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Invoice Barnwell
Sunday was a day of frustrating defeats. Each NFL group will get upset about shedding, in fact, however Week 3 was stuffed with dramatic collapses, weird endings and a surprising variety of blocked area purpose makes an attempt. In a matter of minutes, there was a pair of block-scoop-and-score touchdowns, as Jordan Davis sealed up a comeback win for the Eagles whereas Will McDonald IV appeared to set one up for the Jets.
The Jets couldn’t hold onto their lead towards Baker Mayfield and the cardiac Buccaneers, and the Texans and Jaguars performed a sloppy game during which neither aspect appeared as if it needed to win. However past what the Jets and Texans endured, there have been a couple of groups that went residence Sunday night time feeling as in the event that they had been robbed or threw away a recreation during which they had been the higher group. These infuriating losses hit one other stage.
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Which of these losses was the most irritating? Let’s rank the 4 most agonizing defeats of Week 3, break down what went unsuitable and decide essentially the most enraging of the bunch. I will begin there, with arguably the league’s most spectacular group by two video games melting down in essentially the most unlikely of locations.
Soar to:
Broncos | Packers | Patriots | Rams
Win expectancy peak: 94.0% with 10:59 to go within the fourth quarter
After two weeks of wanting like the very best group in soccer, the Packers and their ever-growing bandwagon crashed out in Cleveland on Sunday afternoon. As heavy favorites towards the lowly Browns, Matt LaFleur’s group failed to tug away whereas its protection was dominating. A livid Browns comeback and a mistake from Jordan Love tied the rating, and whereas it regarded as if the Packers had bailed themselves out on the final second, a blocked area purpose try and a 55-yard kick by Browns rookie Andre Szmyt was sufficient to humble them.
How did a group that regarded so dominant towards the Lions and Commanders battle to maneuver the ball towards a Browns group that ranked fifteenth in EPA per play on protection coming into the sport? It misplaced the road of scrimmage.
Partly, that owed to accidents; the Packers acquired starters Aaron Banks and Zach Tom again this week, however Tom performed just one snap earlier than reaggravating his indirect damage, and Banks did not return for the second half after reinjuring his groin. However even with Banks on the sector, the Browns merely dominated the Packers up entrance. 4 completely different Packers linemen gave up no less than two fast pressures, per NFL Subsequent Gen Stats (snaps when the frenzy virtually instantly blows up a play). Myles Garrett unsurprisingly performed effectively, however Browns first-round decide Mason Graham posted a staggering 43% pass rush win rate on the inside, almost 5 occasions the common for a defensive deal with.
A Packers passing assault that has picked aside defenses with chunk performs and deep photographs had no time to function. Love’s common move traveled simply 1.6 yards within the air, down from a league-high 12.2 air yards per throw over the primary two video games of the season. He was solely superb with out strain, going 14-of-18 for 162 yards. However he was sacked 5 occasions, was pressured on almost 39% of his dropbacks and went simply 4-of-7 for 21 yards below duress.
And although Love has typically prevented errors this season, the 26-year-old selected an inopportune time to throw his first interception of the season. With the Packers going through a third-and-3 with a seven-point lead and three:18 to go, Love did not appear to be on the identical web page with slot receiver Dontayvion Wicks. The move wasn’t close to Wicks, and Grant Delpit acquired beneath the ball for a decide. Attending to fourth down and punting in that scenario would have pressured the Browns to go the size of the sector to attain a landing and tie the rating; as a substitute, Delpit returned the ball to the 4-yard line. Two performs later, Quinshon Judkins scored to tie the rating at 10.
Third-and-3 is likely to be a dashing down for the Packers, however their different drawback on this recreation was an entire lack of ability to run the soccer, one thing that has been a actuality for them even all through their 2-0 begin. Josh Jacobs had 16 carries for less than 30 yards on this recreation, with a mere 4 profitable runs and minus-25 rush yards over expectation (RYOE), per NFL Subsequent Gen Stats. He additionally fumbled because the Packers tried to get into area purpose vary on their ensuing possession, although a Browns problem did not yield a transparent restoration for Cleveland.
Whereas Jacobs had 5 catches for 44 yards, the run recreation has been disappointing in 2025. Jacobs is averaging 3.1 yards per carry. Among the many 20 backs with 40 makes an attempt or extra, Jacobs is final in RYOE and first downs over expectation (FDOE), 14th in success price and EPA, and 18th in first down price. Solely one among his 58 carries this season has gone for greater than 10 yards — a 15-yard acquire towards the Lions.
0:35
Grant Delpit picks off Jordan Love for Browns
Grant Delpit makes a pleasant play to intercept Jordan Love’s move for the Browns vs. the Packers.
Jacobs had a 31-yard catch on a display move on this recreation and regarded lots elusive, so I do not suppose there is a well being concern. However the Packers merely have not gotten what they want or need from their run recreation, which is dominated and pushed by their lead again. They had been so good inside their passing recreation and on protection over the primary two weeks that it was simple to supervise what they weren’t getting on the bottom. Right here, on a day when the Packers had solely 4 first downs with their dashing assault and sustained just one lengthy drive within the second half, the shortage of a dependable run recreation stung.
The sport script additionally prevented the Packers from leaning into their largest power on protection, which has been their move rush. Getting large leads early towards the Lions and Commanders turned these groups one-dimensional, permitting Micah Parsons & Co. to pin their ears again and go after the opposing quarterback. Coordinator Jeff Hafley can name every kind of enjoyable pressures when the Packers are up by two scores and the opposing group is in third-and-long.
On Sunday, although, the Packers had been up solely 3-0 till late within the third quarter, when a 14-play drive from Love’s offense lastly delivered a landing move to tight finish John FitzPatrick. In a detailed contest, the Browns caught with the run, and it will definitely paid dividends. Although Cleveland’s offense wasn’t capable of maintain itself for many of the day, Judkins lastly broke off an explosive run within the fourth quarter, choosing up 38 yards on a snap when Inexperienced Bay’s inside linebackers ended up being blocked into one another, leaving no one to scrub up on the second stage. (Earlier than Jerry Jones gets excited, no, the run wasn’t Parsons’ fault.)
The Packers then prolonged that drive with two penalties on third downs. And although a Wyatt Teller chop block pushed the Browns off the purpose line, Cleveland kicked a area purpose to get to inside one rating. Love’s interception arrange the Browns with the brief area they wanted to tie the rating.
Although a move interference name and a throw to the flat to Tucker Kraft appeared to get the Packers in vary for a blush-sparing area purpose, the drive stalled there. Jacobs almost fumbled on first down, then misplaced a yard on second down after Isaiah McGuire stonewalled backup deal with Anthony Belton and prevented Jacobs from getting outdoors. After a 2-yard acquire, the Packers arrange for a 43-yard area purpose, just for Denzel Ward to get round Kraft on the top of the road and block the kick. That was Kraft’s solely snap of the sport on particular groups, because the Packers used FitzPatrick in that very same spot on Brandon McManus‘ profitable area purpose earlier within the recreation.
0:58
Andre Szmyt’s 55-yarder walks it off for Browns
Andre Szmyt drills a 55-yard area purpose to stroll it off for the Browns as time expires vs. the Packers.
The Packers wanted a cease to push the sport to time beyond regulation, however they could not get one. Parsons dedicated a impartial zone infraction to begin the drive, one among a whopping 10 penalties referred to as on the Packers within the fourth quarter, making them solely the third group up to now decade to commit 10 infractions within the closing quarter of an NFL recreation. Hafley despatched a six-man blitz on third-and-2, however David Njoku beat Evan Williams to a slant for a primary down, and the Browns spiked the ball with three seconds left. One kick later, the Packers had been 2-1.
Win expectancy peak: 94.4% with 2:30 to go within the third quarter
Can a closing rating be extra deceptive? Philadelphia’s second blocked area purpose of the quarter sealed up an Eagles victory, however Jordan Davis‘ scoop-and-score inflicted what’s going to go down on “SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt” as one of many worst unhealthy beats of the 12 months. An Eagles group which trailed for many of the day not solely got here up with a last-second victory but additionally coated the three.5-point unfold with their landing.
9 months after Jalen Carter ended the Rams’ season with back-to-back pressures of Matthew Stafford on the finish of their divisional-round game within the snow, Los Angeles was tormented but once more by the Eagles’ inside linemen, this time on particular groups. The Eagles lined Davis and Carter up subsequent to one another over a guard on every of Los Angeles’ failed area purpose tries, and their overwhelming dimension and athleticism caved the road in each occasions. Kevin Dotson was overrun on Carter’s block with 8:46 to go. That led the Rams to make use of Beaux Limmer in that spot on the game-winning attempt, just for the utility lineman to be pushed backward and permit Davis to make the game-deciding deflection on the line. It is laborious to dam a kind of guys, not to mention maintain your personal after they’re dashing you concurrently.
In fact, the Rams would possibly really feel like this recreation should not have come all the way down to a blocked area purpose. Trailing 26-7 within the third quarter, the defending champion Eagles had been booed off the sector by their very own followers, who had been furiously wanting up replacements for offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo after a dismal begin to the day on offense. The Rams had been 31-0 below Sean McVay after they had a three-possession lead within the second half of video games, and no group had overcome such a deficit throughout the 2024 or 2025 seasons towards any head coach earlier than Sunday.
To say that issues didn’t look good for Philadelphia could be an understatement. The Eagles had been down star proper deal with Lane Johnson, who left the sport with a neck injury. Substitute Matt Pryor allowed a strip-sack to Jared Verse, and the Eagles then benched their backup deal with for Fred Johnson. The Rams scored on six straight possessions, whereas Philly’s six corresponding drives produced zero first downs and minus-10 web yards. The Rams had each little bit of momentum possible.
Effectively, Jalen Hurts doesn’t believe in momentum, and from that time ahead, the quarterback who typically will get criticized or diminished for not having a big résumé of video games the place he has thrown the Eagles again right into a contest did simply that. Over the ultimate 4 drives, Hurts went 16-of-23 for 206 yards and three landing passes. A group that had seemingly forgotten about A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith out of the blue discovered their star receivers again and again till Smith caught a fourth-and-goal landing move with 1:51 remaining to take the lead.
The Rams struggled to get constant strain on Hurts throughout that spell, which left their cornerbacks weak to bodily mismatches. With Ahkello Witherspoon on injured reserve, the Rams had been pressured to open up taking part in time for Darious Williams, who was a wholesome scratch within the opener and possibly would not be on the roster if the Rams weren’t on the hook for his $8 million assured contract this season. Brown caught a landing move over Williams after which ran away from him on a curl for additional yardage, which basically ended the 32-year-old cornerback’s day.
With Williams out, Hurts and the Eagles’ offense moved onto Emmanuel Forbes Jr., the previous Commanders first-round decide who joined the Rams final 12 months. Brown gave Forbes matches when the 2 had been within the NFC East collectively in 2023, and Forbes will not have fond recollections of his reunion. Brown picked up a primary down on a third-and-10 curl after which ran by a Forbes deal with try for 23 yards. On the fourth-and-goal that determined the sport, Forbes was in protection within the slot towards Smith, who possible had a two-way go off the road and beat Forbes to the sideline for a landing to take the lead.
Throw in a deep Brown catch over Cobie Durant and a Dallas Goedert seam route that the Rams merely did not monitor, and we’ve got the recipe for a spectacular comeback. The Eagles unlocked their offense by having no alternative however to move, which appears exceptional till we think about how disappointing the run recreation has been to date this season. You’ll be able to perceive why Patullo has leaned on the run and why the Eagles imagine it’s going to flip round, however there is not any getting across the actuality that it hasn’t been a optimistic to date this season.
Saquon Barkley, who ran for 460 yards in two video games towards the Rams alone final season, is averaging simply 3.3 yards per carry this 12 months with a 36% success price. After seeming able to breaking a house run on any play final season, Barkley would not have a single run of 20 yards or extra to date this season. He had 17 such runs throughout the 2024 common season and added 4 extra throughout the playoffs.
0:20
Jalen Hurts finds DeVonta Smith to place Eagles up
Jalen Hurts connects with DeVonta Smith ultimately zone to provide the Eagles a late lead.
The Rams did a greater job of sustaining their hole self-discipline and stopping Barkley from attending to the second stage than they did in both of their matchups with the Eagles final season. What they did not do within the second half, although, is seal up the sport. It will be one factor if the Rams had been merely overwhelmed by the Eagles’ protection within the second half and stopped being a risk, however they continued to maneuver the ball and ended up in very advantageous conditions. These spots simply led to irritating style.
After the Goedert landing acquired the Eagles again within the swing of issues, the Rams drove to midfield and confronted a third-and-2. McVay referred to as the very same spot idea that the Dolphins dialed up on the Tua Tagovailoa interception late in Thursday night time’s loss to the Bills, and the Eagles additionally sniffed it out. Stafford wasn’t capable of get to the again aspect of the play and scrambled for a 0-yard sack. Los Angeles then punted on fourth-and-2 on Philadelphia’s aspect of the sector.
On the following drive, the Rams confronted a third-and-1 on Philadelphia’s 46-yard line, and McVay elected to attempt a deep shot to Davante Adams, which fell incomplete. Coaches normally make that decision provided that they’re positive they are going for it on fourth down, however the Rams referred to as a timeout after the play to make their choice, costing them a stoppage they in all probability may have used later within the quarter. McVay did resolve to go for it and handed the ball to Kyren Williams, however Davis and Carter each slipped round blocks on the line of scrimmage and met the Rams halfback within the backfield for a loss.
After the Eagles failed on their very own fourth-down shot, the Rams inherited a brief area and drove into area purpose vary. Up by 5 with 8:52 to go and going through a third-and-2, Stafford took one other shot to Adams downfield, just for his back-shoulder try to be damaged up by Reed Blankenship. Adams versus Blankenship is an efficient matchup, and the throw was superb, however the Rams promptly had their area purpose to go up eight factors blocked by Carter. On the following possession, Williams and Puka Nacua helped push the Rams once more into area purpose vary, however Davis sealed a shocking upset.
I am not second-guessing throwing the ball downfield on third-and-short, and the Williams stuff on fourth down proves that the Rams could not depend on simply operating the soccer to seal up the sport. This was the very best efficiency of the three the Rams have placed on towards the Eagles over the previous 12 months, and it will really feel like one which acquired away. Should you watched this and thought the Rams had been the higher group, you were not the one one.
0:47
Eagles seal win on blocked FG
The Eagles snuff out Joshua Karty’s 44-yard area purpose try as time expires to safe a comeback win over the Rams.
In a number of key moments, although, the Rams did not have anyone who may block Carter or Davis or anybody who may cowl Brown. They usually could not discover Adams to strike the ultimate blow. That is going to make for a really irritating flight residence to Los Angeles, although the Rams should let go of their loss to organize for an additional undefeated group: the 3-0 Colts, who head to Southern California next weekend.
Win expectancy peak: 64.4% with 8:20 to go within the fourth quarter
This was a unique form of irritating loss. The Packers held a lead for many of the day towards inferior competitors earlier than letting the Browns again into the sport late. The Rams had been on prime earlier than blowing issues and acquired again in place to win the sport, solely to have it snatched away on the final second.
The Patriots, alternatively, by no means led for a single second of their recreation with the Steelers.
As an alternative, the Patriots took defeat from the jaws of victory. Regardless of making it onto Pittsburgh’s aspect of the sector for every of their closing seven possessions of the sport and advancing contained in the 10-yard line 3 times, the Patriots mustered solely 14 factors. Drake Maye‘s offense had 26 first downs and outgained the Steelers by 166 yards, however it turned the ball over twice contained in the 5-yard line, two of the Patriots’ 5 giveaways on the day.
Here is the place I let you know that there was some unhealthy fortune concerned. The Steelers recovered all 5 of the fumbles on this recreation, 4 of which had been misplaced by the Patriots. Should you’ve been studying for some time, you realize forcing fumbles is a talent, however what occurs after they hit the bottom is generally random. The Patriots had been in all probability unfortunate to overlook out on recovering no less than one or two of these fumbles, and the Steelers going 5-for-5 in all probability determined the sport.
On the similar time, although, is it surprising to see a operating again who fumbled seven occasions final season lose two in the identical recreation? Ball safety should have been an offseason precedence for Rhamondre Stevenson, however the veteran again lost two fumbles in Sunday’s recreation — together with one nearby of the purpose line, which the Steelers then recovered to finish a promising drive.
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel took Stevenson out for Antonio Gibson, just for him to right away lose a fumble himself on a carry the place he was falling ahead. Patriots followers clearly wish to see extra TreVeyon Henderson, however the second-round decide had a dismal recreation in move safety against the Dolphins in Week 2 and was afforded solely two snaps as a move blocker on Sunday, seemingly misreading his project on one among them. The Patriots nonetheless want somebody to be a part of the rotation alongside Henderson, even when Vrabel certainly will not belief Stevenson in a significant spot anytime quickly.
Maye misplaced a fumble on a Nick Herbig strip-sack after trying to scramble to increase a play with out ever creating any house or making a decisive transfer. His interception was extra curious, although. On a second-and-goal dropback with 16 seconds left within the first half, Maye was pressured and visibly hit his head on the turf, grabbing it in ache afterwards. That sequence ought to have triggered a concussion examination from the unbiased neurologist, however Maye stayed within the recreation. He threw an interception on the following play, and whereas correlation is not essentially causation, it is fairly clear that the second-year quarterback should not have been on the sector in that second, no matter whether or not he was really injured.
With three timeouts, would the Patriots have run the ball and certain kicked a area purpose if Joshua Dobbs had been unexpectedly pushed into the sport for Maye? Ought to the Patriots have no less than referred to as a kind of timeouts to provide Maye an opportunity to gather himself?
It is a disgrace, as a result of past the interception and the strip-sack, Maye was in any other case excellent. He went 28-of-37 for 268 yards and two landing passes, together with a powerful efficiency towards the blitz (12-of-15 for 103 yards and a rating). He was repeatedly capable of finding tight finish Hunter Henry, who gave Pittsburgh’s struggling linebackers issues in protection. In a recreation the place rookie left deal with Will Campbell allowed 4 fast pressures, Maye greater than held his personal.
The Patriots aren’t adequate to be sloppy and win, although, and so they had been sloppy on either side of the ball. Along with the turnovers, the Pats had a 17-yard completion wiped off the board by an unlawful man downfield penalty. Holding and pointless roughness calls prolonged and aided a Steelers landing drive. And per NFL Subsequent Gen Stats, the Patriots whiffed on 23.3% of their deal with makes an attempt, which The Athletic’s Nate Tice notes is the second-highest price by any group in any recreation since 2016.
Pittsburgh will really feel like that is the form of recreation it wins. 5 takeaways? Two sacks from T.J. Watt, who broke his streak of video games and not using a takedown at six? Three touchdowns on three journeys contained in the 20 on offense? The one factor lacking for a basic Mike Tomlin-era victory was a 50-plus-yard area purpose from Chris Boswell. Tomlin will in all probability be mad they did not get within the blocked kick parade.
0:31
Steelers power a Drake Maye fumble for Pats fifth turnover
Steelers protection forces Drake Maye fumble, the Patriots fifth turnover on the day.
Perhaps that is all proper, however regardless of the turnovers, I am undecided the Steelers’ protection is again on its common monitor. It isn’t going to power 5 takeaways per recreation, and if it hadn’t Sunday, this may need been one other loss. New England racking up 26 first downs and launching 5 drives of 45 yards or extra is not what good Steelers defenses sometimes permit in shut video games. It has been a tough begin to life in black and yellow for veteran corners Darius Slay and Jalen Ramsey, and Patrick Queen has struggled to reside as much as his contract in Yr 2.
The Steelers deserve the advantage of the doubt, and I’ve religion the protection will spherical into type. I am simply undecided they’re fairly there but, and the Patriots will really feel like they missed a chance to tug out a house victory towards a possible playoff group within the AFC.
Win expectancy peak: 89.2% with 5:02 to go within the fourth quarter
The ball appeared to hold within the air for minutes. With two minutes to go in a tie recreation, Denver coach Sean Payton trusted that the Chargers would expect one thing nearer to the sticks and dialed up a vertical shot for his quarterback, Bo Nix. With three vertical routes, Nix fired downfield to Courtland Sutton, whose route took him simply previous Chargers cornerback Donte Jackson. A catch would have set the Broncos up for a game-winning area purpose and a vital win towards their division rivals.
As an alternative, Nix’s move fell simply past Sutton’s fingertips. The Broncos punted and by no means acquired the ball again, as Justin Herbert and the Chargers picked up three first downs earlier than Cameron Dicker‘s 43-yard area purpose gave Los Angeles a 23-20 victory. In entrance of a Broncos-friendly crowd in Los Angeles, Payton needed to look over towards the opposite sideline and marvel what life is likely to be like if his group had a quarterback like Herbert below heart.
Herbert did not have an ideal day, tossing an interception and lacking a few throws, however the passes he did make had been spectacular. His landing throw to Keenan Allen to tie the sport with 2:37 to go was among the best highlights of the younger season; he escaped strain, scrambled away to house and rapidly reset his physique earlier than firing a strike to Allen, who beat oft-targeted Broncos nook Riley Moss. The Broncos’ move rush harassed and beat up Herbert all recreation (5.0 sacks, 14 QB hits), however you might see shoulders drop after the rating. A wonderful protection had Herbert in its grasp however could not end the job.
Nix was one thing completely different solely. In my colleague Seth Wickersham’s glorious new guide “American Kings,” he shares a narrative about Payton constructing a system to determine which faculty quarterbacks keep away from errors and damaging performs as an try to seek out passers who would possibly thrive within the professionals. The system helped lead him to Nix, whom the Broncos took within the first spherical of final 12 months’s draft.
Going through a wonderful protection, Nix and Payton did an awesome job of avoiding these large errors. Nix did not flip the ball over and was sacked solely twice for six yards. He ran eight occasions for 33 yards, together with a virtually spectacular run on third-and-13 within the fourth quarter that got here up simply in need of a primary down. When it comes to minimizing damaging performs, Nix did a greater job than Herbert.
When it got here to creating explosive optimistic performs, although, the Broncos did not have the identical caliber of QB. Nix did convert a pair of fourth-and-short photographs downfield when the Chargers had been searching for one thing shorter, hitting Sutton with an awesome throw on a 52-yard landing and a 22-yard completion later within the recreation that arrange a brief area purpose. Payton is usually cautious to scheme up the shot performs within the offense for moments when the opponent protection is not wanting or anticipating to see one thing downfield, and Sunday was no exception.
The issue is that Nix missed quite a few different photographs downfield that may have gained the Broncos the sport. On third-and-19, an audacious flea-flicker from Payton sprung two receivers streaking extensive open downfield, with Nix overthrowing Marvin Mims Jr. for what ought to have been a 63-yard landing. After a Chargers fumble gave the Broncos a brief area, Nix had Mims operating open up the seam for an additional rating however put his throw too far forward of the younger wideout. Toss within the miss to Sutton on the two-minute warning, and the Broncos left three big completions on the sector.
The Ringer’s Sheil Kapadia noted that the Broncos rank thirty first in offensive success price this season, forward of solely the Texans. Groups can run a low success price in the event that they’re hitting explosives frequently, and the Broncos have gotten some large runs out of J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey by three video games. However Nix is twenty fifth in QBR and twenty seventh in first down price this season. The Broncos want the large performs to make something occur on offense proper now, and whereas Payton was capable of dial up alternatives, Nix missed one or two too a lot of them to tug out a victory towards Los Angeles.
0:16
Cameron Dicker’s walk-off area purpose brings Chargers to 3-0
The Chargers keep excellent towards the AFC West as Cameron Dicker drills a 43-yard area purpose as time expires to down the Broncos.
The excellent news for Nix and the Broncos is that their schedule will get a lot simpler within the weeks to come back. Exterior of a Week 5 journey to Philadelphia, they are going to be up towards the Joe Burrow-less Bengals, Jets, Giants, Cowboys, Texans and Raiders earlier than their first matchup towards the Chiefs in mid-November. That is quite a lot of winnable video games, and Nix was excellent final season when the Broncos confronted weak competitors and did not ask him to beat prime defenses.
Having a quarterback who can keep away from damaging performs is nice, however because the Broncos noticed firsthand Sunday, having one who could make magic occur is a prerequisite if you wish to dangle with the highest of the AFC.
