theScore's football editors debate some of the hottest talking points percolating around the NFL through Week 3. Give us your takes in the comments.
Aside from the Rams, who are you not giving up on?
Colts (1-2): The 1-2 record doesn't do justice to how Indianapolis has looked, as it could easily be 2-1 instead. Sure, the Colts suffered a Week 1 blowout loss to the Ravens, but they also had the Chiefs on the ropes in Week 2 before finally finding their knockout punch in a tight win over the Texans. Plus, Daniel Jones should only get more comfortable moving around as the season progresses. If Alec Pierce returns in full health and the team's defense improves - especially in the secondary - don't be surprised if the Colts build some momentum. - Daniel Valente
Commanders (1-2): Although many people didn't project Washington to make the playoffs, last week's win over Seattle showed that it can hang with the league's best teams. For starters, Dan Quinn's promotion of David Blough to offensive coordinator was a great offseason move. Blough's play-calling with Marcus Mariota at quarterback was magnificent, and the young coordinator is already looking like a future head coach. With Jayden Daniels appearing ready to come back soon, the Commanders' offense could pop off thanks to an offensive line that's been better than advertised and has allowed just three sacks to start the year. If the defense can hold up its end of the bargain with the Colts and Giants on deck, the Commanders might be 3-2 by Week 6 and ready to challenge for the NFC East crown. - Brenden Deeg
Texans (0-3): Defenses are volatile from year to year, so the Texans' early regression could be real, but there's so much talent on that side of the ball that I tend to believe the group will come around. Even if it doesn't end up being the shutdown unit it was a year ago, a DeMeco Ryans defense has never finished in the bottom half of the league in points or yards; Houston is 19th and 16th, respectively, in those categories through three games. The Texans' offense has been dreadful without Nico Collins, but he should return from a hamstring injury soon, and maybe that alleviates some of the pressure on the defense. The AFC South offers plenty of winnable games and the Texans have five of them left, including two with the division-leading Jaguars, so don't write them off too quickly. - Alex Chippin
What's the biggest surprise through 3 weeks?
Todd Monken's transformation of the Browns: Every team in the AFC North is 2-1 - yes, that includes Cleveland. Normally the NFL's punching bag, the Browns have learned how to swing back in 2026. They've won two in a row after a Week 1 blowout loss. Monken has Deshaun Watson playing his best football in ages (five touchdowns to one interception). He ranks 17th in EPA per dropback, per TruMedia, which is above the likes of Jordan Love, Jalen Hurts, and Drake Maye. However, Cleveland's defense deserves the most praise. Mason Graham has been an absolute force on the interior with four sacks and six tackles for loss, and the scary part is that the unit isn't even playing its best football yet. Standout edge rusher Jared Verse has yet to register a sack through three games. - Daniel Valente
The Raiders being ... pretty good: I came into this season thinking the Raiders would be feisty and competent. Their roster has talent, and Klint Kubiak is one of the best offensive minds in the game. But I didn't see a 3-0 start coming. Their last two wins over the Chargers and Saints have been really impressive, and they're doing it on both sides of the ball. Las Vegas' offense ranks 10th in EPA per play, and Kubiak's use of Brock Bowers across the formation against New Orleans was a coaching masterclass. The team's defense, meanwhile, has arguably been one of the league's best units. It sits eighth in success rate and fifth in total EPA generated, and it's getting contributions from every level. General manager John Spytek appears to have hit big on some offseason additions: Fifth-round rookie Hezekiah Masses looks incredible, having recorded four passes defended and three interceptions, and Nakobe Dean might have an early case for Defensive Player of the Year. Since 1970, roughly 75% of teams that have started 3-0 ultimately made the playoffs. I won't be surprised if the Raiders continue their strong play and grab a postseason spot in the AFC. - Brenden Deeg
Greg Rousseau becoming the NFL's best pass-rusher: Rousseau has been a nice player for a while and it's no surprise that he's peaking at age 26, but nobody could've predicted his start to the year. The Bills defender had two sacks in each of the first three games to total a league-high six, only two shy of his career best for an entire season. He also has the most QB hits (eight), second-most pressures (22), and second-highest pass-rush win rate (25.5%), according to PFF. After operating in a three-point stance as a defensive end under Sean McDermott, Rousseau is standing up and aligning wider as a 3-4 linebacker for Jim Leonhard. Perhaps a scheme change was all Rousseau needed to blossom. - Alex Chippin
Which coach most deserves to be on the hot seat?
Todd Bowles: This firing will come a season too late. The Buccaneers, for whatever reason, threw a lifeline to Bowles at the end of 2025 after collapsing and missing the playoffs. And yet, even after replacing a significant portion of his coaching staff, Bowles has once again steered the 0-3 Bucs toward disaster. Tampa Bay has lost seven of its last eight games and 10 of its last 12 dating back to last season. The worst thing the franchise can do now is continue to ignore its mistake and let this misery sink the entire season. - Daniel Valente
Mike Vrabel: Let's look at where the Patriots stand: Their offense has scored 0.97 points per drive through three games, according to TruMedia. No team has recorded below 1.08 in a full season since 2008, and New England's mark is the worst through three games since the 2021 Jets, led by Zach Wilson. Additionally, dating back to last season's wild-card round (seven games), Drake Maye's passer rating is 72.04. In 2025, that would've ranked 35th out of 36 qualifying quarterbacks, behind only Shedeur Sanders. Maye, who leads the league in turnovers this season, looks lost overall. After getting shredded by the Jaguars, the Patriots' defense seems like it could remain a bottom-10 unit all season. Oh, and New England has 3-0 Buffalo on deck, which could put the team at 1-3 through four games. Vrabel's claim to fame is being a great CEO-style head coach, but this situation could snowball. If it does, the offseason drama surrounding Vrabel will come back into the limelight, and questions about his leadership will start swirling. I might be crazy for saying that a head coach who reached the Super Bowl last year should be on the hot seat, but this could get ugly fast for Vrabel and the Patriots. - Brenden Deeg
Matt LaFleur: Listen, I love LaFleur's offensive system as much as the next guy, but I also love discipline, functional special teams, and defenses that can close out big games. And truthfully, Green Bay hasn't had any of those things for a while now. The Packers lead the NFL in penalties; they're averaging over 12 per game and have been in the top half of the league in flags each of the last three years. They also rank 31st in special teams EPA since hiring LaFleur, per TruMedia. And far too often in gotta-have-it situations, such as last season's wild-card game against the Bears, their defense crumbles. Green Bay is 1-7 over its last eight games, including that playoff loss, and its lone win was a Week 2 comeback against the lowly Jets. The early-season struggles aren't all on LaFleur, but you can't have the same issues year after year and go 3-6 in the playoffs - while getting two Aaron Rodgers MVP campaigns - and not feel any heat. - Alex Chippin
