Week 3 Takeaways for the 2024 NFL Season
We saw a lot of “firsts” this week. Chicago’s Caleb Williams threw the first TD pass by a rookie QB this season (he threw 2 in fact in a loss). Six teams notched their first wins of the season to avoid dreaded 0-3 starts. On the other end of the spectrum, four teams tasted defeat for the first time in 2024. Three squads had QBs see their first action of the year. No matter how deep into the calendar we get, new things always happen in this league. That’s part of the fun here! With that in mind, let’s check out my week 3 takeaways for the 2024 NFL season to find out what we’ve learned!
TNF: Jets’ Offense Clicking Into Gear While Patriots Bottoming Out
In their first home game of the season, the Jets gave their fans what they’ve been waiting for…even if it was a year later than planned. QB Aaron Rodgers (27/35, 281 yards, 2 TDs; 3/18 rushing) was in full command of the offense. He seemed truly comfortable out there in ways he hadn’t been the first two weeks. His line checks were on point, he tossed surgical passes all night, and he even took off scrambling a few times. This was the complete Rodgers package, and everyone got involved. Rodgers completed passes to 8 different targets, with TE Tyler Conklin (5/93/) leading the way in a 24-3 victory.
The Jets suddenly have a two-headed backfield, as RBs Breece Hall (16/54/1; 4/29 receiving) and Braelon Allen (11/55) both played well. The latter, who as a 20-year-old rookie is the league’s youngest player, showed surprising burst for his big frame and can keep Hall fresh throughout the season. I don’t care that any of this came against the lowly Patriots; New England normally plays good defense anyway. The only bad things I saw were a shanked 45-yard FG by K Greg Zuerlein and a drive in which the team called 2 timeouts to avoid delays of game. This happened against the Titans as well, so it’s something to clean up.
On the other side of the ball, the Jets’ defense swarmed QB Jacoby Brissett (12/18, 98 yards) and never let him hold onto the ball. They sacked him 5 times, including 2.5 sacks for DE Will McDonald IV. McDonald now has 5.5 sacks in his past 2 games. The opponents matter here for context, but he came out of college as a pass rushing specialist. He seems to be figuring things out, which bodes well with Jermaine Johnson (Achilles) done for the year. Things got so bad for New England that #3 pick Drake Maye (4/8, 22 yards; 2/12 rushing) made his NFL debut. NE didn’t try to do much though, so Maye is a topic for another day.
We will have to talk about about when the team should switch to the rookie though. Brissett, for all of his veteran savvy, is not leading a strong aerial attack. New England ran the ball well again, but they didn’t stick to the ground game once they fell behind. Whether it’s Brissett being afraid to take shots or the line simply not holding up well enough, this offense is stagnant. If the defense is overmatched, the Pats have no chance. That line might be the one reason not to go to Maye (who took two sacks himself in just a few minutes), as it might wreck him. If things continue this way though, HC Jerod Mayo may have no choice.
Panthers Bench QB Bryce Young; Andy Dalton Excels in Win #1
The top story this week concerned Carolina benching QB Bryce Young, who they famously traded the farm for by acquiring the #1 pick in the 2023 draft. Analysts everywhere wondered what went wrong. A few people said that Young simply isn’t good, but many others blamed the Panthers for mismanaging him. They stated that he had a terrible offensive line and insufficient weapons, not to mention a poor cycle of new voices in his head as a result of meddlesome owner David Tepper. With Andy Dalton starting this week and likely for the near future, we knew that we would get some answers. Apparently it only took one week.
Dalton was completely different from Young in this offense. By halftime, he had more points on the board than Young had in his 2 full games. His first drive ended in a TD, which felt foreign to Panthers fans. Two drives later, he threw a perfect dime in the end zone to WR Diontae Johnson (8/122/1), who would end up with a career-high in receiving yards. After a deep strike TD to Adam Thielen (3/40/1) with 28 seconds remaining in the half, the shell-shocked Raiders were down 21-7 at home. Dalton ended up 26/37 for 319 yards and those 3 TDs. Those numbers all shattered anything Young has done in the NFL.
With the passing game finally humming, running lanes started to open up as well. RB Chuba Hubbard had a 100-yard day, finishing with 114 yards on 21 carries; he added 55 yards and a score through the air. Dalton’s quality play even energized the defense, while the Panthers’ balanced offensive attack enabled the team to put up 36 points. The Raiders only scored 22 themselves due to a 15-point 4th quarter during garbage time. This all really undercuts the narrative that Young had no help. If Dalton continues to disprove it, Young may be out of Carolina much sooner than anyone thought.
QB Injuries Define Several Games for Better or Worse
Three of this week’s games were shaped by quarterback injuries, and only one had a positive outcome. That would be the Packers’ tilt against the Titans. Jordan Love is still out with his sprained knee, so that left Malik Willis to face the team that drafted and traded him. Packers HC Matt LaFleur deserves a ton of credit for going 2-0 with Willis, even against two poor AFC South teams. The man known for his running rushed for 73 yards and a TD, and he easily beat his career-high in passing yards (202 with a TD). A dominating 30-14 road win has GB at 2-1, right on track until Love returns.
In our second case, the Chargers had to anticipate the possibility of Justin Herbert not making it through the team’s game against the Steelers. He suffered a high ankle sprain last week against the Panthers, so he almost missed this week’s game outright. Facing an elite Pittsburgh defense, Herbert did fine, going 12/18 for 125 yards and a TD. However, he limped away from one play, having aggravated his sprain. That brought Taylor Heinicke in, and he finished with 2 completions and 3 sacks taken in a 20-10 loss. Herbert should sit out a bit, or else this 2-0 start will go down the drain before he comes back.
Last week, we discussed the concussion suffered by Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa. One effect of that is that Skylar Thompson is now the starter until Tagovailoa returns. That plan lasted little more than one ugly half of football. Thompson went 13/19 for 107 yards, but he took 5 sacks and only put 3 points on the board, and those came off of a turnover deep in Seattle territory. In the 3rd quarter, he left the game with a chest/rib injury and did not return. That brought Tim Boyle in, and Miami lost 24-3 as expected. Tyler Huntley is on the practice squad, but none of these options are good. Has ANYONE contacted Ryan Tannehill yet?
Vikings Move to 3-0, and This Isn’t a Fluke
Before the season started, the Vikings were a popular pick to finish 4th in the NFC North. I even floated this possibility in my kickoff power rankings, though I left a caveat that they could “overachieve”. I’d be looking pretty foolish right now if I hadn’t put that in. Minnesota is first in their division and undefeated, sitting at 3-0 after a 34-7 thrashing of the Houston Texans. On paper, the Vikings look decent. WR Justin Jefferson is a superstar, the offensive line is solid, and the defense has some front seven pieces. As with most teams, their success boils down to one thing: can the QB play?
Most have written Sam Darnold off. He’s a former Jets and Panthers castoff after all. However, he spent last year as a backup in San Francisco, where he got tutored by Kyle Shanahan. Now under the tutelage of Kevin O’Connell, he looks as close to his draft pedigree (#3 overall in 2018) as ever. Against Houston, Darnold went 17/28 for 181 yards and 4 TDs. He didn’t pile up yardage, but he was very efficient and made no mistakes. Getting Jefferson (6/81/1) involved always helps, and RB Aaron Jones (19/102; 5/46/1 receiving) provided a great complement. Darnold spread the ball around, tossing his TDs to 4 different Vikings.
Defensively, DC Brian Flores is doing a masterful job. He has a perennially poor secondary playing competently, and the unit confounded 2nd-year star QB CJ Stroud. The reigning offensive rookie of the year threw 2 INTs in a rare poor showing and couldn’t move the ball at all. Former Texan Jonathan Greenard, now a Viking, sacked his former QB 3 times, and the defensive line held Houston to just 2.7 yards per rush and 38 rushing yards overall. If both sides of the ball continue to be this good, Minnesota is a real threat. This type of complementary football also tells me that this team is for real. Enjoy the fresh hope Viking fans!
Giants, Broncos, and Rams All Earn Impressive First Wins
We discussed Carolina above, and although Baltimore and Indianapolis earned their first wins as well, neither did anything unexpected in beating disappointing teams. New York, Denver, and LA each made statements to varying degrees, so I wanted to go over their games here. To the Bengals, Jaguars, and Titans: I’ll get to you next week.
The Giants played their best game of the year by far. QB Daniel Jones (24/34, 236 yards, 2 TDs) had a clean game, and he found rookie WR Malik Nabers (8/78/2) all the time. That connection is growing at a great pace. I don’t know that Jones can consistently play at this level, but Nabers at least seems like a franchise cornerstone. The biggest development in New York’s 21-15 win over Cleveland was the pass rush. Yes, the Browns are injured on the offensive line, but 8 sacks against anyone in the NFL is a great achievement. In all likelihood, the Giants overachieved against a poor team, but at least they aren’t pushovers.
Denver’s win was a stunner because they were in Tampa Bay to play the 2-0 Buccaneers. Denver’s defense has been decent if not overwhelming, but the unit throttled the Tampa attack. QB Baker Mayfield, who had been sensational through two weeks, threw for just 163 yards, a TD, and an INT. The Bucs only scored off of a Javonte Williams fumble. Broncos S Brandon Jones snagged the pick and earned a fumble recovery, while six different Denver players combined for 7 sacks. Most promisingly, rookie QB Bo Nix (25/36, 216 yards; 9/47/1 rushing) had no turnovers in the 26-7 win. That’s something really positive to build on.
If the Denver win was the most shocking outcome, LA’s victory over the 49ers stands as the most consequential result. The Rams were a playoff team last year, but injuries have led to an 0-2 start. San Francisco, though equally injured, took a quick 14-0 lead on the strength of WR Jauan Jennings, who had 3 TD catches and 175 yards in relief of Deebo Samuel. QB Brock Purdy (22/30, 292 yards, 3 TDs; 10/41 rushing) was nearly flawless, and at 21-7 in the 3rd quarter, it seemed like his team would cruise to victory. Credit Rams HC Sean McVay for scheming up a master plan to overcome such adversity.
QB Matthew Stafford (16/25, 221 yards, TD) was about as good as you could hope for without his top 2 WRs. Tutu Atwell (4/93) really picked up the slack, and RB Kyren Williams (24/89/2; 2/27/1 receiving) scored all 3 Rams TDs. The undermanned defense clamped down on the 49ers late, forcing a fumble and benefitting from a missed FG. LA came all the way back to tie the game at 24, and Stafford threw a really smart pass to draw a 25-yard PI call with 42 seconds left. K Joshua Karty drilled the subsequent 37-yard FG, and the Rams won 27-24 to avoid an 0-3 start. Both of these teams are now 1-2, right in the thick of things.