Decyfr’s Week 3 Roundup

Los Angeles Chargers @ Minnesota Vikings

Final Score:  28 – 24

Sunday evening began with a battle between two exciting, albeit winless teams. Justin Herbert and the Chargers offense threw for 405 yards and three touchdowns. Veteran wide receiver, Keenan Allen, also got in on the action – remarkably throwing a touchdown pass to Mike Williams for 45 yards on a cleverly designed trick play. Later on in the game, Williams exited the field with an ACL injury and has since been ruled out for the season.

The Chargers defense managed to keep Minnesota out of the end zone twice in the last three minutes of the game to hold on to a narrow 28 – 24 victory – getting their first win of the season and leaving the Vikings winless, with Minnesota’s chances of playoff football already starting to look bleak.

Player Of The Game: Keenan Allen, Wide Reciever, Los Angeles Chargers

Some big results in Week 3, how did your team get on? ⬇️#Decyfr #NFL #NFLUK pic.twitter.com/SzuccveHO8

— Decyfr Sport (@DecyfrSport) September 26, 2023

New Orleans Saints @ Green Bay Packers

Final Score: 17 – 18

Jordan Love rallied the Green Bay Packers in his first career start at Lambeau Field by producing a comeback his two famous predecessors, Aaron Rodgers and Brett Farve would’ve been proud of. The Saints worked up a 17-point lead heading into the fourth quarter but after losing quarterback Derek Carr, momentum immediately switched in the Green Bay’s favour. Love threw for 259 yards with one touchdown pass and got a score with his legs to pull off a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback. The Saints lost Carr to a suspected shoulder sprain which remains to be confirmed – leaving one and all to wonder whether it will be Carr or Jameis Winston leading the team out next week.

Player Of The Game: Jordan Love, Quarterback, Green Bay Packers

Denver Broncos @ Miami Dolphins

Final Score: 20 -70

The Dolphins scored the most points in a single game by an NFL team since 1966, with their speed and power completely overwhelming Sean Payton and his Broncos. Denver traded a first and second-round draft pick from the previous draft to land Payton, who has struggled as of yet to make Denver a competitive team again. The Dolphins had the opportunity to go for the all-time points scoring record through a field goal but instead Mike McDaniel opted to have the Dolphins kneel down and run down the clock.

HUGE week for rookie @dolphins running back De’Von Achane ?#Decyfr #NFL #FantasyFootball pic.twitter.com/hLekr5xDKZ

— Decyfr Sport (@DecyfrSport) September 26, 2023

Rookie running back, Devon Achane had 203 yards rushing with two touchdowns, while fellow rusher Raheem Mostert ran for 82 yards and three touchdowns. Tyreek Hill built on his excellent start to the season – staking his claim as the best receiver in the NFL with 157 yards and one touchdown. Miami’s rout leaves Denver 0-3 this season and dead last in the AFC West.

Player Of The Game: Devon Achane, Running back, Miami Dolphins

Indianapolis Colts @ Baltimore Ravens

Final Score: 22 – 19

Justin Tucker is often regarded as one of, if not, the greatest kicker in NFL history and it’s not often that another kicker challenges him, but Matt Gay of the Indianapolis Colts did just that. In a close-fought battle between the two franchises, with leads switching every quarter, overtime was needed to declare a winner. After already making four field goals, Gay would set an NFL record by kicking a fifth field goal from over 50 yards in overtime to clinch an improbable victory for the Gardner Minshew-led Colts, after Anthony Richardson was sidelined due to Concussion Protocol. With or without the fourth overall pick, the Colts look set to take a stronghold in the AFC South.

Player Of The Game: Matt Gay, Kicker, Indianapolis Colts

Let's take an updated look at how things stand after Week 3…#Decyfr #NFLUK #NFL pic.twitter.com/zgIKJ6o7Kx

— Decyfr Sport (@DecyfrSport) September 27, 2023

Chicago Bears @ Kansas City Chiefs

Final Score: 10 – 41

With Taylor Swift in attendance at Arrowhead Stadium, watching alongside Travis Kelce’s mother Donna – the Kansas City team put on a show worthy of rivalling one of her own. Patrick Mahomes threw for 272 yards and three touchdowns, including one to Kelce, leading to a memorable celebration from Swift in the family box. The one negative of this Kansas City performance was Mahomes suffering more ankle trouble after a defensive lineman fell into him, leading to a nasty-looking twist of the lower leg.

Mahomes managed to carry on but was benched late into the third quarter with Blaine Gabbert taking his place. Gabbert’s two interceptions added 10 consolation points for the disappointing Chicago Bears offense in the fourth quarter.

Two worlds collided at Arrowhead.

Chiefs Kingdom ? Swifties#Decyfr #NFL #ChiefsKingdom pic.twitter.com/2P9pRSjIVP

— Decyfr Sport (@DecyfrSport) September 25, 2023

After the game, Mahomes was asked about the rumours surrounding his tight end and Taylor Swift stating: “I knew she was in the house… So I had to get the ball to Travis.”

Player Of The Game: Travis Kelce, Tight End, Kansas City Chiefs

Dallas Cowboys @ Arizona Cardinals

Final Score: 16 – 28

Cardinals quarterback Josh Dobbs, secured his first win as a starter against the now 2-1 Dallas Cowboys. Dobbs threw for 189 yards and a touchdown to the explosive, Marquise Brown. The Cardinals never lost control of the game and were up 21-10 after a 62-yard field goal from Matt Prater meaning the team scored on every single drive in the first half.

The Cowboys seemed to lack discipline after receiving a total of 13 penalties accumulating to a loss of 107 yards and Dak Prescott throwing a late interception to Kyzir White as the team attempted a fourth-quarter comeback. The Cardinals struggled in weeks one and two, but seemed unfazed by Dallas who had shown huge playoff potential up until this game. Dallas will hope this is just a blip, while Arizona will undoubtedly look to build upon a good first victory.

Player Of The Game: Josh Dobbs, Quarterback, Arizona Cardinals

Los Angeles Rams @ Cincinnati Bengals

Final Score: 16 – 19

The final game of week three came in the Monday Night Football doubleheader with a repeat of the matchup from Super Bowl LVI between the Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals. This time round, the Bengals got their revenge on Matthew Stafford and the Rams after a closely fought victory.

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow showed no signs of struggle despite a lingering calf injury stating: “There is risk to go out there and potentially re-injure it, but there’s also a risk to go out there and be 0-3.” Despite throwing for 259 yards, the Bengals offense only managed one touchdown, scored by running back Joe Mixon, with the rest of their points coming from kicker Evan McPherson. Stafford on the other hand threw for 269 yards and a touchdown to Tutu Atwell but also two interceptions into the hands of Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson halting their progress. The reigning AFC North champions still have a long way to go if they want to push for playoff football, but this could well be the turning point of their season.

Player Of The Game: Joe Burrow, Quarterback, Cincinnati Bengals.