NFL Week 3: Vikings be part of league’s elite; Saquon Barkley proves his value

FOX Sports activities’ NFL consultants present the largest takeaways from each Sunday recreation and what they imply for every crew going ahead.�

Giants:�After getting mainly no stress and principally horrible protection of their first two video games below new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, the Giants protection confirmed up large time in Week 3. They have been throughout Browns QB Deshaun Watson, sacking him eight occasions, forcing two turnovers and holding the Browns to simply 217 yards. Even higher, for a crew that insisted it was going to generate most of its stress from its entrance 4, 9 completely different gamers had no less than half a sack. It was extra than simply Dexter Lawrence (two) and Brian Burns (one), although they acquired loads of stress on their very own. The Giants acquired a second straight robust recreation from Daniel Jones and Malik Nabers on offense, which is nice, however the Giants want a protection taking part in like this to actually flip their season round.

Browns:�The Browns virtually definitely have a Deshaun Watson drawback, and he’s operating out of time to show that he was ever value his ridiculous contract. However in equity to him, his offensive line gave him no shot on this recreation. The Giants protection was in his face from the beginning, sacking him eight occasions and pressuring him always. Making it worse for the Browns is that they misplaced three linemen on this recreation to accidents — left sort out Jedrick Wills (knee), proper guard Wyatt Teller (knee) and proper sort out James Hudson (shoulder), who was pressured to play as a result of Jack Conklin was out. In the event that they don’t repair the road shortly, they’ll anticipate much more struggles operating the soccer (69 whole yards). It’s laborious to know if the Browns can win with Watson in any respect, however they positively can’t with him always operating for his life. — Ralph Vacchiano

Broncos:Even with Denver and a rookie quarterback, Sean Payton has the Bucs’ quantity in Tampa. Sunday’s 26-7 drubbing was an surprising blowout, however you simply want to contemplate his previous three journeys to Tampa with the Saints — a 9-0 shutout in 2021, a 38-3 rout within the Bucs’ Tremendous Bowl season in 2020 and a 34-17 win in 2019. Denver’s protection acquired Baker Mayfield for seven sacks, and provides Payton credit score for letting rookie Bo Nix get right into a rhythm with fast, brief throws to maneuver the chains. The Broncos are higher than their first two video games, the Bucs not so good as their first two. Tampa Bay followers ought to simply be completely satisfied they seemingly do not need to face Payton for one more 4 years.

Bo Nix displays on his first profession win

Buccaneers:The Bucs regarded like a crew with a depleted protection on Sunday, struggling to include Denver in a humbling 26-7 loss. They performed with out three key starters — security Antoine Winfield and defensive linemen Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey — and could not get any stress on Broncos rookie Bo Nix, who regarded like a first-round decide for the primary time. Tampa Bay had in some way polished over their defensive accidents in an enormous win at Detroit final week, however on Sunday, they could not sustain with a nasty Denver crew. The query now: Can they bounce again and get a bit more healthy by subsequent Sunday, when the Eagles come to city searching for revenge for final yr’s playoff loss? — Greg Auman

Eagles:�This recreation was simply one other reminder of why it was so value it to the Eagles to spend large on operating again Saquon Barkley. It’s not simply that he ran 17 occasions for 147 yards and two touchdowns. It’s what he did in large moments and the way he affected the remainder of the offense. They have been down 3-0 and struggling and had simply misplaced WR DeVonta Smith to a concussion (an enormous drawback with WR A.J. Brown inactive) when Barkley ripped off a 65-yard landing run. And the Saints protection was so involved with him that they ended up leaving tight finish Dallas Goedert (10 catches, 170 yards) on an enormous, 61-yard catch within the fourth quarter that arrange Barkley’s game-winning landing. The Eagles protection was sensible. Jalen Hurts recovered from two early turnovers. However it’s laborious to disregard how Barkley modifications every part about this Eagles offense, even when issues aren’t working precisely proper.

Saquon Barkley takes off for a 65-yard TD, giving Eagles the lead over Saints

Saints:�For everybody questioning if the Saints have been a bit overrated, particularly on offense, after the primary two video games, the reply certain appears to be “Sure.” The Eagles turned the ball over twice and the Saints blocked a punt and New Orleans nonetheless managed solely 12 factors and a awful 219 whole yards. Derek Carr (14 of 25, 142 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) got here crashing again to Earth towards an Eagles secondary that had been completely horrible the primary two weeks of the season. Why? As a result of he doesn’t have a variety of weapons. Chris Olave and operating again Alvin Kamara mixed for 9 catches (on 9 targets) for 126 yards. Everybody else on the Saints mixed for 5 catches (on 14 targets) for 16 yards. If groups can throttle Olave and Kamara even just a bit, the Saints will find yourself being very straightforward to defend. — Ralph Vacchiano

Packers: Malik Willis wouldn’t feed into the entire revenge recreation narrative in the course of the week, however he needed to be feeling superb after main the Packers to a victory over his former crew with two touchdowns (one passing, one speeding). To take action on a day that Will Levis, whom the Titans drafted in 2023 a yr after taking Willis within the third spherical, continued to provide away factors needed to have been a cherry on the highest. Oh, and Inexperienced Bay acquired additional reinforcement that it doesn’t have to rush Jordan Love again, despite the fact that it seems very potential he can return subsequent week towards the rival Vikings. Now 2-0 since Love went down, Matt LaFleur has managed to scheme up an offense that accentuates Willis’ strengths and minimizes the exploitation of his weaknesses. Who’s to say that may’t proceed?�

Malik Willis throws for 202 yards to assist Packers defeat Titans

Malik Willis throws for 202 yards to help Packers defeat Titans

Titans: It’s nonetheless very early within the season, but when I’m the Titans, my thoughts is made up about taking a tough have a look at the 2025 quarterback class. Veteran signal-caller choices must be checked out as nicely. Will Levis has had three terrible turnovers in three weeks. The horrible one Sunday was a pick-six courtesy of Jaire Alexander within the first quarter. The second-year quarterback is as much as eight giveaways in simply three video games (three towards Inexperienced Bay), together with two interceptions returned for touchdowns. The offensive line did him no favors — he was sacked eight occasions Sunday — however Levis’ mind farts are all of the extra unbelievable contemplating what has been invested to assist him. Any good Levis has executed — and there was a piece, to be clear — has been overshadowed by the dangerous. Perhaps the blessing in disguise for the Titans is that they have already got readability on their quarterback path for 2025. — Ben Arthur

Bears:Issues have to be simpler for Caleb Williams. It shouldn’t be this tough. Williams continues to be chargeable for a ton of pre-snap selections, and it’s taking the play clock right down to virtually zero fairly a bit. That speaks to how a lot Williams is attempting to diagnose and determine in his younger profession. The playcalling hasn’t helped Williams, both. Williams’ first landing move was a throw to Rome Odunze in the long run zone after a well-balanced, 13-play drive throughout which the rookie QB made fast selections and took the shorter throws.�

In any other case, there continued to be longer-developing play calls, the place Williams needed to get by a number of reads. The run recreation was unimaginative regardless of having a wide range of backs. Roschon Johnson wasn’t even energetic till this week towards Indy. Williams himself has to make higher selections, too. He routinely took probabilities throwing into double protection or holding the ball and taking sacks. The Bears paid the worth for it and can proceed to take action till the sport plan is simplified or Williams comes by the opposite facet of his baptism by fireplace.

Colts: Anthony Richardson tried a few occasions to reward the sport to the Bears, together with the move he tried to recover from linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and into triple protection in the long run zone. The Colts did uncover their run recreation although, and so they have been in a position to assist their quarterback out that approach. Operating again Jonathan Taylor had a number of explosive runs and Indy managed the clock in consequence. The Colts protection discovered tips on how to get stress, too. Rookie edge Laiatu Latu appears like he’s settling in and, extra importantly, Indy’s secondary was in a position to get takeaways and garner some confidence. It’s nonetheless a unstable state of affairs in Indianapolis judging by a few of Richardson’s selections, however the remainder of the crew appears to be discovering its footing. That can assist the Colts insulate themselves towards the QB’s recklessness. — Carmen Vitali

Texans:�C.J. Stroud simply skilled the worst recreation of his profession. It wasn’t that dangerous statistically. He completed 20 of 21 for 215 yards, one landing and two interceptions with 4 sacks. The stats didn’t present, nevertheless, that Stroud and the Texans might do nothing proper towards the Vikings’ spectacular protection. Within the NFL, Stroud has solely ever had one different multi-interception recreation — and it was a win over the Arizona Cardinals final yr. Stroud hasn’t thrown a number of interceptions in a loss since Michigan beat Ohio State in 2022. So we’ll be taught a precious lesson in regards to the younger QB: How does he reply to adversity? My guess: He’ll be simply tremendous. Wager the over on his passing yards subsequent week, when he’ll have the prospect to take out his frustration on the Jacksonville Jaguars, a bottom-three move protection.

Vikings:�Are they the most effective crew within the NFL? They beat the 49ers final week. They whooped the Texans this week. The Chiefs and Payments are in all probability the one others in consideration for the league’s high crew. I wrote lots final week about how Sam Darnold has been good with out his stars and downright nice with Justin Jefferson. Simply wait till Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson are again. However this protection is simply nearly as good as its offense. With Brian Flores calling and training this protection to perfection, it’s laborious to think about any quarterback excelling — and even remaining competent — towards the Vikings. He has the Minnesota entrance teeing off on opposing quarterbacks. I don’t assume even Patrick Mahomes might get going towards Flores’ D proper now. And that in all probability signifies the Vikings are the NFL’s finest. — Henry McKenna

Chargers: Justin Herbert reinjured a proper excessive ankle sprain halfway by the third quarter on a sack, placing his crew’s promising begin in jeopardy. Herbert has gutted by damaged ribs, a fractured finger and a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder in his five-year NFL profession, so there’s little query that he’ll play by some ache and discomfort. Nonetheless, can he keep wholesome at some stage in the season? The drop-off in expertise and manufacturing is critical to L.A.’s No. 2 quarterback in Taylor Heinicke. If the Chargers are to really make a playoff push, they want Herbert as shut as he can get to being absolutely wholesome. For the Chargers, that might imply sitting out Herbert at house towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs subsequent week with the crew’s bye in Week 5, gaining a pair weeks for the crew’s star quarterback to get wholesome.�

Steelers: Justin Fields cemented his standing as Pittsburgh’s beginning quarterback with a powerful efficiency in a win over the Chargers. Fields accomplished his first 10 passes and ran for a 5-yard landing within the opening quarter on his approach to a 245-yard passing efficiency. Head coach Mike Tomlin desires to play from a defensive mindset, and led by edge rusher T.J. Watt, the Steelers are holding opponents to a league-low 8.7 factors a contest. Fields is an effective match for offensive coordinator Arthur Smith along with his potential to create performs along with his toes, make explosive throws down the sector and care for the soccer. There’s extra upside for Tomlin to maintain the 25-year-old Fields because the starter and rising with the offense as a substitute of adjusting to a much less cell and older possibility within the 35-year-old Russell Wilson, even when he’s healed from his calf concern. – Eric D. Williams

Evaluation to come back.

Evaluation to come back

Evaluation to come back.

The next writers contributed to this story: Ben Arthur (@benyarthur); Greg Auman (@gregauman); Henry McKenna (@McKennAnalysis); Eric D. Williams (@eric_d_williams); Ralph Vacchiano (@RalphVacchiano); Carmen Vitali (@CarmieV)