The third Sunday of the NFL regular season will also bring a clash of legendary quarterbacks, with Tom Brady versus Aaron Rodgers playing a late afternoon game in Tampa.
The Bills-Dolphins and Ravens-Patriots games are on the early afternoon slate. The Bills have lived up to their reputation so far as the league’s Super Bowl favorites. They beat the Los Angeles Rams, the defending Super Bowl champions, and the Tennessee Titans, the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs last season, by a combined margin of 72-17.
Now they have to hit the road to play a warm-weather game over a short workweek against a promising Dolphins team with an up-tempo passing game. Tagovailoa threw for 469 yards and six touchdowns in last Sunday’s 42-38 triumph over the Ravens.
“We’re running on all cylinders offensively,” Tagovailoa said after that game. “And then when there were times when we didn’t perform, nobody panicked. Everyone just got back into the group and we regrouped.
The Dolphins overcame deficits of 28-7 at halftime and 35-14 in the fourth quarter. They scored 28 points in the final 13 minutes of the game and coach Mike McDaniel began his post-game press conference by asking, “Anyone else tired?”
The Ravens renew their sometimes fiery rivalry with the Patriots as they try to get back into the win column. Jackson is coming off a brilliant performance against the Dolphins. He became the first quarterback in NFL history to have a touchdown pass and a touchdown rush of at least 75 yards each in the same game.
“There are challenges every week,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said midweek. “But the Ravens certainly have a lot with the quarterback, his passing game, the running game, his ability to make elusive long plays, the explosiveness of their receivers and tight ends and him.”
Belichick even got a laugh when asked if Jackson answered questions about his passing abilities that he faced upon entering the NFL.
“Without a doubt,” Belichick said. “He’s the type of player who is a type of MVP candidate. I think he’s more than answered. Wait and see what his contract is. That will answer.
Brady and Rodgers will face off for the fifth time in their highly decorated careers. Brady has won three of four meetings so far.
Brady threw for a modest 402 yards in two games this season, but the defense-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers got off to a 2-0 start. Rodgers’ Green Bay Packers are 1-1, having rallied to beat the Chicago Bears at home last Sunday following an early season loss to Minnesota.
