National Football League

Cowboys aren't contenders, and what we learned in Sunday’s Week 3 games

Updated Sep. 22, 2024 11:29 p.m. ET

FOX Sports' NFL experts provide the biggest takeaways from every Sunday game in Week 3 and what they mean for each team going forward.

CHIEFS 22, FALCONS 17

Chiefs: Even without their normal running game, the Chiefs pulled out another close win on the road Sunday night thanks to undrafted rookie Carson Steele. Who, you ask? He played at Ball State and UCLA, made the Chiefs' 53-man roster largely on special teams and had played only 19 snaps in the first two games, but took over as the primary back with Isiah Pacheco lost to injury. He stepped up in a big way, rushing 17 times for 72 yards to help keep the ball out of Atlanta's hands. The Chiefs need to stockpile wins for seeding in the AFC, and every win they get while shorthanded makes it easier down the stretch, and Steele was a surprise part of another close win Sunday.

Falcons: With a huge spotlight on him hosting the Chiefs in prime time, the Falcons needed a big game from Bijan Robinson on Sunday night. With the game on the line — fourth-and-1 at the Chiefs' 13 in the final minute — Robinson got a chance and was dropped for a 3-yard loss. Turnover on downs. Robinson could only muster 31 yards on 16 carries, outgained by an undrafted rookie in the Chiefs' Carson Steele. Two catches for 21 yards helped, but Atlanta is still turning the ball to Tyler Allgeier on key drives late in the game because he has fresher legs. Late-game drives will lean heavily on the quarterback to win, and Kirk Cousins took them into Chiefs territory twice. You'd just like to see the franchise back carry a bigger load in the fourth quarter — then get it done with the game on the line against the defending Super Bowl champs. — Greg Auman

RAVENS 28, COWBOYS 25

Ravens: A good argument could have been made that the Ravens were the best 0-2 team in NFL history, and they reminded everyone why they were a popular Super Bowl pick. They have all the ingredients, especially on offense where they've got a playmaking quarterback and a bruising running game. That running game is going to be tough to stop if they keep doing what they did against the Cowboys, compiling 274 yards on the ground — Lamar Jackson ran 14 times for 87 yards and Derrick Henry ran 25 times for 151 yards. That's a thunder-and-lightning attack that few teams can match. Add in Jackson's ability as a passer and a top defense and … well, it's safe to say this was the Ravens' "get-right" game. Yeah, it got a little dicey at the end, but they did what Jackson promised: They got their "mojo" back.

Cowboys: It's bad enough that the ‘Boys have now lost back-to-back home games. What's worse is that the same problems were evident in both games. Namely, they can't run and they can't stop the run. As good as Dak Prescott is — as he showed by throwing for 379 yards and nearly pulling off a wild comeback — it's just impossible to take them seriously as a Super Bowl contender if they can't do at least one of those things well. After being outgained 274-51 on the ground by Baltimore — allowing Derrick Henry, whom the Cowboys could have signed as a free agent this past offseason, to run wild — Dallas is now averaging 73.7 rushing yards while surrendering 185.7. The really sad part is that it was pretty clear in the offseason those were two enormous issues. For some reason, Jerry Jones chose to ignore them. — Ralph Vacchiano

Tom Brady breaks down Lamar Jackson, Ravens' 28-25 win vs. Cowboys

RAMS 27, 49ERS 24

49ers: At 1-2 overall, the 49ers are no longer the best team in the NFC, losing to a team in the Rams that was dominated by the Arizona Cardinals a week ago. With three of San Francisco's top playmakers unavailable due to injury in Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle, even a standout performance from receiver Jauan Jennings couldn't bail out the ailing 49ers. Jennings finished with 11 receptions for 175 yards and three touchdowns on 12 targets, but quarterback Brock Purdy didn't get much help from anyone else on offense. San Francisco pass catchers finished with six drops. And a leaky defense gave up a 14-point halftime lead, allowing the Rams to score 20 points in the second half for the comeback victory.

Rams: Running back Kyren Williams finally had a breakout game, creating balance on offense for Los Angeles. The Notre Dame product finished with 116 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns. His production helped the Rams overcome the absence of two of the team's foundational players in Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp. Williams entered Sunday's contest with just 75 yards through two games, but consistently found himself in the second level of San Francisco's defense for big gains. — Eric D. Williams

EAGLES 15, SAINTS 12

Eagles: This game was just another reminder of why it was so worth it to the Eagles to spend big on running back Saquon Barkley. It's not just that he ran 17 times for 147 yards and two touchdowns. It's what he did in big moments and how he affected the rest of the offense. They were down 3-0 and struggling and had just lost WR DeVonta Smith to a concussion (a big problem with WR A.J. Brown inactive) when Barkley ripped off a 65-yard touchdown run. And the Saints defense was so concerned with him that they ended up leaving tight end Dallas Goedert (10 catches, 170 yards) on a huge, 61-yard catch in the fourth quarter that set up Barkley's game-winning touchdown. The Eagles' defense was brilliant. Jalen Hurts recovered from two early turnovers. But it's hard to ignore how Barkley changes everything about this Eagles offense, even when things aren't working exactly right.

Saquon Barkley takes off for a 65-yard TD, giving Eagles the lead over Saints

Saints: For everyone wondering if the Saints were a little overrated, especially on offense, after the first two games, the answer sure seems to be "yes." The Eagles turned the ball over twice and the Saints blocked a punt and New Orleans still managed only 12 points and a lousy 219 total yards. Derek Carr (14 of 25, 142 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) came crashing back to Earth against an Eagles secondary that had been absolutely terrible the first two weeks of the season. Why? Because he doesn't have a lot of weapons. Chris Olave and running back Alvin Kamara combined for nine catches (on nine targets) for 126 yards. Everyone else on the Saints combined for five catches (on 14 targets) for 16 yards. If teams can throttle Olave and Kamara even just a little, the Saints will end up being very easy to defend. — Ralph Vacchiano

LIONS 20, CARDINALS 13

Lions: The Lions are better in the secondary. Not good. But better. (Yes, that's a deep cut to "Miracle.") Detroit went into this week allowing the 12th most passing yards per game (225) and it allowed just 205 to Kyler Murray, who came into the game as hot as any QB in the NFL. Remember, this is the team that has been steadily climbing out of the basement of the league in terms of secondary play. In 2022: third most yards per game allowed (245.8). In 2023: sixth most yards per game allowed (247.4). It seems that this year they are genuinely improving with Carlton Davis and Terrion Arnold at cornerback. That felt like the missing piece for this team. They proved Sunday just how dangerous they can be when they defend the pass.

Cardinals: Kyler Murray has grown too fond of Marvin Harrison Jr. I get it, dude. You buy a new jacket and you just want to wear it every minute of every day. But don't wear it out. That's what happened with Murray. If Harrison proved in Week 2 that he was a WR1, he proved in Week 3 that he's also still a rookie. He couldn't dominate the Lions' secondary in the same way that he beat up the Los Angeles Rams. And that sort of thing happens for a 22-year-old. But when, in the second half, Murray stopped connecting on his targets with Harrison, the QB needed to get his other players involved. Instead, we saw Murray continue to attempt to force-feed his top wideout, even when he was well-covered. The result? 20-13. That contributed as much as anything to the Cardinals going 22 minutes without a first down in the second half. — Henry McKenna

VIKINGS 34, TEXANS 7

Texans: C.J. Stroud just experienced the worst game of his career. It wasn't that bad statistically. He finished 20 of 21 for 215 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions with four sacks. The stats didn't show, however, that Stroud and the Texans could do nothing right against the Vikings' impressive defense. In the NFL, Stroud has only ever had one other multi-interception game — and it was a win over the Arizona Cardinals last year. Stroud hasn't thrown multiple interceptions in a loss since Michigan beat Ohio State in 2022. So, this experience could be a valuable lesson for the young QB: How does he respond to adversity? My guess: He'll be just fine. Bet the over on his passing yards next week, when he'll have the chance to take out his frustration on the Jacksonville Jaguars, a bottom-three pass defense.

Vikings: Are they the best team in the NFL? They beat the 49ers last week. They whooped the Texans this week. The Chiefs and Bills are probably the only others in consideration for the league's top team. I wrote plenty last week about how Sam Darnold has been good without his stars and downright great with Justin Jefferson. Just wait until Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson are back. But this defense is just as good as its offense. With Brian Flores calling and coaching this defense to perfection, it's hard to imagine any quarterback excelling — or even remaining competent — against the Vikings. He has the Minnesota front teeing off on opposing quarterbacks. I don't think even Patrick Mahomes could get going against Flores' D right now. And that probably indicates the Vikings are the NFL's best. — Henry McKenna

STEELERS 20, CHARGERS 10

Chargers: Justin Herbert reinjured a right high ankle sprain midway through the third quarter on a sack, putting his team's promising start in jeopardy. Herbert has gutted through broken ribs, a fractured finger and a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder in his five-year NFL career, so there's little question that he'll play through some pain and discomfort. However, can he stay healthy for the duration of the season? The drop-off in talent and production is significant to L.A.'s No. 2 quarterback in Taylor Heinicke. If the Chargers are to truly make a playoff push, they need Herbert as close as he can get to being fully healthy. For the Chargers, that could mean sitting out Herbert at home against the Chiefs next week with the team's bye in Week 5, gaining a couple of weeks for the team's star quarterback to get healthy.

Steelers: Justin Fields cemented his status as Pittsburgh's starting quarterback with a strong performance in a win over the Chargers. Fields completed his first 10 passes and ran for a 5-yard touchdown in the opening quarter on his way to a 245-yard passing performance. Head coach Mike Tomlin wants to play from a defensive mindset, and led by edge rusher T.J. Watt, the Steelers are holding opponents to a league-low 8.7 points a contest. Fields is a good fit for offensive coordinator Arthur Smith with his ability to create plays with his feet, make explosive throws downfield and take care of the football. There's more upside for Tomlin to keep the 25-year-old Fields as the starter and growing with the offense instead of changing to a less mobile and older option in the 35-year-old Russell Wilson, even once the latter has healed from his calf issue. — Eric D. Williams

GIANTS 21, BROWNS 15

Giants: After getting basically no pressure and mostly terrible coverage in their first two games under new defensive coordinator Shane Bowen, the Giants defense showed up big time in Week 3. They were all over Browns QB Deshaun Watson, sacking him eight times, forcing two turnovers and holding the Browns to just 217 yards. Even better, for a team that insisted it was going to generate most of its pressure from its front four, nine different players had at least half a sack. It was more than just Dexter Lawrence (two) and Brian Burns (one), though they got plenty of pressure on their own. The Giants got a second straight strong game from Daniel Jones and Malik Nabers on offense, which is great, but the Giants need a defense playing like this to really turn their season around.

Browns: The Browns almost certainly have a Deshaun Watson problem, and he's running out of time to prove that he was ever worth his ridiculous contract. But in fairness to him, his offensive line gave him no shot in this game. The Giants defense was in his face from the start, sacking him eight times and pressuring him constantly. Making it worse for the Browns is they lost three linemen in this game to injuries — left tackle Jedrick Wills (knee), right guard Wyatt Teller (knee) and right tackle James Hudson (shoulder), who was forced to play because Jack Conklin was out. If they don't fix the line quickly, they can expect a lot more struggles running the football (69 total yards). It's hard to know if the Browns can win with Watson at all, but they definitely can't with him constantly running for his life. — Ralph Vacchiano

BRONCOS 26, BUCCANEERS 7

Broncos: Even with Denver and a rookie quarterback, Sean Payton has the Bucs' number in Tampa. Sunday's drubbing was an unexpected blowout, but you just need to consider his past three trips to Tampa with the Saints — a 9-0 shutout in 2021, a 38-3 rout in the Bucs' Super Bowl season in 2020 and a 34-17 win in 2019. Denver's defense got Baker Mayfield for seven sacks. Give Payton credit for letting rookie Bo Nix get into a rhythm with quick, short throws to move the chains. The Broncos are better than their first two games, the Bucs not as good as their first two. Tampa Bay fans should just be happy they likely don't have to face Payton for another four years.

Bo Nix reflects on his first career win

Buccaneers: The Bucs looked like a team with a depleted defense on Sunday, struggling to contain Denver in a humbling loss. They played without three key starters — safety Antoine Winfield and defensive linemen Vita Vea and Calijah Kancey — and couldn't get any pressure on Broncos rookie Bo Nix, who looked like a first-round pick for the first time. Tampa Bay had somehow polished over their defensive injuries in a huge win at Detroit last week, but on Sunday, they couldn't keep up with a bad Denver team. The question now: Can they bounce back and get a little healthier by next Sunday, when the Eagles come to town looking for revenge for last year's playoff loss? — Greg Auman

PACKERS 30, TITANS 14

Packers: Malik Willis wouldn't feed into the whole revenge game narrative during the week, but he had to be feeling amazing after leading the Packers to a victory over his former team with two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing). To do so on a day that Will Levis, whom the Titans drafted in 2023 a year after taking Willis in the third round, continued to give away points had to have been a cherry on the top. Oh, and Green Bay received further reinforcement that it doesn't need to rush Jordan Love back, even though it appears very possible he can return next week against the rival Vikings. Now 2-0 since Love went down, Matt LaFleur has managed to scheme up an offense that accentuates Willis' strengths and minimizes the exploitation of his weaknesses. Who's to say that can't continue?

Titans: It's still very early in the season, but if I'm the Titans, my mind is made up about taking a hard look at the 2025 quarterback class. Veteran signal-caller options should be looked at as well. Will Levis has had three awful turnovers in three weeks. The terrible one Sunday was a pick-six courtesy of Jaire Alexander in the first quarter. The second-year quarterback is up to eight giveaways in just three games (three against Green Bay), including two interceptions returned for touchdowns. The offensive line did him no favors — he was sacked eight times Sunday — but Levis' brain farts are all the more unbelievable considering what has been invested to help him. Any good Levis has done — and there has been a chunk, to be clear — has been overshadowed by the bad. Maybe the blessing in disguise for the Titans is that they already have clarity on their quarterback direction for 2025. — Ben Arthur

COLTS 21, BEARS 16

Bears: Things need to be easier for Caleb Williams. It shouldn't be this hard. Williams is still responsible for a ton of pre-snap decisions, and it's taking the play clock down to almost zero quite a bit. That speaks to how much Williams is trying to diagnose and figure out in his young career. The playcalling hasn't helped Williams, either. Williams' first touchdown pass was a throw to Rome Odunze in the end zone after a well-balanced, 13-play drive during which the rookie QB made quick decisions and took the shorter throws.

Otherwise, there continued to be longer-developing play calls, where Williams had to get through multiple reads. The run game was unimaginative despite featuring a variety of backs. Roschon Johnson wasn't even active until this week against Indy. Williams himself has to make better decisions, too. He routinely took chances throwing into double coverage or holding the ball and taking sacks. The Bears paid the price for it and will continue to do so until the game plan is simplified or Williams comes through the other side of his baptism by fire.

Colts: Anthony Richardson tried a couple of times to gift the game to the Bears, including the pass he tried to get over linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and into triple coverage in the end zone. The Colts did discover their run game, though, and they were able to help their quarterback out that way. Running back Jonathan Taylor had multiple explosive runs and Indy controlled the clock as a result. The Colts defense figured out how to get pressure, too. Rookie edge Laiatu Latu looks like he's settling in and, more importantly, Indy's secondary was able to get takeaways and garner some confidence. It's still a volatile situation in Indianapolis judging by some of Richardson's decisions, but the rest of the team seems to be finding its footing. That will help the Colts insulate themselves against the QB's recklessness. — Carmen Vitali

SEAHAWKS 24, DOLPHINS 3

Dolphins: If Skylar Thompson's chest injury, which forced him out of Sunday's game, is a multi-week issue, the Dolphins would be down to Tim Boyle (who finished Week 3) and Tyler Huntley at quarterback. They should absolutely be giving the Panthers a call about former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young (if they haven't already). Panthers coach Dave Canales has said the Panthers aren't considering trading Young, but there have been reports that the Panthers have already been receiving calls, which should increase in the wake of Andy Dalton guiding Carolina's 36-point outburst Sunday (it's most points in a game since Week 16 of the 2022 season). A fresh start in Miami with Mike McDaniel calling plays could be just what Young needs — and what the Dolphins need to stay afloat as an AFC contender while Tua Tagovailoa gets healthy.

Seahawks: Is Geno Smith … still improving at 34 years old? Of course, it didn't always look great for the Seahawks in the second half of Sunday's win. But overall, the 2022 Comeback Player of the Year looks like he's on cruise control in Ryan Grubb's offense. His completion rate is on pace to be the best of his career, though it's still early in the season. The veteran's connection with Seattle's very strong wide receiver trio of DK Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Tyler Lockett is apparent (see: Metcalf's 71-yard touchdown in the second quarter Sunday). In the end, I think Seattle will still be defensive-led because of coach Mike MacDonald's brilliance on that side of the ball, but the Seahawks' ability to hurt teams through the air offensively gives them as much upside as any team in the NFC. — Ben Arthur

PANTHERS 36, RAIDERS 22

Panthers: Carolina appears to have found its quarterback — for now. The change from former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young to veteran Andy Dalton brought new life to Carolina's offense on Sunday. The Panthers finished with nine plays of 15-plus yards with Dalton at the helm, as the Panthers pushed the ball down the field more effectively with Young not in the lineup. The Panthers scored 13 points combined in the first two games, but under the direction of Dalton put up 21 points in just the first half against the Raiders. Carolina appeared much more confident with an experienced hand like Dalton leading them, allowing the Panthers to better compete at Las Vegas. "We got to just keep playing complementary football, so we can play our style," Panthers head coach Dave Canales said.

Raiders: Gardner Minshew followed his best game of the season last week in a win over the Ravens with his worst of the year in an embarrassing loss to the lowly Panthers. Minshew had trouble consistently pushing the ball down the field against Carolina's defense. Top target Davante Adams finished with just four receptions for 40 yards. The Raiders seemed to be hitting a soft spot of their schedule, with games at home against the Cleveland Browns and on the road against the Denver Broncos before hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers after facing the Panthers this week. Head coach Antonio Pierce made the switch from Minshew to Aidan O'Connell late in the game, and perhaps he will get a longer look next week. — Eric D. Williams

The following writers contributed to this story: Ben Arthur (@benyarthur); Greg Auman (@gregauman); Henry McKenna (@McKennAnalysis); Eric D. Williams (@eric_d_williams); Ralph Vacchiano (@RalphVacchiano); Carmen Vitali (@CarmieV)