The NFL season is in full swing, and Week 3 has brought forth several compelling narratives. Leading the charge in the NFC West are the Seattle Seahawks, who have confidently taken a two-game lead. Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Steelers are asserting their dominance in the AFC North with an identical lead.
Vikings and Darnold: A Perfect Match
The Minnesota Vikings have emerged as one of the few undefeated teams, sitting at a perfect 3-0. A significant part of their success is attributed to quarterback Sam Darnold. Since joining the Vikings, Darnold has put on a series of stellar performances, currently leading the NFL with eight passing touchdowns. His passer rating of 117.3 ranks second, and his 8.4 yards per attempt places him fourth in the league.
Darnold's transition to the Vikings has been historic. He’s the fifth quarterback in the last 25 years to start 3-0 and throw eight or more touchdowns in his first three games with a new team. Furthermore, he is the first quarterback in Vikings history to win his first three games and throw multiple touchdowns in each contest.
Rookie Spotlight: Malik Nabers Shines
Another standout for the Vikings is rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers. In Week 3, Nabers caught eight passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns, bringing his season totals to 23 catches for 271 yards and three touchdowns. His 37.8% target share is the fourth-highest for any player through the first three games over the last decade. Remarkably, his 271 receiving yards are the second-most for a rookie in franchise history over the first three games.
Barkley’s Dominance and the Eagles' Strategy
Switching gears to the ground game, Saquon Barkley has been a force to be reckoned with. The running back leads the NFL with 351 rushing yards and four touchdowns. In Week 3 alone, Barkley carried the ball 17 times for 147 yards and two touchdowns, crucially scoring both of the Eagles' touchdowns in their victory over the Saints. Barkley has consistently amassed over 100 yards from scrimmage in every game this season.
Saints' Offensive Struggles
The New Orleans Saints experienced a significant drop in offensive output against the Philadelphia Eagles, managing just 12 points. Prior to this game, the Saints averaged an impressive 45.5 points and 6.9 yards per play. However, their season averages have now dipped to 34.3 points and 6.0 yards per play over the first three games. The decline led C.J. Gardner-Johnson to comment that the Saints were 'pretenders' after such a lackluster performance.
Malik Willis: A Dual-Threat Weapon
On the other hand, Malik Willis is making waves for the Green Bay Packers. His versatile skill set has yielded a 73.5% completion rate, 9.5 yards per attempt, two touchdowns, and a passer rating of 122.6. Adding to his impressive stats, Willis has rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown. Remarkably, in his two starts, Willis has completed 75.8% of his passes with a 126.3 passer rating. He has become the fourth Packers player to accumulate over 200 passing yards, 50 rushing yards, a passing touchdown, and a rushing touchdown in a single game.
Dalton Lifts the Panthers
Finally, the Carolina Panthers recorded their first win of the year thanks to a remarkable performance by quarterback Andy Dalton. Dalton threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Panthers to score 36 points in Week 3 — a stark contrast to the combined 13 points scored in the initial two weeks of the season.
Despite the dynamic performances and standout players, challenges persist for some teams. The Dallas Cowboys, for instance, have been outscored 56-22 in their last two home games, though they did show resilience by scoring 22 straight points in the second half against the Ravens.
As the season progresses, these storylines will continue to develop, offering fans plenty of excitement and intrigue.