Friday Five, Week 3

The first two weeks of the NFL Season were interesting, and full of some wild finishes. I expect that to continue as we move through the new season. Below are the five games on the Sunday slate I’m most excited to see!

Sunday Early Games:

Buffalo Bills (2-0) at Miami Dolphins (2-0)
About: This is probably THE game of Week 3. You’d be hard-pressed to find two offenses, specifically pass offenses, that are hotter right now. The fact this is also a divisional game ramps up the intensity. The Bills rolled out and blew out the defending champion Rams on Opening Night, then embarrassed the Titans on Monday night. The Dolphins held on for a gritty win over the Patriots in Week 1 then saw Tua Tagovailoa go off for 199 yards and four touchdowns in the fourth quarter of an epic comeback win over the Ravens. This should be fun.

Detroit Lions (1-1) at Minnesota Vikings (1-1)
About: The Lions were on Hard Knocks this year, and it got me pumped. I picked them for the upset over the Eagles in Week 1, but it didn’t quite happen. They fell a few points short. The Lions did better in Week 2, coming up with a big win over the Commanders at home. The Vikings, meanwhile, came in with the weight of expectations on them, too. They delivered in a 23-7 win over the Packers in Week 1, but it came to a screeching halt in Philadelphia Monday night. Both these teams want to compete for an AFC North title, and the road to getting there begins with this big Week 3 matchup.

Baltimore Ravens (1-1) at New England Patriots (1-1)
About: Both these teams have a win and a loss, and both teams took their loss at the hands of the Miami Dolphins. The Ravens’ pass offense has been stout so far, helping lead to a Week 1 win over the Jets and 38 points in Week 2 against the Dolphins. The Patriots, meanwhile, have been feeling their way through on offense without former Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels. It didn’t go well in Week 1 but the Patriots did enough to win in Pittsburgh in Week 2. The Patriots are always tough at home, but their battles with the Ravens are always close. I suspect we’re in for another great edition of the rivalry.

Philadelphia Eagles (2-0) at Washington Commanders (1-1)
About: This NFC East rivalry gets and upgrade as Carson Wentz faces his former team and the quarterback—Jalen Hurts—who took his job. Wentz helped the Eagles get to the Super Bowl but after spending 2021 in Indianapolis, he gets to face his former team twice a year. That starts Sunday in Washington D.C., and the first two weeks have shown the Commanders have decent pass weapons, including a finally healthy Curtis Samuel and rookie Jahan Dotson. The Eagles, meanwhile, are red-hot. The posted 38 in a win over the Lions and then battered the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2’s final game. It’s been largely a credit to Hurts, who’s doing it with his arm and his legs. This figures to be an up-tempo and explosive matchup.

Sunday Late Games:

Green Bay Packers (1-1) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0)
About: The Packers lost Davante Adams this off-season and it was a slow start as the team was held to seven points in a Week 1 loss. In Week 2, on Sunday Night against the Bears, the Packers’ found their groove. Aaron Rodgers and Aaron Jones took the lead as the team won 27-10 to even their record. Now they head to Tampa Bay to battle Tom Brady, who’ll be without his top receiver, Mike Evans, who is suspended. Evans’ ejection Sunday in New Orleans was the prod the Buccaneers needed to get things going, and now they bring a fierce defense back home that hopes to bottle up the Packers. This clash of NFC contenders is the best of Sunday’s late window.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.