Week 2 brought comeback wins, several upsets, breakout performances, and more. The excitement continues this week as undefeated teams will square off and perfect records will be spoiled, while others look to get out of a 0-2 hole. Below is a look at this week’s can’t-miss games on Sunday, Sept. 22.
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Sunday, Week 3 — Top 5 games to watch
- WHERE: U.S. Bank Stadium (Minneapolis)
- WHEN: 1 p.m. ET | CBS
This is one of two Week 3 games between undefeated teams, so the stakes are high. C.J. Stroud and the Texans are living up to expectations on offense and exceeding expectations on defense. They’re ranked third in the NFL Power Rankings heading into their Week 3 matchup versus Minnesota. But perhaps no team in the league has exceeded expectations more than the Vikings, who find themselves 2-0 to start the season with Sam Darnold at the helm for the first time since 2016. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores is creating magic on defense and was instrumental in Minnesota’s stunning upset over San Francisco last week.
NFL Pro Insight:
The Vikings defense under Flores blitzes at the highest rate in the league over the last two seasons with an average blitz rate of 48%. They’ve continued their production this season as they rank in the top 10 in blitz rate (sixth) and pressure rate (ninth) and have generated more than five sacks per game. This defensive unit will likely represent the highest blitz rate Stroud will face thus far in his career as his current highest is the wild-card game in 2023 versus the Browns at 43%. Flores has blitzed more than 43% of the time in 12 out of 19 games as the Vikings DC.
However, Stroud has been productive against the blitz in his career with the fourth-highest yards per attempt (8.4), ninth-highest success rate (48.5%), and the fifth-lowest tight window throw percentage (11.5%) among the 31 qualified quarterbacks since 2023. Stroud’s top target when blitzed has been Nico Collins with 10.7 yards per attempt and a league-leading +18.7% completion percentage over expected for QB-receiver duos with at least 10 blitz attempts over the last two seasons.
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- WHERE: AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
- WHEN: 4:25 p.m. ET | FOX
This is an intriguing game for a lot of reasons. In theory, it should be a competitive, close game, but both teams are in very unexpected spots heading in. The Ravens are 0-2, and their upset loss to the Raiders last week amplifies the stakes. An 0-3 start could put them in a hole deep enough to jeopardize playoff chances. For the Cowboys, this game has more to do with setting the tone for the season than anything else. They made a big statement in Week 1 with a convincing win over the Browns, but made an even bigger statement in Week 2, getting dismantled by the Saints at home. Dallas needs to decide which identity it wants to assume.
NFL Pro Insight:
The Ravens defense has allowed opposing passers to complete 13 of 13 play-action passes for 91 yards and a touchdown this season, making it the only defense to allow a 100% completion percentage on such attempts.
Of the 13 completions allowed, seven of them were targeted behind the line of scrimmage. Dak Prescott completed 6 of 6 play-action passes for 96 yards and a touchdown in Week 2 against the Saints.
- WHERE: State Farm Stadium (Glendale, Ariz.)
- WHEN: 4:25 p.m. ET | FOX
The Cardinals looked about as good as they’ve ever looked under Jonathan Gannon in Week 2’s win over the Rams. Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. found a rhythm and the defense was lights out. They’ll be looking to carry that momentum into Week 3 against a talented, albeit inconsistent, Lions team. The Lions’ running backs and defense are keeping them in games right now, but Jared Goff and his receivers are off to a particularly slow start and need to start picking up the pace this week.
NFL Pro Insight:
Murray completed all five of his deep passes against the Rams in Week 2 after failing to complete any such passes in Week 1. Last season, Murray completed seven deep passes across eight games played. Of Murray’s 12 deep completions since the start of last season, eight have come against single-high safety coverages, including three of his four such touchdowns.
The Lions’ defense has yet to allow a single deep completion through two weeks. They have also utilized single-high safety coverages on 70% of opposing dropbacks, the fourth-highest rate in the NFL.
- WHERE: Caesars Superdome (New Orleans)
- WHEN: 1 p.m. ET | FOX
The Saints might be the hottest topic in the NFL right now. After routing the Cowboys in Week 2, they have made an impression. Derek Carr looks like he’s in prime form, and the defense is ranked in the top 10 in nearly every pass and rush defense category, per NFL Pro. The Eagles lost in heartbreaking fashion on Monday Night Football last week due to a questionable play call and a dropped pass, despite a great performance from Jalen Hurts. The defense has areas to fix ahead of facing a hot Saints offense, but the offense has been very solid for the most part.
NFL Pro Insight:
Carr has completed 11 of 16 downfield pass attempts (10+ air yards) for 292 yards this season, including four touchdowns and an interception. Carr’s 68.8% completion percentage on downfield passes is his best since 2016, while also generating +21.3% completion percentage over expected (CPOE). So far, Rashid Shaheed has been Carr’s favorite target when pushing the ball deep, catching three of his five downfield targets for 146 yards and two touchdowns.
The Eagles defense has allowed 297 passing yards on downfield attempts in 2024, the second-most in the NFL. Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell is currently tied for the second-most downfield targets this season (eight), allowing three completions for 71 yards. Fellow CB Darius Slay has been targeted twice on attempts downfield, allowing receptions on both for 30 total yards.
- WHERE: Acrisure Stadium (Pittsburgh)
- WHEN: 1 p.m. ET | CBS
The 2-0 Chargers are doing a great job at playing to their strengths. Los Angeles’ running game hasn’t looked this good since peak Austin Ekeler, and the defense is ranked first in overall pass and rush efficiency heading into Week 3. The Steelers are also 2-0 (on the road, I might add) and it’s thanks to near-impeccable defensive performances. They’ve given up just 16 points across two games and lead the league in turnovers (five). Offensively, Justin Fields appears set to start in Week 3, and there is room for improvement there considering they’ve only scored one touchdown in two games.
NFL Pro Insight:
J.K. Dobbins has had two big performances since joining the Chargers this year. He generated +98 rushing yards over expected (RYOE) on 10 carries against the Raiders in Week 1 and +41 RYOE on 17 carries in Week 2 against the Panthers. Dobbins’ +98 RYOE in Week 1 was his most in a game since Week 17 of 2020 and the most RYOE by a Chargers running back in a single game in the Next Gen Stats era (since 2016).
Pittsburgh’s front seven is ranked in the top 10 in several run defense categories, including overall rushing efficiency (third), RYOE allowed (sixth), and rushing EPA per play allowed (second).
