NFL Week 3 Recap: Hindsight is 20/20...Unless You're Jerry Jones

Oh, Dallas Cowboys. Why are you...well...you?

So the Cowboys remained at home for the second straight game, and this time, they welcomed a Baltimore Ravens team who desperately needed a win. I figured that the Ravens would have a tough time with the Cowboys, but at halftime, Baltimore was up 21-6. It ended up becoming a 28-6 lead later on. Though we would see the Cowboys make a big time comeback--19 unanswered points--but it was not enough. The Ravens won, 28-25, their first win of the season. While the Ravens' season was saved, the Cowboys were embarrassed again at home. They've given up 120 points in their last three home games (dating back to last year's playoffs), but the glaring problem was Dallas' running game: it didn't exist.

The Cowboys had a grand total of 51 rushing yards, and that includes Dak Prescott. Derrick Henry ran for 151 for the Ravens, and found the end zone twice. While my fantasy team thanked Henry, Cowboys fans couldn't help but wonder, "Wasn't he on his way to signing with the Cowboys?" He did move to Dallas, but nothing happened. After a long time of wonder, Jerry Jones gave us the answer:

"We couldn't afford Derrick Henry."

The hell you couldn't! Acquiring Henry wouldn't have cost much money. If Dak and CeeDee Lamb had received their big paydays earlier than they did, the prices would have been less costly, and they could have used that extra moolah to get Henry. Instead, they dicked around with Dak and CeeDee, and as their counterparts got big deals, the prices on those two went up. Dallas paid the higher prices, and it'll cost them big time.

And here's the really damning part: the Cowboys were the only NFC East team to lose this week. The Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Giants won on Sunday, and the Washington Commanders won on Monday. The Commanders put up 38 on the Cincinnati Bengals, putting the Bengals in an 0-3 hole. The Giants picked up their first win of the season over a very faulty Browns team, but the story was the Eagles, who struggled for most of the game...big time. They were bailed out and ended up winning a strangely defensive battle, but that game nearly caused me to wonder if I should trade Jalen Hurts on Fantasy, while a lot of people want head coach Nick Sirianni canned. Also, as a result of all of this, the Commanders are in first place for the second straight week. WOW!

The week started with the New York Jets blasting the New England Patriots, 24-3, on Sunday Night Football, giving Jets fans a lot of hope as they are sitting pretty at 2-1. Elsewhere, the Green Bay Packers were in Nashville, and it was decided that Malik Willis would get his second straight start at his old stomping grounds, and this was the right move. The result saw Willis throw for 202 yards and a touchdown, and also run for 73 yards and a score as well. As for Will Levis, he continued to be a mess. Sacked eight times, lost a fumble, and threw two picks--one of them returned all the way. The Packers won 30-14; back to back wins with Willis in the starting position while Jordan Love continued to recuperate. The Tennessee Titans dropped to 0-3. Well, Nashville, at least hockey season's coming.

Good God, how is this happening?! I was beaming when I learned that the Minnesota Vikings would be facing the Houston Texans, because I thought, "Good. Real team with a real QB. Stroud will show Purdy how it's done." Yeah... about that. So the Vikings made mincemeat out of the Texans. Stroud did not perform well, and it didn't help that Mixon was out. Yikes. So the Vikings are 3-0. Double yikes. At least the Bears lost in Indy, so there's that. Oh, and the Vikings? They'll be off to Lambeau next week.

The Steelers are 3-0! It's been improbable and unorthodox, but they did it. They've scored a grand total of two touchdowns all season, and it's been a defensive battle all year, but the Steelers are unbeaten after winning their home opener over the Los Angeles Chargers. Very amazing job by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Elsewhere, the Denver Broncos dominated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, giving Denver their first win with Bo Nix as their quarterback. So there is some hope for the Broncos with this victory, while the Steelers find themselves in quite a strong position.

Major congratulations to the Carolina Panthers for picking up their first win of the season, with Andy Dalton at the helm replacing Bryce Young. That has to feel good for the Panthers and their fans, and you know, it's hard to believe that this is the Carolina Panthers' 30th season. Same for the Jacksonville Jaguars. I was 10 years old when these teams debuted in 1995, and I still remember their magnificent second seasons in 1996. So it seems like there's life back in the Panthers. We'll see if it lasts. I know this much. It's guaranteed to be better than last year, because I can see them winning quite a few more games after this one.

The rest of the late window saw the Miami Dolphins suffer big time without Tua; a 24-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The Arizona Cardinals fell to the Detroit Lions as well, but regarding the rest of the NFC West, it was the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams in a battle between two teams who are absolutely battered. Rams were missing their top two receivers (Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua); Niners had their top RB (CMC), WR (Deebo), and TE (Kittle) out. We would see Jauan Jennings show out, and I mean show out! We would also see the Rams appear to be dead in the water, but we would see the Rams proverbially swim to shore and win out in the end--a 27-24 win in the last few seconds. What a finish and what a comeback!

You know, it's amazing how two things always seem to mesh together very well. Peanut butter and jelly. Hamburgers and french fries. Pepperoni and cheese on a pizza. In the NFL, the two things that often mesh together: controversy and the Chiefs. Last week, it was a Pass Interference call. In this go-around between the Chiefs and the Atlanta Falcons, it was a non-call. A blatant one at that. An attempt at a game winning drive saw Kyle Pitts clearly held and tackled during an incomplete pass. Where were the whistles? Swallowed. The Falcons managed to get deep into the red zone, but a 4th and Inches play saw a very bad running attempt that caused Bijan Robinson to go backwards. Chiefs held on and won, 22-17, by the skin of their teeth--and the striped shirts of the zebras.

Before Commanders/Bengals kicked off, the Buffalo Bills hosted the Jacksonville Jaguars, with the latter needing a win badly. What we saw was an absolute bloodbath. The Bills poured it on all over the Jags, who had absolutely no answer. Nothing. A 34-3 Bills lead at halftime! It was done. The game also saw quite an emotional first, as Damar Hamlin picked up his first career interception. It's very fateful, isn't it? A year and a half after suffering a cardiac arrest on Monday Night Football, he picks up his very first interception on Monday Night Football. So the Bills won 47-10, and as for the Jaguars, oh boy, are they in huge trouble.

So here's the story after three weeks. We have five 3-0 teams: Steelers, Bills, Chiefs, Vikings, and Seahawks. The last two teams on that list? They were not in last year's playoffs. I mentioned that the Cowboys were the only NFC East team who lost. The Panthers were the only NFC South team who won this week. Also, while all of the AFC's divisions are led by last year's playoff teams, all of the NFC's divisions are led by teams who missed the playoffs last year. Oh, and there are three 0-3 teams, but they're all in the AFC: Jaguars, Bengals, and Titans. This will be one hell of a season.

Week 4 begins with an NFC East battle between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants on Thursday Night Football. The Sunday Night Football spotlight will be on the Buffalo Bills and the Baltimore Ravens, and we will see two Monday Night Football contests once again. The Miami Dolphins will host the Tennessee Titans in one game, while the other will feature a pair of NFC contenders in the Seattle Seahawks and the Detroit Lions. Week 4 will see the month of September come to an end, setting the stage for things to become interesting in the month of October.

If you like this story, click the heart and the subscribe button, and feel free to comment below! Tips and pledges would be greatly appreciated, but only if you want to do so!