The third week of the NFL season is already over! Here are four things that you absolutely need to know from the week. A recurring theme from NFL Week 3 is: coaching matters.
PS: if you want a refresher from Week 2, you can check it HERE.
The Minnesota Vikings are GOOD
This takeaway is a surprise to many fans. Not too many people pegged the Minnesota Vikings to be one of the better teams this season, but they most definitely are through the first three weeks.
They are 3-0. They have beaten both the 49ers and Texans. They have scored the second most points (85) and given up the second fewest points (30) in the NFL. PFF has given the Vikings the fourth best offensive grade, the ninth best defensive grade, and the fourth overall highest team grade.
It’s time to give them their praise: the Minnesota Vikings are HOT.
The Vikings start divisional play in Week 4, playing against another hot team, the Green Bay Packers.
Sam Darnold’s health is in question after getting injured towards the end of the Texans game, but early reports show Darnold avoided a serious knee injury and he is not expected to miss time (SOURCE).
All in all, Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores putting one of the best offensive and defensive units with a somewhat depleted roster is an example of coaching matters.
Pittsburgh Steelers are Finding Ways to Win
The Pittsburgh Steelers are off to a 3-0 start, which is another surprise undefeated team through three weeks.
The Pittsburgh Steelers defense have given up an average of 8.7 points (!!!!) per game thus far. This is good enough to be ranked the second best defense, according to PFF.
Superstar EDGE TJ Watt is playing at an insanely high level, already racking in 3 sacks and 5 QB hits. PFF has accredited him a defensive grade of 92.0 (second highest amongst all EDGE – behind Aidan Hutchinson).
Watt isn’t the only member of the defensive line playing well. Fellow EDGE Nick Herbig and Defensive Tackle Cameron Heyward are the second and third highest graded players on the Pittsburgh Steelers defense, with grades of 91.7 and 90.00, respectively.
However, the Steelers aren’t necessarily a one-trick pony. Their offense is currently graded as the 10th best overall offense by PFF.
Former Chicago Bear Justin Fields has completed 73% of his passes, thrown for 517 yards, and scored two touchdowns in the air. He currently has the fifth highest passing grade per PFF.
I don’t think the words “Justin Fields” and “highest passing grade” have ever been said in the same sentence throughout the previous three seasons.
What’s the difference?
Coaching matters.
Fields can’t see the field and throw over MOF
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) September 23, 2024
✌️👎@steelers pic.twitter.com/uqMoPUCkm7
Matt LaFleur has the Green Bay Packers ROLLING
I think Matt LaFleur could win a football game with me as the starting quarterback… that’s how well he has the Green Bay Packers’ offense rolling right now.
Jordan Love. Malik Willis. It doesn’t matter. They will find a way to score more points than the opposition.
The Packers are scoring an average of 25 points per game after putting up 30 points against the Tennessee Titans. And Malik Willis is playing solid football.
Coaching matters.
Malik Willis is thriving with the @packers 🧀 pic.twitter.com/OAsn6jCJ0d
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) September 23, 2024
Same Old Bears
The Chicago lost to the Indianpolis Colts 21-16 in Week 3.
The Bears scored zero points in the first half, despite running 42 offensive plays. And that was the recurring team for the Bears: they couldn’t score any offensive points.
I would say that I’ve seen the way that game play out at least a thousand times in my life, but this time, they lost in a different way.
Typically, the Bears couldn’t score by way of a dismal passing game, but on Sunday, Caleb Williams threw for 363 yards. And they still somehow managed to lose the game.
If you ask the Bears brass, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron is already on the hot seat.
Why?
Because coaching matters.
And also because Shane Waldron called the worst play I’ve ever possibly seen, which was a speed option on 4th and 1 on the goaline.
I don’t think it’s an overreaction to say the Chicago Bears just had the worst play call on 4th and goal in NFL History pic.twitter.com/udVzhCrLaw
— Nick Perkins (@NickyPerkss) September 22, 2024