Coaches often talk about using the first weeks of the NFL season to figure out what their teams do well and what should be scrapped. By Week 3, identities are being forged, but just as important are the identities that appear to be lost, either by design or by error. For example, an identity that burned to the ground this week was that NFL teams are usually playing mostly clean football by now. As it turns out, no. Isaiah Rodgers played cleanly on Sunday -- the Vikings cornerback had pick-six, a fumble recovery returned for a touchdown and two forced fumbles in the first half of a rout of the Cincinnati Bengals -- but if a league-wide feature emerged, it was that almost everyone else has a lot of attention to detail to work on. Three blocked kicks impacting games late in the early window?! So many turnovers and penalties.
It's still early. There's plenty of time for adjustments. But these are the personalities we see emerging and waning as the NFL closes in on the end of its first month.
The emerging identities
1) Bucs might be toughest out in the NFL
That's three last-minute wins in three weeks, and the Bucs aren't anywhere near whole yet. This time, after the Jets took a one-point lead on a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown, the Bucs took over with 1:41 remaining in the game. Baker Mayfield marched the Bucs into field-goal position, a drive that included a beautiful 28-yard strike to breakout rookie Emeka Egbuka on the left sideline. The Bucs won on a field goal, but what is striking about their three last-minute wins is Mayfield's cool and how he doesn't have anything close to his normal teammates around him. Receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) was in the locker room for Sunday's game-winning drive, the offensive line has been wracked by injuries and left tackle Tristan Wirfs and receiver Chris Godwin are still working their way back from injuries, although they are close to returning. Maybe the Bucs won't need the late-game heroics when the offense is intact, but what fun would that be?
2) Special teams are more important than ever
The tweaks to the dynamic kickoff rule have greatly boosted return rates – through Week 2, 79. 3 percent of kickoffs were returned, up nearly 49 percent from the first two weeks of 2024. Washington's Deebo Samuel returned the opening kickoff 69 yards against the Raiders on Sunday, setting up the Commanders' first touchdown. And in the final minutes of the early-window of games, three blocked kicks affected the outcome of games. Perhaps the most stunning came in Philadelphia, where the Rams lined up with 3 seconds remaining to kick a 44-yard field goal to win the game. But the Eagles overwhelmed the Rams' field goal unit and Jordan Davis blocked the field goal, returning it for a touchdown as time expired. In Cleveland, the Browns blocked a Packers' field-goal attempt with 27 seconds left that would have given the Packers the lead. Twenty-five seconds later, the Browns kicked a 55-yard field goal to upset the Packers. And the Bucs wouldn't have needed the last-minute heroics if the Jets had not blocked a 43-yard field-goal attempt with 2 minutes left and returned for a touchdown that gave the Jets a one-point lead. Of course, the Bucs won it with a successful field goal as time expired. In all, there were five blocked field goals in the early games. There are going to be some ugly special teams meetings this week, but this week's action should get everyone's attention.
3) Texans offense is in real trouble
An overhauled offense line and new offensive coordinator simply haven't worked so far. The offense had just 119 yards through three quarters Sunday and were still in the game only because the Jaguars were struggling, too. But in the fourth quarter, C.J. Stroud threw two interceptions and Nico Collins fumbled. Stroud continues to get hit, the running game is a non-factor and the Texans, who entered the game ranked last in scoring, can't sustain drives.
4) So is the Cowboys defense
An absent pass rush in the absence of Micah Parsons shouldn't be much of a surprise. Caleb Williams was not sacked once Sunday while he enjoyed the best game of his career (four touchdown passes), and the Cowboys have just four sacks so far this season. But the Cowboys vowed they would stop the run better, and that didn't happen Sunday either. The Bears put together a 19-play drive that featured 11 consecutive runs and spanned 9:54, punching it into the end zone on a fourth-down pass, but the Cowboys gave a struggling Bears offense a major assist in their get-right game. The Cowboys' only victory this season required a 64-yard field goal to get into overtime against the Giants. Parsons and the Packers are up next.
Identities that are dying in Week 3
1) Daniel Jones is just a game manager
The Indianapolis Colts offense is humming and they are 3-0, in large part because of Daniel Jones. He had a 17-yard scramble up the middle of the field on third down that led to one of Jonathan Taylor's three touchdowns against the Titans. He threw for another. He still doesn't have a turnover and the Colts have punted just once in 26 drives this season. In three games, his quarterback rating hasn't been below 107. The Colts made Jones the starter because they wanted more consistency than Anthony Richardson was giving them. They're getting that and much more -- high level, confident play that has the Colts on top of the AFC South.
2) Steelers defense is underperforming
After allowing 30 points in each of their first two games, the Steelers' massive investment in their defense did not seem to be paying off. And giving up 369 yards of offense to the Patriots on Sunday is concerning. But they also forced five turnovers, including two near the goal line, holding the Patriots to just 14 points. The Steelers should have won this game by much more, but the offense was only able to generate 14 points over all those extra possessions. The up-and-down offense is a conversation for another day, but with a trip to Dublin and a date with the Minnesota Vikings ahead, the Steelers at least look more like a team that expects it star-laden defense to power its season.
3) Raiders will be led by run game under Pete Carroll
Not so far, at least. Each week the Raiders get a few more rushing yards -- they had 93 against the Commanders -- but the Raiders drafted Ashton Jeanty, and the expectation was they would be led by the run. They averaged just 3.3 yards per rushing attempt Sunday and Jeanty had just 63 yards. The Raiders entered the game ranked 31st in rushing. They'll need much more to be competitive against better teams.
4) Falcons will have one of NFL's best offenses
Yikes. The Panthers entered this game ranked 23rd in points allowed and promptly shut out the Falcons, who have scored just one touchdown in the last two games and have scored just 42 points total in three games. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. had his worst game since becoming the starter, completing just 50 percent of his passes and throwing two interceptions, including a pick-six. There seemed to be issues getting the plays in and Penix was visibly frustrated. The running game was inconsequential because the Falcons were playing catch-up throughout the second half. Kirk Cousins took over in the fourth quarter.
5) Chargers are going to be a run-centric team
We know this is what Jim Harbaugh says, but it's the passing game that has the Chargers at 3-0, with all of those wins against AFC West opponents. The running game eclipsed 100 yards for the first time this season against the Browns but has just 277 yards this season and are expected to be without Najee Harris, who suffered a non-contact leg injury in the game. Justin Herbert has already thrown for 860 yards and six touchdowns this season. His dazzling escape from a sack, scramble to his left and throw across his body to Keenan Allen in the end zone put the Chargers in a position to win. Harbaugh makes no secret of his love for Herbert, and for now, at least, he is carrying the Chargers.
