SEVEN FROM SUNDAY – WEEK 3
A look at seven statistical highlights from games played during the 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. ET windows on Sunday, September 21, the third week of the 2025 season.
- With two games remaining in Week 3, eight games were within one score in the fourth quarter and seven games were decided by one score (eight points or fewer), all by teams – Cleveland, Jacksonville, the Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Tampa Bay – that recorded the game-winning score in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter.The seven games with a game-winning score in the final three minutes of regulation or in overtime ties for the most such games in a single week since 1970 (most recently: Week 15, 2022).
Tampa Bay is the first team in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) to record a game-winning score in the final minute of the fourth quarterback in each of its first three games of a season. The Buccaneers are also the third team since 1970 to record a game-winning score in the final minute of regulation in three consecutive games at any point in a single season, joining the 2017 Pittsburgh Steelers (Nov. 26-Dec. 10) and 1994 New York Giants (Dec. 4-18).
Six teams – Buffalo, Indianapolis, the Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Tampa Bay – improved to 3-0.
With divisional wins over Kansas City (Week 1), Las Vegas (Week 2) and Denver (Week 3), the Chargers became the third team since realignment in 2002 to defeat division opponents in each of their first three games of a season, joining the 2006 Chicago Bears and 2003 Minnesota Vikings.
- Philadelphia overcame a 19-point second-half deficit to win while Cleveland overcame a 10-point deficit in the final four minutes to earn their first win of the season. The Eagles are the first team to overcome a second-half deficit of 19-or-more points since Denver in Week 4 of the 2023 season (overcame 21-point deficit to win at Chicago).Eagles defensive tackles Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis each blocked a field goal in the fourth quarter in the team’s Week 3 win over the Los Angeles Rams. Philadelphia is the first team since at least 1978 to block two field goals in the fourth quarter of the same game.
Per Next Gen Stats, Davis – who blocked a potential game-winning field goal and returned it 61-yards for a touchdown as time expired – is the heaviest player (336 pounds) in NFL history to return a blocked kick 50-or-more yards for a touchdown and reached a top speed of 18.59 mph on the return, the fastest speed by a player over 330 pounds since at least 2017.
With Davis and the New York Jets’ Will McDonald (50-yard blocked field goal return for a touchdown against Tampa Bay) each returning a blocked field goal for a touchdown, it marks the third week since 2000 with multiple blocked field goal return touchdowns of 50-or-more yards, joining Week 5 of the 2024 season and Week 16 of the 2012 season.
For more information on Next Gen Stats, check out NFL Pro, available within NFL+ Premium. With NFL+ Premium, get access to NFL Pro and track advanced analytics powered by Next Gen Stats and watch All-22 film. Available on desktop and mobile web, visit pro.nfl.com for more information.
- Seattle rookie wide receiver Tory Horton (95 yards) and Washington rookie wide receiver Jaylin Lane (90 yards) each recorded a punt return for a touchdown in Week 3, marking the first week in NFL history with multiple rookies recording punt return touchdowns of 90-or-more yards.It also marks the first time in 42 seasons (Week 5, 1983) that there were two punt returns of 90-or-more yards in the same week.
Horton’s 95-yard punt return for a touchdown is the longest by a rookie in nine seasons, since Tyreek Hill with Kansas City on Jan. 1, 2017 (95-yard punt-return touchdown).
- The Indianapolis Colts defeated Tennessee, 41-20, as running back Jonathan Taylor rushed for 102 yards and three touchdowns in the win.The Colts are the sixth team since 2002 to begin 3-0 and score at least 28 points in each win the season after missing the playoffs, joining the 2021 Arizona Cardinals, 2016 Philadelphia Eagles, 2011 Buffalo Bills, and 2008 and 2003 Denver Broncos.
Taylor has 7,535 scrimmage yards and 60 scrimmage touchdowns in 70 career games and is the fourth player since 2000 with at least 7,500 scrimmage yards and 60 touchdowns in his first 70 career games, joining Arian Foster, Adrian Peterson and Pro Football Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson.
- Minnesota cornerback Isaiah Rodgers recorded two forced fumbles, an 87-yard interception return for a touchdown and a 66-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the Vikings’ 48-10 win over Cincinnati.Rodgers became the first player in NFL history with an interception return touchdown of 85-or-more yards and a fumble return touchdown of 65-or-more yards in the same game.
Rodgers is the first player since 2000 with two forced fumbles and two touchdowns in the same game.
- Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers passed for 139 yards and two touchdowns while linebacker T.J. Watt had two sacks in the Steelers’ 21-14 win at New England.Rodgers has 510 career regular-season touchdown passes and surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer Brett Favre (508 touchdown passes) for the fourth-most in NFL history.
Rodgers has 63,538 career regular-season passing yards and surpassed Philip Rivers (63,440 passing yards) for the sixth-most in NFL history.
Watt has 110 sacks in 124 career games and joined Pro Football Hall of Famers Reggie White (125.5 sacks) and DeMarcus Ware (110.5) as the only players since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, with at least 110 sacks in his first 125 career games.
- Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford had two touchdown passes while wide receiver Puka Nacua had 11 receptions for 112 yards at Philadelphia in Week 3.Stafford has 382 career regular-season touchdown passes and surpassed Matt Ryan (381 touchdown passes) for the ninth-most in NFL history.
Nacua became the fifth player all-time with at least 10 receptions and 100 receiving yards in six games within his first three career seasons, joining Ja’Marr Chase (seven games), Justin Jefferson (seven), Michael Thomas (seven) and Odell Beckham Jr. (six).
NFL ROUNDUP: EAGLES RETURN BLOCKED FG FOR TD IN WILD FINISH TO WIN OVER RAMS
Jordan Davis blocked Joshua Karty’s game-winning field-goal try as time expired and returned it for a touchdown as the Philadelphia Eagles rallied for a 33-26 victory Sunday against the visiting Los Angeles Rams.
It was the second consecutive blocked field goal for the Eagles (3-0), who overcame a sluggish first half and erased a 19-point, second-half deficit to stun the Rams (2-1). Jalen Carter also blocked a Karty field goal with 8:46 left.
Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts scored a rushing touchdown on the opening drive and threw his first three touchdown passes of the season in the second half to erase what was a 26-7 Los Angeles lead less than a minute into the second half. A.J. Brown caught six passes for 109 yards and a TD.
Rams QB Matthew Stafford passed for 196 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Puka Nacua caught 11 balls for 112 yards and Kyren Williams rushed for 94 yards with a touchdown catch. Stafford’s third-quarter TD pass to Williams after a Jared Verse strip-sack was the 382nd of his career, moving him past Matt Ryan (381) for ninth place in NFL history.
Bears 31, Cowboys 14
Caleb Williams threw four touchdown passes and Chicago forced three Dallas turnovers in the fourth quarter as the host Bears picked up head coach Ben Johnson’s his first career win.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott completed 31 of 40 passes for 251 yards and a touchdown but was relieved by backup Joe Milton late in the fourth quarter. Prescott threw two interceptions and Milton one to end Dallas’ final three drives of the game.
Williams’ first five completions went for 135 yards and two touchdowns, a 35-yarder to Rome Odunze and a 65-yard bomb down the left sideline to rookie receiver Luther Burden III on a flea-flicker to stake the Bears (1-2) to a 14-3 lead. The Cowboys (1-2) lost receiver CeeDee Lamb for the game to an ankle injury in the first half.
Buccaneers 29, Jets 27
Chase McLaughlin’s fifth field goal was a 36-yarder with no time remaining to give Tampa Bay a victory over visiting New York, which had taken the lead with 1:49 left on a blocked field goal returned 50 yards for a touchdown by Will McDonald IV.
McLaughlin’s winning kick came after the Buccaneers blew a 17-point, fourth-quarter lead. Baker Mayfield completed 19 of 29 passes for 233 yards, including a touchdown pass to Mike Evans, who left during the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury. With the victory, Tampa Bay is off to its first 3-0 start since 2005.
Tyrod Taylor started in place of Justin Fields for the Jets and was 26-of-36 passing for 197 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for a team-best 48 yards. Garrett Wilson had 10 catches for 84 yards and a touchdown for New York, which is 0-3 for the first time since 2021.
Browns 13, Packers 10
Andre Szmyt kicked a 55-yard field goal at the gun to give host Cleveland a stunning comeback victory over Green Bay to snap an eight-game losing streak which dated back to last season.
The Browns (1-2) scored 13 points over the final 3:38, including a pair of field goals from Szmyt. Rookie Quinshon Judkins ran for 94 yards on 18 carries, scoring the tying touchdown with 3:01 left after Grant Delpit returned an interception inside the 5-yard line. The Browns sacked Green Bay QB Jordan Love five times.
Love threw for 183 yards, one touchdown and one interception on 18-of-25 passing. His 3-yard scoring pass to John FitzPatrick with 3:23 remaining in the third put the Packers (2-1) ahead 10-0.
Chargers 23, Broncos 20
Justin Herbert passed for 300 yards and Cameron Dicker made a 43-yard field goal as time expired to give Los Angeles a win over Denver in Inglewood, Calif.
Keenan Allen had seven receptions for 65 yards with a touchdown and Quentin Johnston had six catches for 89 yards while Dicker made all three of his field goals. The Chargers opened the season with victories over all three of their AFC West rivals. It’s their first 3-0 start since 2002.
The Broncos (1-2) took a 20-13 lead with 12:21 left before allowing the final 10 points of the game and losing on a game-ending field goal for the second straight week. Denver running back J.K. Dobbins ran for 83 yards and a touchdown against his former team. Bo Nix passed for 153 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 33 yards
Steelers 21, Patriots 14
Aaron Rodgers tossed a 17-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Austin on a third-and-6 play with 2:16 remaining in the game to help Pittsburgh defeat New England in Foxborough, Mass.
The Patriots moved the ball to the Steelers’ 28-yard line on their final possession before turning the ball over on downs. New England (1-2) committed five turnovers, including two fumbles by running back Rhamondre Stevenson. Tight end Hunter Henry caught two TD passes for the Patriots, who had a 369-203 edge in total yards.
The Steelers (2-1) took a 14-0 lead by scoring on each of their first two possessions. DK Metcalf caught a 12-yard TD pass from Rodgers with 13:49 left in the second quarter. The play moved Rodgers into fourth place in career NFL TD passes with 509. He trails Tom Brady (649), Drew Brees (571) and Peyton Manning (539).
Vikings 48, Bengals 10
Isaiah Rodgers returned an interception 87 yards for a touchdown and added a 66-yard fumble return for a score to lead Minnesota to a rout of Cincinnati in Minneapolis.
Jordan Mason ran for a pair of touchdowns and finished with 116 yards on 16 carries for the Vikings (2-1), who scored 31 points off five Bengals turnovers. Cincinnati (2-1) fumbled the ball five times, losing three.
In a game that featured a pair of backup quarterbacks, Minnesota’s Carson Wentz didn’t need to do much, completing 14 of 20 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns. Jake Browning finished 19-of-27 passing for 140 yards with a late touchdown pass and two interceptions in his first start since Joe Burrow’s foot surgery.
Colts 41, Titans 20
Daniel Jones threw for 228 yards and a touchdown while Jonathan Taylor rushed for 102 yards and three scores as visiting Indianapolis stayed unbeaten with a win over Tennessee in Nashville.
Jones completed 18 of 25 passes as Indianapolis (3-0) cruised through its first road game of the year. The Colts led for all but 49 seconds of the game, although they did have to punt for the first time this year at the 9:13 mark of the second quarter.
Tennessee rookie Cam Ward connected on 23 of 38 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown, along with an interception that Kenny Moore II returned 32 yards for a score on the game’s third play. The Titans (0-3) are 3-17 since the start of the 2024 season.
Commanders 41, Raiders 24
Jaylin Lane returned a punt 90 yards for a score, Jeremy McNichols had a 60-yard touchdown run and Washington beat Las Vegas in Landover, Md.
Marcus Mariota, filling in for injured Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, completed 15 of 21 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for a score. Washington (2-1) rushed for 201 yards and three touchdowns as it bounced back from a loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Tre Tucker caught eight passes for 145 yards and three touchdowns as the Raiders (1-2) lost their second straight. Geno Smith completed 19 of 29 passes for 289 yards and three scores.
Panthers 30, Falcons 0
Chau Smith-Wade returned an interception for a touchdown and Carolina made several big defensive plays to shut out Atlanta in Charlotte, N.C.
Bryce Young ran for a touchdown and threw for 121 yards in the home opener for the Panthers (1-2). Rico Dowdle also rushed for a touchdown and Ryan Fitzgerald kicked three field goals, including a 57-yarder in the first half.
Falcons starter Michael Penix Jr. was intercepted twice, finishing 18-for-36 for 172 yards before he was pulled after three quarters. Kirk Cousins went 5-for-7 for 29 yards in relief as Atlanta fell to 1-2.
Jaguars 17, Texans 10
Travis Etienne scored a go-ahead 10-yard touchdown with 1:48 left to help Jacksonville come away with a win over Houston, snapping a seven-game home losing streak in the series.
The touchdown was set up by a 46-yard catch-and-run by Brian Thomas Jr., who had caught just one of five targets for 9 yards. Etienne had just 29 yards before accounting for 27 yards on the game-winning drive and notching his first touchdown of the season.
The ensuing Houston drive crossed the Jaguars’ 30 before Antonio Johnson secured the defense’s second interception of C.J. Stroud to clinch the first Jacksonville (2-1) home win against Houston (0-3) since 2017. Stroud finished 25-of-38 passing for 204 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown to Nico Collins to tie the game at 10 with 9:17 left.
Seahawks 44, Saints 13
Rookie Tory Horton scored two touchdowns, one on a franchise-record 95-yard punt return, as host Seattle trounced New Orleans.
Kenneth Walker III rushed for a pair of short TDs for the Seahawks (2-1). Sam Darnold completed 14 of 18 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns.
For the Saints (0-3), Spencer Rattler was 28 of 39 for 218 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Chris Olave made 10 catches for 57 yards, but Alvin Kamara was limited to 42 yards on 18 rushes.
49ers 16, Cardinals 15
Eddy Pineiro drilled a 35-yard field goal as time expired to lift San Francisco over Arizona in Santa Clara, Calif.
Christian McCaffrey combined for 140 yards from scrimmage and made a key reception to set up the game-winning field goal for the 49ers (3-0). Mac Jones completed 27 of 41 passes for 284 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Kyler Murray completed 22 of 35 passes for 159 yards and one touchdown for the Cardinals (2-1). Trey McBride had a team-high five catches for 43 yards and a score.
