Week 3 NFL Takeaways

Written By Tucker Harlin

By Tucker Harlin

Week 3 of the NFL season was defiant of everything we watched in Week 2.

About half of the games in the Week 3 slate were upsets or blowouts, leading to a different kind of entertainment that didn’t necessarily center around close finishes and great matchups.

These are four things I learned from Week 3.

THE TENNESSEE TITANS MIGHT BE THE WORST TEAM IN THE LEAGUE

Sigh.

I was the most optimistic I had been in four years for a Tennessee Titans season only to be slapped in the face once again by the organization I root for.

The offense and special teams found creative ways to lose in each of the first two weeks of the season, but the defense was at least showing signs of promise.

Anything redeeming about the defense was lost in Sunday’s 30-14 loss to the Packers.

Malik Willis, the same guy the Titans ran out for his poor performances in each of the previous two seasons, threw for over 200 yards against the Titans. Many of Willis’ pass plays turned into 20 plus-yard plays.

Speaking of big plays, what was supposed to be a terrific run defense surrendered 188 rush yards and let Willis lead the way with 73 and a touchdown.

The offense was still terrible. Will Levis threw yet another horrible interception and had little help from his porous offensive line, which surrendered six sacks.

If want to watch a horrible football game next week, turn on the Monday Night Football game in Miami. It’s going to be unbelievably bad.

PUMP THE BRAKES ON THE NFC SOUTH

I’m by no means out on anybody from the NFC South, but the division came down to earth in Week 3 as the only team to pick up a win was the atrocious Carolina Panthers.

Both the Saints and Falcons came up short this week.

If there is such a thing as strength of schedule in the NFL, Atlanta has run a gauntlet with losses to a tough Steelers team and the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs while winning on the road against the playoff caliber Eagles.

The Saints’ loss is to those same Eagles, running into a tougher defensive test than they anticipated. Derek Carr looked like the same guy you’re used to seeing most seasons, not the guy that balled out against the Panthers and Cowboys in the opening two weeks.

Tampa Bay had the worst outing of the weekend, losing 26-7 at home to what’s been a dreadful Broncos team to start the season.

I still believe the NFC South is a stronger division than what we saw in Week 3, it just came down to earth this week.

THE 49ERS ARE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE

Life is not good in the bay area right now.

I watched my Tennessee Titans miss a Super Bowl window because they were ravaged by injuries (and bad play calling) over the course of 2021 and 2022. I fear the same thing is happening to the 49ers this season.

The 49ers are four years removed from one of these seasons from hell after the turf in MetLife Stadium took out half the defense near the beginning of the year.

The year started with an injury to Christian McCaffrey that will keep him out for at least the next few weeks. This initially wasn’t of huge concern with Jordan Mason’s Week 1 performance, but the injuries have continued to pile up.

Deebo Samuel and George Kittle both missed Week 3, and Brock Purdy is now suffering from back soreness.

As it stands, the offense without Purdy would consist of Josh Dobbs at quarterback, Jordan Mason at running back, a severely overpaid Brandon Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings at receiver, and Eric Saubert at tight end.

The Dobbs to Jennings connection is great for Vol fans, especially after Jennings’ week against the Rams.

But you’ve gone from Super Bowl contender to hoping for eight wins if none of what you lost can get back to full health.

THE VIKINGS ARE PLAYOFF CONTENDERS

Minnesota has been the biggest surprise in the league to this point in the season.

That surprise continued this weekend in its 34-7 win over Houston, who appears head and shoulders above the rest of the AFC South.

We knew what Justin Jefferson could do for this team through the air, but Sam Darnold and Aaron Jones have both been incredible stories in their new home this year. Additionally, the defense made it a long day for C.J. Stroud, one of the great young quarterbacks in the league.

The NFC North was expected to be and still is one of the most competitive divisions in football this season. But if you surveyed NFL fans before the season, most would tell you the Vikings should finish last in the division given the injury to J.J. McCarthy and the fact the Packers and Lions both made the playoffs last season.

The moment of truth is next weekend when the Vikings give the Packers a visit in Lambeau Field, another franchise that’s doing alright despite an injury to its starting quarterback.

Tucker Harlin
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