# NFL 2026-2027: Week 3 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** football-nfl\ **Created:** [September 22, 2026, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-2027-week-3/1033281 "2026-09-22T17:18:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-2027-week-3/1033281/1 "2026-09-22T17:18:44Z")
In Week 2, Josh Allen continued to put up huge numbers in a win over Detroit. Carolina thrashed Atlanta, and the Vikes won a defensive struggle in the rain in Chicago. Eagles and Packers both escaped with close road wins, while the Browns surprised the Bucs in Tampa. Baltimore lost in New Orleans, and the Bengals won in Houston. Chiefs won in OT over the Colts on Sunday night, and the Rams dominated the Giants on Monday night. Bears, Giants, and Commanders all lost their starting quarterbacks to injury. Here are this week’s lines. All spreads taken from DraftKings on Tuesday the 22nd at 12:10 pm CT. Thursday night: Falcons @ Packers (-6) Sunday early: Chargers @ Bills (-7) Panthers @ Browns (+2.5) Jets @ Lions (-6.5) Texans @ Colts (+2.5) Chiefs @ Dolphins (+11.5) Titans @ Giants (-3) Bengals @ Steelers (+3.5) Seahawks @ Commanders (+7) Patriots @ Jaguars (-3) Sunday late: Cardinals @ 49ers (-8.5) Vikings @ Bucs (+1.5) Ravens @ Cowboys (+3) Game played in Rio De Janeiro Raiders @ Saints (-3) Sunday night: Rams @ Broncos (+2.5) Monday night: Eagles @ Bears (+3.5) ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-2027-week-3/1033281/2 "2026-09-22T17:49:15Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > and Commanders all lost their starting quarterbacks to injury. Not them, if you ask Kurt Warner. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-2027-week-3/1033281/3 "2026-09-22T17:52:33Z")
So, which of the 0-2 teams are most likely to be 0-3 and going into serious panic mode a week from now? ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-2027-week-3/1033281/4 "2026-09-22T18:05:31Z")
Atlanta, Miami, and Washington are extremely likely to be 0-3. Houston and Indy play each other so one is guaranteed to be 0-3. I think Tennessee pulls out the win to avoid it. But I think it’s only the Chargers who go full panic mode. They should be a lot better than this. Indy and Washington probably somewhat panic. The rest of them were never going to be playoff teams anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-2027-week-3/1033281/5 "2026-09-22T18:11:42Z")
Houston probably somewhat panics as well if they lose in Indy. But yeah, most of the 0-2 teams are 0-2 for a reason. The scheduling gods have done the Chargers no favors early in the season. They’ve got the Bills and Seahawks next. Then Denver, followed by the Chiefs and the Rams before a relatively easy game against Houston. It would not be shocking if they hit the middle of the season with 5 or 6 losses, even as a good team. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-2027-week-3/1033281/6 "2026-09-22T18:14:14Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > The scheduling gods have done the Chargers no favors early in the season. Well, they did start the season again the (previously) 3-14 Raiders and Cardinals. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-2027-week-3/1033281/7 "2026-09-22T18:19:09Z")
Ha! Yeah, good point. Gotta beat the teams you should beat, first ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-2027-week-3/1033281/8 "2026-09-22T18:21:42Z")
Tampa Bay barely missed the playoffs last year. But they are 0-2 and host Minnesota this week, and could be 0-3 after Sunday. Losing to the Browns, at home no less, should have already put them in panic mode. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-2027-week-3/1033281/9 "2026-09-22T18:35:59Z")
> [@AlsoNamedBort](#): > > Well, they did start the season again the (previously) 3-14 Raiders and Cardinals. The Cardinals upset in week 1 made them look good, but after what happened in week 2 it seems more likely that the Chargers are just bad. I’m expecting the 49ers to wallop Arizona the same way Seattle did, but then Arizona could get a bounce back against the Giants, especially if they have Jameis “Turnover Machine” Winston as their opponent. > [@Railer13](#): > > Losing to the Browns, at home no less, should have already put them in panic mode. I didn’t expect Tampa Bay to be that great this year, but I figured they’d at least be competing to win their awful division. Instead it looks like only Atlanta will keep them from being the worst in the division. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-2027-week-3/1033281/10 "2026-09-22T19:14:07Z")
Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that the injury to Jaxon Dart is worse than was feared, and may require season-ending knee surgery. > ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2026, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-2027-week-3/1033281/11 "2026-09-22T19:23:32Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Bears, Giants, and Commanders all lost their starting quarterbacks to injury. And now the Bears QB2 is in the concussion protocol. Time for Case Keenum on MNF! ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2026, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-2027-week-3/1033281/12 "2026-09-23T17:40:28Z")
Former star wide receiver Antonio Brown has struck a plea deal for probation in a 2025 shooting incident, after the accuser declined to participate in the prosecution. > [@](#): > > Former NFL star [Antonio Brown](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/13934/antonio-brown) will accept a plea deal in his second-degree attempted murder case, resulting in probation and avoiding the possibility of a decades-long prison sentence, his attorney said Wednesday. > > The deal comes two weeks after Brown’s accuser – the sole alleged victim in the case – announced that he [would no longer participate](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49885286/alleged-victim-forgives-antonio-brown-take-part-prosecution) in Brown’s prosecution. > [@](#): > > Brown, 38, faced up to 30 years in prison if convicted, with a mandatory minimum of 20 years under Florida law, for an incident involving gunfire outside an amateur boxing match in Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood in May 2025. He [pleaded not guilty](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/46932382/ex-nfl-star-brown-pleads-not-guilty-attempted-murder-charge) in November 2025 and [filed a motion to dismiss](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47223268/antonio-brown-eyes-case-dismissal-cites-stand-your-ground) the following month based on Florida’s “stand your ground” law. > [@](#): > > The alleged victim, Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, said through his attorney on Sept. 9 that “he does not wish to participate” in Brown’s prosecution. Attorney Richard L. Cooper said earlier this month that Nantambu forgave Brown for the May 2025 incident. Brown has had a history of erratic and strange behavior, dating back to the latter years of his NFL career, making many wonder if he is suffering from CTE or other head trauma. > **[Former NFL star Antonio Brown to accept plea deal, avoid prison](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/50014068/former-nfl-star-antonio-brown-accept-plea-deal-avoid-prison)** > > Former NFL star Antonio Brown will accept a plea deal in his second-degree attempted murder case, resulting in probation, his attorney said. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2026, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-2027-week-3/1033281/13 "2026-09-23T17:55:29Z")
The Bills aren’t on a sustainable path. They won both of their first games via offensive shootouts and Josh Allen putting up Superman-like performance, with the defense giving up 31 points each time. It looks like they’re headed for yet another playoff exit tragedy where they lose 38-35 to some team like the Patriots, Bengals or Chiefs when their defense just can’t get a stop in the fourth quarter. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2026, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-2027-week-3/1033281/14 "2026-09-23T18:18:27Z")
The Packers are looking like they’re in trouble. They had four offensive linemen leave last week’s game with the Jets due to injuries, and their best lineman, Zach Bako-Bewele (who used to go by Zach Tom) is now out for the season with a torn patellar tendon. Josh Jacobs and Micah Parsons are both unlikely to be available for at least another month; by then, the team may well be in a deep hole. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2026, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-2027-week-3/1033281/15 "2026-09-23T19:55:18Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > where they lose 38-35 to some team like the Patriots, Bengals or Chiefs Well, if we’re speculating on a two-game sample, I don’t think you need to worry about the Patriots. They haven’t managed 38 points _combined_ in their first two games. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2026, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-2027-week-3/1033281/16 "2026-09-23T20:10:07Z")
Injury bug and a bit of a sophomore slump. They’ve got time to turn it around and Maye still has a lot of years ahead of him ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2026, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-2027-week-3/1033281/17 "2026-09-23T21:45:46Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Brown has had a history of erratic and strange behavior, dating back to the latter years of his NFL career, making many wonder if he is suffering from CTE or other head trauma. AFAIK he’s still the only NFL player to arrive to training camp in a hot air balloon. He then was found to be unable to play because his feet had frostbite from a cryogenic chamber in France. Dude is fucking **weird**. Pretty sure his eggs got scrambled after he was knocked out cold by a dirty hit from Vontaze Burfict in a wild card game. I actually thought Burfict killed him on that hit. I was watching that game on TV when it happened. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2026, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-2027-week-3/1033281/18 "2026-09-23T21:53:24Z")
There are probably dozens of players Burfict has caused significant, lifelong physical or mental injury. The game is supposed to be about controlled aggression but I don’t know how much control he ever really had. He should have been suspended and/or out of the league way before it actually happened ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2026, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-2027-week-3/1033281/19 "2026-09-23T22:09:56Z")
The guy was already kind of weird before that Burfict game. But yes, that stone-cold head-to-head impact in that game made him permanently worse. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2026, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-2027-week-3/1033281/20 "2026-09-23T22:12:12Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Pretty sure his eggs got scrambled after he was knocked out cold by a dirty hit from Vontaze Burfict in a wild card game. Here you go. Quite brutal. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/o8iFSP_S5h8/maxresdefault.jpg "Antonio Brown knocked out by Vontaze Burfict HD") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8iFSP_S5h8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-2026-2027-week-3/1033281.md?page=2)