As the NFL approaches the midpoint of its third week, teams teetering on the edge of a 0-3 start fought fiercely to avoid a historically difficult position to recover from. Among the seven squads still winless entering Sunday, the Washington Commanders delivered a notable upset over the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, 33-31, injecting fresh hope into their season.
Quarterback Marcus Mariota, playing in place of the injured Jayden Daniels, managed the crucial late-game drive despite battling leg cramps. Mariota’s decisive third-and-7 conversion with just under two minutes remaining ultimately secured victory. After briefly retreating to the locker room for an IV treatment, he returned to help the Commanders snap their early skid. Historically, NFL teams starting 0-3 face steep odds, with only five out of 171 since 1990 making the playoffs, underscoring the significance of Washington’s breakthrough.
Other teams on the brink showed flashes of competitiveness, if not final success. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, hampered by the loss of quarterback Baker Mayfield due to a dislocated thumb, fell 23-16 to the Minnesota Vikings despite trailing by only four points late. The Miami Dolphins, without injured running back De’Von Achane, kept pace with the Kansas City Chiefs into the fourth quarter but ultimately lost 24-10. The Tennessee Titans narrowly missed a game-winning touchdown, thwarted by a late interception en route to a 12-7 defeat against the New York Giants. The Los Angeles Chargers, after holding a fourth-quarter lead over the Buffalo Bills, succumbed 24-16, and the Houston Texans dropped their third straight game in a tight battle with the Indianapolis Colts.
The Colts claimed a critical 19-17 win in a contest decided by kicker Spencer Shrader, who overcame a groin injury to nail a 53-yard field goal in the closing seconds. This victory ended Indianapolis’s nine-game losing streak and shifted the team’s outlook from despair toward cautious optimism.
Among the struggling teams, the Chargers' ongoing difficulties raised concerns. Despite returning to the playoffs in recent years, Los Angeles appeared disjointed and unenergetic against opponents like Arizona, Las Vegas, and Buffalo. Critics point to adjustments after the hiring of offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel and quarterback Justin Herbert’s inconsistent performance, including multiple interceptions and sacks, as contributing factors.
The Buccaneers face mounting pressure after slipping to 1-2 under coach Todd Bowles, who acknowledged the team’s challenging recent stretch. Meanwhile, the Texans, dealing with both offensive struggles and defensive disappointment following a poor showing against the Bills in Week 1, have entered crisis mode, highlighted by a players-only defensive meeting called by star edge rusher Will Anderson Jr.
In a contrasting narrative, the New England Patriots continue to wrestle with quarterback Drake Maye’s surprising decline in production. After a breakout second season, Maye has struggled with turnovers and overall performance, including a recent 35-6 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Maye himself cited the need for personal accountability and improvement amid the team’s early struggles.
Elsewhere, the Baltimore Ravens secured a thrilling 34-31 win over the Dallas Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro, capped by rookie kicker Tyler Loop’s game-winning 56-yard field goal. The Denver Broncos also overturned a 16-point halftime deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Rams, 30-26, improving to 2-1.
At the top of the standings, the San Francisco 49ers remain undefeated (3-0) despite several injuries and recent fines surrounding player celebrations. Tight end George Kittle’s late touchdown surge helped seal a 36-30 victory over the Arizona Cardinals, maintaining San Francisco’s lead in the NFC West alongside the unexpectedly strong Las Vegas Raiders, who improved to 3-0 with a win over the New Orleans Saints. Rookie coach Klint Kubiak is quickly establishing himself as a strong contender for Coach of the Year, guided by veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins and promising rookies.
The upcoming Week 4 matchups, including a London showdown between the revitalized Colts and Commanders and a pivotal AFC West clash between the Raiders and Chiefs, will further shape narratives for teams striving to reverse early setbacks or extend undefeated runs.