WEEK 3 NFL CHAOS: BLOCKED KICKS, WALK-OFF FIELD GOALS, AND A 336-POUND HERO
Special teams are sure kicking up a fuss in the young 2025 NFL season.
There were four big blocked field goal attempts in Week 3 to go with four walk-off field goals, including one that sent the Broncos to their second straight loss despite Denver having never trailed in the fourth quarter of either game.
Two of the blocked field goals came in the same quarter of the same game against a kicker who had never been blocked before.
Three of the blocks came in the final two minutes, something that hadn’t happened in the NFL since at least 1990, and the four blocked field goal attempts in the fourth quarter marked the most on a single day since at least 1978.
The defining image of Week 3’s wackiness was Philadelphia’s 336-pound Jordan Davis rumbling 61 yards for a touchdown after blocking a 44-yard attempt by the Rams’ Joshua Karty on the final play of the game that would have won it for Los Angeles.
That gave the Eagles a 33-26 victory in a playoff rematch with L.A., which blew a 19-point second-half lead.
“I don’t know what mph I hit but I’m pretty sure it was something crazy,” Davis said.
Try 18.59 mph, the fastest by a player over 330 pounds since at least 2017, per Next Gen Stats.
Also, at 336 pounds, Davis is the heaviest player in league history to return a blocked kick 50 or more yards for a touchdown.
“A lot of people look at field goal blocking as just another play,” Davis said. “Just another down, put your hands up, get off the field, check a box. The way we talked about it on the sideline, we knew especially off his last kick, we knew his angle, we knew his launch point. We just hit the gap, put our hands up at the right time and I saw the ball on the ground at the right time.”
The Eagles blocked multiple field goals for the first time since Sept. 21, 1975, against the New York Giants.
Earlier in the fourth quarter, Karty, who had never had a field goal attempt blocked before, watched Jalen Carter block a 33-yard attempt that helped Philadelphia recover from a 26-7 deficit.
Shortly after Davis’ heroics, the Jets’ Will McDonald jumped over the Buccaneers’ snapper, blocked a 43-yard try by Chase McLaughlin and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown to give New York a 27-26 lead at Tampa Bay with 1:49 remaining.
Baker Mayfield led the Buccaneers down the field to set up McLaughlin’s 36-yarder that won the game as time expired.
Mayfield noted afterward that the victory was especially sweet because the Jets’ defensive coordinator, Steve Wilks, once cut him.
“I loved it,” said Mayfield, who joined Matt Ryan in 2016 as the only QBs since 1950 to lead fourth-quarter comebacks in the first three games of a season. “And also their D-coordinator was the one that cut me in Carolina. Lot of stuff was personal today.”
And chaotic.
In Cleveland, Shelby Harris blocked a 43-yard field-goal attempt by Green Bay’s Brandon McManus that would’ve given the Packers the lead with 21 seconds left. Greg Newsome II recovered at the 47, and Andre Szmyt kicked a 55-yard field goal as time expired to give the Browns a surprising 13-10 victory.
“Season 12 chapter 3 #browns#besthandsintheleague ” read Harris’ Instagram post after the game.
Since he entered the league in 2014, nobody has more than Harris’ seven career blocked kicks — six field goals and an extra point.
Eddy Pineiro and Cameron Dicker also nailed game-winners on the final play Sunday as their teams remained unbeaten.
Pineiro’s 35-yarder gave the San Francisco 49ers a 16-15 win over the Arizona Cardinals, and Dicker’s 43-yarder capped the Chargers’ 23-20 comeback over the Broncos, who lost on a last-second field goal in Indianapolis in Week 2.
In neither game did the Broncos (1-2) trail in the fourth quarter, but they trudged off the field with the sting of defeat after watching their opponent nail a field goal with no time left.
“Well, it stinks,” Broncos quarterback Bo Nix said. “It definitely is not fun, it’s not enjoyable but all you can do is go to the next game. I’ve never been able to figure out how to go back and change anything yet. I’m still working on that, but the most important thing is we have the whole season ahead of us.
“Instead of going back and changing things, all we can do is move forward and change them in the future and do things differently and find a way to not let these close games fall into another team’s hands.”
TEXANS CUT C.J. GARDNER-JOHNSON AFTER DISAPPOINTING 0-3 START
HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Texans released starting safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson on Tuesday after only three games with the team.
Houston acquired Gardner-Johnson from Philadelphia in the offseason in a trade for offensive lineman Kenyon Green in hopes that his ball-hawking ability would provide a boost to the Texans secondary.
Gardner-Johnson played 96% of the defensive snaps as Houston got off to an 0-3 start. He had 15 tackles but had no interceptions or passes defensed.
The Texans restructured Gardner-Johnson’s contract before the season to give him a $6.6 million signing bonus that he keeps despite getting cut.
Gardner-Johnson had six interceptions for the Eagles in both 2022 and 2024 as he helped Philadelphia reach the Super Bowl both seasons and win it all last season. He played only three games for Detroit in 2023 because of injuries.
Houston can bring back safety Jimmie Ward from the physically unable to perform list after this week’s game.
JAXSON DART TO START AT QUARTERBACK FOR THE GIANTS AGAINST THE CHARGERS, AP SOURCES SAY
More than a few New York Giants fans at the Meadowlands chanted, “We want Dart!” after Russell Wilson threw an interception during a third consecutive loss to start the season on Sunday night.
Now they are getting him.
The Giants are turning to rookie Jaxson Dart to start at quarterback in their next game Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers, according to two people familiar with the decision. The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the change had not been announced.
Dart replaces Wilson with New York off to an 0-3 start and the unbeaten Chargers coming to town. Wilson is expected to dress as the backup with journeyman Jameis Winston remaining third on the depth chart.
Coach Brian Daboll was noncommittal Monday about who his QB would be after Wilson threw two interceptions in a 22-9 defeat to Kansas City on Sunday night. Daboll said he and his staff were “evaluating everything,” declining to answer who else might be involved in making a change at football’s most important position.
Dart is set to make his first NFL start after getting a handful of snaps the past two weeks. He has yet to attempt a pass, while Wilson has thrown all of them so far, going 65 of 110 for 778 yards, three touchdowns and three picks.
The Giants traded back into the first round to select Dart with the 25th pick and see the Mississippi product as their quarterback of the future.
“We put him in the game for the last two weeks,” Daboll said Monday when asked about Dart. “We wouldn’t put anybody in a game we don’t feel confident with.”
Dart is in line to be New York’s sixth different QB to start a game going back to 2022, joining Wilson, Daniel Jones, Tommy DeVito, Drew Lock, Tyrod Taylor and Davis Webb.
IT’S RARE TO SEE THE RAVENS PUSHED AROUND PHYSICALLY, BUT THAT’S WHAT HAPPENED AGAINST DETROIT
BALTIMORE (AP) — By the end of the game, the contrast was too obvious to ignore.
Jared Goff could wait patiently in the pocket with time to pick apart the Baltimore defense.
Meanwhile, Lamar Jackson’s legendary elusiveness became less and less effective as the Ravens’ offense broke down against a swarming Detroit pass rush.
When Jackson has been healthy these past few seasons, the Ravens have almost never lost unless they beat themselves in some fashion, be it with turnovers, penalties or other careless mistakes.
Monday night was different, however. Baltimore was simply outplayed in a 38-30 defeat in which the Lions were the dominant team physically, outrushing the Ravens 224-85.
That’s the kind of differential that’s often in Baltimore’s favor.
“Our run defense, it’s been pretty good the whole time I’ve been here, but when a team runs a ball like that, it just demoralizes you more than passing the ball,” safety Kyle Hamilton said. “They’re challenging you mentally (and) physically, so it’s on us as a defense just to put that fire out ASAP, and we didn’t do that.”
It’s felt for a while like Baltimore’s injury report only matters if Jackson is on it, but a few other absences are hurting them significantly at the moment. Fullback Patrick Ricard isn’t the first man you think of when discussing the Ravens’ offense, but his calf injury has an impact on Baltimore’s running game, which has been surprisingly ineffective near the goal line. Defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike (neck) and pass rusher Kyle Van Noy (hamstring) were also out, and that was a factor in Baltimore’s weak defensive performance.
The Ravens started 0-2 last season and still won the AFC North. Now they’ll have to climb out of a 1-2 hole.
What’s working
Jackson took seven sacks but still finished with a passer rating of 148.1. In the first half at least, he was able to find receivers downfield and kept plays alive when he needed to.
Despite an injury to tight end Isaiah Likely, the Ravens have plenty of people for Jackson to throw to.
“He made some on-time throws, tried to move around in the pocket and make some plays,” coach John Harbaugh said. “They got us on some sacks when you’re trying to throw the ball like that at the end of the game.”
What needs work
Baltimore held Cleveland’s anemic offense to 17 points in Week 2, but the Ravens allowed 41 to Buffalo and 38 to Detroit. They haven’t shown they can hold up defensively against the other top teams in the league. Baltimore’s 57-game sack streak was snapped against the Lions.
“We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel. We just have to go play football,” Hamilton said. “It’s probably not a good answer, but it’s running and it’s hitting, and we have to run and hit better.”
Stock up
After a slow start to the season, tight end Mark Andrews caught six passes for 91 yards and two touchdowns.
“It just felt good getting in the end zone, making some plays, getting in a rhythm, and I thought Lamar threw some incredible passes,” Andrews said. “It just felt really good. I’m always excited to help this team and try to help make plays.”
Stock down
Derrick Henry has now fumbled in each of the first three games of the season — twice in big fourth-quarter spots. He was shut down after an early 28-yard touchdown run.
“I didn’t see the guy coming from behind. I just have to hold onto the ball,” Henry said. “He made the play, and I don’t know. You just have to keep working. That’s all I can think of. It sucks right now. I’m not going to lie to you all.”
Injuries
Madubuike’s neck injury sounded ominous when Harbaugh spoke about it last week.
“They’re dealing with the symptoms, and they’re testing right now,” he said Saturday. “So, he will be ruled out for this game, and they’re going to try to get to the bottom of it.”
Key numbers
The Ravens were held under 100 yards rushing for a second consecutive week. The previous time that happened was in September 2018, before Jackson took over as the starting quarterback.
Up next
A tough early schedule for Baltimore continues with a trip to Kansas City to face the Chiefs on Sunday. Both teams are 1-2. After that, the Ravens play at home against two more playoff teams from 2024 — Houston and the Los Angeles Rams.
BRIAN CALLAHAN HANDS TITANS’ PLAY-CALLING DUTIES TO QB COACH
Titans head coach Brian Callahan is passing play-calling duties to quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree.
Callahan is just 3-17 in his tenure with Tennessee, including an 0-3 start this season heading into Sunday’s game at Houston (0-3).
“It’s a pretty easy thing to do when trying to help the football team win,” Callahan said Tuesday. “They hired me to be the head coach — and part of that process was being involved in the offense — but my job is to be the head coach of the football team and I think that this (change) allows me to do that job a little bit better, pay more attention to some things that might require my attention and be more present. We’re 0-3. We’re trying to get better.”
Callahan said Tuesday morning he would step back from the in-game play-calling role but will help formulate game plans and have input during the game along with offensive coordinator Nick Holz.
Hardegree, 41, was hired as Tennessee’s quarterbacks coach in 2024 and interviewed to be offensive coordinator of the Chicago Bears in the offseason. He crossed paths with Callahan as a quality control coach with the Broncos in 2014. Callahan was an offensive assistant in Denver.
“I lean on him a lot, trust him. He is a really, really good quarterbacks coach,” Callahan said of Hardegree at the NFL Scouting Combine. “There’s two parts to coaching: obviously the schematic part, and the position coaching part, technique and details and fundamentals. I think Bo is excellent at both. I don’t think Bo is going to be with us forever. I think he is going to be calling plays, and I think Bo will be a head coach at some point, too. He’s an excellent football coach.
Hardegree has NFL play-calling experience when he served as interim offensive coordinator for the final nine games of the 2023 season with the Las Vegas Raiders.
REPORT: BUCS WR MIKE EVANS (HAMSTRING) OUT MULTIPLE WEEKS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans is expected to be sidelined multiple weeks with a hamstring injury, multiple media outlets reported on Tuesday.
An MRI revealed a mild-to-moderate strain for Evans, who is expected to miss at least two weeks and potentially a third, per NFL Network. Should that be the case, Evans will sit out Tampa Bay’s games against the visiting Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday), at the Seattle Seahawks (Oct. 5) and visiting San Francisco 49ers (Oct. 12).
While Evans is expected to miss time, fellow wideout Chris Godwin could return for the Bucs (3-0) in their Week 4 game against the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles (3-0). Godwin has been sidelined since badly dislocating his ankle in Week 7 of last season.
Evans sustained his injury during the fourth quarter of this past Sunday’s 29-27 victory over the New York Jets.
He came up lame after an incomplete pass in his direction with 6:22 remaining and hobbled off the field. He tossed his helmet aside and knocked over a cooler in frustration while on his way to the locker room.
Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles said initial tests showed a “low grade” hamstring injury.
Evans, 32, missed three games with a hamstring injury last season and has a history of hamstring ailments during his 12-year career.
He had just four catches for 33 yards against the Jets but did grab his 106th career touchdown reception. He stands ninth in NFL history.
The six-time Pro Bowler is the lone receiver in NFL history to begin a career with 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons. He is also tied with the legendary Jerry Rice (1986-96) for the most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons at any point of a career.
Evans has just 140 receiving yards through three games so an extended absence could put the streak in jeopardy.
But last season, Evans had just 335 yards in seven games when he when he sidelined. He returned to action in late November for Tampa Bay’s 11th game and racked up 669 yards in seven games to end the regular season with 1,004.
REPORT: FORMER BENGALS RB RUDI JOHNSON DIES AT 45
Former Cincinnati Bengals running back Rudi Johnson has died at age 45, TMZ Sports reported on Tuesday.
Police told the media outlet that Johnson died by suicide in Florida just after midnight on Tuesday.
A fourth-round draft pick by Cincinnati in 2001, Johnson played seven seasons with the Bengals before finishing his career with the Detroit Lions in 2008. He set the Bengals’ single-season record with 1,458 rushing yards in 2005.
The 2004 Pro Bowl selection rushed for more than 1,300 yards and scored 12 touchdowns in three straight seasons from 2004-06.
Johnson concluded his career with 5,979 rushing yards and 49 TDs plus 113 catches for 676 yards and two scores in 95 games (63 starts). He ranks fourth on Cincinnati’s all-time rushing list behind Corey Dillon, James Brooks and Joe Mixon.
Johnson was named the 2000 SEC Player of the Year after rushing for 1,567 yards and 13 touchdowns in 12 games in his lone season at Auburn.
WEEK 4 POWER RANKINGS: DON’T FORGET DETROIT
While the NFL rests on a traditional off-day Tuesday, Field Level Media NFL writers reviewed their notes to rank all 32 teams entering Week 4.
We’re pushing two types of teams to the top of the football-playing pantheon this week: good teams that find a way to win even when they shouldn’t (hello, Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and teams capable of getting a defensive stop with the game on the line (Los Angeles Chargers, come on down).
The Packers didn’t make the type of statement we expected in Cleveland, and Micah Parsons summed it up perfectly as Green Bay tries to rally before a headlining gig in Dallas this week.
We’re still buying the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens even if their defenses make us doubt which direction they’re headed after December.
The race is just as intense at the rear of the line and at least five teams appear to have what it takes to land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft.
32. New York Giants (0-3)
Last Week: L, 22-9 vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Up Next: vs. Los Angeles Chargers (3-0), 1 p.m. ET
It’s easy to see the draw of throwing Jaxson Dart into the starting lineup. There’s also wisdom in the warning label from WR Darius Slayton about the developmental damage he witnessed when the Giants rushed Daniel Jones into the lineup Week 3 of his rookie season. Slayton’s advice is to let Dart follow the Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson plan of learning the game from the sideline for a year.
31. New Orleans Saints (0-3)
Last Week: L, 44-13 at Seattle Seahawks
Up Next: at Buffalo Bills (3-0), 1 p.m. ET
Spencer Rattler is 0-9 as a starter and the Saints are not one or two pieces away. Early trade calls about Alvin Kamara — from the Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, Washington Commanders and others — should be fruitful as New Orleans transitions toward a full reset under Kellen Moore.
30. Tennessee Titans (0-3)
Last Week: L, 41-20 vs. Indianapolis Colts
Up Next: at Houston Texans (0-3), 1 p.m. ET
Titans scored one of their three wins last season at Houston, their fourth road win over the Texans in the past five meetings.
29. Miami Dolphins (0-3)
Last Week: L, 31-21 at Buffalo Bills
Up Next: vs. New York Jets (0-3), 7:15 p.m. ET (Monday)
Showed life at Buffalo in primetime last week until Tua Tagovailoa threw a baffling INT. Back in a spotlight slot Monday, is Miami in win-or-else territory with head coach Mike McDaniel?
28. New York Jets (0-3)
Last Week: L, 29-27 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Up Next: at Miami Dolphins (0-3), 7:15 p.m. ET (Monday)
In an epic week for special teams, the Jets were the only team to block a FG and return it for a score to lose. Aaron Glenn has inspired a competitive environment. That spark won’t be easy to maintain as losses mount.
27. Carolina Panthers (1-2)
Last Week: W, 30-0 vs. Atlanta Falcons
Up Next: at New England Patriots (1-2), 1 p.m. ET
Life is easier for any quarterback with an unabashed commitment to running the ball. The Panthers placed two starting offensive linemen on IR last week, then ripped the heart of the Falcons’ defense by sticking with the run. Carolina put on a team tackling clinic to take away Bijan Robinson.
26. Las Vegas Raiders (1-2)
Last Week: L 41-24 at Washington Commanders
Up Next: vs. Chicago Bears (1-2), 4:05 p.m. ET
Chip Kelly’s offensive plan was to feature rookie RB Ashton Jeanty and create an identity around the running game. Offensive line issues are limiting Jeanty’s chances, which might send the Raiders back to the drawing board.
25. New England Patriots (1-2)
Last Week: L, 21-14 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Up Next: vs. Carolina Panthers (1-2), 1 p.m. ET
Two home losses but at least the Patriots aren’t in the AFC East cellar with the winless Jets and Dolphins. New England nosedives in the rankings if it can’t get a victory at home against Carolina.
24. Cleveland Browns (1-2)
Last Week: W, 13-10 vs. Green Bay Packers
Up Next: at Detroit Lions (2-1), 1 p.m. ET
All aboard? Not quite. A masterful defensive plan minimized every playmaker on the Green Bay offense and Cleveland still needed a last-second FG to steal the win.
23. Dallas Cowboys (1-1)
Last Week: L, 31-14 at Chicago Bears
Up Next: vs. Green Bay Packers, 8:20 p.m. ET (Sunday)
At this pace, the Cowboys might score 400-plus points this season and give up 500. Don’t look now but Jordan Love and Matt LaFleur own Dallas. They’re bringing Micah Parsons, too.
22. Houston Texans (0-3)
Last Week: L, 17-10 at Jacksonville Jaguars
Up Next: vs. Tennessee Titans (0-3), 1 p.m. ET
Sure they miss RB Joe Mixon but the bigger concern is how uncomfortable C.J. Stroud looks in the new scheme. At this point last season, we were discussing since-fired coordinator Bobby Slowik as a head-coaching candidate.
21. Atlanta Falcons (1-2)
Last Week: L, 30-0 at Carolina Panthers
Up Next: vs. Washington Commanders (1-2), 1 p.m. ET
Maybe Michael Penix Jr. was “off” last week at Carolina as Raheem Morris stated. Or maybe this is who he is as an NFL QB. A shutout at Carolina is beyond confounding ineptitude.
20. Cincinnati Bengals (2-1)
Last Week: L, 48-10 at Minnesota Vikings
Up Next: at Denver Broncos (1-2), 8:15 p.m. ET (Monday)
Every team clamoring for a backup QB to get more time should review the past six quarters of Cincinnati’s offense transitioning from Joe Burrow to Jake Browning. Life won’t get any easier. Denver’s pass rush, secondary present major problems for the Bengals and their absent running game.
19. Chicago Bears (1-2)
Last Week: W, 31-14 vs. Dallas Cowboys
Up Next: at Las Vegas Raiders (1-2), 4:05 p.m. ET
Hold on with two hands, Bears fans. This is going to be a bumpy ride. Dallas can do a lot for a team’s confidence — see New York Giants. A suspect running game plus injury issues in the secondary imply a rollercoaster of results.
18. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1)
Last Week: W, 21-14 at New England Patriots
Up Next: vs. Minnesota Vikings (2-1) in Dublin, 9:30 a.m. ET (Sunday)
Jaylen Warren is underappreciated outside of Pittsburgh. He’s been a huge benefit to Aaron Rodgers as both feel their way around a work-in-progress offense.
17. Arizona Cardinals (2-1)
Last Week: L, 16-15 at San Francisco 49ers
Up Next: vs. Seattle Seahawks (2-1), 8:15 p.m. ET (Thursday)
No one area of the team is dominant and subtracting James Conner is a step back for Arizona’s offense.
16. Minnesota Vikings (2-1)
Last Week: W, 48-10 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Up Next: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1) in Dublin, 9:30 a.m. ET (Sunday)
Credit Kevin O’Connell for having Carson Wentz ready to play within weeks of working together. Last week’s win belongs to defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
15. Washington Commanders (2-1)
Last Week: W, 41-24 vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Up Next: at Atlanta Falcons (1-2), 1 p.m. ET
Long-term outlook for Jayden Daniels reflects the long-term ceiling of the Commanders. Dan Quinn’s return to Atlanta sets up as entertaining undercard game in Week 4.
14. Denver Broncos (1-2)
Last Week: L, 23-20 at Los Angeles Chargers
Up Next: vs. Cincinnati Bengals (2-1), 8:15 p.m. ET (Monday)
Had a puncher’s chance to spoil home opener for Chargers, left with another one-possession loss. Denver does look to be legit and the best of the three 1-2 teams in the AFC West behind L.A.
13. Los Angeles Rams (2-1)
Last Week: L, 33-26 at Philadelphia Eagles
Up Next: vs. Indianapolis Colts (3-0), 4:05 p.m. ET
Went scoreless in the fourth quarter and gave up 26 second-half points to spoil an upset bid at Philly. Looking like a team that can run with anyone in the league.
12. Kansas City Chiefs (1-2)
Last Week: W, 22-9 vs. New York Giants
Up Next: vs. Baltimore Ravens (1-2), 4:25 p.m. ET
Flickering hope for a full revival of Patrick Mahomes and the passing game emerged in the second half at New York. It’s a good time for the Chiefs to see the flame-fanning Ravens’ defense, which was torched by the Bills (41 points in Week 1) and Lions.
11. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1)
Last Week: W, 17-10 vs. Houston Texans
Up Next: at San Francisco 49ers (3-0), 4:05 p.m. ET
One defensive stop at Cincinnati away from a 3-0 record, the Jaguars are forming a physical and fiery persona in for a test at San Francisco even without Nick Bosa.
10. Seattle Seahawks (2-1)
Last Week: W, 44-13 vs. New Orleans Saints
Up Next: at Arizona Cardinals (2-1), 8:15 p.m. ET (Thursday)
This is why the Seahawks wanted Mike Macdonald last year. Defense is turning a corner. Seattle leads league with at plus-6 net touchdown differential.
9. San Francisco 49ers (3-0)
Last Week: W, 16-15 vs. Arizona Cardinals
Up Next: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-1), 4:05 p.m. ET
Mission becomes more difficult without Nick Bosa (torn ACL). Injury toll can’t be ignored but San Francisco sits atop NFC West.
8. Indianapolis Colts (3-0)
Last Week: W, 41-20 at Tennessee Titans
Up Next: at Los Angeles Rams (2-1), 4:05 p.m. ET
We’re on board with the Shoe based on offensive balance and the resurrection of Daniel Jones, but Colts MVP candidate might be RB Jonathan Taylor. He’s No. 1 in the league in yards from scrimmage (112.7 per game) and rushing (338 yards). Indy leads the league in point differential (+47)
7. Baltimore Ravens (1-2)
Last Week: L, 38-30 vs. Detroit Lions
Up Next: at Kansas City Chiefs (1-2), 4:25 p.m. ET
For the first time ever, a quarterback lost a game with a passer rating over 140 this season. And Lamar Jackson suddenly has done it twice (at Buffalo, vs. Detroit). Defense has been gutted by Super Bowl contenders.
6. Green Bay Packers (2-1)
Last Week: L, 13-10 at Cleveland Browns
Up Next: at Dallas Cowboys (1-2), 8:20 p.m. ET (Sunday)
We might not grasp how good the Browns can be defensively, but the Packers are a step below our top-tier Super Bowl contenders until Jordan Love delivers against a top-tier defense.
5. Los Angeles Chargers (3-0)
Last Week: W, 23-20 vs. Denver Broncos
Up Next: at New York Giants (0-3), 1 p.m. ET
Justin Herbert has excelled with Jim Harbaugh doing the teaching. We’re ready to begin discussing defensive coordinator Mike Minter as a head coach. Even without Khalil Mack, the Chargers limited Broncos to two third-down conversions last week. However, 25 defensive penalties in three games is a potential landmine.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-0)
Last Week: W, 29-27 vs. New York Jets
Up Next: vs. Philadelphia Eagles (3-0), 1 p.m. ET
Baker Mayfield’s heroics kept Bucs perfect last week. If this team gets healthy, is Tampa the team to beat in the NFC? Potential statement game up next.
3. Detroit Lions (2-1)
Last Week: W, 38-30 at Baltimore Ravens
Up Next: vs. Cleveland Browns (1-2), 1 p.m. ET
Throwing up 90 points in two games places a Week 1 no-show at Green Bay in the rearview mirror. If the Lions are healthy on the offensive and defensive line, they have an edge in almost every matchup.
2. Buffalo Bills (3-0)
Last Week: W, 31-21 vs. Miami Dolphins
Up Next: vs. New Orleans Saints (0-3)
Establishing a dynamic running game temporarily can boost a Buffalo defense still finding its way.
1. Philadelphia Eagles (3-0)
Last Week: W, 33-27 vs. Los Angeles Rams
Up Next: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-0), 1 p.m. ET
Ripped a win from the jaws of defeat with a FG block and score. While many of its biggest threats are finding ways to lose, the Eagles stand out for winning at less than their best.
BEFORE REUNION SUNDAY, JERRY JONES RECALLS TEAMS ‘MITIGATING MICAH PARSONS’
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has extra pep in his step this week with Packers pass rusher Micah Parsons returning to AT&T Stadium on Sunday night.
“Yes, I do,” Jones said Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas. “Of course, I’ve said this time and time again, I think the world of Micah as an individual and of course know him well. I might say, ‘I wish him well,’ except it’s obvious I don’t this weekend in terms of Green Bay winning the game. And so, it makes for an exciting time.”
The Week 4 prime-time clash between the Cowboys (1-2) and Packers (2-1) comes exactly one month after Dallas made the shocking move to trade Parsons to Green Bay, thereby ending an ugly contract dispute.
Jones said there was “nothing personal” about the decision to deal Parsons, who signed a record-breaking four-year, $188 million deal with the Packers.
“Not at all,” Jones said. “… I told you, I liked Micah. As much as people wanted to make that of it, there was no issue regarding feelings relative to the negotiations. Certainly not on my part. It was just par for the course.”
In exchange for Parsons, the Cowboys received defensive tackle Kenny Clark and first-round draft picks in 2026 and 2027.
Parsons, 26, who made the Pro Bowl and recorded at least 12 sacks in each of his four seasons with the Cowboys, has recorded 1.5 sacks and six QB hits through three games with his new club.
Dallas won’t have star receiver CeeDee Lamb (ankle) on Sunday, but Jones suggested that running the ball against Parsons in the Packers might be the Cowboys’ best course anyway.
“Over the years, when I saw Micah mitigated, when I saw teams play him pretty well, which he’s going to make some plays no matter how you play him, but when I saw people play us well with Micah in the game — and it did happen — then obviously we’ll be looking to try to run those kinds of plays,” he said.
Jones also said veteran defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is expected to make his Cowboys debut Sunday night.
The former No. 1 overall draft pick signed with Dallas last week but was not available for the Week 3 loss against the Chicago Bears.
Clowney, 32, has 58 sacks, 108 tackles for loss, 139 QB hits and 15 forced fumbles in 140 career games (127 starts) with the Houston Texans (2014-18), Seattle Seahawks (2019), Tennessee Titans (2020), Cleveland Browns (2021-22), Baltimore Ravens (2023) and Carolina Panthers (2024).
MICAH PARSONS DOWNPLAYS HIS RETURN TO DALLAS, SAYS SACKING HIS MENTOR DAK PRESCOTT WILL BE ‘PAINFUL’
Sacking Dak Prescott would be bittersweet for Micah Parsons.
The two-time All-Pro pass rusher downplayed his upcoming return to Dallas and expressed his feelings about potentially taking down his friend and former teammate in a conversation with The Associated Press on Tuesday.
Parsons and the Green Bay Packers (2-1) face off against Prescott and the Cowboys (1-2) in front of a national television audience on Sunday night.
“It’s going to be painful,” Parsons told the AP about getting a chance to sack Prescott. “That’s my guy. He was always like a good mentor for me. But you know how it is, he always told me if I ever faced him that it’ll be a great matchup, so I’m excited to see what Sunday brings itself.”
Parsons plans to treat it like an ordinary game, though it’ll be his first time inside AT&T Stadium as a visitor.
“I accepted my fate weeks ago when the trade happened,” Parsons said. “So for me, it’s just all about playing another game and just doing what I do best, and that’s just be a disruptive football player. I think the media and the fans are trying to blow it up to be such a big thing. But I just look at it as just another game at AT&T.”
Just a game that was circled on everyone’s calendar after Cowboys owner Jerry Jones traded Parsons to the Packers one week before the NFL’s season opener, ending a lengthy contract dispute.
The Packers increased their Super Bowl hopes with Parsons, and made the 26-year-old the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history by signing him to a $188 million, four-year contract that includes $136 million guaranteed.
The Cowboys (1-2) have struggled without Parsons, especially on defense. They’ve allowed the third-most yards (397.7 per game), most passing yards (288) and sixth-highest points (30.7).
Despite missing all of training camp and arriving in Green Bay a week before the first game, Parsons made an immediate impact on defense in a 27-13 win over the two-time defending NFC North champion Lions in Week 1. The Packers defeated Washington soundly 27-18 four days later. But the offense couldn’t get on track in a 13-10 loss at Cleveland in Week 3.
“Besides the fans, just the teammates, the support staff, I mean they made this transition so great and I’m just extremely honored and blessed to be with such a great group of guys that want to win and that just want to play football and I think we’ve been playing really good football so far, so that helps and I just hope we continue that,” Parsons said.
TITANS TRADE STARTING CORNERBACK JARVIS BROWNLEE JR. AND A DRAFT PICK TO JETS FOR 6TH-ROUND PICK
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans traded starting cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. and a seventh-round pick in the 2026 draft to the New York Jets on Tuesday for a sixth-round selection next April.
The Titans announced the trade hours after coach Brian Callahan said he was handing over play-calling duties to quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree.
Acquiring Brownlee, a fifth-round pick out of Louisville in 2024, helps the Jets (0-3) add some depth in a struggling secondary behind starters Sauce Gardner, Brandon Stephens and nickel cornerback Michael Carter II.
It also reunites Brownlee with defensive back coach/pass game coordinator Chris Harris, who was Tennessee’s defensive pass game coordinator and cornerbacks coach last season. The Jets play Miami on Monday night.
As a rookie, the 5-foot-10, 194-pound Brownlee started 14 games and ranked third on the Tennessee defense with 75 tackles. He also ranked fifth among AFC rookies with nine passes defended and led all rookie defensive backs with seven tackles for loss.
Brownlee started the first two games and had two tackles for loss this season. He missed last week’s loss to Indianapolis with an injured ankle and was seen at the stadium pregame with his foot in a walking boot.
The Titans also signed running back Raheem Blackshear to the practice squad.
