NFL Research spotlights the best nuggets from each slate of games. Here are the most eye-popping statistical accomplishments from Week 3 of the 2025 NFL season.
1) Jones-led offense scoring at higher rate than any Colts team from Manning era
The Colts lead the NFL with 103 points through three weeks. That's right, the No. 1 scoring offense in the NFL is led by Daniel Jones.
Those 103 points are more than any Peyton Manning-led Colts team ever scored through the first three games of a season.
On top of that, Indianapolis has punted just once, the fewest punts through three games by any team in the Super Bowl era. The only clubs to start 3-0 and punt fewer than five times while doing so are the 2025 Colts and the 2007 Patriots. It's still to be determined if Jones texted Rigoberto Sanchez anything about not needing to punt much this year, but if he did, that has aged pretty well so far.
Speaking of the man under center for the record-breaking Colts, the Giants (and briefly Vikings) castoff has looked like the perfect fit in Shane Steichen's system. Through three weeks, Jones has three passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns and -- most importantly -- zero giveaways. No player in the Super Bowl era has ever began a season hitting those marks.
Jonathan Taylor, who paces the NFL with 431 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns, ran in one of those TDs against the Titans from 46 yards out. It was the 26-year-old former rushing champion's ninth career touchdown run of at least 45 yards. That tied Derrick Henry and Chris Johnson for the most such touchdowns by any player prior to his 27th birthday.
2) Vikings CB Rodgers takes over with history-making performance
Sunday's Bengals-Vikings game was supposed to be the Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson show -- until both teams lost their starting quarterbacks to injuries last week. Enter Isaiah Rodgers. The former Colts sixth-round pick signed with the Vikings in free agency this offseason and went on to earn a starting role from defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
Against the Bengals, Rodgers returned a tipped Jake Browning pass 87 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter and added a 66-yard fumble return touchdown to the ledger before halftime. He became the first player in NFL history with a pick-six of at least 85 yards and a fumble return touchdown of at least 65 yards in the same game.
3) Massive Eagles DT Davis rumbles for game-sealing touchdown
Jordan Davis' first career touchdown was a big one, no pun intended. The Rams set up a 44-yard field goal attempt with three seconds left in regulation, trailing the Eagles, 27-26. But for the second instance in the fourth quarter, a Philadelphia defensive tackle blocked a field goal attempt. This time, for good measure, Davis returned the blocked kick 61 yards for a touchdown to seal the win.
Davis, listed at a modest 336 pounds, became the heaviest player in NFL history to return a blocked kick at least 50 yards for a touchdown. Taking into account all touchdowns of 50-plus yards, Davis weighed in at the fourth-heaviest. (The belt still belongs to Shaun Rogers of the 2007 Lions, who was listed at 350 pounds when he returned a Patrick Ramsey interception 66 yards for a score.)
4) 49ers RB McCaffrey has quickly returned to old self
Christian McCaffrey, who missed 13 games due to injuries in 2024, leads the NFL with 77 offensive touches through Week 3. McCaffrey, averaging 5.1 yards per touch, is the first player since DeMarco Murray in 2014 to average at least five yards on 75-plus touches through Week 3 in a season.
McCaffrey also became the first player with at least 50 carries and 25 receptions through three weeks since Thurman Thomas during his 1991 MVP season.
5) Seahawks WR Horton earns rookie distinction with another two scores
Seahawks rookie Tory Horton returned a punt 95 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Saints -- the longest punt returned for a score in franchise history (surpassing the previous mark set by Nate Burleson and Charlie Rogers, who each had a punt return of 94 yards with the Seahawks).
Horton, a fifth-round pick out of Colorado State, also caught his second career touchdown in Week 3, making him the only player in the Super Bowl era with multiple receiving touchdowns and a punt-return score in his first three career games.
