Week 3 of the NFL season has provided plenty of storylines, but none more intriguing than the surge of a few standout teams and players, making early statements as they vie for playoff positions. Leading the NFC West, the Seattle Seahawks have taken a two-game lead in their division. Over in the AFC North, the Pittsburgh Steelers mirror their success with a two-game lead of their own. As the season progresses, these teams will be under scrutiny, but for now, their starts are undeniably strong.
Rising Stars and Veteran Performances
The Minnesota Vikings are one of the few teams to remain undefeated, thanks largely to quarterback Sam Darnold. Darnold’s remarkable start includes leading the NFL with eight passing touchdowns. His passer rating stands at an impressive 117.3, ranking him second overall, and his 8.4 yards per attempt places him fourth. Joining an elite group, Darnold becomes only the fifth quarterback in the past 25 years to start a season 3-0 with eight or more passing touchdowns in his first three games with a new team. Furthermore, he is the first quarterback in Vikings history to win his first three games of the season while throwing multiple touchdowns in each matchup.
Rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers has also been a revelation for the Vikings. In Week 3, Nabers caught eight passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns, bringing his season totals to 23 catches for 271 yards and three touchdowns. Notably, his 37.8% target share is the fourth-highest for any player over the first three games in the last decade. His 271 receiving yards are the second-most by a rookie in franchise history through the first three games.
Marvin Harrison Jr. is another receiver making waves with 10 catches for 198 yards and three touchdowns over three games. Each week he continues to prove himself as a valuable asset to his team.
Dominance on the Ground
Running back Saquon Barkley leads the NFL in rushing, with 351 yards and four touchdowns so far this season. In Week 3, Barkley rushed 17 times for 147 yards and two touchdowns, essentially carrying the Philadelphia Eagles to victory over the New Orleans Saints. Barkley's performance has been consistent, accumulating over 100 yards from scrimmage in every game this season, highlighting his indispensable role in the Eagles’ offensive success.
Struggles in the Big Easy
The New Orleans Saints' high-flying offense was grounded in Week 3, managing just 12 points against the Eagles. The Saints had entered the week averaging 45.5 points and 6.9 yards per play, but those averages plummeted after facing Philadelphia’s defense. C.J. Gardner-Johnson sharply summed up their performance, stating the Saints were "pretenders" after such a low-scoring and inefficient outing.
Meanwhile, Malik Willis of the Green Bay Packers has been delivering dual-threat performances. Willis boasts a 73.5% completion rate, 9.5 yards per attempt, two touchdowns, and a passer rating of 122.6. Adding 114 rushing yards and a touchdown to his stats, Willis has proven versatile. In his two starts, he has completed 75.8% of his passes with a passer rating of 126.3. This diverse skill set has made him the fourth different Packers player to record over 200 passing yards, 50 rushing yards, a passing touchdown, and a rushing touchdown in a single game.
Veteran Leadership
Carolina Panthers' quarterback Andy Dalton turned back the clock with a standout performance in Week 3, throwing for 319 yards and three touchdowns. This effort led the Panthers to their first win of the season, and the team’s offensive output soared to 36 points after only scoring a combined 13 in the first two weeks. Dalton's experience and precision have given the Panthers a much-needed boost as they aim to build on this victory.
On the flip side, the Dallas Cowboys have seen troubling results, being outscored 56-22 in their last two home games. However, they showed resilience by scoring 22 straight points in the second half against the Ravens, a glimmer of hope they’ll need to capture consistently if they hope to bounce back.
As Week 3 concludes, the narrative of the NFL season continues to be shaped by these emerging stars and veteran standouts. The performances on the field have set high expectations, with fans eagerly anticipating how these storylines will develop in the weeks to come.