If the first two weeks of the season are any indication, Week 3 will be some exciting football. Week 1 was all about shakeups, week 2 was full of throwbacks, and I can’t wait to see what amazing games we’ll get this week.
Now that we have a few games behind us, it becomes clearer which teams have it and which teams are struggling.
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Here are some matches to catch this week:
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
TV: SCS Diffusion: FuboTV, Paramount+
Featured game | New York Jets vs. Cincinnati Bengals
If you had asked me at the start of the season if I thought a game between the defending AFC champions Cincinnati Bengals and the AFC East last defending New York Jets would be a important match, I would have laughed. But after the Bengals’ two straight losses, games that were close at hand, this third game will be very telling.
The Bengals offensive line has shown its weaknesses this season, after doing the same last year. Quarterback Joe Burrow has been sacked 13 times, which is more than the other AFC North quarterbacks have been sacked combined. Burrow is set to be sacked 110.5 times, which would break the previous record set in 2002, when Derek Carr was sacked 76 times in one season.
That wild number won’t be hit, but it does put into perspective how many times Burrow hits the ground. It’s not close to being sustainable, and the Bengals need to improve their offensive line issues as soon as possible.
The Bengals lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys by three points apiece, and while not everyone may be panicking yet, if they lose to the Jets this week there will definitely be more people who will sound the alarm.
Now let’s take a look at the Jets, who pulled off a wild win over the Cleveland Browns this week to move up to 1-1. A win doesn’t change the team’s likely trajectory, but it is an improvement from last year’s 0-3 start and will certainly give the team confidence and momentum.
I expect the Bengals to take this one, because they have to, don’t they? The Bengals losing two games has already rattled their fans, and a third loss to a lower level team would only add to the shock.
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Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
TV: Fox Diffusion: fuboTV (7-day free trial)
Featured Game | Arizona Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams and Arizona Cardinals are two teams I’m wondering a lot about this year. Both teams could be good and should be good, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if either of these teams made it out of the playoffs quickly.
The Cardinals are 1-1 after games on either end of the spectrum. Week 1 was a big loss for the Kansas City Chiefs, and Week 2 was a wild overtime win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Quarterback Kyler Murray showed some toughness in the Week 2 win, but where he ranks among the league’s best quarterbacks is still a bit untold. He can be very hot or cold, and I’m looking for more consistency from the 25-year-old.
The Rams are coming off a Super Bowl victory but are nearly 0-2 after a blowout loss to the Bills and nearly blew a 28-3 lead against, ironically, the Atlanta Falcons.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford, who suffers from tendonitis in his elbow, threw three interceptions in Week 1 and two more in Week 2.
I’m watching both quarterbacks this week to help lead their teams and prove they’re contenders in the league.
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET
TV: Fox Diffusion: fuboTV (7-day free trial)
Featured Game | Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Green Bay Packers
Tom Brady. Aaron Rodgers. Both teams are coming off a win. A possible playoff, or even a preview of the NFC championship? It’s one of the games I’m most looking forward to watching.
Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 2-0 to start the season after double-digit wins over the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints.
The Bucs will be without receiver Mike Evans, who received a one game suspension for participating in a multiplayer brawl in the win over the Saints.
The Packers had a rocky start to the season, and the mounting difficulties of losing key offensive players were evident. The team bounced back last week against its oldest rivals, the Chicago Bears, proving they “still own the Bears.”
Rodgers’ offense looked more organized in Week 2, but it will be a bigger challenge to do the same against the Bucs. This offseason, Rodgers discussed the difference of having a younger team, but said he was determined to make it a winning team.
I expect this team to truly show championship-caliber play, and they have a great opportunity to show it against another championship prospect this week.
This will be the first Rodgers-Brady showdown since 2020.
Week 3 program
Thursday
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns, 8:15 p.m.
Sunday
New Orleans Saints vs. Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m.
Houston Texans vs. Chicago Bears, 1 p.m.
Kansas City Chiefs at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m.
Buffalo Bills at the Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m.
Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m.
Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots, 1 p.m.
Cincinnati Bengals at New York Jets, 1 p.m.
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Washington Commanders, 1 p.m.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:05 p.m.
Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 p.m.
Atlanta Falcons vs. Seattle Seahawks, 4:25 p.m.
Green Bay Packers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4:25 p.m.
San Francisco 49ers at Denver Broncos, 8:20 p.m.
Monday
Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants, 8:15 p.m.