Week 3 of the NFL season already has a bold-print headline: the Cleveland Browns are in the win column. It’s unlikely to be the only big story that comes from this slate of games, where intrigue abounds. Bill Belichick faces a former assistant in Detroit, a resurgent veteran faces off against a Pittsburgh Steelers team embroiled in drama, and a one-time MVP candidate is poised to return to the field after being sidelined for ten months.
So what are the big questions that need to be answered during Week 3? Here’s a look.
1. How much rust will Carson Wentz have to shake off?
Carson Wentz hasn’t played in an NFL game since December 10, 2017. He’s been cleared to start against the Indianapolis Colts, but it’s anyone’s guess as to how he’ll actually look when he steps on the field. His knee injury was a severe one, and we don’t have preseason action to go off. Will he be skittish? Will he be as mobile as he was before the injury? Will he still have the bravery to step up and make big throws? We won’t know until we see him, but it’s certainly logical to expect an adjustment process as Wentz gets back in the saddle.
2. Can the Steelers shake off the distractions after a drama-filled week?
This has not been the best week to be a Pittsburgh Steeler. The team is still winless, and a week of questions started with Antonio Brown’s absence from team meetings last Monday. All of this opened the door for rivals to privately take shots at the Steelers and coach Mike Tomlin. For now, this isn’t a crisis, though anyone in the organization would probably admit that this is not how they wanted the season to start. They face a tough trip to Tampa Bay, and if they fail to win it, the pressure on Tomlin and the team will escalate even more. This is a group that has been able to put aside issues and win games before, and it has to happen here to avoid really intense scrutiny.
3. Is FitzMagic for real?
Ryan Fitzpatrick answered a lot of questions last week when he carved up the Philadelphia Eagles to lead the Buccaneers to a 2-0 record. This week, he’ll be tasked with facing another skilled defense in Pittsburgh’s. The Steelers haven’t been sharp this season defensively, so Fitzpatrick might find them there for the taking. This will be the final week that Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston is suspended, so even though he’s been incredible so far, Fitzpatrick has all the reason in the world to put in another statement performance to solidify his hold on the starting job with or without Winston.
4. Which NFC South contender will take control after a shaky start?
The Atlanta Falcons are 1-1 and have sputtered on offense at times to start the season. The New Orleans Saints are also 1-1 and have sputtered on defense at times to start the season. On Sunday, the two will face off in a game that will give us an early indication of where things stand between two teams that were expected to compete for an NFC South title before the season started. Tampa Bay has pulled ahead of the pack, while the Carolina Panthers are also lurking at 1-1. It’s likely that whichever side here exploits the other’s primary weakness more effectively will walk out 2-1, while the loser will face a challenge getting back on their feet in the division.
5. Can Jon Gruden avoid an 0-3 start?
Oakland’s fourth quarter collapse against the Denver Broncos is an uglier look than losing at home to a talented Rams team, so the pressure is starting to pile on Jon Gruden at this point. He blew much of his goodwill with the Khalil Mack trade and the fact that the Raiders have struggled since — with Gruden having the nerve to bemoan his team’s lack of a pass rush — has done him no favors. They’re on the road again this week in Miami, where the Dolphins sit unbeaten. Gruden needs to accomplish something soon. A win is a start, and if he falls to 0-3, he’s not going to get a friendly reception when the Raiders return home for Week 4.
6. Will the Bengals make a statement showing they’re for real?
One of the league’s more surprising 2-0 teams, the Bengals are traveling to Charlotte on Sunday to face the Carolina Panthers. On paper, the Panthers are a playoff hopeful who should be winning a game like this at home, but the Bengals have looked solid against Indianapolis and Baltimore. A third win in three here would make them look like early AFC North contenders, especially if they do it against the best opponent they’ve yet faced while on the road.
7. Can the Giants stop their season from spiraling out of control?
Eli Manning looks like a spent force and the offensive line looks incapable of protecting him. That’s the narrative around the struggling Giants right now after their 0-2 start. They’re on the road facing a Texans team that is also winless, but favored. If the Giants don’t win this one, they’re looking at an 0-3 start with games against the Saints, Panthers, Eagles, and Falcons to follow, all of which were playoff teams last season. In short, things have the potential to get ugly quickly for New York.
8. Will we move a step closer to seeing Josh Rosen under center for Arizona?
The Arizona Cardinals comfortably look like one of the worst teams in the NFL, particularly on offense, where veteran starter Sam Bradford has been nothing short of awful this season. It is very unlikely that his rookie backup Josh Rosen would lead to any significant change in fortunes, but that hasn’t stopped many from calling for Arizona to embrace their quarterback of the future. Things are unlikely to get much better against Khalil Mack and the Chicago Bears, and frankly, coach Steve Wilks is probably wise to avoid exposing Rosen to that pass rush to start his career. There will come a point when the Bradford solution is untenable, though, and another stinker on Sunday would move us closer to that point.
9. Can the Cowboys silence more doubters with a road win in Seattle?
The knives were out for the Cowboys after a pitiful season-opening performance against the Carolina Panthers, but they took advantage of a weakened New York Giants team a week ago to pick up their first win of the season. Now, they face an early season crossroads. It’s never easy to go to Seattle and play the Seahawks, but they’re facing an 0-2 team with a lot of flaws. If the Cowboys can get through this game with a win, optimism will grow, but a loss to the winless Seahawks will bring about new questions, especially if the performance is flat. It’s a pretty big early-season contest for them.
10. Are the Chargers equipped to make a statement win?
The Los Angeles Rams are counted by many to be among the NFC’s elite, but they’re not the only team in the city. The Chargers will be looking to make a statement of their own when they visit the Rams on Sunday. Philip Rivers leads a quality offense and Melvin Ingram is the backbone of a powerful pass rush, albeit one that will be missing Joey Bosa. The Chargers are likely hoping a road win will gain them some attention. They believe they can be an AFC contender, and a win over one of the NFC’s best would make some people take notice.
11. Can Frank Reich outmaneuver the team he won a Super Bowl with?
Now the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, Reich returns to Philadelphia on Sunday on the other sideline. Reich was the offensive coordinator for the Super Bowl-winning Eagles team last season, and now, as a head coach, he’ll be tasked with stopping Carson Wentz and finding a way to get his own offense through the talented Eagle defense. The Colts have showed flashes of promise, even if they likely won’t contend this season. A win over Philadelphia would not only be an early statement, but a gratifying moment for Reich.
12. Are the Broncos for real?
Case Keenum’s Denver Broncos have eked out two close wins to start unbeaten, and while they haven’t exactly been dominant, the record speaks for itself. A 3-0 start would position Denver nicely for possible playoff contention, and a road game in Baltimore, while tough, is definitely winnable. The offense will have to sharpen up, as Keenum has not been at his very best during the two wins so far, but if the defense can force a few Joe Flacco mistakes, Denver will be in good shape here.
13. How many touchdowns will Patrick Mahomes throw?
Watching Mahomes play has very quickly become one of the most fun things to do in the NFL on any given weekend. He has ten touchdowns through two games and is poised to do more damage at home against the San Francisco 49ers. It would be unrealistic to expect his current pace to continue, but he has the arm and the guts to try for big plays that will sometimes pay off. The Niners have only given up four touchdowns through two games so far, but the Chiefs offense, at least on the evidence, will be the best they’ve faced yet.
14. How will Josh Allen respond against one of the NFL’s elite defenses?
Nobody is expecting the Bills to be able to beat the Minnesota Vikings. It’s more an exercise in how rookie quarterback Josh Allen responds while facing Minnesota’s elite defense. Allen was merely okay against the Los Angeles Chargers, throwing two interceptions to one touchdown, and the pressure will be on him all day Sunday. The hope will be that things don’t get embarrassing and he’s able to use it as a learning experience, but thinking optimistically, Allen has the chance to really show something against a talented unit.
15. Can Bill Belichick’s apprentice keep up with the master in Detroit?
Matt Patricia has gotten off to a brutal start as Lions coach, and an angry Patriots team with something to prove after a loss to Jacksonville a week ago isn’t likely to make things better. Home field advantage may not be enough for a Detroit team that has been failed by poor play and a lack of discipline. In addition, Bill Belichick is 14-8 against his former assistants, and Patricia doesn’t look like he has the Patriot Way running smoothly in Detroit at this point. Odds are the master will best the apprentice, but Patricia will be keen at testing himself and his team against his former boss.
