A handful of shocking endings helped analysts better understand the current power rankings in each Conference in the NFL. Which franchises had the best showing in NFL Week 3?
An exciting week of football parked fans in front of their television on Sunday. Games throughout the day entertained fans until the last kickoff. Explosive plays and stifling defense helped winless teams become victors, raising the competition level in both conferences. While fans prepare to watch the Giants and Cowboys on Monday Night Football, which franchises stood out from Sunday’s performances?
Shocking NFL Sunday Ending #3: Indianapolis Colts take down the Chiefs 20-17
Keeping Patrick Mahomes out of the end zone is tough for any defense. Gus Bradley and his squad were willing to answer the call on Sunday. Their performance against No.15 was impressive, and it led their team to their first win of the season. Indianapolis’ defense pressured Mahomes consistently, resulting in five hits, a sack, and an interception. Disruption in the backfield caused problems for Eric Bieniemy and his receiving core. JuJu Smith-Schuster and Travis Kelce led the Chiefs in receiving categories. A three-yard touchdown pass to Kelce was Mahomes’ only score for the afternoon.
An impressive veteran performance from Matt Ryan helped the Colts take down the undefeated Chiefs. No. 2 protected the football – finishing without a turnover for the first game this season. Ryan’s 262 passing yards forced Steve Spagnuolo to bring defensive backs to the field. When the opportunity came, Jonathan Taylor made the most of the lack of beef on the field. His 71 yards rushing kept the offense balanced, making it hard for the Chiefs to guess the next call.
A 16-play touchdown drive ended in an Indianapolis touchdown with twenty-four seconds left remaining in the game. A 12-yard reception by Jelani Woods gave the Colts a three-point advantage. Indianapolis relied on their defense to put a lid on the game. An interception by Rodney McLeod put the finishing touches on a great performance.
Shocking Sunday Ending #2: Miami Dolphins beat Buffalo Bills 21-19
Divisional rivalries bring the best out of franchises. This particular game between the Dolphins and Bills went down to the wire. Explosive starts from both offenses kept fans in their seats until the late stages of the second half. When the Dolphins needed a big play, their defense stepped up to the challenge. Their relentless pursuit of the quarterback resulted in four sacks.
Josh Allen was determined to continue his streak of explosive quarterback play. He completed the game without throwing an interception for the second straight game. Poor decision-making made it difficult for Buffalo to keep up with the Dolphins. A missed two-point conversion was only one of the many Bills blunders from Sunday.
Resilience helped Miami turn mistakes into points. An efficient performance from their quarterback assisted in putting the game away. Tua Tagovailoa finished the game with only five incompletions – demonstrating his accuracy in clutch moments of the game. His 186 yards of passing were due to having one of the fastest receivers on the outside. Tagovailoa’s connection with Jaylen Waddle accounted for more than half of the Dolphins’ passing yards – helping Miami win 21-19.
Shocking Sunday Ending #1: Jaguars stun Chargers at home 38-10
Consecutive wins have helped Doug Pederson keep spirits alive in Jacksonville. An astonishing 24-0 divisional win against the Colts created a new energy in the locker room. Momentum from the win helped the Jags prepare for an impressive young gunslinger. A four-quarter duel with Justin Herbert sounded like another opportunity for the team to make a statement.
An offensive explosion in the second quarter fed energy into SoFi Stadium. Herbert and the Chargers struggled to find the endzone against an aggressive Jaguar defense. Josh Allen and Foyesade Oluokun kept the pressure on Herbert the entire game – resulting in six quarterback hits and one sack. Devin Lloyd also contributed to a stout defense performance – recording the only interception.
While Los Angeles’ offense struggled, Trevor Lawrence thrived. His 262 yards of passing were complimented by 3 touchdowns. James Robinson and Travis Etienne Jr. kept the offense balanced. When the final whistle blew, Jacksonville’s dynamic duo accounted for 155 yards of the total offense. Resilient performances have led the Jaguars to the top of the AFC South.
Performances from NFL Week 3 helped teams walk away triumphantly. Missed opportunities will haunt teams beginning their week on the opposite side of a loss. As the season progresses, teams will improve – making this regular season one of the best yet.