The NFL Roundup 2018: Week 3 – What We Learned

Written by John Edward Betancourt

​If there’s one reason and one reason alone to watch NFL Football, it’s the element of surprise that comes with any particular game. You simply never know what’s going to happen when two teams take the field and the thrill that comes with watching incredible moments unfold before your eyes is simply unmatched in the sports world and really, that’s the best way to describe this past weekend of football. Because it was surprise after surprise from this week’s slate of games, making for some incredible stories to say the least, the kind that have all of us talking today. So, with that in mind, let’s revisit Week 3 one more time and discuss all the wild events that took place, and what we learned from this weekend’s games.
 
Baker Mayfield played quite the hero on Thursday Night Football. 
There were a lot of reasons for Cleveland Browns to be hopeful in the preseason, because Baker Mayfield looked solid for a rookie. He made all the right throws, and put some points on the board, but with it being preseason, everyone was left wondering, is really as good as he looks in exhibition games? Well the answer to that question is still maybe, because he’s only played one half of football, but wow…what a debut. The kid was simply lights out against the Jets, making big throws and great reads and while it doesn’t necessarily mean he’s going help the Browns run the table, his performance electrified a fan base that’s been desperate to celebrate something and he will make the Browns better going forward, now that he’s been named the starter. 
 
The New England Patriots need to be worried about what was exposed in their loss to Detroit.
While I fully understand the fact that any team can lose on any given day they take the field, some losses simply shouldn’t happen, and the Patriots should not have lost their game against the Lions, but here we are. But what’s truly disconcerting about this loss, is how Detroit put all of New England’s weaknesses on display. Because the Lions showed the league how to handle the Patriots’ depleted receiving corps, and how to exploit their weak secondary and you know every single team is going to study that film to a tee. Which means that unless New England can get their passing game back on track and shore up those holes on defense, they may suffer more embarrassing losses as the weeks roll on. 
 
The Buffalo Bills finally woke up on Sunday. 
I think it’s safe to assume that every football fan out there was ready to forget about the Bills this season and with good reason; they’ve been downright awful in 2018. They were a joke in week one and the halftime retirement of Vontae Davis overshadowed another ridiculous defeat. But clearly, this team isn’t good with being viewed as a laughing stock, and they somehow pulled it together to defeat the mighty Vikings in their own house and well, this win was everything Buffalo fans could hope for and more. Josh Allen played some inspired football and that defense was dominant and if they can keep that up, then they will keep hope alive in upstate New York. 
 
Vance Joseph needs to take control of his team. 
Lost amidst a few questionable officiating calls in Sunday’s game, is the sheer fact that Denver Broncos Head Coach Vance Joseph, still has yet to truly take control of his team. His squad played some incredibly undisciplined football on Sunday, as they racked up stupid penalties to compliment sloppy play on the field and well, the time has come for Vance to be tough with these players and get them to settle down. Because to allow this kind of play to persist means that more meltdowns will happen as the season rolls on, which will of course translate to more losses and the end of Vance’s tenure as head coach, but honestly, I’m wondering as to whether or not Coach Joseph is up to the task, because these are issues that should have been fixed in training camp and sadly football fans in both Denver and around the nation will have to wait until Monday night to find out if Vance has figured out how to be the boss of his own team. Because if they play smart football against the Chiefs, we’ll know the meeting room was an uncomfortable place this week, but if the flags start flying, get ready for a long and sloppy season in the Mile High City. 
 
The Oakland Raiders are a team in crisis. 
At this point, you have to feel bad for Oakland fans. Their hopes were raised into the clouds with the announcement that Jon ‘Chucky’ Gruden was returning to the sidelines to coach this team, only to have those hopes dashed with odd personnel decisions and a horrible start to the season since they’re now 0-3 after losing to Miami. Which means this team is in a true crisis right now because they simply cannot finish games and they tend to implode once a team socks them in the mouth, and it will now be up to Coach Gruden to get his offense and his defense back on the right track if he wants to salvage this season, but he is going to have to work fast, since it’s rare for a team to do anything special with their year when they’re this far in the hole. 

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