Summary of Week 3 Preview

Overview of Week 3 Preview

The Athletic Football Show breaks down the most interesting matchups on the Week 3 NFL slate, with a heavy focus on Ravens-Cowboys in Brazil and Rams-Broncos as the marquee games. The episode also highlights a few sneaky watchable matchups, teams entering the “danger zone,” and three broader questions the hosts want answered by the end of the weekend.

Game of the Week: Ravens vs. Cowboys in Brazil

Why this game matters

• Both teams entered the season with legitimate playoff expectations.
• Through two weeks, the Ravens look sturdier overall, while the Cowboys’ defense has been far shakier than hoped.
• The game is framed as a classic strength-vs.-weakness matchup: Baltimore’s run game and movement-heavy offense against Dallas’ vulnerable new-look front seven.

Ravens offensive outlook

• Baltimore’s offense is already building a layered, creative run game with motion, 13 personnel, and tight end movement.
• Lamar Jackson’s scrambling remains a major weapon, and the Cowboys have already struggled to contain quarterback runs.
• Even without full health at receiver, the Ravens’ ground game and QB run threat make them extremely difficult to defend.
• The hosts suggest Lamar, Josh Allen, and Patrick Mahomes may all be headed for elite-to-historic quarterback seasons.

Cowboys defensive concerns

• Dallas’ front seven is still adjusting to the new scheme and looks hesitant rather than reactive.
• The Cowboys have been weak against the run, and this is a bad week to face a Ravens offense that can stress every level of the defense.
• Their safeties are banged up, which further complicates run support.
• The overall verdict: not panic time yet, but this is a very tough matchup for a defense that still doesn’t feel settled.

Cowboys offense

• The offense has been productive overall, but it has felt a little more “searching” than dominant.
• Play-action has been a major strength.
• The hosts believe the unit still has a higher ceiling once the run game and some timing elements fully click.

Other Featured Game: Rams vs. Broncos

Why the Broncos’ bounce-back felt more real

• The Broncos’ second-half comeback against the Jaguars felt more impressive than the Rams’ blowout of the Giants.
• Denver’s offensive line and secondary both looked much better than in Week 1.

Rams offensive keys

• Without Puka Nacua, the Rams may have to lean even more into heavy personnel, duo runs, and staying ahead of the sticks.
• The Rams can still use motion, condensed formations, and “bullshit” out of 13 personnel to stay efficient.
• The idea is to avoid long-yardage situations that let Denver’s pass rush take over.

Broncos defensive keys

• Denver’s defense is built to punish offenses that can’t protect or stay on schedule.
• The Rams’ offense is much more manageable if Denver can force them into obvious passing downs.
• The hosts expect Vance Joseph may lean toward more man coverage, even if the numbers last year suggested otherwise.

Broncos offense vs. Rams defense

• The biggest question is how Denver handles Rams pressure up front.
• Bo Nix has been more willing to push the ball downfield, which the hosts view as a sign the Broncos offense is trending in the right direction.
• The Rams’ improved tackling and secondary physicality could make Denver’s usual underneath game less effective.

Sneaky Fun Games to Watch

Raiders vs. Saints

• This was the hosts’ favorite “I can’t believe this is the game I’m excited for” matchup.
• Brock Bowers’ potential return could change the Raiders’ offense dramatically.
• Las Vegas is starting to look like a fun, buttoned-up team with a real identity under its new play-calling structure.
• Maxx Crosby continues to be an elite wrecking force.

Patriots vs. Jaguars

• The main question: can Drake Maye handle Jacksonville’s zone coverage and pressure looks?
• The Jaguars’ defense remains tough in theory, but there are signs it can be attacked underneath.
• The Patriots’ offense is still a concern, especially if the vertical passing game doesn’t show up.

Bengals vs. Steelers

• The Steelers’ pressure package has been one of the most interesting defensive developments of the first two weeks.
• Their simulated pressures, blitzes, and disguise packages are creating confusion for opposing quarterbacks.
• Cincinnati’s offensive line, especially on the left side, will be tested hard.

Sicko Street Matchup

Buccaneers vs. Vikings

• Baker Mayfield has been playing like a quarterback with the “zoomies” — overstimulated, rushed, and not fully seeing the field.
• That is exactly the type of quarterback Brian Flores’ defense wants to face.
• The Vikings are again blitzing at an absurd rate, while also keeping enough structure behind it to avoid being reckless.
• Their ability to wreck both the pass game and the run game is what makes them so dangerous.

Titans vs. Giants

• This was the other “gross but compelling” game.
• The hosts joked that it may take forever just for everyone to say hello to their former teammates.
• The Giants’ fall from Week 1 optimism to Sicko Street is especially painful.
• If you wanted a more watchable offense, the Titans may already be the better bet.

Teams in the “Danger Zone”

Chargers

• The Chargers are the biggest early disappointment in the league.
• They are 0-2, the schedule is brutal, and the team has major operational issues.
• The offense is messy, the secondary is a mess, and there’s real concern the season could unravel quickly.
• The hosts noted how wild it is that a team with such high preseason Super Bowl expectations is already in “job security” territory.

Texans vs. Colts

• The Texans offense needs to look much better against a very bad Colts defense.
• The Colts are basically out of the picture already, while Houston is still too talented to panic over.
• The key question is not just whether Houston can win, but whether it can look like a real offense again.

Three Things the Hosts Want to Know After Week 3

1. How much do the Lions miss Aaron Glenn?

• The Jets’ defense has shown some life early, and the Lions’ defense has not.
• The question is whether Detroit’s struggles reveal how important Glenn was to last year’s success.

2. Can the Cardinals bully the 49ers?

• Arizona has size and physicality on offense that could stress San Francisco’s smaller defensive backs.
• The hosts are curious whether the Cardinals can run through or overpower the 49ers a bit.

3. Is Bryce Young’s hot start real?

• Bryce Young has had the best two-week stretch of his career.
• The Browns will be the first truly difficult defense he’s faced this season.
• If he plays well again, it would elevate the conversation around Carolina significantly.

Big Picture Takeaways

• Quarterback scrambling remains one of the league’s most valuable play types.
• Design QB runs are down, but scrambles are still backbreaking.
• The league’s elite quarterbacks are all entering or in the middle of their prime years, and that could produce an all-time great season collectively.
• Several teams are still in the “we’re figuring it out” phase, but the clock is already ticking for the Chargers and a few other early disappointments.