NFL · 1 year ago

5 NFL Teams That Should Be Worried After Week 3

Grant White

Host · Writer

Cincinnati Bengals
Someone in the Cincinnati Bengals organization has some explaining to do. Just two years ago, this team had all the makings of a perennial contender, but after Week 3, they desperately need a makeover.

The Bengals let Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders walk all over them on Monday night. The Commanders scored on every possession, with Daniels recording the best completion percentage by a rookie in NFL history. That comes on the heels of Week 2's collapse versus the Kansas City Chiefs and Week 1's stunning loss to the New England Patriots.

Cincinnati needs to address some major concerns. Unless they find a way to completely revamp their defense before Week 4, the end of the Bengals' season might already be upon them.
San Francisco 49ers
Maybe the San Francisco 49ers deserve some of the misfortune. Or maybe it was inevitable regression. But whatever the case may be, all of a sudden the 49ers find themselves on the hot seat.

The defending NFC Champions completely botched Christian McCaffrey's injury status. They appeared to have more information than they were letting on, and it sounds like the intent was always for him to miss an extended period of time. Still, that doesn't absolve the 49ers of their shortcomings to open the 2024 NFL season.

San Fran couldn't get anything going in the second half of Sunday's NFC West showdown versus the Los Angeles Rams. The Niners blew a 21-7 second-half lead, allowing the Rams to score on their final four drives to steal the win.

The 49ers had their chance to win the game, and they blew it. If they don't find a way to hang onto wins late in games, that's the reputation that will consume them.

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Dallas Cowboys
The Baltimore Ravens essentially told the Dallas Cowboys they were running the ball on every play, and there's still nothing the NFC East contenders could do to stop them.

Another absurdly bad defensive performance dropped the Cowboys to a historically bad level. Through three games, Dallas has allowed 557 rushing yards, which is the most in the NFL since at least 1963. More concerningly, opponents are averaging 5.4 yards per carry which has caused some animosity on the Cowboys' sidelines.

The Ravens didn't even try to hide or disguise their runs. They ran draw after draw, accounting for 75.0% of their 60 offensive plays in Week 3. Still, the Cowboys gave up 274 rushing yards in defeat.

After another unceremonious playoff exit last year and a 1-2 start to the 2024 campaign, the pressure is mounting on Mike McCarthy. Any more losses in the short term will inevitably cost him his job.

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Miami Dolphins
We knew how much Tua Tagovailoa meant to the Miami Dolphins, but we assumed Mike McDaniel would have a competent replacement on the sidelines. The Fins were held to just three points on 205 total yards, underscoring their need to find another backup quarterback after yet another injury.

Skylar Thompson couldn't finish the game due to a rib injury, but he should have been taken out well in advance of his departure. Through two appearances, the third-year pivot has been held to 187 passing yards on 31 throws for just 5.7 yards per pass attempt.

But the issues are more profound than that. The Dolphins' offensive line has crumbled this year, allowing five sacks in Week 3, resulting in yet another injury to their quarterback. McDaniel must rectify the O-Line issues promptly or risk further injury to his third and fourth-string quarterbacks.
Jacksonville Jaguars
You know things have gone horribly awry when the game is out of reach by half-time. But that's the harsh reality of the Jacksonville Jaguars world after Monday night's humbling defeat at the hands of the Buffalo Bills.

Jacksonville couldn't do anything right. They allowed the Bills to march freely, giving up 34 points by the end of the first half. Those concerns were present on offense, as well. The Jags mustered a laughable 59 total yards before half-time with as many interceptions as first downs.

Two years ago, Trevor Lawrence was praised as the quarterback of the future. Now, Daniel Jones has superior metrics and the Jaguars are spiraling toward another top-five draft pick.

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Cincinnati Bengals
Someone in the Cincinnati Bengals organization has some explaining to do. Just two years ago, this team had all the makings of a perennial contender, but after Week 3, they desperately need a makeover.

The Bengals let Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders walk all over them on Monday night. The Commanders scored on every possession, with Daniels recording the best completion percentage by a rookie in NFL history. That comes on the heels of Week 2's collapse versus the Kansas City Chiefs and Week 1's stunning loss to the New England Patriots.

Cincinnati needs to address some major concerns. Unless they find a way to completely revamp their defense before Week 4, the end of the Bengals' season might already be upon them.
San Francisco 49ers
Maybe the San Francisco 49ers deserve some of the misfortune. Or maybe it was inevitable regression. But whatever the case may be, all of a sudden the 49ers find themselves on the hot seat.

The defending NFC Champions completely botched Christian McCaffrey's injury status. They appeared to have more information than they were letting on, and it sounds like the intent was always for him to miss an extended period of time. Still, that doesn't absolve the 49ers of their shortcomings to open the 2024 NFL season.

San Fran couldn't get anything going in the second half of Sunday's NFC West showdown versus the Los Angeles Rams. The Niners blew a 21-7 second-half lead, allowing the Rams to score on their final four drives to steal the win.

The 49ers had their chance to win the game, and they blew it. If they don't find a way to hang onto wins late in games, that's the reputation that will consume them.

Tackle the Odds with SportsGrid’s Expert NFL Game Picks and NFL Player Prop Picks.

5 NFL Teams That Should Be Worried After Week 3

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