Written by: Tyler Deakin
Week 2 of the NFL slate was filled with drama & excitement throughout the weekend. Thursday Night Football’s matchup of Washington vs. the Giants was an absolute thriller. Then there was the Titans dramatic comeback win over the Seahawks on Sunday afternoon. Finally, the football gods saved the best for last this week with the Ravens electrifying win over the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football. What new adventures await football fans this coming week? Without further ado, here is my list of contenders for the best games on the Week 3 NFL docket.
Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers (Sunday Night Football)
Could this be a potential NFC playoff game preview in Week 3? These two teams have a storied history between them over the past few years, most notably with the 49ers defeating the Packers in the 2020 NFC Championship Game. The Packers beat the 49ers 34-17 in their latest matchup last November. Last week, the Packers rattled off 21 unanswered points to crush the Lions on Monday Night Football while the 49ers barely hung on to beat the Eagles. I think this one could come down to the wire, possibly even dependent on which team has the football last.
Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys (Monday Night Football)
An NFC East showdown between two similarly matched teams on a Monday night? Yes please. Both teams played close games this week, with the Cowboys barely edging the Chargers & the Eagles losing a tough one to the 49ers. This means that both teams are coming into the game with 1-1 records & a chance to improve their chances in the division race. The injuries are piling up for the Eagles, with DE Brandon Graham & OL Brandon Brooks being placed on injured reserve. Meanwhile, the Cowboys placed DE Demarcus Lawrence & WR Michael Gallup on injured reserve about a week ago. WR Amari Cooper is questionable for MNF.
Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs
Could the Chargers give the Chiefs a run for their money in the tough AFC West this year? Their best chance at doing so starts this week, as the Chiefs are vulnerable after their 36-35 loss to the Ravens. What’s surprising though is that this means both teams are 1-1 & vying for power position in their division, as the Chargers are coming off a similarly close 20-17 loss to the Cowboys. Patrick Mahomes vs. Justin Herbert could lead the way in the next generation of great quarterback battles, following the likes of Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning. That x-factor could make this game, and subsequent future games between them, must see TV going forward.
New Orleans Saints at New England Patriots
Fans that enjoy watching good coaching will love this game, as it pits offensive wizard Sean Payton against defensive guru Bill Belichick. Both coaches are ironing out the kinks with new quarterbacks after spending a couple decades with two of the greatest signal callers of all time. These teams have identical 1-1 records & are trying to establish themselves as playoff contenders. You could certainly do worse in terms of watching a non-conference game on a Sunday afternoon. We’ll wait & see how this one shakes out on the gridiron this weekend.
Chicago Bears at Cleveland Browns
Another non-conference matchup between two potential playoff teams is on tap here. The Bears squeaked by the Bengals last week, while the Browns triumphed over the Texans. I’m expecting this game to be a close slugfest throughout, as both teams enjoy running the ball & playing solid defense. That said, defensive ends Myles Garrett of the Browns & Khalil Mack of the Bears should be the stars of the show in this one. A final score of 24-16 sounds about right. Which team will head to the locker room victorious after this hotly contested week 3 matchup?
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