Week 3 Preview: Is It Monday Yet? Edition
Dolphins @ Jaguars: It's not often the Irresistible Force meets the Immovable Object in the NFL but Thursday Night in Jacksonville, there is just enough magic in the air to make this happen. Ryan FitzMagic & his Beard travel to Duval to take on Minshew Magic & The Stache as the tanking Dolphins take on the not so much tanking Jaguars. Jokes about facial hair and tanks aside, it's time to start giving Gardner Minshew some respect. In 16 games, he has a 27 TD to 8 INT ratio, being the first player Jaguar history to throw for three touchdowns in three consecutive games. With Byron Jones out for the Dolphins, Minshew may be able to keep riding high and perhaps a national showcase on Thursday Night will be enough for people to start respecting the Stache.
Bears @ Falcons: First there was 28-3, and now the sequel that is simply known as "29-10." Apparently blowing leads in games is not just a Kyle Shanahan thing, but just an Atlanta thing. The Falcons seem poised to dominate the Cowboys and drop them to 0-2, but then Atlanta forgot how to recover a onside kick and fell to 0-2 for the first time since 2007. All it took for Mitch Trubisky to play better was bringing in a former Super Bowl winning quarterback. The surprising 2-0 Bears head to Atlanta looking to start 3-0 for the first time since 2010, Atlanta's injury report is a mess and could be without several key starters. If Mitch Trubisky continues to be motivated by Nick Foles' presence, perhaps a playoff spot is in the future for Chicago.
Rams @ Bills: The LA Rams leave Hollywood for the pleasantry of Buffalo, NY as two undefeated teams face off for the first time since 2016. The Bills lead the all time series 7-5, and since 2004 hold a 3-1 record where the Rams only victory came in 2012, as the road team when they were still in St. Louis. The Bills have to limit takeovers as the Rams lead the way in scoring 117 points off takeovers since 2017, including a fumble last week against the Eagles. Josh Allen gets his first test of the season with Aaron Donald breathing down his neck for the first time in his career and will need to stay upright for the Bills to have success against the Rams defense.
Washington @ Browns: The Cleveland Browns made Joe Burrow feel welcome last week as they ruined his primetime debut last Thursday. Though clearly the Ravens are a better team, if the Browns can do what they did consistently and to good teams, the hype train may actually pull into the station. Washington took advantage of a bad offensive line against the Eagles and failed against a good team in Arizona, as they look to rebound against Baker Mayfield & company. Will Washington's defensive front give Cleveland's offensive line fits and vice versa? This very well may come down to whose defensive line out performs the other.
Titans @ Vikings: The Tennessee Titans are off to a 2-0 start and seem poised to move to 3-0 against a Vikings team that is struggling offensively through two games. Minnesota seemed like an easy playoff contender heading into the season, but are now a surprising candidate in the Justin Fields/Trey Lance sweepstakes. The Vikings could very well be without their top two corners, Cameron Dantzler and Mike Hughes leaving Ryan Tannehill and company poised for big play opportunities all day.
Raiders @ Patriots: Over/Under how many highlights of the infamous "Tuck Rule" game we will get before and during this game? The Las Vegas Raiders pulled off the upset against Drew Brees & company on Monday Night while New England failed to run it in with Cam Newton on the goal line in a loss. Cam Newton slowly is looking like the Cam Newton of old, and the Patriots seem to not being going away anytime soon. Derek Carr may have finally returned to 2016 form before injury as the Raiders are off to a surprising 2-0 start in 2020.
Bengals @ Eagles: The Eagles might have caught a break in their schedule, the lowly Bengals who Joe Burrow probably wishes he never returned home. Surprisingly, the Eagles offensive line gave up 0 sacks against Aaron Donald and the Rams but they still couldn't muster enough offense to keep up with the Rams. One of these teams will get their first win on Sunday, perhaps Joe Burrow loses three straight games for the first time in his career or Philly starts 0-3 for the first time since 1999, which was Andy Reid's rookie year as Head Coach of the team.
Texans @ Steelers: The last time the Steelers started 3-0 was in 2010 when they made their last appearance in a Super Bowl, a loss to the Green Bay Packers. In 2018, the Texans started 0-3 and managed to make the playoffs but will have a much tougher road this time around if they lose on Sunday. Big Ben looks healthy, the defense is hungry and suddenly the Steelers are the Steelers again, meanwhile Houston looks lost offensively without Hopkins and Deshaun may be regretting signing a long term deal with the team. In a battle of the Watt brothers, which Watt will lead his team to victory on Sunday? JJ or TJ?
Jets @ Colts: Perhaps it was the wrong team that started with a J that would end up taking Trevor Lawrence, the New York Jets. It looks as if everything is coming to an end for Adam Gase as he has ruined another quarterback in Sam Darnold and it will only be a matter of time before Darnold is leading a team to a Championship game after he rids his hands of the disease known as Adam Gase. Indianapolis was able to take advantage of a bad Vikings team last week and look for them to do the same here as the AFC playoff race becomes wide open.
Panthers @ Chargers: Justin Herbert will get another start thanks to a rogue doctor who punctured Tyrod Taylor's rib. Herbert looked great in his first start which came as a late surprise and took the defending Super Bowl Champions to OT. If Herbert gets the win here against Carolina who is without Run CMC, it will be harder for Anthony Lynn to deny who the starter should be.
Buccaneers @ Broncos: Injuries seem to be taking over the 2020 NFL season, and Denver will be without several key starters including starting QB Drew Lock. Jeff Driskel will get the start but will be handicapped as he won't have Courtland Sutton to throw to. Brady & The Bucs will take advantage of this and should move to 2-1 easily.
Lions @ Cardinals: You feel that Matt Patricia? That's your seat getting HOTTER and more uncomfortable as the Lions continue to bury themselves deeper into the NFC North Basement. It didn't take long for Murray & Hopkins to connect and the Cardinals are reaping the benefits. This game finished in a tie last year, something tells me that won't be the result on Sunday. Perhaps are first in season firing on Monday?
Cowboys @ Seahawks: A big NFC Showdown in Seattle as the Cowboys who may have just got Dan Quinn fired head to Seattle and take on Russell Wilson and company. Russell Wilson has never received a MVP vote, EVER. 2020 may just change that as Wilson is off to a great start this season throwing 9 TDs through two games. Are the Seahawks ready to take back the NFC West and advantage of injuries to the 49ers?
Packers @ Saints: The Saints haven't started 2-0 since 2013, and enter Sunday Night Football against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers without Michael Thomas and coming off a tough loss on Monday Night. The Saints defense continues to be the reason Drew Brees only has 1 ring, and a loss on Sunday Night will put Tom Brady & The Bucs in the driver seat of the NFC South.
