# NFL Week 3 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [September 23, 2016, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/766636 "2016-09-23T13:18:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/766636/41 "2016-09-26T02:33:57Z")
How lucky we are to have the Bears playing in two prime time games so far this year. It’s meant I’ve been able to catch up on my sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/766636/42 "2016-09-26T03:03:02Z")
I woke up long enough to watch Zach Miller blow kisses after catching a TD pass. With his team losing. By 14 points. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/766636/43 "2016-09-26T03:31:38Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > Thank God my Colts didn’t start off this season 0-3. Not for lack of trying. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/766636/44 "2016-09-26T03:45:22Z")
> [@TonySinclair](#): > > Why is that a problem? We’re talking about rescheduling, and having them all play once on Thursday would be one of the easier changes. Because the league would rather televise the Cowboys or Steelers than the Jags or Niners. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/766636/45 "2016-09-26T03:50:48Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > I woke up long enough to watch Zach Miller blow kisses after catching a TD pass. With his team losing. By 14 points. Didn’t like that. Didn’t like the bullshit headshot from Church either and the refs swallowed the whistle. Didn’t have an impact on the game, but this was a very one sided officiating crew. Onside kick call was horrendous. The worst part of the game was Fox and Hoyer’s awful clock management. Again, didn’t really matter, but they clearly had given up on the game even before the end of the half. Never worked the sidelines. Never called a time out on defense. No real hurry up. No onside kick in the 4th quarter. Just shameful. And by the way. Leonard Floyd is a fucking bust. Called it when they drafted him. 3 games in and I’m certain of it now. Nice to see Kevin White make a couple plays after that terrible drop. ---
**Author:** ![cg16](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@cg16](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cg16)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/766636/46 "2016-09-26T04:15:47Z")
My cowboys ended the night on a good note and I feel good that we are right behind the eagles. Eagles are making me nervous now looking at this schedule they can be 6-0 by time they play the cowboys on 10/30 lions skins Vikings ---
**Author:** ![cg16](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@cg16](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cg16)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/766636/47 "2016-09-26T04:17:14Z")
> [@Sinaptics](#): > > From an Eagles fan, nobody is more surprised than us. Most of us were calling for a loss today; a reality check for Wentz. > > Wow. That bye week may kill their momentum, especially since they have 2 road games in a row after the bye ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/766636/48 "2016-09-26T04:22:02Z")
> [@Sinaptics](#): > > From an Eagles fan, nobody is more surprised than us. Most of us were calling for a loss today; a reality check for Wentz. > > Wow. WHOO-HOO!! WENTZYLVANIA !!! Very fucking happy right now. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![cg16](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@cg16](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cg16)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/766636/49 "2016-09-26T04:31:55Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > WHOO-HOO!! WENTZYLVANIA !!! > > Very fucking happy right now. 🙂 You know how the NFL works, his first loss will be to a team you atleast expect ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/766636/50 "2016-09-26T05:24:40Z")
> [@cg16](#): > > That bye week may kill their momentum, especially since they have 2 road games in a row after the bye Ah who cares. For right now, those annoying Pittsburgh Stillers fans are silent, for once. ---
**Author:** ![cg16](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@cg16](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cg16)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/766636/51 "2016-09-26T05:35:07Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > Ah who cares. For right now, those annoying Pittsburgh Stillers fans are silent, for once. When AFC teams play NFC teams a week before a showdown with a AFC opponent, the same motivation doesn’t seem to be there. And that’s Because the steelers play KC next sunday night at 8pm ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/766636/52 "2016-09-26T06:41:09Z")
In terms of whether the NFL should or shouldn’t have a bye every week of the season, at one point they did. From 1999 to 2001 there were 31 teams in the league. That meant that mathematically, there had to be at least one team on a bye every single week no matter what. ---
**Author:** ![Jules\_Andre](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jules_andre/32/9334_2.png) [@Jules\_Andre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jules_Andre)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/766636/53 "2016-09-26T07:10:29Z")
Wentz has been incredible. The poise, pocket awareness, and confidence I saw in the preseason weren’t a mirage. His exceptional accuracy so far has been a surprise. I thought he looked more polished than the multi-year project everyone predicted, but I still didn’t expect such a patient, careful thrower so early. He walked into the starting lineup in week 1, with almost no preseason work, and didn’t even have a limited playbook. He puts in so much work that he’s using the full play book and has control of audibles and checks at the line. He’s the real deal. Three games doesn’t make a career, obviously, but my confidence in his return on investment was not misplaced. Cleveland passed on him because they didn’t think he’d ever be a top 20 QB. He’s definitely that after only 3 games. They apparently fired the scouts that liked Wentz. I cannot imagine what those scouts, and everyone in that front office, is feeling and thinking. ---
**Author:** ![cg16](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@cg16](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cg16)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/766636/54 "2016-09-26T12:24:13Z")
> [@Jules\_Andre](#): > > Wentz has been incredible. The poise, pocket awareness, and confidence I saw in the preseason weren’t a mirage. His exceptional accuracy so far has been a surprise. I thought he looked more polished than the multi-year project everyone predicted, but I still didn’t expect such a patient, careful thrower so early. > > He walked into the starting lineup in week 1, with almost no preseason work, and didn’t even have a limited playbook. He puts in so much work that he’s using the full play book and has control of audibles and checks at the line. He’s the real deal. Three games doesn’t make a career, obviously, but my confidence in his return on investment was not misplaced. > > Cleveland passed on him because they didn’t think he’d ever be a top 20 QB. He’s definitely that after only 3 games. They apparently fired the scouts that liked Wentz. I cannot imagine what those scouts, and everyone in that front office, is feeling and thinking. The entire Cleveland front office and team should be banned from the NFL. They keep losing and while losing they helping other teams win ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/766636/55 "2016-09-26T15:45:54Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > This is some gold medal level rationalization. Sure, just random chance they happened to win 27-0. Whatever you say. > > “The Texans offense was almost exactly as good as the Patriots” is funny considering that the Patriots offense was awful. I heard a lot of twitter chatter about how this calls into question the legitimacy of Brady, as if somehow Brissett’s 11 of 19 for 103 yards is in any way reminiscent of Brady numbers. > > Special teams is an actual part of football, and the Patriots didn’t just luck into playing better special teams than the Texans. It’s a combination of having a better kicker – skying kickoffs to drop at the 1 forcing a return while also giving your gunners time to get down there and play kill the carrier – and just plain better coaching. I’m not sure what your point is here? Even if fumbling or causing fumbles is somewhat skill-based (and if I remember right, data seems to show there’s some skill but more luck), I do know that data shows fumble recovery is complete luck. There were three fumbles and the Patriots recovered them all. That’s getting good breaks. I mean, you really think that the key to this game was Bellichick having the incredible genius-level football mind to say “hey guys, don’t fumble kickoff returns today”? Yeah, the Patriot’s offense wasn’t great. Neither was the Texans, and in fact they were both almost exactly the same level of not great, looking at yardage and first downs (we can look at more advanced stats later this week). The difference is the Patriots had a couple long drives and a bunch of three-and-outs, while the Texans had a bunch of drives with a couple-three first downs and then a punt. I’m not sure that that difference is really attributable to coaching or anything beyond good luck that the Patriots’ plays that worked all happened to be on the same couple drives. And finally, I’m really not trying to make Texans fans feel better or anything. I mean, sure, living in Texas sucks, so I can almost understand someone feeling badly because a bunch of guys they don’t know (and mostly weren’t born or grew up in Texas) lost an athletic contest, but that’s I’m afraid their problem for being dumb enough to live in Texas in the first place. I’m just saying ‘it looks to me like random chance significantly affected the score of that game’. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/766636/56 "2016-09-26T16:21:09Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > Even if fumbling or causing fumbles is somewhat skill-based (and if I remember right, data seems to show there’s some skill but more luck), I do know that data shows fumble recovery is complete luck. There were three fumbles and the Patriots recovered them all. That’s getting good breaks. Luck favors the prepared. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/766636/57 "2016-09-26T16:28:37Z")
Green Bay goes balls-to-the-wall “screw everyone” for the first half, Rodgers dropping dimes, Lacy bulldozing to 100 yards, and the defense plays pretty solidly against a decent offense. The starters chill in the locker room after halftime, and the Lions claw they’re way back in to the game, putting themselves in position to at least tie the game. Oh, those were the starters out there? Then what the hell? ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/766636/58 "2016-09-26T16:58:11Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > Green Bay goes balls-to-the-wall “screw everyone” for the first half, Rodgers dropping dimes, Lacy bulldozing to 100 yards, and the defense plays pretty solidly against a decent offense. > > The starters chill in the locker room after halftime, and the Lions claw they’re way back in to the game, putting themselves in position to at least tie the game. Oh, those were the starters out there? Then what the hell? Depends what you call starters. Without #1 CB Sam Shields, #1 SS Morgan Burnett, and #1 OLB Clay Matthews, they had some holes to fill. Damarius Randall had a rough game to be sure, Quinton Rollins wasn’t good either, and Micah Hyde made mistakes, but injuries took a toll this game. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/766636/59 "2016-09-26T18:54:23Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > In terms of whether the NFL should or shouldn’t have a bye every week of the season, at one point they did. From 1999 to 2001 there were 31 teams in the league. That meant that mathematically, there had to be at least one team on a bye every single week no matter what. Necessity and choice are two different matters. Why do you think there were 32 teams in short order? ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/766636/60 "2016-09-26T19:48:39Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > I mean, sure, living in Texas sucks … You wouldn’t be saying this if you knew much about, say, birdwatching. Why you’re saying it it a thread about baseball is something of a mystery. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/766636.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-week-3/766636.md?page=4)