NFL Week 3 Winners and Losers
Winners
Cleveland Browns
It took 635 days, but the Cleveland Browns have finally won a regular season football game. Beating the New York Jets 21-17 on Thursday night, the Browns are now 1-1-1 and tied for third in the AFC North. Some believed that QB Baker Mayfield should have gotten the starting job at the beginning of the season, but that went to QB Tyrod Taylor. But when Taylor exited the game near the end of the 1st half, it was Baker time. Baker looked impressive, going 17-23 for 201 yards, but had support from the run game. Carlos Hyde was the main man in the backfield with 2 TDs, helping the Brown’s offense. With three forced turnovers from the defense, Cleveland could win a few more games this season. Maybe… is that too much to ask? Next step, win a Sunday football game.
Drew Brees
New Orleans QB Drew Brees keeps making us think he is much younger than reality. Going for 5 TDs total on Sunday, Brees helped the Saints outscore the Falcons 43-37 in OT. Also in the game, he broke the record for most career completions for a QB in the NFL. Not bad Brees, not bad at all. And knowing he isn’t retiring anytime soon, I don’t know if anybody is ever claiming that record back. This week, the Saints face off with the New York Giants, which may be another big game for the New Orleans QB.
Buffalo Bills
Nobody expected this to happen… no one. The Buffalo Bills actually looked like an actual NFL team, not the average college team they have been the first two weeks. Not beating, but demolishing the Minnesota Vikings 27-6, the Bills showed that they may be changing for the better. Josh Allen had a better than average performance, but the real star of the game was the defense. Holding the high power Vikings offense to one touchdown, maybe the personnel change earlier in the week really made a difference. The real question is, can they win two in a row and beat the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday afternoon.
Losers
Tom Brady
For the first time in my 16 year life, I actually feel bad for New England Patriots QB Tom Brady. The golden boy of football has virtually no weapons on his current offense. Yes, WR Julian Edelman is coming off suspension, and the Patriots recently acquired WR Josh Gordon from the Cleveland Browns. We just don’t know when Gordon will play, and if Edelman will play at his best in his first game. With the Patriots currently 1-2, they need anything they can get. Facing the 3-0 Miami Dolphins this week, Tom Brady just has to hope he has weapons and help on defense.
San Francisco 49ers
Going into the 2018 season, my personal expectations for the San Francisco 49ers were to try to fight for a Wild Card spot. Now, they are 1-2 and have lost star QB Jimmy Garoppolo to a torn ACL for the year. The 49ers now turn to QB C.J. Beathard to run the offense, and it doesn’t look good. It doesn’t help that the 49ers defense isn’t the greatest in the NFL, allowing 89 points in three weeks. But you never know, Beathard could turn into the next Nick Foles.
Clay Matthews
You might remember in last week’s winners and losers list that I talked about Green Bay Packers LB Clay Matthews questionably getting called for roughing the passer against the Minnesota Vikings. The Packers drew the game due to the penalty, and a questionable call was against Matthews for roughing the passer was called again on Sunday in Washington. It appeared to be a clear-cut sack, Washington Redskins QB Alex Smith getting tackled by Matthews. But the penalty was called for “putting all or most of the player’s weight on the QB”. You have to be kidding me right? What else is he supposed to, lift him and then lightly set him down!? It may just be me, but the longer this rule is in the NFL, the worse.
