When week 3 began, there were still nine teams looking for their first victory of the season and, given the dismal history, salvage their playoff hopes. Since 1990, just 2.5 percent of teams that have started 0-3 made the playoffs. None of the 162 teams that have started 0-3 have gone on to win the Super Bowl. The bottom line is that it gets late really early in the NFL, and three games is more than a snapshot. In fact, it gives us plenty of fodder for winners and losers. We're not even including the New York Jets here, because we've already had three days to think about how much of a winner Aaron Rodgers looked like on Thursday night. This is about Sunday, where the overreactions of the first two weeks settled into something that looked closer to reality.
Winners
Philadelphia Eagles defense: The Eagles were one of the league's worst defenses after the first two weeks, unable to stop the run and getting little pressure on quarterbacks when it counted. Facing a team that was averaging more than 400 yards and 45.5 points per game seemed like a particularly untimely matchup. But Vic Fangio's defense was inspired from the start Sunday, stifling the Saints from the first drive, when it limited them to a field goal. The key plays were a fourth-down stop of Alvin Kamara in the red zone on the first play of the fourth quarter and Reed Blankenship's interception with 48 seconds left as the Saints were driving to get into field-goal range. The Eagles still have issues on their offense to solve -- Jalen Hurts had two more turnovers, bringing his season total to six, and Nick Sirianni's decision-making is still sometimes head-scratching -- but getting the defense fixed at least gives Sirianni time to get his offense on track.
New York Giants defense: There was a lot to like about the Giants' first win of the season. Daniel Jones played his best game since 2022, and Malik Nabers made more jaw-dropping catches, becoming the first player in NFL history to have at least 20 receptions and at least three receiving touchdowns in his first three career games, per NFL Research. But this game belonged to the defense, which battered Deshaun Watson with eight sacks and two forced fumbles. They also made two fourth-down stops in the final four minutes. This was a season-saving victory, especially with the Cowboys coming into MetLife Stadium for a Thursday night game.
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix: The Broncos got their first win of the season, and Nix got his breakout performance, the best performance by a rookie quarterback so far this season. He was 25-of-36 for 216 yards and also had nine runs for 47 yards and a touchdown. Completions on the first three plays of the game got Nix and the offense off to a fast start, and the Broncos defense stifled the Bucs. Like every other rookie quarterback this year, Nix had occasionally looked overwhelmed. Not Sunday.
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields: Even if Russell Wilson's calf is entirely healed, there is no way the Steelers can make a switch now, not at 3-0 and not with Fields developing each week. On Sunday, he was excellent, completing 25 of 32 passes for 245 yards, a touchdown, an interception and two sacks taken -- adding a score on the ground -- in his team's 20-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. Until now, you could say Fields' best trait was that he hadn't made mistakes in the first two games. But on Sunday, he threw a dart into a tight window that Calvin Austin III turned into a 55-yard touchdown. With a dominating defense, a solid running game and Fields thriving, it's hard to imagine how Wilson regains what was supposed to be his starting job anytime soon.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis: He's been with the Packers for less than a month, but on Sunday, Willis had the best game of his career against the team that gave up on him. That's a pretty sweet redemption arc, with Willis running for one touchdown and passing for another. Matt LaFleur, who had limited Willis to just five pass attempts in the first half last week, called more early passes this week. Jordan Love appears ready to return for next week's huge showdown with the Vikings, but Willis has shown they can win games with him.
Minnesota Vikings: All of it. Every part of this team is a winner right now. One week after beating one of the NFC's best teams, they dominated one of the AFC's best. Sam Darnold is hearing MVP chants after throwing four more touchdown passes (he has eight touchdowns to just two interceptions in three games), and the blitz-heavy defense overwhelmed the Texans' offensive line, sacking C.J. Stroud four times. If this keeps up, Kevin O'Connell is going to be a strong Coach of the Year candidate for his work with Darnold, and defensive coordinator Brian Flores will get long looks for head-coaching jobs at the end of the season.
Baltimore Ravens offensive line: The biggest concern entering the season, and in this game, finally settled in, powering a 274-yard rushing attack that saved the Ravens' season. The most important run of the year was the last when, having almost entirely blown a 28-6 lead, the Ravens needed a first down to run out the clock. They faked the jet sweep and Lamar Jackson ran virtually untouched through a huge hole in the middle of the line, securing the win.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton: Two things can be true at once. The Carolina Panthers failed Bryce Young in their efforts to develop the former first overall pick going back to last season. And Dalton was awesome Sunday. He is the only quarterback in the league this season with 300 passing yards and three touchdowns in a game. That's the real indictment of Young, that Dalton could come off the bench and get these results from the same offense and the same personnel (it's a real indictment of the Raiders, too, by the way). Dalton brought a measure of calm and confidence to the Panthers, and that allowed everyone else to play better.
Los Angeles Rams: The Rams saved their season, scoring the final 13 points of the game, the last 10 of them in the final two minutes Sunday. Both the 49ers and Rams were missing key offensive players, but the Rams finally got running back Kyren Williams going, with 89 yards and two touchdowns. A 38-yard punt return by Xavier Smith, with 42 seconds left, set up the game-winning field goal, which gave the Rams their first lead with 5 seconds remaining. Yes, it was a collapse by the 49ers defense, but the Rams were undermanned and teetering on the brink of 0-3. This was a win for never giving up.
Losers
Dallas Cowboys: Yes, they fought back in the fourth quarter to avoid a second straight blowout at home, but the Cowboys still can't run the ball (averaging 73.7 rushing yards), can't stop the run (allowing an average of 185.7 rushing yards per game) and the pass rush never sacked Lamar Jackson on Sunday. Moreover, the Cowboys, coming off an embarrassing loss to the Saints at home last week, were lifeless for three quarters Sunday. No one escapes blame for this loss.
Los Angeles Chargers' injuries: Quarterback Justin Herbert had to leave the game against the Steelers after his high ankle sprain was aggravated. By then, linebacker Joey Bosa was already on the sideline, with a hip injury that kept him out after halftime. Offensive tackles Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater were also injured. Those are four of the Chargers' most important players who will be on the injury report while the Chargers prepare for the Chiefs next week. If Herbert can't go, expect an even more run-heavy attack.
Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis: Tennessee coach Brian Callahan has barely been able to contain his frustration at Levis' turnovers, and Levis added three more of them in Sunday's loss to the Packers, including an interception that was returned for a touchdown. It was not all Levis' fault -- he received no pass protection and was sacked eight times -- and Callahan said he was sticking with Levis and the team had to play better around him. But Levis leads the league with eight turnovers in three games, and his struggles were particularly glaring considering Willis' performance for the Packers.
Chicago Bears: Caleb Williams continues to struggle, although he finally got his first two touchdown passes Sunday. But the play-calling was head-scratching. The Colts had given up almost 500 yards on the ground to their first two opponents, but the Bears attempted 52 passes, including 27 in the first half, when the Bears defense held the Colts to just one touchdown. That's not Williams' fault.
