It is arduous to say the Minnesota Vikings have one of the best teaching workers within the NFL. Andy Reid nonetheless hasn’t retired, in any case.
However they don’t seem to be far off.
The Vikings moved to 3-0 this season and what they’re doing is outstanding. They had been anticipated to complete final within the NFC North, they usually used the tenth general draft choose on quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who will not play a snap this season. With none contribution from their top-10 choice, the Vikings have gained three in a row with a few high-quality wins. They beat the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 and then obtained a 34-7 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday. Each groups are more likely to be division champions and Tremendous Bowl contenders by the tip of the season.
We’ll see the place the Vikings’ path leads them this season, and it additionally will probably be fascinating to see what turns into of Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
Flores’ protection is a big issue within the Vikings’ begin. The 49ers had seven factors by means of three quarters at Minnesota final week. The Texans had been shut out within the first half. Houston lastly obtained on the board with 3:56 left within the third quarter, after Minnesota had run out to a 21-0 lead. The Vikings most likely haven’t got top-five expertise on protection however are taking part in like a top-five unit. That is teaching.
If Flores was another defensive coordinator, producing outcomes like this, he’d be one of many prime early candidates for a head-coaching job subsequent offseason. However we all know it is a bit extra difficult than that. Flores had a rocky time with the Miami Dolphins, together with new criticism this yr over his dealing with of Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Flores’ racial discrimination lawsuit towards the leaguewill probably be a narrative as groups look into maybe giving him an interview. It could be arduous to disclaim Flores the prospect, based mostly on his work with the Vikings’ protection. We’ll see what occurs, however his success in Minnesota is inconceivable to disclaim.
The Texans had hassle producing any working sport or explosive performs within the passing sport. The latter is often not an issue for C.J. Stroud, who had one in every of his worst video games as a professional. Minnesota performs quick and bodily, with constant stress and disciplined protection. They confused Stroud and made him look tentative, which has been powerful to do.
Flores’ protection is doing its job and head coach Kevin O’Connell is getting probably the most out of his offense. Sam Darnold is taking part in higher than he ever has on a constant foundation within the NFL. It helps to have Justin Jefferson to throw to. However he would not have Jordan Addison or T.J. Hockenson, who’ve been out with accidents, and it hasn’t mattered. Darnold went out briefly on Sunday after hurting his knee, and when he reentered the sport shortly after he obtained a standing ovation. He has earned that after his play over the primary three video games.
The Vikings lead the NFC North at a really early stage within the season and have proven two weeks in a row that they’ll beat actually good groups. Teaching issues within the NFL.
Listed here are the remainder of the winners and losers from Week 3 of the NFL season:
WINNERS
Dallas Goedert:After a crushing loss on Monday evening to the Atlanta Falcons, the Philadelphia Eagles had been a 1-2 begin in the event that they misplaced in Week 3 at a sizzling New Orleans Saints group. And so they went into it with out A.J. Brown for the second straight sport.
Dallas Goedert was the Eagles’ shock hero. Goedert had 10 catches for 170 yards, each profession highs, together with an enormous 61-yard achieve on third-and-16 within the last two minutes to arrange Saquon Barkley’s go-ahead landing. The Eagles obtained an interception to seal the 15-12 win.
Barkley had two touchdowns, Jalen Hurts had 311 yards passing, the Eagles protection cooled off a sizzling Saints offense however Goedert was the star of the win. Whereas the loss to the Falcons nonetheless stings, being 2-1 is not so unhealthy.
Matt LaFleur, once more:The Tennessee Titans gave up on Malik Willis lower than a month in the past. They traded him to the Inexperienced Bay Packers for a seventh-round choose on Aug. 27. And no one blinked on the transfer; Willis had not performed effectively in any respect in his regular-season appearances.
That is what made Sunday so candy for Willis and spectacular for LaFleur. The Packers gained their second straight sport with Willis changing Jordan Love and serving to to beat his former group 30-14. Whereas Willis was taking part in a relaxed, managed sport, Titans quarterback Will Levis was throwing his group out of yet one more sport, virtually handing Jaire Alexander a pick-6 within the first half. Willis accomplished 13-of-19 passes for 202 yards and continues to look means higher than he did with the Titans.
Love appears near a return, maybe as quickly as subsequent week, and it is outstanding that Inexperienced Bay went 2-0 with out him. There are a couple of coaches having an awesome begin to the season, and LaFleur is certainly on the very early NFL Coach of the Yr candidate record.
Bo Nix and Sean Payton:Payton hadn’t had a win in September as Denver Broncos coach, going 0-5 over his first two seasons with the group. Nix had a brutal first two video games as an NFL quarterback.
Each obtained some redemption on Sunday. The Broncos protection performed very effectively, Nix appeared much more snug and Denver obtained an enormous 26-7 upset at a Tampa Bay Buccaneers group that appeared superb throughout a 2-0 begin to the season.
Baker Mayfield was off to a sizzling begin however Denver flustered him all sport. Denver allowed nearly not one of the massive performs that Tampa Bay had been getting the primary two video games. Nix appeared just like the extra assured quarterback of the 2, getting the ball downfield greater than he had in his first two begins and infrequently making a mistake. He was 25 of 36 for 216 yards and was sharp all through. It was a superb step ahead for the Broncos and their rookie quarterback, and Payton can know he will not go 0-for-September once more.
LOSERS
Anthony Richardson and Caleb Williams:Late within the third quarter of the Chicago Bears-Indianapolis Colts sport, the mixed passer ranking of the 2 younger quarterbacks was lower than 100.
Each quarterbacks are touted prospects and excessive draft picks however they’re off to gradual begins this season. Richardson accomplished simply 10 passes and threw two terrible interceptions to proceed his poor begin to this season, and whereas Williams had a breakthrough with 363 yards he threw two interceptions too. Richardson’s Colts had been ok to beat Richardson’s tough day and win 21-16.
Williams’ third turnover virtually ended the Bears’ comeback probabilities. He was strip-sacked by fellow first-round rookie Laiatu Latu within the fourth quarter in Bears territory. Each quarterbacks have the expertise to become superb quarterbacks but it surely was tough on them Sunday, and early this season. At the least Richardson obtained out of it with a win.
Justin Herbert:Herbert mentioned he suffered a excessive ankle sprain in Week 2, and that ought to have raised some alarms. It is a powerful damage to play by means of and nearly inconceivable to not have your efficiency impacted by it.
Herbert left Sunday’s sport early with what gave the impression to be an aggravation of his excessive ankle sprain. He was changed by Taylor Heinicke, who did little because the Pittsburgh Steelers pulled away for a 20-10 win.
The Chargers are 2-1 on the season however ought to have some considerations. Herbert will not be wholesome for some time and if the Chargers proceed to play him he’ll be vulnerable to setting himself again. It will not be a straightforward scenario to handle for coach Jim Harbaugh.
Deshaun Watson and the Browns:The Cleveland Browns obtained off to an awesome begin on Sunday. They recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff, and Watson hit Amari Cooper on the primary play for a 7-0 lead. Then that was about it.
The Browns ended the primary half with 41 yards of offense and 24 of it got here on the primary play. They nonetheless had a shot to win it within the last minutes after a missed area aim by New York, and Watson might have been the hero. However the Browns went four-and-out with Watson throwing in full on the ultimate three downs, and the New York Giants had a stunning 21-15 win.
The Browns ought to be higher than 1-2, and dropping at residence to the Giants is hard to swallow. Watson wasn’t horrendous on Sunday however he wasn’t nice both. And when he had an opportunity to redeem himself, the Browns did not transfer the ball in any respect.
