NFL week 3: teams in crisis, backup quarterbacks in the spotlight, and the McVay–Payton duel

Week 3 in the NFL brings decisive clashes for several teams that have started the season slowly, important comebacks, and matchups with clear consequences for the standings.

The Atlanta Falcons got a breath of fresh air when Michael Penix Jr. returned to the field after recovering from a knee ligament injury and led the team to its first win of the season against the Green Bay Packers.

Several teams expected to fight for top spots have lost their first two games and now face difficult situations; the road from 0-2 to the playoffs is historically a hard one. That group includes the Los Angeles Chargers, the Houston Texans, the Indianapolis Colts and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, all urgently needing to find rhythm: the Colts are suffering from a defense that has conceded the most points in the league, Houston has line problems and lacks explosive presence on defense, while the Chargers are still searching for timing under new staffs and a tough schedule.

The emergency at the quarterback position is forcing teams to turn to backups. Some cases have produced positive results, like Seattle with Drew Lock, but others are on trial: Washington returns to Marcus Mariota after Jayden Daniels’ injury, the New York Giants are relying on Jameis Winston following Jaxson Dart’s season-ending injury, and Chicago could activate Case Keenum if Tyson Bagent is not ready for the game against the Eagles.

One matchup drawing special attention is the clash between two big-name coaches: the Los Angeles Rams travel to the Denver Broncos, where Sean McVay and Sean Payton seek continuity after recent wins. McVay holds the historical edge in head-to-head meetings and his team looks deeper on offense, while Payton has delegated play-calling to Davis Webb but remains involved in game planning.

In the AFC North, the Cincinnati Bengals currently look better with Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase rediscovering their strong connection, while the improved defense is adding stability. The Pittsburgh Steelers have struggled on offense due to line problems, and Sunday’s matchup could highlight the need for quick changes.

Another key point of the week is the international game in Rio de Janeiro, where the Baltimore Ravens face the Dallas Cowboys at the Maracanã. Beyond the on-field rivalry and star names like Lamar Jackson, Dak Prescott, Derrick Henry and CeeDee Lamb, attention is on the state of the pitch given the rain and surfaces adapted mainly for soccer, as the NFL reports.

Week 3 features 14 games full of challenges important for the standings, comebacks from key players and tests for new coaching staffs, according to the NFL — and in the coming days it will become clearer which teams will overcome their early problems and which will be dragged into the battle for playoff spots.