NFL Week 3 Most Anticipated Matchups
Week 3 of the NFL season is here so it’s time to take a look at this weekend’s most exciting matchups.
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – SEPTEMBER 17: Justin Herbert #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers looks on after his team’s 27-24 overtime loss against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 17, 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Chargers @ Minnesota Vikings (pk)
We’ll start with a battle of 0-2 teams in Minnesota, the Chargers and Vikings are both looking for their first win of the season, whoever loses this game’s season will essentially be over before it started. The Vikings started the season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a game most people expected them to win but the Bucs have been one of the surprise teams in the league.
In week 2 the Vikings went on the road to Philadelphia and lost a close game 34-28 to the defending NFC Champion Eagles. The Chargers on the other hand have lost both games by a combined 5 points, losing to the Titans in overtime in week 2. The Chargers went into the season with playoff aspirations led by Justin Herbert but the Chargers defense and coaching continue to let him down.
This could be a season defining game for both teams, desperation will be high in this game so I expect the coaches to take risks and do whatever they can to get in the win column.
FOXBOROUGH, MA: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots walks on the field prior to a game against the Miami Dolphins at Gillette Stadium on Sept. 17, 2023. (Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
New England Patriots -2.5 @ New York Jets
The 0-2 Patriots head to New York to face the now Zach Wilson led Jets in an AFC East battle of the perceived worst two teams in the AFC East. The Patriots are looking to avoid their first 0-3 start since Bill Belichick’s first season with the team when they started 0-4, the Patriots will also be looking for a franchise record tying 15th straight win against the Jets.
While the Jets lost Aaron Rodgers less than a minute into their season and are hoping to avoid dissension within the team now that Super Bowl expectations have changed and Zach Wilson is now their starting QB. Bill Belichick has had the Jets number but this weekend’s game will be a true test with a struggling Patriots offense looking to get in the win column against a great Jets defense.
If the Patriots fall to 0-3 New England will have to hit the panic button with the Cowboys on the horizon in week 4.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 11: Quarterback Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills scrambles with the ball during the fourth quarter of the NFL game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on September 11, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Buffalo Bills (-6.5) @ Washington Commanders
The 1-1 Buffalo Bills head to the 2-0 Washington Commanders for a week 3 test, the Commanders are one of the surprise teams of the season led by their stout defense and new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. Bieniemy has Sam Howell playing smart football limiting his turnovers and letting Brian Robinson, Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson handle the work load on offense.
The Bills stumbled out of the gate losing to the Jets in week 1 on a punt return in overtime, but managed to rebound in week 2 dominating the Raiders in Buffalo. Josh Allen and the Bills offense still haven’t looked as explosive as everyone expected and faces another tough test this weekend in Washington, Ron Rivera has his defense playing well and they’ll look to exploit Josh Allen’s turnover problem to keep them in the game.
Chicago Bears (+12.5) @ Kansas City Chiefs
There’s no reason for this game to be one of the most anticipated of the weekend unless you’re into chaos, polar opposites and turmoil. The Chiefs and Bears aren’t even in the same stratosphere when it comes to actually playing football. The Chiefs are the defending Super Bowl champs while the Bears haven’t won a game in over a calendar year. Not only that the Bears have been in the news all week for all the wrong reasons, their defensive coordinator resigned and the reasoning is still undetermined, all while Justin Fields seemed to call out his coaches and blame them for his “robotic play”.
He would later clear up his comments to the media taking blame and saying he was taken out of context. I expect this game to be a blowout and Justin Fields to struggle again but if they cut him loose and let him play how he wants and the Bears keep it close, the coaches will have to reconsider how they run the offense.
Philadelphia Eagles (-4.5) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The defending NFC Champion Eagles are 2-0 but haven’t looked quite as dominant as they did last year. The Eagles defense has been very impressive but Jalen Hurts and the offense are still looking to find the explosiveness and dominance they had last season. The Baker Mayfield led Buccaneers are one of the surprise teams in the league getting off to a 2-0 start and looking very good doing so. The Bucs defense has impressed as well with star Devin White rescinding his trade request calling himself “stupid” for wanting to be traded off of a good defense.
Mike Evans might be reconsidering his trade/contract talks with the Bucs too after a massive week last week going for over 170 receiving yards. This will be a defensive battle with whoever making the fewer mistakes getting the win and moving to 3-0.
Los Angeles Rams (+3) @ Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are the best of the 0-2 teams, a team that went into the season as Super Bowl hopefuls but have gotten off to a putrid start offensively and Joe Burrow was seen limping at the end of their loss to the Ravens. The Rams had a decisive 30-13 win over the Seahawks in week 1 and lost 30-23 to the 49ers who could be the best team in the league.
The Rams are led by breakout star receiver Puka Nacua, who has 25 catches in his first two games and is averaging 133 yards a game. Joe Burrow and the Bengals will be desperate to get their first win of the season on Monday night, an 0-3 start would make their climb to the playoffs near impossible. Matt Stafford and Aaron Donald will hope to play spoiler and but I think the Bengals desperation and offensive talent will finally come through and they get in the win column.
