The third week of the NFL season was full of surprises, with some teams showing their true colors and others rising to the occasion. Here are seven lessons we learned from Week 3 and a breath of fresh air for the upcoming weeks.
1. The New England Patriots are still the team to beat. Despite a tough loss to the Detroit Lions, the Patriots showed they can still compete with the best teams in the league. Tom Brady and the offense looked sharp, and the defense held its own against a potent Lions offense.
2. The Kansas City Chiefs are for real. Led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs put up a whopping 42 points against the San Francisco 49ers. The Chiefs have one of the most explosive offenses in the league and look to be a force to be reckoned with.
3. The Los Angeles Rams are still a powerhouse. After a slow start to the season, the Rams put on a show against the Los Angeles Chargers, winning 35-23. Jared Goff looked sharp and the defense was able to contain Philip Rivers and the Chargers offense.
4. The Cleveland Browns are on the rise. After an 0-16 season last year, the Browns have looked much improved in 2018. They earned a hard-fought win against the New York Jets, and Baker Mayfield looks like he could be the franchise quarterback they have been searching for.
5. The Jacksonville Jaguars are still a threat. Despite losing to the Tennessee Titans, the Jaguars showed they can still compete with anyone in the league. Blake Bortles had a solid performance, and the defense looked solid despite giving up some big plays.
6. The Pittsburgh Steelers are in trouble. After an embarrassing loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Steelers look like they may be in trouble this season. Ben Roethlisberger has not looked like himself and the defense has been unable to stop anyone.
7. The Minnesota Vikings are still a Super Bowl contender. Despite a tough loss to the Buffalo Bills, the Vikings showed they can still compete with anyone in the league. Kirk Cousins had a solid performance, and the defense held its own against a potent Bills offense.
Overall, Week 3 of the NFL season was full of surprises and lessons learned. As we move forward into Week 4, there is a breath of fresh air that teams can still make adjustments and turn their seasons around. It will be interesting to see how teams respond in Week 4 and beyond!