Week 3 of the NFL season has brought several noteworthy developments across the league. The Seattle Seahawks have surged ahead in the NFC West, establishing a commanding two-game lead. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers are in a similar position in the AFC North, also leading by two games.
The Minnesota Vikings have emerged as one of the standout teams this season. With a 3-0 record, the Vikings are proving to be formidable contenders. A significant contributor to their success is quarterback Sam Darnold, who leads the NFL with eight passing touchdowns. Darnold’s impressive stats don’t end there; he ranks second in passer rating (117.3) and fourth in yards per attempt (8.4).
Darnold’s early-season performance ranks among the best in recent history. He is only the fifth quarterback in the last quarter century to start a season 3-0 with eight or more passing touchdowns in his first three games with a new team. Additionally, Darnold has made Vikings history by becoming the first quarterback to win his first three games of the season and throw multiple touchdowns in each matchup.
Rookie Impressions
Rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers has also made his mark. In Week 3, Nabers caught eight passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns, bringing his season total to 23 catches for 271 yards and three touchdowns. Nabers’ effectiveness is highlighted by his 37.8% target share, the fourth-highest for any player through the first three games over the past decade. Additionally, his 271 yards are the second-most for a rookie in franchise history over the first three games.
Fellow rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. has also been impressive, with 10 catches for 198 yards and three touchdowns over the first three games.
Ground Game Standout
On the ground, running back Saquon Barkley is leading the NFL in rushing yards, amassing 351 yards and four touchdowns. In Week 3 alone, Barkley carried the ball 17 times for 147 yards and two touchdowns, scoring both of the Eagles' touchdowns in their victory over the Saints. Barkley has consistently been a key player for his team, totaling over 100 yards from scrimmage in every game this season.
Saints’ Struggles
The New Orleans Saints have had a mixed start to the season. Their offense managed only 12 points against the Philadelphia Eagles, a significant drop from their earlier performances. Coming into Week 3, the Saints were averaging 45.5 points and 6.9 yards per play. However, their average has now dropped to 34.3 points and 6.0 yards per play over three games. The sharp decline in offensive output prompted C.J. Gardner-Johnson to call the Saints "pretenders" after their lackluster performance.
Rising Rookie Quarterbacks
Quarterback Malik Willis of the Green Bay Packers has had a strong start to his NFL career. Willis boasts a completion rate of 73.5%, averaging 9.5 yards per attempt, with two touchdowns and a passer rating of 122.6. Additionally, Willis has accumulated 114 rushing yards and a touchdown. In his two starts, he has completed 75.8% of his passes with a 126.3 passer rating, making him the fourth different Packers player to achieve over 200 passing yards, 50 rushing yards, a passing touchdown, and a rushing touchdown in a game.
Dalton's Redemption
For the Carolina Panthers, veteran quarterback Andy Dalton delivered a standout performance in Week 3, throwing for 319 yards and three touchdowns. This performance led the Panthers to their first victory of the season, scoring 36 points after only managing a combined 13 points in the first two weeks.
Cowboys' Defensive Woes
The Dallas Cowboys continue to struggle defensively, having been outscored 56-22 in their last two home games. Despite scoring 22 straight points in the second half against the Ravens, they could not overcome the deficit.
As the season progresses, these storylines will undoubtedly continue to evolve, keeping fans and analysts eagerly anticipating the next chapters in this year's NFL saga.