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3-Wide: Will the Texans make the playoffs without Watt?

Winslow Townson / USA TODAY Sports

3-Wide is a weekly feature in which theScore's NFL editors debate topics around the league. Grab a cold towel and brace for hot takes.

Would the Chargers have won a Super Bowl with Brees instead of Rivers?

Dan Wilkins: As Drew Brees gets set for his first game in San Diego since landing with the Saints as a free agent, it's only fitting that the football world wonders what could have been. While title dreams make sense given Brees led New Orleans to such heights, quarterback play has never been the problem in San Diego. Philip Rivers has been one of the league's most productive quarterbacks throughout his career, and his team's shortcomings are more about management/coaching errors and weaknesses elsewhere on the roster.

Joe Thomson: The Chargers never quite found the right mix of personnel and coaching, despite having one of the most talented rosters throughout the 2000s. It's hard to imagine Marty Schottenheimer or Norv Turner leading them to a Super Bowl title, regardless of who played quarterback. Brees may have helped, but the Saints' magical 2009 run wouldn't have been replicated in San Diego.

Jack Browne: Rivers has been one of the league's better quarterback for over a decade, but it took him several years to become a Super Bowl-caliber passer. Brees was already that guy. While the upgrade from Rivers to Brees over the course of their careers is minimal, the latter would have undoubtedly given San Diego a better shot at winning the Lombardi Trophy. Brees' leadership skills also are a factor, as he could of helped the Chargers avoid certain late-season crumbles.

Who is this season's most disappointing player?

Thomson: Ryan Fitzpatrick sat out the entire offseason to earn himself a fair contract, but everything fell apart once the season began. He's thrown seven interceptions in three games, and has far from stabilized a Jets team in desperate need of a game manager. The erratic play could be chalked up to Fitzpatrick's offseason layoff, but this talented Jets team will miss the playoffs for a second straight season if he doesn't pull it together,

Browne: Through little to no fault of his own, Todd Gurley is the most disappointing player over the first three games. Due to Los Angeles' laughable lack of passing threat, the second-year back has seen stacked boxes on seemingly every play. Gurley's All-Pro ability has allowed for the occasional big play, but he's averaging just 2.9 yards per carry and his 61 yards per game are 18th in the league. He's also been a non-factor as a receiver, catching three total passes. Better days are ahead, but Gurley has fallen far short of expectations.

Wilkins: While he's still got time to turn things around, Blake Bortles' significant regression is particularly concerning. After racking up 4,428 yards and 35 touchdowns as a sophomore, conventional wisdom suggested Bortles would continue on that development path to lead an upstart Jaguars team in 2016. That's been anything but the case through three games. Questions could mount about long-term fit if Bortles can't improve moving forward.

Will the Texans make the playoffs without Watt?

Browne: It's going to be close in battling the Colts, but the loss of Watt is akin to losing a franchise quarterback - he has that level of impact for Houston. While the Texans' offense has improved on paper, there are still question marks about Brock Osweiler. The young passer will now face even more pressure to perform, and he's done little so far to show he can carry this team. Despite a weak division, Houston will be on the outside looking in come January.

Wilkins: Yes. Doing so won't be all that difficult in the AFC South, though. The real challenge for Houston will be going on any sort of playoff run. Watt has long destroyed opposing game plans, and he'll be missed against the likes of New England, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati in the postseason. While Houston's offensive additions are promising, it's tough to envision this team taking that next step without Watt.

Thomson: No. The Texans are going to struggle defensively, as they did against the Patriots in Week 3. Despite playing in a bad division, it's hard to envision this team getting to the postseason on the strength of a solid running game and Brock Osweiler's arm. The Colts and Jags will battle for the AFC South down the stretch.

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