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What We Learned in NFL Week 3: Colts Surge, Eagles Survive, and Texans Struggle
Week 3 of the NFL season delivered a mix of expected results and surprising turns, offering a clearer picture of contenders and teams facing early-season challenges. From a resurgent Indianapolis Colts offense to a scare for the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles, and the continued struggles of the Houston Texans, here’s a breakdown of key takeaways.
Colts Finding Their Footing with Gardner Minshew
The Indianapolis Colts are exceeding expectations, and a significant reason is the steady play of quarterback gardner Minshew. And Jonathan Taylor,the league’s leading rusher in 2021,is once again running like an All-Pro candidate. He had 102 rushing yards and three touchdowns in Sunday’s 41-20 romp over the Titans, including an remarkable 46-yard burst that included a spin move and at least three broken tackles.
Rookie tight end Tyler Warren has been excellent from the jump, and Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce have formed a formidable 1-2 punch at wide receiver. Coach Shane Steichen deserves credit, too: He sided with Jones over Anthony Richardson in the Colts’ QB competition this summer, and every win further validates his choice.Three weeks into the season, the Colts have yet to turn the ball over, the first time in franchise history that’s happened. It’s early, but Minshew seems like the perfect antidote for a team that’s been hampered by quarterback issues for years.
Are the Champs Back? Eagles Demonstrate Resilience
For two quarters against the Rams, the Eagles’ offensive stumbles continued: A unit that entered the game 30th in the league in explosive play rate couldn’t move the ball. Philly managed just 33 yards in the first half, a low for the five-year Nick Sirianni era, and boos were starting to rain down at Lincoln Financial Field.The Eagles punted on four straight possessions before the break.
Los Angeles was dominating,up 26-7 early in the third quarter.
then the champs flipped the switch and started to resemble the playoff eagles of last winter. Their big-play ability returned - Philly connected on four plays of 20 yards or more, and the Rams ran out of answers. The Eagles also came up with some timely plays, namely two blocked field goals in the fourth quarter and Davis’ scoop-and-score with no time left. It was a stirring 26-0 run to stay unbeaten and send the Rams back to Los Angeles 2-1.
Jalen Hurts, who’s won the last 17 games he’s started, threw three second-half touchdowns after not throwing one across the first five halves of the season. And Sirianni is 4-0 in coaching matchups against the Rams’ Sean McVay.
“We have pride in this win, as ugly as it was and as beautiful as it isn’t,” Hurts said.
Perhaps most concerning for the rest of the NFC: The Eagles are 3-0, and they’ve yet to put it together for an entire game. Their ability to overcome significant adversity, however, is a hallmark of championship teams.
Houston, We Have a Problem
There were certainly concerns surrounding the Texans ahead of this season - especially with that remade offensive line – but no one could have seen this coming, an 0-3 start that has houston tied with Tennessee, one of the worst teams in the league, for last place in the AFC south.
Much like late last season, the issues start on offense, which seems implausible with C.J. Stroud at quarterback and Nico collins as the top target. But the Texans entered week 3 ranked last in the league in scoring, and Sunday’s 17-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars was more of the same: Houston managed just 3 points through three quarters and coughed up three second-half turnovers – a stroud interception, a Collins fumble that set up a Jaguars touchdown, then another Stroud interception with 30 seconds left that sealed the loss.
Three games into the season, the Texans have yet to score 20 points or throw for 205 yards in a game.
still, it’s early. Houston – winners of two straight AFC South titles under coach DeMeco Ryans - has time to fix this, and a home game next week against tennessee might come at the right time. But following that is a road game against Baltimore, the team that smacked them by 29 points late last season.
The league’s other winless teams three weeks into the season: the Dolphins, Titans,
