, it is not Daboll vs. Mike McCarthy. It’s not Daniel Jones vs. Cooper Rush. It’s the Giants’ protection scheme against Micah Parsons, which is where the game will be decided. —
