The National Football League does not have a parity issue. Three weeks into the NFL season, and every team not based in Philadelphia has had a legitimate moment of weakness. None of the preseason favorites look particularly strong. The Chicago Bears have two wins, and the New York Giants haven’t lost yet. What did we learn from the wacky action of Week 3?
Green Bay Packers 14 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers 12
Talk about hitting the under. Two Canton-bound quarterbacks; three quality running backs with a dozen rushes each. Somehow, this game cleared the under by two full touchdowns.
Personally, I’m not buying it as a sign of things to come, at least when it comes to the Green Bay Packers. Aaron Rodgers is still Aaron Rodgers, and the offense has head coach Matt LaFleur’s fingerprints all over it.
The window dressing was nothing new. Neither was the diversity of targets: eight in total. Everybody knew the lack of wide receiver talent would be an issue, but LaFleur has done an amicable job at mitigating its effects. Next week, we probably won’t see a fumble from Aaron Jones or an abysmal conversion rate on third down. They’re continuing to find easy completions without advantages against defensive backs, and the defense should continue to put them in advantageous spots. If Vegas starts to doubt the Packers’ offense, call their bluff.
On the other hand, there’s a conversation to be had about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I’m not ready to bet against Tom Brady in his battle with Father Time just yet. Still, it’s hard not to raise an eyebrow at a rocky start to his season. His middling statistical performances have left Tampa Bay vulnerable.
While it’s something to watch, I’m not convinced it will matter in the short term. The Carolina Panthers stink and the Atlanta Falcons don’t look much better. The New Orleans Saints can’t get out of their own way either. As long as Brady is on the field, the Buccaneers will win the division.
Carolina Panthers 22 – New Orleans Saints 14
Speaking of teams that won’t win the NFC South…
New Orleans has a problem. What is it?
Jameis Winston is hurt, bad, or both, but definitely not neither. It was another underwhelming performance from just about everyone involved. Alvin Kamara doesn’t look like himself and I still find myself angry when Mark Ingram gets touches instead.
At this point in time, I’m not sure if it’s a talent issue, an offensive line issue, Winston’s back, or a coaching staff over their heads. What I do know is that if they don’t figure it out quickly, they’ll have January off to figure out what went wrong.
Atlanta Falcons 27 – Seattle Seahawks 23
Thank you, Arthur Smith.
The world asked you to acknowledge Kyle Pitts’ presence on this Earth, and you obliged. Eight targets, five catches, and 87 yards later, the Falcons found themselves victorious.
It truly is incredible what good players can do for you.
Drake London continued to look good even if Pitts’ day overshadowed his. Defining those two as the team’s top targets goes a long way in making sure they’re on the right track. Their combinations of size, speed, and skill are virtually unmatched across the league. And credit to Marcus Mariota, too. When he isn’t overwhelmed in the pocket, he can make some things happen. He was efficient on Sunday and everything Atlanta needed him to be.
Cordarrelle Patterson had himself a day as well. His 17 carries, 141 yards, and a score continue to make him the exception to our notions about running backs and age (kind of). I don’t know how long he’ll hold up, but for now, buying his weekly rushing props feels like a winning strategy.
Again, Arthur, thank you. We are grateful.