Week 3 was not kind to the majority of the undefeated teams. Six teams entered Week 3 with a 2-0 record, but only two escaped with their undefeated season still intact. The Bills, Chiefs, Bucs, and Giants were handed their first losses of the season. While the Eagles and Dolphins moved to 3-0 on the year and are the only undefeated teams in the NFL.
Dolphins Survive the Butt Punt to Give Bills First Loss
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For a brief second Mark Sanchez breathed a sigh of relief, hoping his infamous gaffe, the "Butt Fumble," might have a new counterpart for everyone to talk about for the next 10 years. Alas, for Sanchez, the Dolphins survived a late fourth-quarter gaff when a punt from kicker Thomas Morstead found the backside of Miami wide receiver Trent Sherfield who was in there to block. The ball ricocheted back and went out of the end zone for a safety.
However, much to the chagrin of Mark Sanchez, the Dolphins, now only up by two and needing to stop the NFL's number one offense from getting into the field goal range, held their composure and ended the game, moving to 3-0 on the season. It doesn't look like the "Butt Punt" will be spending 40 weeks on the Not Top 10 list ...
...sorry Mark
2-0 Chiefs Get a Taste of Their Own Medicine
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It's usually Pat Mahomes and the Chiefs that are driving down the field late in the fourth quarter to score the game-winning touchdown or set up a last-second field goal. But this past Sunday, Mahomes was on the sidelines watching Matt Ryan take the Colts 76 yards, eating up eight minutes of the game clock, and tossing the game-winning touchdown pass with 29 seconds left in the game.
Brady Sacked 3 Times as Packers Hand Bucs First Loss
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Sunday wasn't an easy day for Tom Brady as the Packer defense sacked him three times and held the Buccaneers to just 12 points on the day. Not to mention, Brady has a slew of mostly secondary options to throw to. With Chris Godwin and Julio Jones out with injuries and Mike Evans serving a one-game suspension, Brady's top receivers were Russell Gage and Cameron Brate. Hopefully, Brady will get his receivers back in time for next Sunday's primetime showdown with the Chiefs, which will feature Patrick Mahomes looking to avenge his Week 3 loss as well.
Cooper Rush Hands the Giants Their First Lost On Monday Night
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With one last 2-0 team left to play on Monday Night, Week 3 was poised to claim another undefeated victim. The Giants were the surprise 2-0 team heading into Week 3, but still many Giants fans held out hope the Giants would join the Eagles and Dolphins in that rare undefeated category, especially since they were going up against Cooper Rush and not Dak Prescott.
Unfortunately, Week 3 had other ideas, and aside from a brilliant Saquon Barkley touchdown run, the Giants couldn't get anything going. Daniel Jones only threw for 196 yards and was sacked five times. The Giants' run defense got bulldozed by both Tony Pollard and Ezekiel Elliot, who combined for 178 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Cooper Rush moves to 2-0 on the season, proving to be an adequate placeholder. Prescott expects to be back by Week 5, way earlier than previously thought.
The Eagles and Dolphins Remain the Lone Undefeated
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Teams that start 3-0 make the playoffs 76 percent of the time. It's by no means a guarantee, but things are looking up for both teams. The Eagles have looked like one of the best teams in the NFL through three weeks and should easily cruise through the NFC East — with only a Dak Prescott return looming as a potential derailer. After that, the NFC is wide open.
The AFC on the other hand is a little trickier. For Miami, having a head-to-head victory over Buffalo is invaluable right now. And after they play the Bengals on a short week, their schedule is quite manageable until a three-week Murderer's Row of the Chargers, Bills, and Packers. Two of three which are road games.
The Bills and Chiefs will shake off their Week 2 losses pretty quick and regain the top one or two spots in the AFC. You can bet on that. Miami will have to keep its foot on the gas now because the Bills will be gunning for the AFC East crown. I definitely see Miami as a playoff team. Their defense has been as good as Philly's offense has been so far this season.
Looking Ahead to Next Week for the Eagles and Dolphins
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Both teams could be 4-0 after next week and just as easily we could have no undefeated teams by the time Week 4 ends. The Dolphins get a difficult matchup on a short week against the Bengals Thursday Night. The Bengals hadn't looked like themselves until a get-right game vs. the Jets got Joe Burrow back into rhythm with three touchdown passes.
The Eagles on paper have a winnable game vs. the Jaguars. But hold on, Trevor Lawrence is starting to look like a No. 1 pick all of a sudden — throwing for nearly 500 yards and five touchdowns in routes of both the Colts and Chargers. So don't count out the Jags, Week 4 could claim the last of the undefeated.
