Week 3 is now behind us in the new NFL season, and it brought some of the strangest games and plays I’ve seen in a long time. That means I’m excited to crack into this review, because there’s no shortage of storylines and performances to talk about. Whether it’s the blocked field goals, the unusual number of non-offensive touchdowns, or just some of the ridiculous highlights, we’re going to cover it all.
So, let’s put a bow on Week 3 together.
Offensive and Defensive Rookies of the Week
Offensive – Cam Skattebo | Running Back | New York Giants
After what looked like it could have been an interesting game in the first half, the Chiefs ended up running away with the win on Sunday Night Football. While the Giants’ offence went stale with Russell Wilson coming back down to earth, there was still one shining light in their unit, and that was rookie running back Cam Skattebo.
Coming out of the draft, Skattebo was known as the heart of the ASU programme due to his infectious energy and that running style where he would pinball off defenders at will. The way he plays lifts the energy not just of his teammates, but also the fans, who get out of their seats because of his highlight reel plays.
Looking at the numbers from Skattebo, he was sensational on the ground and through the air. Starting with how he toted the rock, he was handed the ball 10 times and picked up 60 yards at a great six yard average. On one of those carries, he also found his second career rushing touchdown on a gashing run that showed exactly what he is about.
Then in the passing game, he didn’t just pass protect well, he also led his team in receiving yards with six catches for 60 yards. To further show just how much of a highlight reel this guy is, he forced five missed tackles, which led the game and ranked sixth in the league over the weekend.
This showing from Skattebo no doubt proved that the fourth round pick spent on him was worth it, and that the Giants have a true workhorse back with Tyrone Tracy Jr. potentially being out for some time.
Defensive – Abdul Carter | Edge Rusher | New York Giants
A second Giants rookie finds their way into the review this week, and it’s the third overall pick, Abdul Carter, who showed out on national television against the Chiefs. The fact that he put this performance on tape wasn’t surprising at all, because this guy was touted as the best pass rusher to come out of college in the past couple of years. He’s also drawn comparisons to another former Penn State No. 11, who just happens to be the best defensive player in the league right now.
What initially popped off the screen was his pass rushing prowess. While he wasn’t able to get Mahomes on the ground, he had so many near misses that would have been sacks against most other quarterbacks. This idea was backed up by his three pressures, two hurries, and one QB hit, according to PFF, which are certainly solid numbers.
However, what made this performance special was his supreme versatility. In 60 snaps, he lined up all across the defensive line, in the linebacking corps, and even took one snap at slot cornerback just to show how ridiculous his skill set is.
The performance wasn’t game-breaking, but what we saw from Abdul Carter was once again promising and showed exactly why he was such a highly regarded pass rusher coming out of college.
Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week
Offensive – Caleb Williams | Quarterback | Chicago Bears
The second-year quarterback Williams has been the butt of many jokes throughout the early part of his career, due to some antics coming out of USC and people not always liking the way he carries himself. However, I’ve always been in the camp that believes this guy has legit superstar tools and traits for the modern-day quarterback position in the NFL.
Now, I’d be remissed to say he’s been flawless throughout his first season and a bit as a starter. But I think there’s no doubt he’s flashed far more positives than negatives, all while operating in a poor ecosystem.
This week, against a struggling Cowboys defence, Ben Johnson seemingly unlocked Caleb Williams and his potential with some outstanding play designs and calling. He allowed him to move the launch point and attack both the intermediate and deep parts of the field. Just looking at the box score, he was outstanding, throwing for 298 yards and 4 touchdowns on a 67 percent completion rate.
The underlying metrics also looked good for Williams, who threw two big-time passes and had no turnover-worthy plays, according to PFF. We’re used to the highlight plays from Williams, but what was so refreshing this week was his complete avoidance of putting the ball in harm’s way.
There’s no doubt he still had some moments he’d want back, as his footwork occasionally let him down, causing him to sail some “easy” throws. However, having a coach who believes in him and allowed Williams to use his full skill set was great to see, and hopefully a sign of things to come.
Defensive – Isaiah Rodgers | Cornerback | Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings stormed to victory in dominant fashion, powered by their run game and an extremely opportunistic defensive unit that overwhelmed a Burrow-less Bengals. With the whole team stepping up and delivering, it might usually be hard to single out one player, but in this case, it’s not difficult at all.
The best player across the entire NFL slate this weekend was 27-year-old former sixth-rounder Isaiah Rodgers, who put on an absolute show from his cornerback position for the Vikings.
He started his day with a tip-drill interception where the ball flew at him quickly off a deflection. Not only did he secure the ball, but he also took off downfield. From there, he saw green grass in front of him and, with a bit of help from the defence, took the interception to the house for a pick-six.
Later, as the Bengals were driving in plus territory, Rodgers got his hands on another game-changing moment. The Vikings forced a fumble, and right there, Johnny-on-the-spot, was Rodgers again, scooping up the ball and returning it 70 yards for another touchdown.
To close out what might have been the best individual defensive half in recent memory, Rodgers made a sublime tackle on All-Pro Ja’Marr Chase. In doing so, he stripped the ball from the league’s best receiver and forced another turnover in what became a disastrous play for the Bengals.
All in all, the idea of a flawless game is far-fetched in football, but this was about as close as it gets and this likely wont be topped for years to come. Just to prove that sentiment PFF awarded Rodgers with their first ever 99.9 defensive grade for his efforts against the Bengals
Game of the Week | Eagles vs Rams
A replay of one of the better playoff games we saw last year, where the Rams gave the Eagles everything they could handle in the divisional round, played out once again in Week 3 of the new season. Most of each team’s core returned for this heavyweight bout.
This time around, the Rams came out firing in the first half, with a couple of the old dogs like Davante Adams and Matt Stafford connecting for a big-time touchdown. With those big plays in key moments going the Rams’ way early, they took a 19–7 lead into half-time.
From there, the Eagles began to storm back. After their usual conservative yet efficient playstyle wasn’t working, it was time to put the ball in Jalen Hurts’ hands. The Super Bowl MVP answered the call, throwing for 226 yards and three touchdowns to lead his team back into the game and eventually into the lead down the stretch.
With that said, Stafford and the Rams kept fighting. They drove the length of the field and gave themselves a golden opportunity to kick the game-winning field goal after one of their earlier attempts had been blocked.
With the clock expiring, the snap and hold were fine, but Jordan Davis and his freakish athletic traits ruined the party. He got his massive hand up and cleanly blocked the attempt. Then he stormed through the Rams’ line, scooped the ball, and took it to the house for a walk-off, game-sealing touchdown.
It was one of those plays that championship calibre teams find a way to make, and there’s no doubt the Eagles have that in abundance after last season. They’ve proven it hasn’t gone anywhere heading into this year.