And just like that, we’re nearly a month into the 2025 NFL regular season. Week 3 brings with it plenty of key matchups, teams facing near must-win situations and coaches scrambling to plug holes caused by injuries to key players.
The Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins kicked off the action Thursday night, and the competition continues with 14 games Sunday and a heavyweight bout between the Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens on Monday night.
Here are five of the most compelling storylines to follow this week.
1. Shaky quarterback situations
Already, teams find themselves dealing with injuries at some of the most pivotal positions, including quarterback. Last week, the San Francisco 49ers had to start Mac Jones in place of Brock Purdy, and the Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jets both had to turn to backups mid-game. Now, five teams face uncertainty at that position as they prepare for their Week 3 matchups.
The Bengals know they’ll need Jake Browning to fill in for Joe Burrow for at least three months. Browning — a third-year pro who went undrafted in 2019 and didn’t make a 53-man roster until 2023 — last week shook off three interceptions to lead a game-winning drive over Jacksonville with 18 seconds left. Now he prepares for his first start since 2023 and will try to help the Bengals avoid their first loss as they visit the Minnesota Vikings. But the Vikings have their own quarterback predicament. J.J. McCarthy will miss time with a high ankle sprain, so Carson Wentz gets the nod. Wentz has appeared in five games in the last two seasons (making one start for the Rams and one for the Chiefs) and in those five contests recorded just two total touchdown passes and an interception.
Elsewhere, the 49ers expect to start Jones again for an important NFC West clash with the Arizona Cardinals as Purdy continues to recover from turf toe. The Jets plan to start Tyrod Taylor versus Tampa Bay with Justin Fields ruled out with a concussion. Meanwhile, Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels is out for Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders because of a knee injury suffered in last week’s loss to Green Bay. The Commanders will start Marcus Mariota. (Bengals at Vikings, 1 p.m. ET, Sunday, CBS; Jets at Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Fox; Raiders at Commanders, 1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Fox; Cardinals at 49ers, 4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Fox)
2. Winless teams — it’s getting late early
Ten teams — the Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Tennessee Titans and Kansas City Chiefs — entered Week 3 searching for their first victory of the season. A win this weekend would go a long way toward helping these squads slip into challenging early holes. The season is indeed a marathon, but since 1990, only four of the 165 teams (2.4 percent) that have opened the year 0-3 have managed to reach the playoffs. Meanwhile, during the same timeframe, 93 of 374 teams (24.9 percent) have reached the playoffs after starting 1-2.
The Panthers need Bryce Young to build on last week’s outing, where he passed for a career-high 328 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, showing much-needed promise in the second half against Arizona. The Browns, who are sticking with Joe Flacco despite the 40-year-old’s struggles, face a tall task this week against the ferocious Green Bay pass rush. The Titans similarly don’t have the greatest odds as they host the Colts, who are thriving with Daniel Jones running the show. The Jets, who face the unbeaten Buccaneers, will need a stellar showing from Taylor, who hasn’t started a game since 2023, and improvement from a defense that has allowed opposing quarterbacks to post an average rating of 110.6. The Saints are heavy underdogs against Seattle, and the Bears are home underdogs against Dallas. Meanwhile, after winning the AFC South back-to-back years, the Texans are in danger of falling into an early hole and aim to stop their skid Sunday in Jacksonville.
Barring a tie, one team will emerge from Sunday night’s contest between the Chiefs and Giants with its first victory. New York lit up the scoreboard against Dallas last week, but defensive struggles have plagued Big Blue, and Vegas likes Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs to win handily after gutting shortcomings to the Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles in the first two weeks of the season. If the Chiefs can’t capitalize on this apparent get-right game, they’re in trouble, because next week they face the Baltimore Ravens, who rank among the best teams in the AFC.
(Falcons at Panthers, 1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Fox; Packers at Browns, 1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Fox; Jets at Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Fox; Colts at Titans, 1 p.m. ET, Sunday, CBS; Saints at Seahawks, 4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday, CBS; Cowboys at Bears, 4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Fox; Chiefs at Giants, 8:20 p.m. ET, Sunday, NBC)
Even a big game from Russell Wilson couldn’t get the Giants into the win column in Week 2. (Sam Hodde / Getty Images)
3. Playoff rematch
Familiar foes face off as the Philadelphia Eagles welcome the Los Angeles Rams to the City of Brotherly Love. It’s a showdown between 2-0 teams and a potential playoff preview. It’s also a rematch of last year’s snow-covered divisional round contest that the Eagles won 28-22 behind a 205-yard, two-touchdown performance by Saquon Barkley and a five-sack day by the Eagles defense.
Barkley seems to have the Rams’ number. In last season’s Week 12 meeting, he carried the ball 26 times for 255 yards and two touchdowns. In the two games, Barkley recorded touchdown runs of 70, 72, 62 and 78 yards. Through two games this season, Barkley — by his standards — has put up modest numbers (74 yards per game average and two touchdowns). Will he steamroll the Rams again?
Another Eagle who could be in for a big day: wide receiver A.J. Brown, who thus far has just six catches for 35 yards and no touchdowns this season. However, the Rams are already dealing with injuries in their secondary with top cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon on injured reserve after sustaining a broken clavicle last week. Brown could see a lot of Emmanuel Forbes, the spindly former Washington Commanders cornerback that he torched for 59- and 27-yard touchdowns the last time they met.
The Rams do have a talented group of young pass rushers, and they should test the Eagles’ typically strong offensive line. L.A.’s wide receiver tandem of Davante Adams and Puka Nacua also should test Philadelphia’s secondary. (Rams at Eagles, 1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Fox)
4. Chargers’ early edge
After a pair of quality wins to kick off the season (defeating the Chiefs in Week 1 and thumping the Raiders in Week 2), the Los Angeles Chargers have an opportunity to give themselves additional early cushion in the AFC West while hosting the Denver Broncos (1-1). A win over Denver would give the Chargers a 3-0 record overall and in their division. Such a lead could definitely come in handy late in the season.
Justin Herbert is off to a hot start, completing 72.1 percent of his passes while averaging 280 yards per game. He has five touchdown passes and no interceptions and a passer rating of 127.8 (second-best in the league). Meanwhile, he has the backing of a defense that has limited its first two opponents to an average of 15 points per game while recording three takeaways.
The Broncos hope to rebound from their late-game meltdown in a 29-28 loss to Indianapolis and slow the Chargers. But to do so, they’ll need better ball security from Bo Nix, who has thrown three interceptions and fumbled once. One development that could make life easier for Denver’s offense: the absence of Chargers pass rusher Khalil Mack, who is out while recovering from a dislocated elbow. (Broncos at Chargers, 4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday, CBS)
Justin Herbert’s Chargers are 2-0 and looking strong in the AFC West. (Candice Ward / Getty Images)
5. Super Bowl preview?
Capping off the action is a showdown between the Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens — two teams regarded as elite members of their conferences and potential Super Bowl contenders.
At this early juncture, the Ravens and Lions find themselves in similar positions. Both lost in Week 1 before rebounding with authoritative blowout victories. The Ravens throttled the Browns 41-17, and the Lions destroyed the Bears 52-21. Now each will try to build some momentum, although the challenge intensifies significantly.
Each team’s offensive line has some shoring up to do after early inconsistencies. Pass protection was an issue for Detroit in Week 1 against Green Bay, and the Lions also have had trouble running between the tackles. Meanwhile, the interior of the Ravens’ line has also struggled. Derrick Henry steamrolled the Bills defense in Week 1, but last week against a more stout Browns unit frequently got hit behind the line and managed only 23 yards on 11 carries.
This is also a showdown between two of the top quarterbacks in the game, although Lamar Jackson owns a 3-0 record against Jared Goff. In their last meeting (2023), Jackson torched Detroit’s defense for 357 passing yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 36 yards and a touchdown as Baltimore rolled to a 38-6 victory. (Lions at Ravens, 8:15 p.m. ET, Monday, ESPN)
(Top photo of Jake Browning: Kirk Irwin / Getty Images)
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