Judging largest overreactions for NFL Week 3 video games

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Sure, quarterback Daniel Jones appeared good within the Colts’ season-opening win. But their Week 1 opponent was the Dolphins, and consensus appears to be that they are not excellent. So we observed, however we tried to not overreact.

The Week 2 victory in opposition to the Broncos, who’re purported to have an awesome protection, appeared a bit extra worthy of our consideration. But Denver nonetheless had the sport received if not for a dumb penalty that gave the Colts a second probability on the game-winning area aim.

But now Jones has achieved it three weeks in a row, main Indianapolis to a 41-20 win over the Titans. So he will get to guide the Week 3 Overreactions column, the place we type by the weekly overreactions to try to determine which of them may maintain up and which of them are mirages.

Jump to:
Daniel Jones an MVP candidate?
Bengals must commerce for Kirk Cousins?
Did C.J. Stroud peak as a rookie?
Should the Eagles air it out extra?
Is Emeka Egbuka the OROY favourite?

Daniel Jones goes to be within the MVP dialog

Through the primary two weeks, Jones — the reclamation-project quarterback the Colts signed to compete with former No. 4 draft choose Anthony Richardson Sr. for his or her beginning quarterback job — ranked second within the NFL in passing yards, first in yards per try, sixth in Total QBR and had three speeding touchdowns on prime of all that. He stored it rolling, finishing a cool 18 of 25 passes for 228 yards in a extra Jonathan Taylor-centric lopsided victory over the Titans.

Jones appears like a unique man. After going 7-for-9 for 130 yards and a landing on passes thrown a minimum of 10 yards downfield on Sunday, he is now finishing 65% of such throws this season. He accomplished 50% of them in his first six seasons within the league. Sunday’s win improved Indy’s document to 3-0 — a full three video games forward of the reeling two-time defending AFC South champion Texans (although just one sport forward of the plucky 2-1 Jaguars).

The Colts have punted as soon as to this point this season. They’ve scored on 77% of their offensive possessions — the very best such mark for any group in its first three video games over the previous 45 seasons. If the Colts find yourself profitable their division — one thing they have not achieved since 2014, when Chuck Pagano was their coach and Andrew Luck was their quarterback — and Jones retains enjoying like this in coach Shane Steichen’s offense, this is not the final time you are going to hear somebody discuss Jones’ MVP {qualifications}.

Verdict: OVERREACTION

I’ve full respect for what Jones is doing, and I feel it is sustainable to some extent. The Colts’ method feels not in contrast to the one the Giants employed after they made the playoffs with Jones at quarterback in 2022. This Colts group in all probability has a greater roster than that Giants group did. But it is simply method too early for this sort of speak.

The mixed document of the groups the Colts have crushed is 1-8. Let’s see how they deal with themselves in opposition to an offended Rams group subsequent week in Los Angeles, or in opposition to a handsome Chargers group three weeks later. Let’s see Jones keep wholesome and constant, which he hasn’t achieved for a lot of his profession. And even when he does maintain it rolling, let’s examine if the MVP voters take it critically.

Even after the good efficiency Sam Darnold had in Minnesota final season, he nonetheless received solely three fifth-place votes and completed tenth within the MVP balloting. This is a particularly enjoyable story, and Jones and the Colts can completely win the AFC South. But MVP? Daniel Jones? That nonetheless feels as if it is a galaxy far, distant.

The Bengals must name the Falcons about Kirk Cousins proper now

After beginning quarterback Joe Burrow went down final week with a toe damage that is going to maintain him out a minimum of three months, the Bengals insisted they would not panic — that they believed backup Jake Browning might run their offense and win video games for them. Browning was 4-3 as their starter when Burrow suffered a season-ending damage in 2023, and it stood to motive that one other year-plus of growth and expertise would place him to, if nothing else, maintain them afloat. But the early returns aren’t good.

Cincinnati had its doorways blown off 48-10 by the Vikings in its first sport post-Burrow. Browning threw two interceptions and took three sacks. The Bengals turned the ball over 5 occasions whole. Minnesota cornerback Isaiah Rodgers returned two of these turnovers for touchdowns. The Bengals had been down 34-3 at halftime, and whereas Browning wasn’t the one motive for the loss by any stretch, he did not appear like a quarterback able to lugging Cincinnati into the playoffs even after their 2-0 begin.

Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION

It by no means hurts to ask, proper? Cousins needs out of Atlanta, the place he signed a four-year contract within the spring of 2024 however was relegated to backup responsibility by the tip of his first season there. I feel the Falcons would take the decision, however I nonetheless assume it might value loads to pry Cousins out of there.

He truly completed Sunday’s sport for the Falcons after starter Michael Penix Jr. had a depressing time in what turned out to be a 30-0 loss to the Panthers. With the entire quarterback accidents we have already seen (and the potential that the offense does not get going round Penix), the Falcons like having a veteran with Cousins’ intensive expertise in that backup position.

I additionally did not get the sense final week that this was one thing Cincinnati would contemplate. I’m undecided they see the 2025 model of Cousins as a marked enchancment over Browning, given their familiarity with Browning. But in the event that they’re nonetheless holding onto hope that Burrow can come again towards the tip of the season, and the mission is to maintain issues afloat till that occurs, Browning should look loads higher than he did Sunday. Or else the Bengals will have to have a look at different choices.

C.J. Stroud peaked in his rookie season and can by no means be that good once more

As we talked about above, the Texans are 0-3 after Sunday’s 17-10 loss to the division rival Jaguars. Houston is averaging 12.7 factors per sport, and Stroud was 25-for-38 for 204 yards (5.4 yards per try) with a landing and two interceptions Sunday. He led Houston again from a 10-3 deficit and tied the sport with a 50-yard landing go to Nico Collins within the fourth quarter, however the last two Houston drives ended with a Collins fumble and a Stroud interception.

Stroud has 599 yards, two landing passes and three interceptions in his first three video games of the season, and issues don’t appear to be coming collectively for him and new offensive coordinator Nick Caley.

Verdict: OVERREACTION

The Texans remade their offensive line within the offseason, nevertheless it hasn’t appeared as if it’s an enchancment up to now. Houston struggled badly to guard Stroud final season and is doing so once more within the early going this season. There isn’t any run sport to talk of. No receiver has emerged as a dependable second possibility behind Collins. They simply appear like a nasty group in lots of ways in which have little to do with the quarterback.

This is not to excuse Stroud — he completely must play higher and to discover a method to jell with Caley and shortly if the Texans are going to save lots of their season. But the circumstances round him have been lower than ideally suited since his rookie season, and what he was ready to try this 12 months was no fluke. I imagine that if the Texans can construct themselves right into a extra dependable supporting forged, Stroud has the power to recapture his rookie-year magic.

Even with Saquon Barkley, the Eagles ought to attempt passing extra!

Through the primary two weeks of the season, the defending Super Bowl champs had the third-fewest go makes an attempt and the second-fewest passing yards within the NFL. They did not care, as a result of they had been 2-0 because of a bunch of Jalen Hurts scrambles in Week 1 and a well timed interception and a bunch of tush pushes in Week 2. But they fell behind the Rams 26-7 on Sunday and needed to throw to catch up.

How did it go? Well, Hurts ended up with 226 yards and three landing passes (additionally ran for one), and the Eagles got here again to win 33-26 because of Jordan Davis’ electrifying area aim block return landing. Philadelphia is 3-0 with victories over the Cowboys, Chiefs and Rams to begin the season, and Sunday confirmed the group can win by throwing if it must.

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Jalen Hurts finds DeVonta Smith to place Eagles up

Jalen Hurts connects with DeVonta Smith ultimately zone to provide the Eagles a late lead.

Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION

I get that Barkley is their greatest participant, and that if a group can generate explosive performs within the run sport (which is inherently much less dangerous than passing the ball), that is an superior factor to have the ability to do. The Eagles rode that method to their second Super Bowl title final season. They positive as heck do not want my recommendation.

So consider this as extra of a plea from somebody who watches these video games and needs them to be entertaining. Philadelphia is paying large receivers A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith a mixed $57 million a 12 months. It’s paying its quarterback $51 million a 12 months. I get that it is all about profitable video games and it does not matter the way it appears and blah blah blah. But maaaan … do not inform me it must be ball management and the identical hideous-looking rugby play each time you are in fourth-and-1. People are paying for parking, dang it. Throw the ball! Be entertaining! After all, you are good at it!

Emeka Egbuka goes to be Offensive Rookie of the Year

Tampa Bay’s electrifying rookie receiver did not rating a landing Sunday — the primary sport of his NFL profession by which he failed to try this. But he had 85 yards on six catches, together with a clutch 28-yard seize that received the Buccaneers into Jets territory on what turned out to be the game-winning area aim drive.

Egbuka wasn’t even a positive factor to play after lacking follow Wednesday and Thursday with hip and groin accidents he suffered in final Monday’s victory over Houston. But he returned to follow Friday, performed Sunday and made a major influence for the Bucs, who’re 3-0 for the primary time since 2005 and look as in the event that they discovered a first-round gem.

Verdict: NOT AN OVERREACTION

Early in coaching camp, the Buccaneers had been telling anybody who would hear how impressed they had been with Egbuka. Quarterback Baker Mayfield instructed me once I visited their camp that Egbuka is a high-level technician whose expertise and data in regards to the place far exceed these of a run-of-the-mill rookie. The choose was considered by many as bizarre when the Bucs made it in April. After all, they already had veteran Mike Evans, promising second-year man Jalen McMillan and had re-signed the injured Chris Godwin Jr. to a three-year contract extension. Wide receiver did not really feel like a want.

But the Bucs noticed one thing particular in Egbuka, particularly with Evans possible nearing the tip of his sensible profession and Godwin working his method again from a ugly season-ending damage. Even with Godwin anticipated again quickly, I do not assume Egbuka’s position is in main hassle. He has earned his quarterback’s belief and confirmed he can deal with a number of completely different receiver positions within the offense. Egbuka is right here to remain. And if he stays wholesome and the Bucs maintain profitable, he’ll be the sturdy favourite for this award.