NFL WEEK 3 TAKEAWAYS
Week 3. The week when contenders are separated from pretenders. In all honesty, I might belong to that pretender category, since I had to miss the late slate of games due to a wedding. A Sunday wedding in the fall. Who does that?
Here are my takeaways from Week 3 of the 2023 NFL season.
The Texans Found their QB
CJ Stroud made a believer out of me yesterday. 280 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. In fact, he has yet to throw an interception so far in his rookie season. Stroud has looked more than capable so far, impressing despite the team’s 0-2 start. Now that he finally secured his first regular season win yesterday, the stars seem to be in alignment for the exciting young Texans team to start gaining momentum. With the Jags not meeting preseason expectations, the Colts playing without Anthony Richardson, and a fairly easy looking schedule for the next several weeks, Houston fans have good reason to be excited.
The Commanders Are Unsure?
Something about the way Sam Howell had played previous to Week 3 made me hesitant to buy in. Whatever gut feeling made me to feel that way was proven correct on Sunday, as Howell threw four interceptions and took NINE sacks, causing the mouths of fantasy owners playing the Bills defense to water. Howell still has a lot working for him, however, including Eric Bieniemy as his offensive coordinator in an offense that will give him a myriad of opportunities, and a defensive line that the Washington front office have the common sense to want to build their franchise around. I don’t expect the Commanders to be content with their quarterback situation after this season, but at this moment, I don’t see them making a change until the 2024 draft.
The Bears Need to Start Looking For a New One
Oh, how far we have come from the days of the Justin Fields-era Bears being just a piece or two away from greatness. The man has all the physical gifts a team could want in a modern NFL quarterback. And yet…
Before Kansas City’s rout of Chicago, the only thing that seemed to give any kind of hesitation to the public’s prediction of a decisive Chief’s win was if the Travis Kelce/Taylor Swift drama would cause any kind of distraction within the team. Despite the pop star’s presence in Arrowhead on Sunday afternoon, no amount of Swiftie theatrics would have been large enough to deter the Chiefs’ defense from making Fields look absolutely helpless. Simply put, Fields doesn’t see the field with the clarity and anticipation necessary of a starting QB in the NFL. Going into the week with the plan of “thinking less and playing more” sounds like a better strategy when you’re in your rookie year, but when you’re in your third season and the game isn’t slowing down for you like it should, maybe it isn’t time to blame the coaching. As true as it might be. Maybe Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan will start knocking on Chicago’s front door too.
McDaniels is the Secret to Success in Miami
It sounds obvious to say. Sure. The head coach is clearly going to get credit for the success of the team. But Mike McDaniels offensive playcalling is nothing to take for granted. The (two) no-look shovel touchdown passes, the creativity of play selection in big personnel, and the ability to get quite possibly the best player in the NFL open so consistently when defensive coordinators spend their whole week gameplanning for him is nothing short of noteworthy. In another world, I can see whoever is calling plays for De’von Achane getting roasted by the media for not using him in innovative enough ways. Not Mike McDaniel. More than anyone else in the league, he uses his players to the best of their potential from a pure X’s and O’s standpoint, highlighting what makes each player special. It just so happens that he has a lot of special players.
Myles Garrett is my MVP Favorite
Myles Garrett is Myles Garrett. No one in their right mind is underestimating the perennial All-Pro and Defensive MVP candidate. Certainly not the Tennessee tight end room. This year feels different in Cleveland though. Previously, it had been the Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward show on the defensive side of the ball for the Browns. Their front office was continuously trying to find the right supporting staff for the duo with only swings and misses or injuries to show for it. However, it seems that this season they have discovered the recipe for success with Jim Schwartz in the defensive coordinator position and, at long last, a healthy and confident defensive supporting cast in not only Ward, but Grant Delpit, Greg Newsome II, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Za’Darius Smith providing pressure from the other edge. Garrett has had to rely on getting sacks through sheer force of will the majority of his career. Now he has the luxury of a historically good defense through the first 3 games to allow him the occasional coverage sack. If the Browns’ offense can keep opposing teams in passing situations coming from behind, and that’s a big if, look for a record-breaking season from Garrett.
And your Fullback Moment of the Week is…
You had to see this coming. I’m a fullback. I support fullbacks. I wear the “Make Fullbacks Great Again” hats and sweatshirts. When I saw Texans FB Andrew Beck’s legendary 84 yard kickoff return for a touchdown in their win over the Jaguars, I made the easy decision: this weekly column needs some weekly fullback love. So congratulations to Andrew Beck for receiving the inaugural Fullback Moment of the Week. That’ll teach those special teams coordinators for keeping it away from the return man for the “safe play”. Actually, let’s hope it doesn’t teach them. Keep kicking it to us.
