What we learned Sunday in the NFL, Week 3: The wide open AFC
Three weeks in and all those preseason predictions look worthless already. Sunday’s NFL action left us wondering which teams are the AFC’s best. In the NFC, the 3-0 Cardinals and Eagles are getting hard to overlook. The SB Nation NFL team tackles those questions and a pair of rookie quarterback debuts.
Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
By Danny Kelly
The Chargers struck again after knocking off the defending champs in San Diego last week with another big win over a previously unbeaten Bills team in Buffalo. Philip Rivers was solid again, finishing 18 of 25 for 256 yards and two touchdown passes to Eddie Royal.
Few quarterbacks in the NFL right now are more decisive in the pocket, have a quicker release and are playing as hot as Rivers. If Chargers offensive coordinator Frank Reich can continue to exploit Rivers and his weapons’ strong suits, San Diego could surprise a lot of people this year.
Just as important is that the Chargers’ defense has looked strong this season, particularly as the game gets down into the fourth quarter. On two Bills drives late in the contest, the San Diego pass rush showed up big, netting a sack that stalled the first and a safety that ended the second.
Here’s one of those bullets from Rivers to Royal.
The AFC power structure is really shaping up to be more interesting this year.
The Broncos looked strong despite ultimately losing to the Seahawks in Seattle on Sunday. Of course, we can't forget about the Ravens, who won again this week at Cleveland. The Patriots dispatched the Raiders, but not by the 14-point margin Vegas predicted. The Steelers dominated in Carolina, which is no small feat. The Texans and Bills, despite losing this week, join a host of teams at 2-1.
So who is the best team in the AFC?
2. Cincinnati keeps rolling
By Danny Kelly
The Bengals may not only have the best defense in the NFL, they may have the most exciting offense. In addition to Hue Jackson's predilection for read option, triple option, end arounds, flea flickers and the like, he called up this play below on Sunday. Mohamed Sanu took the pitch right then looked left to throw it to quarterback Andy Dalton, who managed to catch the ball, dodge a defender and run it in for a touchdown.
This, of course, comes a week after Sanu made arguably the best pass from any quarterback in Week 2 when he hit Brandon Tate downfield 50 yards. Sanu is 4-for-4 as a passer in the NFL. Not shabby.
But I digress. The Bengals are still alive among the unbeaten, and with an extremely strong defense and innovative, more exciting offense, could really be a contender to come out of the AFC. They ran away from a Titans team this week despite a low-key performance from Dalton, using a relentless rushing attack that netted three touchdowns, and a hounding defense that picked off Jake Locker twice.
Are the Bengals the class of the AFC right now?
3. DeSean goes back to Philadelphia
By Eric Sollenberger
Washington's trip to Philadelphia for a date with the Eagles ended up being pretty much what we expected: a physical battle between two good offenses and two mediocre defenses allowing a points factory to be built in their backfields.
Washington vs. Eagles
Washington vs. Eagles
The big story going into the contest was DeSean Jackson making his return to Philadelphia. The former Eagle got into a scrap with Nate Allen after the Eagles safety put a questionable hit on his former teammate, dinging his previously injured shoulder. Jackson got up and threw a hard shove into the Eagles defensive back, who would end up getting a penalty on the retaliation. Later, Jackson would put up a 81-yard touchdown against his old team, celebrating as he went into the end zone and breaking out the "Fly Eagles Fly" touchdown celebration.
That wouldn't be the last time the two teams would mix it up after the play. Nick Foles threw a fourth-quarter interception, which the officials would reverse, and paid the price for it on the return, getting drilled by defensive lineman Chris Baker, who would get ejected after the ensuing sideline brawl.
The game was decided between the whistles. Kirk Cousins threw the ball well and moved the ball with ease against the Eagles until Philadelphia's defense clamped down on Washington in the fourth quarter. Washington was driving late, down by three, and the Eagles forced their opponents into a fourth-and-10. Cousins' pass to Garcon missed the mark, opening the door for Philadelphia to kill the clock on its next drive.
Philadelphia is the first team in history to go 3-0 after overcoming a deficit of 10 or more points in all three of its games. That's given the Eagles an early lead in the NFC East, one game ahead of the Cowboys, who dug themselves out of a 21-0 hole to beat the Rams. Washington and New York are each 1-2, and have a date at FedEx next week. Dallas hosts the Saints in primetime next Sunday, and the Eagles travel to San Francisco to help the 49ers find themselves.
4. The NFC West is still the best, but ...
By Danny Kelly
The Cardinals were one of a handful of 2-0 teams after last week's games ended, but still a lot of people seemed to wonder if they were the real deal. They'd lost some of their key players including Karlos Dansby, Daryl Washington, Darnell Dockett and even quarterback Carson Palmer. Well, backup signal caller Drew Stanton and a stubborn bunch of birds went out and beat a tough 49ers team at home this week, and I'd say they've squashed a lot of their doubters.
Arizona outscored the Niners, 17-0, in the second half with the help of a smothering defense, a blocked field goal and effective play on offense. Stanton connected frequently with receivers Michael Floyd and John Brown.
Brown scored two touchdowns in the game, including this one where he ran right past fellow rookie Jimmie Ward:
The implications are interesting. The Niners are a surprising 1-2 after three games and the Cardinals sit alone atop the tough NFC West. Arizona, a 10-win team last year that missed the playoffs after finishing behind Seattle and San Francisco, looks like it isn’t planning on letting that scenario play out again this year. The Cards are the real deal -- they’re tough, they’re physical, their defense is strong and their offense is surprisingly explosive even with a backup quarterback making the throws. Look out.
4a. Seahawks knock off Broncos in overtime
The blowout that was Super Bowl XLVIII was probably not the most entertaining thing to watch for non-Seahawk fans, but the first regular season Super Bowl rematch in over a decade was definitely more exciting. Just ask Marshawn Lynch, who was on the edge of his seat as Denver mounted a furious fourth-quarter comeback after Seattle squandered a big lead.
A revamped and reloaded Denver team went blow-for-blow with the Seahawks in their place, and after clawing their way back into the game, the Broncos took possession down 20-12 with 59 seconds remaining. Peyton Manning led his offense on a drive for the ages, moving the ball downfield on Seattle's until-then stingy defense with a six-play drive that took only 41 seconds, capping it with a 26-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Tamme to cut the Seahawks' lead to 20-18. Manning then fired a bullet to the back of the end zone, hitting Demaryius Thomas, just past the reach of Richard Sherman, to tie the game. Overtime? Why not.
Seattle won the toss, and Russell Wilson, not to be outdone, led the Seahawks on a 13-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a Marshawn Lynch touchdown dive -- the game-winner. Wilson used his trademark scrambling ability to extend the drive on two key third-down plays, and utilized his two best playmakers, Lynch and Percy Harvin, to march down the field.
Seattle vs. Denver
So, what are the implications of Seattle’s OT win?
For the Broncos, if you’re looking for silver linings, they put themselves in a position to win the game in the Seahawks’ house, and nearly completed the comeback. If anything, the Broncos proved they can hang with the physical, punch-you-in-the-mouth brand of NFC West defense, and punch back.
It’s a big win for the Seahawks, who obviously would have preferred to head into their bye week 2-1 with a bounce-back win after last week’s loss to the Chargers. It shows that Seattle is still one of the best teams in the NFL, and it shows the Seahawks can still beat the Broncos despite all the new additions and returns of key players for Denver.
5. Rookies ascend
By Ryan Van Bibber
The Matt Cassel experiment is over in Minnesota thanks to a broken foot suffered in a 20-9 loss in New Orleans. Teddy Bridgewater takes over going forward, and fans get a new face of the franchise to rally behind after a terrible week of public relations stumbling and fumbling.
Jacksonville trailed Indianapolis, 30-0, at the half on Sunday, with just 55 yards of offense to show for the Colts' 330 yards over the first two frames. That was enough for Gus Bradley. He benched Chad Henne at the half, handing starting duties to third overall pick Blake Bortles. He'll get the start next week, too.
Bortles was 1 of 5 on the first regular season drive of his NFL career, moving the Jaguars from their 20-yard line to their 49-yard line. He got them into field goal range on the next one, and finished the day with a ho-hum 14-for-24 line with 223 yards, a pair of garbage-time touchdowns and two interceptions, including a pick six. Fans and media who have hounded Bradley for leaving the rookie signal caller on the bench so far are finally getting their wish. But it's going to be tough for Bortles to do much behind a terrible offensive line.
Bridgewater finished the day 12-for-20 passing with 150 yards ... and that’s it on the stat sheet. However, he did show some of the poise that got him so much praise in the preseason. The rookie, sporting his magic glove, managed to complete a few of his throws under pressure and extended drives with his feet, rushing for 27 yards on six attempts.
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