Courtney Cronin joined ESPN in 2017, originally covering the Minnesota Vikings before switching to the Chicago Bears in 2022. Courtney is a frequent panelist on Around the Horn and host of Best Week Ever and GameNight on ESPN Radio. She also co-hosts The Chicago Bears Podcast on ESPN 1000. She previously worked at the San Jose Mercury News as a multimedia sports journalist.
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Kalyn Kahler is a senior NFL writer at ESPN. Kalyn reports on a range of NFL topics. She reported about the influence of coaching agents on NFL hiring and found out what current and former Cowboys players really think about the tour groups of fans that roam about The Star every day. Before joining ESPN in July of 2024, Kalyn wrote for The Athletic, Defector, Bleacher Report and Sports Illustrated. She began her career at Sports Illustrated as NFL columnist Peter King’s assistant. She is a graduate of Northwestern University, where she was a varsity cheerleader. In her free time, Kalyn takes Spanish classes and teaches Irish dance. You can reach out to Kalyn via email.
Sep 23, 2025, 06:54 PM ET
CHICAGO — Ari Levy, the co-owner of the Chicago hot-dog stand The Wieners Circle, was scrolling through social media while watching the Miami Dolphins-Buffalo Bills game last Thursday when a moment of inspiration struck.
Levy, 46, saw a bold declaration on X that was picking up steam.
Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.
Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry was in his second year of Pop Warner football when he discovered the move that would strike fear into defenders over the next two decades.
At 7 years old, Henry was a tall and lanky running back who saw a defender closing in for the tackle. Then, he just did it.
Henry extended his arm and shoved his opponent to the ground.
“It was just something that came natural to me,” Henry said. “So, I just kept putting my arm out there, and I would go for 50 yards.”
Henry’s signature stiff-arm has helped him become one of the NFL’s all-time great running backs and leave smudges on the reputations of the best defensive players in the league. When Henry outmuscles Pro Bowl linebackers and defensive backs, it can cause years of embarrassment, leaving more mental scars than physical ones.
If Henry gets one-on-one with a would-be tackler when the Ravens play the Detroit Lions on Monday night (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN), he will likely unleash his stiff-arm, which might lead to another long run as well as a meme on social media.
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Ravens cornerback Chidobe Awuzie remembers the time four seasons ago when he played against Henry in a Bengals-Titans playoff game and just escaped a stiff-arm.
“My life definitely flashed before me,” Awuzie said. “You don’t want to end up on Twitter for the wrong reasons.”
Some running backs break free by juking out defenders. Others rely on spin moves. Henry has perfected this old-school tactic of using his free hand to toss would-be tacklers out of his way.
Henry has recorded 64 career stiff-arms on rushing attempts since 2017, when ESPN Research started tracking them. It’s 36 more than any other player.
His ability to shed tackles has paved the way for an NFL-best 5,704 yards after contact since he was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in 2016 and has prompted a teammate to question whether Henry should be allowed to continue using his stiff-arm.
“It’s more of a punch,” Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey said last season. “But if he’s on my team, it’s good. If it’s against me, I want it to be illegal.”
Henry’s first stiff-arm of the year came in the season opener, when he used his left arm to deliver a quick jab to Cole Bishop that left the Buffalo Bills safety sprawling on the ground. Henry went untouched the rest of the way for a 30-yard touchdown.
But it’s been a challenging season so far for Henry. He made a costly fumble in the fourth quarter of a 41-40 loss in Buffalo and was held to 23 yards rushing in Sunday’s 41-17 win over the Browns, statistically his worst game in two seasons as a Raven.
Baltimore believes that when Henry gets back on track, it will create the usual predicament for defenses.
“Once you see Derrick in person, you can understand if he put those paws on you, there’s going to be trouble,” Ravens running backs coach Willie Taggart said. “When he showed it on film once, everybody else knows that can happen when they come up in there. So, I think sometimes there’s some business decisions whether to tackle him or not.”
RAVENS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR Todd Monken first met Henry in 2009, when Monken was the wide receivers coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Henry was a freshman at nearby Yulee High School.
Someone told Monken that Henry was a running back.
“I’m like, ‘What?,” Monken recalled this summer. “The guy is like 14 years old. He looks like he’s 28. [It was] a lot like when I first saw Adrian Peterson, when you see somebody that’s just different.”
Players and coaches say the reason Henry is so effective with his stiff-arms — and why others are simply not built to do so — is his combination of size and long arms.
Henry is listed at 252 pounds. The only other NFL running back who is currently listed at 250 pounds is C.J. Ham, who is a fullback for the Minnesota Vikings.
Henry’s wingspan was measured at 80.75 inches at the NFL combine in 2016. It’s the third-longest wingspan by a running back measured at the combine since 2003, when this data was first recorded.
Baltimore Ravens
“He’s got really good timing on it, too,” Ravens tight end
NFL Nation is made up of 32 team-specific reporters who cover the NFL year-round across ESPN.com, ESPN television shows, ESPN Radio, ESPN+ and social media platforms. It was established ahead of the 2013 season.
Week 3 of the 2025 NFL season kicked off Thursday night with the Bills fending off the Dolphins to stay undefeated. The early window Sunday was filled with multiple shocking finishes. The Browns handed the Packers their first loss of the season on a field goal by kicker Andre Szmyt as time expired.
Both the Rams-Eagles and Buccaneers-Jets games had blocked field goals returned for touchdowns late, which gave the Eagles a victory after they trailed by 19 points in the second half. The Jets weren’t able to hold on to their lead after the Bucs marched for a game-winning field goal.
The late window Sunday had its own share of last-minute finishes, with the 49ers and Chargers winning on time-expiring field goals. Meanwhile, the Seahawks and Bears dominated in their wins over the Saints and Cowboys, respectively.
Our NFL Nation reporters reacted to all the action, answering lingering questions coming out of each game and detailing everything else you need to know for every team. Let’s get to it.
If RB Najee Harris misses significant time, how much will that change the Chargers’ offense? Not much. As Harris recovered from an eye injury he sustained in a July 4 fireworks mishap, the Chargers went through all of training camp without him. L.A. didn’t know if Harris would be playing Week 1 until the week of the game. So, the Chargers have already been prepared for life without him. In the preseason, offensive coordinator Greg Roman said first-round rookie Omarion Hampton would split carries with any of the team’s running backs regardless of Harris’ status. Still, Hampton was the main back after Harris was carted off Sunday. One of the biggest storylines to follow is if Roman sticks to his word, splitting carries with Hampton and others, or if the rest of the season looks like Sunday.
Biggest hole in the game plan: Pass protection. The Broncos’ defensive line beat up on the Chargers and quarterback Justin Herbert all game. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Herbert was pressured 29 times and sacked five times. He spent most of the day evading Broncos edge rushers to complete passes, and he was on his back when he didn’t. If not improved, the Chargers’ offensive line struggles could significantly lower this team’s ceiling. — Kris Rhim
Next game: at Giants (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Broncos
How much damage have back-to-back blown leads done to the Broncos? Broncos coach Sean Payton spent an offseason pounding away at the importance of a fast start to the season. Good teams, he said, the real playoff threats, come out of the gate strong. However, after the Broncos let leads slip away against the Colts and Chargers, they are 1-2. That follows an 0-2 start last year and a 1-5 start in 2023 — Payton’s first season in Denver. Complicating things, the Broncos have two of their next three games on the road and the Chargers now have three AFC West wins. So, the Broncos have some work to do.
Turning point: With a 20-13 lead and just over four minutes left, the Broncos had the Chargers in a third-and-10 at the Los Angeles 24-yard line. Herbert completed an 11-yarder to receiver Keenan Allen for the first down, and the Broncos added to the damage when safety Talanoa Hufanga body-slammed Allen to the turf. Hufanga was flagged for the personal foul, adding 15 yards to the reception. It moved the ball to the 50-yard line. The Broncos never regained their balance, and the Chargers tied the game at 20-20 four plays later. The Chargers drove for the winning field goal on their next possession. — Jeff Legwold
Next game: vs. Bengals (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
49ers
How long can the 49ers keep winning amid all the injuries? The 49ers entered the game without quarterback Brock Purdy, tight end George Kittle and receivers Jauan Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk. Late in the first quarter, they lost star defensive end Nick Bosa to a knee injury. Bosa is one of the team’s most indispensable players, but the 49ers’ defense still managed to keep them in the game and, eventually, win it. The extent of Bosa’s injury isn’t clear, but it’s never a good sign when a player leaves with a knee injury and doesn’t return. For a team as top-heavy as the Niners, the stars have to be as healthy and productive as possible. The schedule is going to get tougher in October, when the 49ers are on the road for most of the month.
Turning point: As the Cardinals attempted to put the game away, they faced third-and-9 at the 50. A conversion would have sealed the win, and Kyler Murray’s pass for Zay Jones looked like it would get the job done. But 49ers rookie cornerback Upton Stout managed to get his hand in and break the pass up to force a punt. From there, the Niners quickly moved into Arizona territory to set up kicker Eddy Pineiro’s winning 35-yard field goal. — Nick Wagoner
Next game: vs. Jaguars (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)
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49ers stay perfect after Eddy Pineiro hits walk-off field goal
Eddy Pineiro hits a 35-yard field goal as the 49ers outlast the Cardinals to improve to 3-0.
Cardinals
What will the Cardinals do at running back without James Conner? As the Cardinals wait to find out the extent of Conner’s ankle injury that took him out of the game, Arizona’s first option at running back will be Trey Benson. Behind Benson will be a rotation of Emari Demercado and Bam Knight, who was inactive Sunday. Before Conner’s injury, Arizona used Benson to spell Conner and on third down. With Benson likely to slide into the primary role, Demercado could become the third-down back.
Trend to watch: Coach Jonathan Gannon said last week that in order for Arizona’s offense to be at a premium, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. needs to touch the ball more. But Harrison’s unassuming start to the season continued with three catches on six targets for 44 yards. He now has 10 catches, 17 targets, 142 yards and a touchdown on the season. — Josh Weinfuss
Next game: vs. Seahawks (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Bears
What did the Bears’ offense figure out against Dallas? Coach Ben Johnson made good on his plan to get Chicago’s tight ends involved and put rookie WR Luther Burden III in position for his first 100-yard receiving day. QB Caleb Williams had the Bears playing from out front after throwing for 249 yards in the first half (a career high in any half). Chicago’s two-minute drive before halftime that resulted in a touchdown to TE Cole Kmet was looking like its best of the day. Then, the Bears put together a 19-play drive in the third quarter in which they ran the ball 11 straight times, ate up 9:54 of clock and capped it off with Williams throwing his fourth touchdown of the day to DJ Moore. It marked Chicago’s longest scoring drive this century and served as the exclamation point of Johnson’s first win as an NFL head coach.
Most surprising performance: Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson’s rough stretch mirrored the Bears’ 0-2 start, as he entered Week 3 allowing a 158.3 passer rating into his coverage. He played Sunday like he had something to prove, starting with a forced fumble and recovery in the first quarter that set up Chicago’s first touchdown drive. Stevenson then broke up a pass in the red zone to hold Dallas to a field goal and almost picked off a pass before halftime. He also recorded another pass breakup. — Courtney Cronin
Next game: at Raiders (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)
Cowboys
How bad is the Cowboys’ defense? Just like last season, the Cowboys are 1-2. Just like last season, they can point to their defense as a reason. Except in 2024, the run defense was porous, giving up 190 and 274 yards on the ground in losses to the Saints and Ravens. This season, it’s the pass defense. A week after Giants QB Russell Wilson threw for 450 yards and three scores, Williams lit up the Cowboys with four touchdown passes. But it was a soul-crushing, 19-play drive that did in the Cowboys during the third quarter. The Cowboys haven’t pressured the quarterback, have given up the big play and can’t get a stop when it matters. None of that is a good thing.
Stat to know: In the season-opening loss to the Eagles, the Cowboys gave up one pass play for 25 yards or more. In their past two games, they have given up 12 — seven last week and five against a Bears offense that would not be confused with the high-end units the Cowboys will face as the season goes along. According to ESPN Research, it’s the most such plays the Cowboys have allowed through three games over the past 25 seasons. And to make it worse, the five touchdown passes allowed of 25 yards or more lead the NFL, too. — Todd Archer
Next game: vs. Packers (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Seahawks
Are the Seahawks really as good as they looked in their blowout win? One of the Seahawks’ most dominant performances in recent memory came against a team that arrived in Seattle with an 0-2 record, a rookie head coach, a second-year quarterback and a banged-up offensive line. Then again, the Saints had a chance to win or tie on their last possession in losses to Arizona and San Francisco, so they might not be as bad as the Seahawks made them look. Either way, it was an all-three-phases whupping by Seattle, and it was so thorough that the team was able to pull most of its starters early in the fourth quarter. That will help with an NFC West game at Arizona in four days.
What to make of the QB performance: Among the reasons the Seahawks saw Sam Darnold as a good fit in Klint Kubiak’s offense is the quarterback’s ability to throw on the run during designed rollouts. Darnold showed that skill all offseason, last week in Pittsburgh on a pivotal fourth-quarter play and again on his first touchdown Sunday, throwing on the money to receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba while rolling to his left. Darnold threw another touchdown and completed 14 of 18 attempts for 218 yards in three quarters before giving way to Drew Lock. — Brady Henderson
Next game: at Cardinals (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)
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Saints
Have the Saints hit rock bottom, or is the worst yet to come? The Saints were awful in all three phases, giving up multiple big plays on special teams, failing to stop anything on defense and struggling on offense. They pulled all of their starting lineup, including quarterback Spencer Rattler, late in the game when things were out of hand. But with a game against the undefeated Bills next, things might get worse before they get better. If the Saints turn in a similar performance next week, they’ll not only be looking at an 0-4 start, but likely considering personnel changes as well.
Stat to know: The Saints had 11 penalties against the Seahawks and are now averaging 10.3 penalties a game, which is possibly a symptom of a bigger issue under a new head coach. Although Kellen Moore tried to find ways to fix this issue after Week 1, including bringing officials to practice, the fact that it only got worse in Week 3 is a troubling sign for the state of the team. — Katherine Terrell
Next game: at Bills (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Commanders
How did Washington produce so much without QB Jayden Daniels? Explosive plays. Quarterback Marcus Mariota was efficient both running (40 yards) and passing (207 yards) in place of Daniels. But the Commanders made big play after big play. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel’s 69-yard kickoff return set up a score on the first possession, and punt returner Jaylin Lane returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown. Running back Jeremy McNichols scored on a 60-yard run. Receiver Terry McLaurin’s 59-yard catch to the 1-yard line set up another touchdown, and receiver Luke McCaffrey’s 42-yard reception capped the scoring.
Most surprising performance: The Commanders’ front seven. Playing well wasn’t surprising, but the level of dominance was more than anticipated. They sacked Raiders QB Geno Smith five times, getting to him all game with a variety of pressures — four players recorded sacks, with linebacker Bobby Wagner doing it twice. They limited RB Ashton Jeanty to 63 yards, with 45 coming on three carries. — John Keim
Next game: at Falcons (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
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Raiders
What’s the concern level for the Raiders’ offensive line? There’s nothing but red flags surrounding Las Vegas’ offensive line. The Raiders struggled to gain momentum in the pass or run game because they were getting beaten in the trenches. Smith was under duress throughout the afternoon, getting pressured 19 times and sacked five times. Jeanty (3.7 yards per carry) hardly had any open space to exploit. There were multiple times when Jeanty was greeted by Washington defenders as soon as he was given the ball. Going into the season, it was evident that Las Vegas’ offensive success would be dictated by its performance up front. Through three games, the unit has struggled to deliver.
Most surprising performance: Edge rusher Maxx Crosby had a hard time getting anything going against Commanders rookie offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. The Raiders’ star defender had a sack in 11 matchups against the first-round pick. But the sack came late in the fourth quarter when the game was out of reach. — Ryan McFadden
Next game: vs. Bears (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Jaguars
Did WR Brian Thomas Jr. get his spark back? After an awful 58 minutes, Thomas produced one of the biggest plays of the season to set up the winning touchdown. The second-year receiver had three drops, including one on third down in the fourth quarter, to go with only one catch for 9 yards until less than two minutes remained. But his late 46-yard catch-and-run set up running back Travis Etienne Jr.’s 10-yard touchdown. After the third-down drop, Thomas went to the sideline, slammed his helmet to the ground twice and put his head in his hands on the bench. But after his final catch, he threw the ball into the wall to celebrate — and vent some frustration about his rough start to the season.
Trend to watch: The Jaguars’ defense is pretty good at forcing turnovers. It got three more Sunday, including safety Antonio Johnson’s game-clinching interception with 20 seconds remaining, and the unit now has nine — tying its total from the entire 2024 season. Cornerback Jourdan Lewis also had an interception and linebacker Devin Lloyd had a fumble recovery (forced by cornerback Tyson Campbell). The nine turnovers are the most in franchise history through the first three games. — Mike DiRocco
Next game: at 49ers (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)
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0:47
Eagles seal win on blocked FG
The Eagles snuff out Joshua Karty’s 44-yard field goal attempt as time expires to secure a comeback win over the Rams.
Texans
Is it getting late early for the Texans? The Texans dropped to 0-3 as their offense struggled again, scoring only 10 points. It’s the third straight game in which the offense fell short of 20 points, and the blame goes across the board. There were drops, penalties, an interception, questionable playcalling, sacks, pressure, limited separation — you name it. And now, the Texans find themselves three games behind the Colts and two games behind the Jaguars in the AFC South. There are 14 games remaining, but Houston has dug itself a huge early hole.
Turning point: Wide receiver Nico Collins’ fumble after a 13-yard reception that reached the Jaguars’ 18-yard line proved to be costly. The game was tied 10-10 with 3:57 remaining, and Houston was in great position to take the lead. But Collins’ fumble eventually led to Jacksonville’s winning touchdown. — DJ Bien-Aime
Next game: vs. Titans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Colts
What’s behind the Colts’ offensive efficiency? The Colts entered Week 3 tied for the lead in yards per play and ranked second in offensive expected points added. That trend continued in Sunday’s performance. How? Turnover margin, for one. The Colts are one of four teams to not commit a turnover, and that is keeping drives alive. Additionally, QB Daniel Jones is spreading the ball around, preventing defenses from locking in on any one player (four receivers had four or more targets in the game). Meanwhile, RB Jonathan Taylor continues to roll, leading the NFL in rushing after a three-score day.
Stat to know: Taylor had his ninth career rushing touchdown of 40-plus yards in the third quarter, tying Pro Football Hall of Famer Lenny Moore for the most by any player in Colts franchise history. Taylor has five “explosive” runs — defined as plays of 12 yards or longer — so far this season, good for second most in the NFL through Sunday’s early games. He also had a 43-yard pass reception in Week 2. — Stephen Holder
Next game: at Rams (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)
Titans
How much longer can Brian Callahan survive this disastrous start? The head coach’s future is on life support. Minimizing penalties was one of the things Callahan focused on the most this offseason. Yet, Tennessee’s 23 penalties were the most in the league entering Week 3. The Titans had eight more this week. The delay of game call just before halftime was the worst. It came after consecutive timeouts from Indianapolis and Tennessee on fourth-and-1 with 42 seconds left in the half. A delay of game penalty after the Titans’ timeout turned a 57-yard field goal attempt into a 62-yard try. Joey Slye missed it, and the Colts got an easy field goal as the half ended. “Fire Callahan” chants erupted as the team went in for halftime. A road game at Houston and then back-to-back West Coast games are next before former coach Mike Vrabel returns to Nissan Stadium with the Patriots in Week 7.
What to make of the QB performance: A bad decision by rookie Cam Ward on the Titans’ first drive resulted in a quick pick-six by Kenny Moore II. Ward attempted 38 passes and had 219 passing yards, both career highs. He’s still not seeing the field as well, but it’s tough being under duress on almost every dropback. The one positive is that he connected with fellow rookie Elic Ayomanor for their second touchdown in as many games. — Turron Davenport
Next game: at Texans (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Buccaneers
Can the Bucs continue to make things work with a makeshift offensive line? The offensive line situation wasn’t pretty, but the Bucs made it work with Luke Haggard at right guard, Elijah Klein at left guard and Charlie Heck at right tackle. Haggard struggled against the Jets’ Quinnen Williams, as Haggard and Klein accounted for four holding penalties. They also struggled to create holes for running back Bucky Irving. There were hardly any deep throws for quarterback Baker Mayfield, and they used Irving in space. The good news is there’s a good chance All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs comes back from his knee surgery in Week 4, which would give the Bucs three of their original five starting offensive linemen. There’s also the possibility receiver Chris Godwin comes back, and he’s another safety valve for Mayfield, especially if Mike Evans’ hamstring injury keeps him out.
Turning point: The Bucs’ defense went from dominant to a fourth-quarter meltdown, surrendering two touchdowns with a third coming on special teams after a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown by Will McDonald IV — giving the Jets a one-point lead with 1:49 left. Yet somehow, miraculously, the Bucs managed a come-from-behind win in the final minute of a game three weeks in a row to reach 3-0 for the first time since 2005. — Jenna Laine
Next game: vs. Eagles (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Jets
Will the Jets take anything positive out of a heartbreaking defeat? They didn’t quit, making a dramatic comeback in the fourth quarter, but there are no moral victories in the NFL. If that were the case, the Jets would have two already. The bottom line is they lost a game they easily could’ve won. The Jets are now 0-3 for the fourth time in seven years, and they looked like a bad team for three quarters. They have a lot to clean up. The best thing they have going for them is a schedule that gets softer in the coming weeks.
Biggest hole in the game plan: Quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who made his first start since 2023, was under siege because the Jets were flummoxed by the Bucs’ blitz. The pass protection was poor, and Taylor didn’t help by holding the ball too long at times. He was pressured on 44% of his dropbacks, including a cornerback blitz on a game-changing pick-six late in the first half, and was sacked four times. The Jets were ill-prepared for the Bowles blitz. — Rich Cimini
Next game: at Dolphins (Monday, 7:15 p.m. ET)
play
0:17
Bhayshul Tuten powers into the end zone for Jaguars
Bhayshul Tuten puts the Jaguars on the board first vs. the Texans.
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Vikings
Where did cornerback Isaiah Rodgers come from? Rodgers became the first NFL player since at least 2000 to return an interception for a touchdown, force two fumbles and return one of those for a second touchdown. What’s wild is that Rodgers, a sixth-round pick in 2020 by the Colts, is in his first season as a full-time starter. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores targeted him in free agency, believing his ball skills and speed would make him a perfect fit for his scheme. Rodgers’ touchdowns, both in the first half, covered for a slow start by the Vikings’ offense.
What to make of the QB performance: Carson Wentz led a sharp opening drive, capped by a 12-yard touchdown pass to tight end Josh Oliver, before the offense bogged down for most of the first half. But he caught fire late in the second quarter and led the Vikings to a score on five of his final six possessions. In total, he showed more than enough competence to reassure the Vikings that he can make at least one and probably two more starts before J.J. McCarthy returns from a right ankle injury. — Kevin Seifert
Next game: at Steelers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Bengals
How can the Bengals shake off the worst loss in franchise history? Perhaps some sort of cleanse? A sauna session? Or, by just not committing a ton of turnovers. The Bengals lost the ball five times — three fumbles and two interceptions. Two of them were returned for touchdowns. That doesn’t include two other fumbles the Bengals were able to recover. Cincinnati takes a lot of pride in protecting the ball. That was one of several things lacking during a shellacking in Minneapolis.
Stat to know: Bengals running back Chase Brown continued his rough start to the season. Brown had minus-22 rushing yards over expectation, per NFL Next Gen Stats. That means Brown did not get nearly as many yards as he should have on his 10 carries, which didn’t help the Bengals’ rough offensive performance. He finished with 3 yards total. — Ben Baby
Next game: at Broncos (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Eagles
What should we make of the Eagles’ offense after Sunday’s uneven performance? Frustration has been mounting in Philly over the past couple of weeks as an ultratalented unit struggled to find its footing under new offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, particularly in the passing game. The first half represented a low point, as the Eagles managed just 33 yards (including negative-1 yards passing), their lowest output in any half since 2015. The offense sprang to life in the second half, thanks in large part to a breakout performance from receiver A.J. Brown. This group is way too loaded to be stuck in neutral for long stretches. The hope is that something sustainable clicked into place late against the Rams that can be carried into next week.
Most surprising performance: Davis provided one of the most unbelievable finishes in Eagles history, blocking a 44-yard field goal attempt by Joshua Karty and returning it 61 yards for a touchdown in the closing seconds. It was the unit’s second field goal block of the game, turning what would have been an Eagles loss into a one-of-a-kind win. — Tim McManus
Next game: at Bucs (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
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Rams
How far away from the Eagles are the Rams? In the week leading up to this divisional-round rematch, several Rams players pushed back on the idea that this was a “measuring stick game” for Los Angeles against the defending Super Bowl champions. But although the Rams controlled the game in the first half, the offense was stagnant after they led 26-7 just after halftime. Los Angeles was right there with the Eagles, but this game showed the Rams are not quite in the conversation for the best in the NFC.
Stat to know: Entering the game, teams trailing by 19 or more points in the past two seasons (including the playoffs) were 2-193, according to ESPN Research. After the Rams went up 26-7 early in the third quarter, they failed to score again. — Sarah Barshop
Next game: vs. Colts (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Browns
Did the Browns find a formula to win games? For three quarters, the Browns’ offense looked lifeless as its defense did all it could to keep Cleveland in the game. Then, the team started playing the complementary ball it has preached. The offense found a run game, safety Grant Delpit made a clutch interception and special teams capitalized with a blocked kick and Andre Szmyt’s walk-off 55-yard field goal. It wasn’t pretty, but it’s the way the Browns may have to play to win.
Stat to know: Rookie running back Quinshon Judkins’ 38-yard run in the fourth quarter gives him two of the Browns’ longest plays of the season. He finished with 94 yards and a TD on 18 carries. It was Judkins’ second career game after a two-month layoff as he went unsigned amid a legal matter. — Daniel Oyefusi
Best quote from the locker room: “We talked all week about playing complementary football, and I don’t think until you experience it, you truly understand what that could possibly mean,” Browns QB Joe Flacco said. “But today, I feel like we spoke it into existence and we came out of it with a win because of it.”
Next game: at Lions (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
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0:24
Will McDonald returns blocked FG for a Jets TD
Will McDonald blocks the field-goal attempt and goes all the way to the other end for a Jets touchdown.
Packers
How concerned should the Packers be about their offensive struggles? The Browns’ defense is no joke; Cleveland came in with the No. 1 overall defense. But not scoring a touchdown until 3:23 left in the third quarter and then turning the ball over late in the fourth quarter on a terrible interception by Jordan Love, who hadn’t thrown a pick for the first 11 quarters of the season, has to be considered troubling. Even on the drive that put them in position to attempt a go-ahead field goal — which was blocked — with 27 seconds left, their best play was a 20-yard pass interference penalty. Plus, the Packers lost two starting offensive linemen — right tackle Zach Tom (oblique) after just one play and left guard Aaron Banks (groin) after the first half.
Trend to watch: Edge rusher Rashan Gary might be on his way to his first double-digit sack season. The 2019 first-round pick sacked Browns QB Joe Flacco twice Sunday to bring his three-game total for the season to 4.5. No doubt the presence of Micah Parsons has helped Gary perhaps more than anyone.
Best quote from the locker room: “Sometimes, just like today, you s— the bed,” Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons said. “That’s just the reality of it. It happens to the best teams. Even the best Super Bowl champs make mistakes, and they pay for it early. You go back to the history of the champions and who’ve they’ve played and games they should’ve won. It’s just that competitive.” — Rob Demovsky
Next game: at Cowboys (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Steelers
What’s keeping the Steelers from finding offensive consistency? Sometimes it’s about how you start and how you finish — and not as much about what happened between those two things. That was the case Sunday afternoon, when the Steelers scored touchdowns on back-to-back drives, went cold for the better part of two quarters and then went on a nine-play, 67-yard drive. The possession was capped by a 17-yard dime from quarterback Aaron Rodgers to wide receiver Calvin Austin III. The Steelers offense struggled to find any kind of rhythm or consistency for most of the game — gaining just 31 yards in the second and third quarters after 102 in the first — and squandered three takeaways. But Rodgers, who threw an interception himself, made the clutch play when it mattered most.
Stat to know: Fourteen points scored off five takeaways. The Steelers defense brought the splash plays by forcing six turnovers, including a fumble on back-to-back third-quarter drives and a sack fumble. They also forced a turnover on downs on the Patriots’ potential game-winning and then game-tying fourth-quarter drives. But the defense still busted too often on big plays, allowing more than 10 plays of at least 10 yards, and the offense failed to capitalize on the opportunities.
Best quote from the locker room: Steelers safety Jabrill Peppers was surprisingly cut from the Patriots last month. On Sunday, he had six tackles and recovered a fumble. “I envisioned it last night. Let the fans know I miss them, but I’m down with the Steel Curtain now.” — Brooke Pryor
Next game: vs. Vikings (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Patriots
Will Rhamondre Stevenson’s two lost fumbles lead to a change as the Patriots’ lead RB? After losing a fumble on the opening drive of the game, and then at the goal line at the start of the second half, Stevenson was used sparingly for the remainder of the game. Coach Mike Vrabel notably kept Stevenson on the sideline for 11 straight snaps after the second fumble. He then turned almost exclusively to rookie TreVeyon Henderson and Antonio Gibson at running back the rest of the way. (Stevenson played just two snaps after his second lost fumble). Stevenson’s five lost fumbles since the start of the 2024 season are the most of any NFL running back, according to ESPN Research. Stevenson also became the first Patriots player to lose two fumbles in a game since Tom Brady on Sept. 7, 2014 at the Dolphins.
Stat to know: Tight end Hunter Henry (10th season) had his fifth career game with multiple touchdown receptions, and his first since Week 14 of 2023 (also versus the Steelers). Three of Henry’s multiple-TD games have come against Pittsburgh. Also, Henry moved into third place on the Patriots’ all-time list for receptions for a tight end (211), passing Marv Cook, with only Rob Gronkowski and Ben Coates ahead of him.
Best quote from the locker room: “I could have given him a different ball flight, in the back corner of the end zone for a touchdown,” Maye said of his late second-quarter interception intended for wide receiver Kayshon Boutte that was tipped by Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward for an interception. The Patriots were amid a 17-play, 94-yard drive that lasted 7:13. — Mike Reiss
Next game: vs. Panthers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Panthers
Are the Panthers’ offseason moves to upgrade the league’s worst defense paying off? It helped that quarterback Bryce Young didn’t have any turnovers in the first half (as he had four over the first two games) and Carolina wasn’t playing from behind. It also helped that Atlanta missed two early field goals and special teams controlled field position. That being said, the defense made plays. Cornerback Chau Smith-Wade had a pick-six. Mike Jackson had a pick. Linebacker Christian Rozeboom was everywhere. Bottom line, this isn’t the NFL’s worst defense anymore.
What to make of the QB performance: No turnovers was huge, as Young had five in the first five quarters of the 2025 season. Two of them last week against the Cardinals resulted in an early 10-0 hole. Young played within the offense, scrambling for a touchdown and making enough good throws to keep the offense moving despite a few errant throws.
Best quote from the locker room: Sunday marked the Panthers’ first shutout since 2020, and most lop-sided win since 2015. “We were all fed up,” Smith-Wade said. “Our bond is just so tight. We wanted to go out there and do it right.” — David Newton
Next game: at Patriots (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
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Falcons
What is wrong with what was supposed to be a high-powered Falcons offense? The Falcons had a goal of being the best offense in the league this season. They have not been close. Atlanta has scored just one touchdown the past two games. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. had the worst outing of his young career Sunday. Plays seem to be getting in too late, and receivers dropped several passes. The running game, led by Bijan Robinson, was taken away due to playing from behind. Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson needs to figure out what’s wrong before it’s too late.
What to make of the QB performance: Young quarterbacks will have games when they struggle. That was the case Sunday with Penix, who had two interceptions, including giving up his first career pick-six. He dealt with headset audio issues early on, looked frustrated and went 18-for-36 on passes. Backup Kirk Cousins took over when the game was out of hand.
Best quote from the locker room: The Falcons were riding high after a 22-6 win over the Vikings in primetime last week, but things came crashing down quickly in a disastrous loss to a divisional opponent. “That emotional win we had [last week], we ride that emotional roller coaster. Today, we hit an all-time low,” coach Raheem Morris said. — Marc Raimondi
Next game: vs. Commanders (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Catch up on the action: Box score | Recap
Bills
Can the Bills’ ability to close out games make up for other deficiencies? It sure looks that way. The Bills can’t have struggles like they did defensively — allowing conversions on 10-of-15 third downs — and pull out the win every time, but this is the second of three games the Bills had a game-changing takeaway late. Continuing to be effective in that area will be key. “The ball is the most important thing,” linebacker Terrel Bernard said. “And we know it’s not going to be perfect. Offenses around the league are good. That’s a known fact. But for us, it comes down to taking the ball away.”
What to make of the QB performance: Overall, Allen had another strong day, not turning the ball over and orchestrating impressive drives — in addition to throwing three touchdown passes to get to 200 on his career. The Dolphins, however, took away the Bills’ ability to get the ball downfield. Allen attempted only one pass more than 10 yards downfield, which wasn’t completed. This is the first time in his career Allen has failed to complete one in a game (minimum of 10 pass attempts), per ESPN Research. — Alaina Getzenberg
Next game: vs. Saints (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)
Dolphins
Was Thursday night enough of a spark to turn the Dolphins’ season around? History is not on Miami’s side here — of the 117 NFL teams since 2000 to lose its first three games of a season, only the 2018 Texans actually made the playoffs. The loss was closer than the final score, but the Dolphins still have glaring issues to fix. Their defense allowed points on five of eight possessions, excluding a kneel-down to end the first half, and that number would’ve been higher were it not for a missed field goal in the second quarter. They also allowed more than 150 rushing yards for the second time this season. But Miami did set a season high with 130 rushing yards of its own with a solid backfield performance from De’Von Achane and rookie Ollie Gordon II.
Turning point: A Dolphins defense that had just two true defensive stops entering Week 3 suddenly forced punts on three consecutive drives in the second half. But defensive tackle Zach Sieler was flagged for roughing the punter on Buffalo’s third punt of the half, paving the way for the game-winning touchdown. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa did lead a spirited drive on the following possession, but he threw his fourth interception of the season to seal the game. An otherwise clean game was spoiled by those two disastrous drives in the fourth quarter. “I’ve got to be better,” Sieler said. “I can’t be making stupid errors like that.” — Marcel Louis-Jacques
Turron Davenport covers the Tennessee Titans for ESPN since 2018. Turron is a former collegiate football player at Cheyney University and is a native of Philadelphia, and he has authored/co-authored four books. You can catch Turron on ESPN Radio on his show “Talking with TD.”
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans will be without starting defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat when they face the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. The Titans placed Sweat on the reserve/injured list on Saturday.
Sweat suffered an ankle injury in Tennessee’s season-opening loss to the Denver Broncos. The 6-foot-4, 366-pound lineman was not available for last week’s game against the Los Angeles Rams. Sweat worked a side field during practice on Wednesday and was seen doing light jogging before taking part in individual period on Thursday. The Titans ruled Sweat out for Week 3 after he missed practice on Friday.
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, with both starting interior defenders, Jeffery Simmons and Sweat on the field last season (309 run plays), the Titans’ defense allowed 4.3 yards per carry, 10th-fewest among all teams. With one of Sweat or Simmons (96 run plays), the Titans allowed 4.7 yards per carry (6th-most). The average jumps to 5.2 yards per carry with neither Sweat or Simmons on the field (98 run plays), which would be the highest mark in the league.
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Colts running back Jonathan Taylor ran for 218 yards when he last faced the Titans in Week 16. Sweat played 40 snaps before getting poked in the eye and missing the rest of the game.
Veteran defensive tackle James Lynch will see the bulk of the action while Sweat is out. The Titans used the standard elevation from the practice squad for defensive tackle Carlos Watkins on Saturday.
ESPN Staff Writer
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