NFL Week 3 featured another strong performance from two of the game’s young quarterbacks in Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson — against each other! The New England Patriots jumped out to a 3-0 start to the season and you have to wonder if they’re going to lose this season. Baker Mayfield continues to struggle in 2019 after all the hype for the Cleveland Browns this past Summer. Maybe they’ll figure it out — and maybe not.
There are seven — SEVEN — teams without a win so far through three weeks while seven other teams have managed to start 3-0. The Eagles were victimized of drops, Green Bay’s defense shines again, and a baller in Daniel Jones had one of the most exciting debuts in a long time.
NFL season is still very young and a lot can happen for the undefeated and winless teams before Week 17 rolls around. However, despite the earliness of the season, you can’t help but wonder if some head coaches and players are already on the hot seat in 2019.
These are our five takeaways from the week that was.
NFL Week 3 Takeaways
5. Maybe the Colts will Succeed this Season?
Once Andrew Luck announced his retirement, everyone wrote off the Indianapolis Colts and left them for dead. However, head coach Frank Reich and quarterback Jacoby Brissett didn’t get that memo. They took care of the Titans with an impressive outing last week and the same was true at home against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
The weapons that were going to be there for Luck is still there for Brissett as they put up 27 points to win their first home opener in five seasons. The AFC South is currently up for grabs and the Colts have as much a shot as the other three teams to start the season.
Their defense isn’t going to a brick wall, as that was never their signature call in Indianapolis, but playing solid football will keep them in games this season. Brissett has to take care of the ball and get it to his playmakers. The Colts got off to a horrendous start last season, but experience pays dividends with the talent they have.
4. Trubisky Airs it Out
There’s no secret about the Chicago Bears and their lost identity on offense. Are they a running team with Tarik Cohen and David Montgomery? Or can they get Mitchell Trubisky to finally start airing it out?
It certainly helps when you’re playing a bad defense as the Washington Redskins have, but Trubisky finally stepped up and stepped into some throws — mainly to Taylor Gabriel three times in the end zone. Once again, it’s no secret, but if their offense continues this sustained success, then they can be a formidable opponent each week.
Chicago’s defense feasted for turnovers all game long against Case Keenum and Co. Which, honestly, probably would’ve been enough if their offense sputtered as in week’s past. The NFC North is proving to be the best division in football after three weeks and if the Bears are going to contend, then they’ll need effort on both sides of the ball.
3. Drew Who?
OK, let’s not remained triggered for long, New Orleans Saints fans. Drew Brees will return later in the season but if the play of Teddy Bridgewater is any indication — then they’ll be just fine. Which is a win-win for Bridgewater proving he can handle the reigns of this team and prove to the NFL that he is capable of being a starter again.
Going up to Seattle and beating the Seahawks is almost an impossible task as it’s one of the toughest places to play in — just ask Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. But the Saints did and won handily. If you think about it, Bridgewater is in a similar situation as Brissett is in Indy. Head coach Sean Payton has given you the keys to the car, now let’s see you take it for a spin.
Get the ball to Alvin Kamara and Michael Thomas and good things tend to happen. The Seahawks — as many teams don’t — had no answer for Kamara on Sunday. However, let’s not get too swollen of a head as the Saints will head home against an unbeaten Dallas team on Sunday Night. But right now, the world isn’t falling in New Orleans with Bridgewater under center.
2. Beowulf, the Hero
Try as you might but you cannot stop the ever-growing legend of Gardner Minshew — whose grandfather wanted to name him Beowulf. Minshew-mania is growing wild in Jacksonville as they beat the Tennesee Titans on Thursday. The season for the Jaguars could’ve gone downhill in a hurry once they lost Nick Foles in Week 1. But never underestimate the power of a Minshew!
The Jaguars have suffered from poor quarterback-play for a number of reasons and we won’t know how Foles would’ve fared in a 16-game schedule. But we do know what we’ve seen from Minshew through three weeks now. A valiant effort in relief against the Kansas City Chiefs, just short of an upset against the Houston Texans and a win on Thursday against the Titans.
Minshew has gotten better each week and looks to continue his legacy moving forward this season. You would like to see more sustained drives from this Jaguars offense but as long as the end result is a win, then by any means for a quarterback that looks like he could push a mountain.
1. A Glimpse of the Future
On Sunday, for the second time, we got to witness Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens take on Patrick Mahones and the Kansas City Chiefs. When you think of epic rivalries, there was none greater than Tom Brady versus Peyton Manning in the AFC. A battle of epic proportions between the two legends gave us entertainment for years.
Now? Jackson versus Mahomes has been every bit entertaining. Both quarterbacks have big arms and mobility. Deep throws, quarterback runs, blow-for-blow touchdowns, the two have shown it all. Jackson has come up 0-2 against Mahomes but it wasn’t for a lack of trying. Once Kansas City gets on a roll, they’re almost impossible to stop.
Even with Baltimore’s revamped defense, they were unable to stop Mahomes from airing it out. But when most teams would fade away, Jackson brought his team all the way back to make it a one-score game, but like the Brady-Manning games of old, Mahomes was able to deliver the dagger to seal their win late in the game with a first down.
These two teams are not going to be strangers to one another for years to come. And who knows, maybe we’ll see them again once January rolls around. But, however, their season plays out, these two teams are going to go to war against each other for a long, long time.
Main photo:
Embed from Getty Images
