Vikings cement Super Bowl credentials, Ravens plunge Cowboys into crisis mode, Panthers get 1st win: NFL Week 3 Sunday review
Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold helped Minnesota beat the Houston Texans in Week 3. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images CNN —
The theme for Week 3 was teams getting their first win of the season.
Six franchises entered Sunday’s slate of games with two defeats to begin the new season, but that all changed this week as only the Tennessee Titans remain winless after three games played – though the Cincinnati Bengals and Jacksonville Jaguars could join them after Monday night.
There were also impressive performances and victories from some Super Bowl contenders as they cemented their credentials as title challengers.
Here are the main storylines from Sunday’s action.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold throws the ball to tight end Johnny Mundt in Minneapolis on Sunday, September 22. The Vikings beat the Houston Texans 34-7. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III runs with the ball for a touchdown during the Steelers’ 20-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in Pittsburgh on September 22. Brandon Sloter/Getty Images
Kadeem Telfort of the Green Bay Packers takes a selfie with a fan after the Packers beat the Tennessee Titans 30-14 on the road in Nashville on September 22. John Amis/AP
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones lands in the end zone for a touchdown in Minneapolis on September 22. Stacy Bengs/AP
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescotts sits on the field after a play during the team’s 28-25 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Arlington, Texas, on September 22. Cooper Neill/Getty Images
New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard runs past New England Patriots cornerback Alex Austin for a touchdown in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Thursday, September 19. The Jets won 24-3. Brad Penner/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney scores a touchdown during the team’s 22-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Philadelphia on Monday, September 16. Matt Slocum/AP
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes runs the ball against Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Dax Hill during the Chiefs’ 26-25 victory in Kansas City, Missouri, on Sunday, September 15. The defending Super Bowl champs moved to 2-0 on the season. Jay Biggerstaff/USA Today Sports/Reuters
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. catches a pass over Minnesota Vikings safety Camryn Bynum and linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. during a game in Minneapolis on September 15. The Vikings would go on to win the game 24-17. Abbie Parr/AP
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara runs the ball during the Saints’ 44-19 win over the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, on September 15. Kamara had four touchdowns in the game. Tim Heitman/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Miami Dolphins players attend to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa after he took a hit to the head in the second half of a game against the Buffalo Bills in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Thursday, September 12. Tagovailoa was later ruled out with a concussion. Jasen Vinlove/USA Today Sports/Reuters
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and teammates wait in a tunnel before a game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, California, on Monday, September 9. This is the first game back for Rodgers since tearing his Achilles tendon last year after his first game of the season. Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP
Los Angeles Chargers players and Las Vegas Raiders players clash after a play during the second half of their game in Inglewood, California, on Sunday, September 8. Caroline Brehman/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott celebrates after a touchdown during the Cowboys’ 33-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland on September 8. Hours before the game, Prescott agreed to a record four-year, $240 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid player in the NFL. Ken Blaze/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. breaks a tackle from Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker K.J. Britt in Tampa, Florida, on September 8. The Buccaneers beat the Commanders 37-20. Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Miami Dolphins wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle celebrate a touchdown during a 20-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Miami Gardens, Florida, on September 8. Hill was detained for a short time by police after a traffic incident earlier in the day. Miami-Dade Police Department Director Stephanie V. Daniels said Sunday that an investigation has begun into the incident and one of the officers involved is being placed on administrative duties. Al Diaz/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service/Getty Images
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields signals during the second half of a game against the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta on September 8. The Steelers defeated the Falcons 18-10. Danny Karnik/AP
Tennessee Titans tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo, right, and Chicago Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson tumble in the end zone in Chicago on September 8. Okonkwo made the catch for a touchdown, but the Titans ultimately fell 24-17 to the Bears. David Banks/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Rhamondre Stevenson of the New England Patriots runs the ball against Cincinnati Bengals defenders in Cincinnati on September 8. The Patriots beat the Bengals 16-10. Jason Mowry/Getty Images
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, center, celebrates his interception return for a touchdown during the Vikings’ 28-6 victory over the New York Giants in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on September 8. Vincent Carchietta/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars players pray together at the end of the game in Miami Gardens, Florida, on September 8. Rebecca Blackwell/AP
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir, top, dives for the end zone for a touchdown as Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Justin Jones is unable to make the tackle in Orchard Park, New York, on September 8. The Bills won 34-28. Matt Slocum/AP
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love walks off the field after taking a hit in the final seconds of a game against the Philadelphia Eagles in São Paulo early Saturday, September 7. The Eagles won 34-29. Brooke Sutton/Getty Images
Brazilian and American flags are presented on the field at Neo Química Arena – also known as Corinthians Arena – in São Paulo ahead of the game between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles on Friday, September 6. It was the first NFL game in South America. Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Grammy Award-winning singer Taylor Swift cheers on boyfriend Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs during the game against the Baltimore Ravens in Kansas City, Missouri, on Thursday, September 5. Reed Hoffmann/AP
Baltimore Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely catches a pass with his toe out of bounds as time expires at the end of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 5. The Chiefs won 27-20. Ed Zurga/AP
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes scrambles during the game against the Baltimore Ravens in Kansas City, Missouri, on September 5. Jay Biggerstaff/USA Today Sports/Reuters
Fans enter Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, ahead of the game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens on September 5. Charlie Riedel/AP The best photos from the 2024 NFL season Prev Next The Minnesota Vikings are actually for real?
Two wins to open the NFL season could be seen as a fluke. But the Minnesota Vikings put to bed any fears they were a flash in a pan with a dominant 34-7 victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday.
Any doubts that Minnesota had caught lightning in a bottle in the opening weeks of the season were allayed as Sam Darnold – the backup in preseason before first-round rookie JJ McCarthy was ruled out for the season – superbly ran the offense once again.
Darnold threw 17-of-28 for 181 yards and four touchdowns against a stacked Texans defense, one apiece to Justin Jefferson, Aaron Jones, Jalen Nailor and Johnny Mundt.
The 27-year-old is enjoying a new lease of life with the Vikings under head coach Kevin O’Connell. Sunday’s multiple-touchdown outing was the first time in Darnold’s career he has done so in three straight games.
In his 66 games with the New York Jets, Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers, Darnold had one other game with four touchdown throws but now has achieved the feat in just his third outing with Minnesota.
Darnold threw four touchdowns in the victory over the Texans. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
According to the NFL, Darnold became the fourth quarterback in Vikings history to start a season 3-0, joining Hall of Famers Fran Tarkenton and Brett Favre, as well as Daunte Culpepper.
Afterwards, O’Connell called Darnold’s performance against the Texans “really, really good.”
“Smart, really decisive, took care of the football, accurate,” he said.
On the other side, the previously explosive Texans offense was nullified by Minnesota’s defense, led by coordinator Brian Flores.
Flores’ playcalling seemed to confuse second-year passer CJ Stroud, as Houston began the game with an interception. He would throw a further one in a disappointing afternoon for last season’s Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Vikings linebacker Jonathan Greenard was routinely the game-wrecker against his former team, finishing the game with three sacks.
“It’s in your best interest to not (mess around with me),” Greenard said afterwards. “I’m glad I’m here in Minnesota because they obviously respect me. Anybody else wants to do that, they can try.”
Such was the emphatic nature of the defeat that Stroud was benched midway through the fourth quarter to prevent any costly injuries as the Texans suffered their first defeat of the season.
Stroud was sacked by Greenard three times in Sunday’s Week 3 clash. Abbie Parr/AP Ravens off the mark, plunge Cowboys into crisis mode
Both the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys entered Sunday’s Week 3 clash in Arlington, Texas, needing a victory after underwhelming in Week 2.
Sunday’s clash was a tight encounter, but the Ravens were able to get off the mark this season and plunge “America’s Team” into crisis mode with their 28-25 victory.
Baltimore raced out to a big lead, largely in part to a breakout game for offseason signing Derrick Henry.
The running back had two rushing touchdowns and quarterback Lamar Jackson added a passing and running score as the Ravens held a 28-6 lead in the fourth quarter.
Henry finished with 151 yards off 25 carries on the ground and Jackson racked up 87 rushing yards of his own as the duo dissected Dallas with their legs.
Per the NFL, Sunday’s game was Henry’s 12th career game with 150-plus rushing yards and two or more rushing touchdowns, tied for second-most in NFL history with LaDainian Tomlinson and one behind Jim Brown.
Henry had a breakout game after signing for the Baltimore Ravens in the offseason in the victory against the Dallas Cowboys. Ron Jenkins/Getty Images
Although the offense struggled late and the defense allowed three straight touchdown drives, Baltimore was able to hold on and finally get its first win of the season.
After starting 0-2 for the campaign, Jackson spoke after the victory about the importance of realizing their preseason goals.
“To be honest, every game is a big game for us because we’re trying to get somewhere,” Jackson said. “We’ve got to win these games to get to the playoffs, man, and win these playoff games to get to the Super Bowl. But it starts with the game that’s in front of us.”
For Dallas, it is a third straight home loss as alarm bells are ringing in Mike McCarthy’s team.
Having been blown out by the New Orleans Saints in Week 2, Dallas expected to bounce back against the Ravens and right the ship.
But the team now falls to 1-2 as pressure continues to mount on McCarthy’s shoulders. With only a four-day break before they play again on Thursday Night Football against the New York Giants, the Cowboys head coach says he prefers to focus on the team’s late comeback against Baltimore.
“It’s something that doesn’t show up in the playbook, in the scheme. The heart and soul of your football team and the ability to grow emotionally and having that experience,” McCarthy told reporters. “It’s a great fourth quarter for our first-year players.
“It’s the connection that we don’t have right now to the level that we’re capable of. So this is the emotional realm that we need to be much better in. They have work ethic, it’s a really good locker room. There’s talent. The mental part of it, we better have taken a step from last week. Last week was totally not good enough. The emotional part is where the real gold is. This end of the game can serve as well.”
McCarthy’s Dallas team now has a 1-2 record after three weeks of the 2024 season. Jeffrey McWhorter/AP Panthers get first win after benching Bryce Young
The Panthers had been the most disappointing team in the NFL through two weeks, after two convincing defeats to the Saints and the Los Angeles Chargers.
First-year head coach Dave Canales made the big decision ahead of Week 3 to bench 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young and replace him with veteran Andy Dalton.
And the decision paid immediate dividends as the Panthers looked much improved in their 36-22 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Dalton threw 26-of-37 for 319 yards and three touchdowns as Carolina looked like a wholly different team with the 36-year-old at the helm. They scored more points (21) in the first half of Sunday’s game than they had in the previous two weeks combined (13).
His connection with wide receiver Diontae Johnson was key, with the former Pittsburgh Steeler having a career day with 122 receiving yards on eight catches and a touchdown. The pair’s success through the air opened up the running game, with Chuba Hubbard adding 117 yards on the ground off 21 carries.
After the victory, Dalton said it had been a “heavy week” within the organization following the benching of Young but spoke about how special the performance against the Raiders was for him.
“I mean, it felt great. Obviously, for me to get an opportunity to be out there and for it to go the way it did, couldn’t have drawn it up any better,” Dalton told reporters. “I thought our guys came out with the right attitude, the right mentality from the start, and we never slowed down.
Dalton threw for three touchdowns against the Las Vegas Raiders. John Locher/AP
“That was the fun part of it. We didn’t just put one drive together. We were able to do it the whole game. Played complementary football, and guys were having a ton of fun, and that’s how it should be.”
It was a disappointing outing for the Raiders coming off a surprising win over the Ravens in Week 2.
Las Vegas scored just seven points in the opening three quarters of Sunday’s game and the team was booed off the Allegiant Stadium field after the defeat.
Following the home loss, Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce expressed his anger at his team’s performance, saying that some of his players made “business decisions” during Sunday’s game.
“We got our a** whooped,” Pierce told reporters. “We got to put pads on, I don’t know, got to get on the sled. Same group that’s, for the most part, all come back and same technique, same coaches, it’s not a different scheme, so obviously we have to coach better and be some hard a**es on the guys, and guys have to take some rough coaching because just didn’t see that on either side of the ball.
“We had an opportunity to run the ball and we didn’t. Didn’t do that at all. We tried and tried and tried, and I would have booed us, too. Offensively, defensively, we didn’t do a good enough job up front, not good enough.”
Pierce was clearly unhappy after the defeat to the Panthers. John Locher/AP Full Week 3 Sunday scores
Away @ home (winners in bold)
New York Giants 21-15 Cleveland Browns
Chicago Bears 16-21 Indianapolis Colts
Houston Texans 7-34 Minnesota Vikings
Philadelphia Eagles 15-12 New Orleans Saints
Los Angeles Chargers 10-20 Pittsburgh Steelers
Denver Broncos 26-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Green Bay Packers 30-14 Tennessee Titans
Carolina Panthers 36-22 Las Vegas Raiders
Miami Dolphins 3-24 Seattle Seahawks
Detroit Lions 20-13 Arizona Cardinals
Baltimore Ravens 28-25 Dallas Cowboys
San Francisco 49ers 24-27 Los Angeles Rams
Kansas City Chiefs 22-17 Atlanta Falcons