The chaos and comebacks we saw in the first two weeks of the 2022 NFL season sets up some really intriguing showdowns in Week 3. This is the time we start to get out our measuring sticks and get a more accurate assessment of who these teams really are.
Kicked off with Thursday night’s AFC North showdown between the Browns and Steelers, Week 3 brings six more divisional matchups.
There are currently seven teams without a win and six without a loss. Both of those numbers will dwindle by the end of Monday night.
Bills (2-0) @ Dolphins (2-0) | Sunday 1 p.m.
The Bills have swept the Dolphins in their last seven games, including a 35-0 Week 2 drubbing last season. But after Tua Tagovailoa pulled off Sunday’s electric second-half comeback against the Ravens, this divisional matchup between two undefeated AFC East teams just a got a whole lot more interesting.
Can the Dolphins’ deep receiving corps give Buffalo’s elite pass defence a run for its money, or is Buffalo still miles ahead of everyone — even despite some key injuries in its secondary?
Bengals (0-2) @ Jets (1-1) | Sunday 1 p.m.
Jets head coach Robert Saleh said this week his club’s pass rush has “got to be better.”
You know what else has got to be better? The Bengals’ pass protection – Joe Burrow has been sacked a league-leading 13 times already this season in a pair of losses.
Raiders (0-2) @ Titans (0-2) | Sunday 1 p.m.
Of last year’s seven AFC playoff teams, three are winless through the first two weeks – and two are about to go head-to-head. A good showing for one of these clubs could go a long way towards leaving a rough start to the season in the past.
Saints (1-1) @ Panthers (0-2) | Sunday 1 p.m.
The Panthers’ defence has yet to secure a takeaway this season, but they seem to like their odds against interception-prone Jameis Winston.
“As everybody knows he has a record of throwing picks and we are just looking for one,” Panthers linebacker Frankie Luvu told reporters this week. “When they do come we are going to make the most of it.”
Through two games, Winston has a touchdown-to-interception ratio of 3-3.
Ravens (1-1) @ Patriots (1-1) | Sunday 1 p.m.
Lamar Jackson: So good he even had Bill Belichick smiling:
Lions (1-1) @ Vikings (1-1) | Sunday 1 p.m.
All eyes will be on Justin Jefferson as he looks to bounce back from being shut out in Philadelphia, but Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is demanding our attention as a breakout star.
And so are Dan Campbell’s wardrobe choices, it seems:
Eagles (2-0) @ Commanders (1-1) | Sunday 1 p.m.
After dismantling the Vikings on Monday night on both sides of the ball, the Eagles face a familiar opponent in former franchise quarterback Carson Wentz. That’s far from the only familiarity between these division rivals, though. Two of Jalen Hurts’ old Alabama teammates, defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne, will be suiting up in pursuit of him this Sunday.
Chiefs (2-0) @ Colts (0-1-1) | Sunday 1 p.m.
Last week’s zero-point performance was as lacklustre as it gets for the Colts, and a visit from the powerhouse Chiefs doesn’t exactly pave the way for a rebound.
Texans (0-2) @ Bears (1-1) | Sunday 1 p.m.
Justin Fields has completed just 15 passes this season.
“If our offensive coordinator thinks the plays he’s giving me are going to help us win games, that’s all I care about,” he told reporters this week.
Jaguars (1-1) @ Chargers (1-1) | Sunday 4:05 p.m.
A hopeful sight in L.A. this week: Justin Herbert on the field, warming up, throwing. His every move will be examined under the microscope between now and game time — he’s officially listed as day-to-day with a rib injury. Should he play, the Jaguars are hell-bent on making sure he doesn’t feel right at home in the pocket. Jacksonville’s pass rush got the best of the Colts in Week 2, sacking Matt Ryan five times.
Rams (1-1) @ Cardinals (1-1) | Sunday 4:25 p.m.
The Rams know better than anyone that the Cardinals you expect aren’t always the Cardinals you’re dealt — and sometimes (ahem, like in the playoffs) they don’t even show up at all. But enough about last season, let’s talk about last week: Can Kyler Murray & Co. maintain their momentum from that overtime thriller against Vegas, or will they come back down to earth in this divisional bout?
Packers (1-1) @ Buccaneers (2-0) | Sunday 4:25 p.m.
We’ve got a head-to-head battle between two of the game’s all-time greats, and yet Tom Brady is without his top weapons while Aaron Rodgers… well, it’s still unclear if he has a top weapon at all. The stars likely to shine the brightest are on the defensive side of the ball, and the edge goes to Tampa Bay thanks to a dominant D corps that has allowed just a single touchdown this season so far and leads the league in sacks (10).
Falcons (0-2) @ Seahawks (1-1) | Sunday 4:25 p.m.
Early predictions saw Pete Carroll turning to his run game early and often this season, but that hasn’t happened — the Seahawks have the fewest rushing yards in the league (112) and were limited to just 36 against the 49ers last Sunday.
49ers (1-1) @ Broncos (1-1) | Sunday 8:20 p.m.
Jimmy Garoppolo is back in the starter’s role, George Kittle is off the injury report, and the 49ers’ defence more than bounced back from the rainy mess that was Week 1. It’s unclear what the future holds at the QB position now that Trey Lance is done for the year, but you can’t help but feel like Kyle Shanahan’s club is better positioned for success right now.
On the other sideline, Nathaniel Hackett’s tenure in Denver already feels shaky at best. He cannot afford another prime-time coaching gaff.
Cowboys (1-1) @ Giants (2-0) | Monday 8:15 p.m.
What do Cooper Rush and the New York Giants have in common? They’re both off to a 2-0 start. Rush guided the Dak Prescott-less Dallas Cowboys to a rousing win over Cincinnati last Sunday, marking his second win in his second career start. The Giants, meanwhile, are looking like a changed club and have the opportunity to start a season 3-0 for the first time since 2009.
