Week 3 of the 2015 NFL season featured come-from-behind wins, a few blowouts and surprising results.
We took a look at multiple players and teams who saw their stocks rise or fall as a result of Sunday’s action.
Rising
BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 27: Quarterback Andy Dalton #14 of the Cincinnati Bengals looks on prior to a game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals: Could the Red Rifle be an early MVP candidate? Don’t laugh at the notion. Dalton now has eight touchdown passes to start 2015, including three in Sunday’s win over the Baltimore Ravens. He threw for 383 yards, while his beautifully-lofted touchdown to A.J. Green with just over two minutes left gave the Bengals a 28-24 win. Dalton has now produced three straight games with a passer rating over 100.0, and has an impressive rating of 121.0 on the season. The Bengals are rolling at 3-0 and sit atop the AFC North, especially with Ben Roethlisberger suffering a knee injury in Sunday’s game and the Baltimore Ravens still winless.
Arizona Cardinals: Sure, Arizona has beat the Bears, Saints and 49ers, three undeniably bad teams with just a single victory between them in 2015. But there’s no apologizing for wins in the NFL, especially when the Cardinals have averaged a league-high 42.0 points and managed three straight wins by double digits. Arizona knocked the 49ers silly on Sunday, beating the former NFC West superpower by 40 points. With Carson Palmer (117.7 passer rating) healthy and Larry Fitzgerald (five receiving touchdowns) looking like he’s 25 years old again, the 3-0 Cardinals are quickly establishing themselves as one of the NFC’s heavyweights this season.
Falcons offense: Atlanta is also 3-0, thanks in large part to an offense that is starting to fire on all cylinders. The Falcons scored 39 points to beat the Cowboys in Dallas on Sunday, including 22 in the second half. Matt Ryan tossed two scores to Julio Jones, who caught 12 passes, and running back Devonta Freeman broke out with 141 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Atlanta is now averaging 29.7 points per game to start 2015. Jones has been otherworldly, with 34 receptions, 440 yards and four scores through three games.
Minnesota Vikings: Hope you didn’t sell your Vikings stock after Week 1. Since getting beat up in San Francisco in the opener, Minnesota has done a complete 180 on both sides of the football. Adrian Peterson rushed for 126 yards and two scores during Sunday’s win over the Chargers, giving him 260 yards on the ground and 318 total yards over the last two weeks. Meanwhile, Mike Zimmer’s defense knocked around Matthew Stafford and Philip Rivers in consecutive weeks. The Vikings will be tough to beat when Peterson racks up yards and the defense makes life difficult for opposing quarterbacks.
Previously-winless teams picking up a much-needed win: A few teams desperately in need of a win finally managed to get one in Week 3. The New York Giants shook off their fourth-quarter issues and beat Washington on Thursday night; the Philadelphia Eagles went into MetLife Stadium and got back on track against the New York Jets; the Indianapolis Colts came back from the dead and knocked off the Tennessee Titans; the Houston Texans did just enough to hold off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; and the Seattle Seahawks dominated the lifeless Chicago Bears in shutout fashion. None of the wins were particularly pretty, but 1-2 sure beats 0-3.
Falling
GLENDALE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 27: Quarterback Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers looks at a playbook on the sidelines during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 27, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers: There might not be a worse stat line from a quarterback all season. Kaepernick completed just nine of 19 passes for 67 yards, and threw four interceptions in San Francisco’s 47-7 loss to the Cardinals. His passer rating was 16.7, the worst from a starting signal caller all season. He did managed to run for a score, but it hardly mattered in a game dominated by Arizona. Two of Kaepernick’s interceptions were returned for touchdowns. The 49ers have now been outscored 90-25 over the last two weeks, and the Green Bay Packers are coming to town in Week 4. Rock bottom would be Kaepernick getting benched for Blaine Gabbert.
Chicago Bears: Most figured the Bears would be bad in 2015, but no team in the NFL has been less competitive this season. In fact, Chicago is now the clear front-runner to have the first pick in the 2016 draft. Without Jay Cutler, the Bears were shutout by the Seahawks in Seattle, losing 26-0. Chicago managed just seven first downs and 146 total yards, with 10 offensive possessions ending in 10 punts. John Fox’s club isn’t good on offense, defense or special teams. The Bears may actually be home underdogs to the Oakland Raiders next week. Yeah, it’s that bad in the Windy City.
Florida teams: This hotbed for football had a rough week. The Jacksonville Jaguars gave up 51 points and were blown out in New England, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers managed just nine points in losing to Houston and the Miami Dolphins suffered one of the more disappointing losses of the early season to the Buffalo Bills. No one expected Jacksonville to beat the Super Bowl champs on the road, but a 34-point loss proves the rebuilding project is a long way from completion. The Bucs kicked away their chance at a win (see below). And while Miami was considered to be a hidden gem that could possibly win the AFC before the season started, the Bills made of a mockery of the Dolphins—to the tune of 41-14—in their house. There is nice weather in Florida, but bad football being played.
Kyle Brindza, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The rookie kicker made a 58-yard field goal in the first half of Sunday’s game, but he was also a major reason for Tampa Bay’s second loss in three weeks. Brindza missed an extra point and three field goals, resulting in 10 lost points in a 19-9 final in Houston. He had two chances to give the Buccaneers a lead in the second half but missed the kicks. There can’t be a more lonely feeling than being a struggling rookie kicker in the NFL.
Teams missing opportunities: Week 3 featured many blown opportunities. The Rams lit their own field on fire and couldn’t beat a Steelers team without Ben Roethlisberger. The once undefeated Jets gave up 24 first-half points to the previously-winless Eagles and lost a golden chance to start the season with a 3-0 record. The Titans finally had the Colts beat but failed to put away the AFC South giants. Cleveland lost at home to the Raiders, who hadn’t won back-to-back games since 2012. The Saints and Ravens gave up leads and fell to 0-3, which is a very tough hole to climb out of in the NFL.