The NFL Roundup 2020: Week 3

Written by John Edward Betancourt

It’s Thursday my fellow football fans and you know what that means… it’s time for fresh football! Yes, that is perhaps the finest aspect of the modern football era, in that we only have to wait a couple of days between scheduled weeks in order to get our football fix and what’s even better, is that Week 3 is chock full of juicy storylines to discuss and epic showdowns for us to enjoy. This means that it is time to dive right in and examine all of those things, before Thursday Night Football gets underway, later tonight.
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Do the Denver Broncos have a shot at beating Tampa Bay this weekend?
Make no mistake about it, the Denver Broncos are frontrunners to be crowned; the most heartbreaking team of 2020. Because this is a team that had the potential to go far this year, but that outlook is changing thanks to their terrible offensive tackles and mounting injuries. Which begs one simple question, in that, is it at all possible for them to beat Tampa Bay this Sunday with their roster in tatters? And the answer to that question is yes. Provided a few things come into play. First and foremost, the team needs to bench Elijah Wilkinson and start Demar Dotson at RT. That would help the offense find a rhythm. Outside of that, however, they need to generate a pass rush and blanket the Bucs’ receiving corps since Brady struggles with that, and if they can pull all of that off, they’ll snag the upset win. But if they don't, then Denver's sorrowful year is only going to bring about more anguish for the good citizens of Broncos Country. 

Will the Atlanta Falcons rebound from their ugly loss in Dallas?
While losing is a part of life in the NFL, it’s the decidedly ugly losses that tend to cause serious trouble for teams. Because when a team collapses on the national stage and has to hear about it on television and social media all week long, that gets into everyone’s head and it engenders more problems for that team going forward. This leaves one to wonder if the Atlanta Falcons will be able to recover from their implosion last week and well, it is possible. Provided of course the defense gets into Mitch Trubisky’s head and forces him to make some mistakes, while the offense plays some patient and methodical football. But the fact of the matter is, the Bears are red-hot and eager to prove their worth, and that means that Atlanta is likely in for one ugly day, one that will keep fans wondering as to whether or not this team is legit, or nothing more than a glorified practice squad.
 
Is this the week the Houston Texans finally pull out a win?
Speaking of teams that had high hopes surrounding them, the Houston Texans are another squad that everyone expected to do well in 2020. But thus far, they’ve been quite the disappointment on both offense and defense. Leaving one to ponder upon whether or not they stand a chance against Pittsburgh. Because in order to beat the Steelers, the Texans have to produce on offense, which they’ve struggled to do at times. Plus, they need to play some solid defense. Which is quite the tall order. For their D just isn’t up to snuff right now and they simply cannot stop their opponents. But on any given Sunday, anything can happen. But more than likely, this is going to be another ugly game for a team that seems lost right now and if they hit 0-3, then it is better luck in 2021 for the Houston Texans.

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The Most Fascinating Games to Watch This Weekend

Los Angeles Rams (2-0) at Buffalo Bills (2-0)
Bills Stadium – Orchard Park, NY
Sunday, September 27, 2020 – 1:00 p.m. EST – FOX

​You can never go wrong with a proverbial clash of the titans and that is precisely what we have in this particular game. Because both of these teams have been phenomenal in the first two weeks, with great play from their quarterbacks helping to secure those all-important victories, and it is those same quarterbacks that will keep this game interesting. For both of these squads feature a bend, don’t break defense. The kind that allows for a talented QB to put some points on the scoreboard. Which means this one might be a high scoring affair, one that will come down to the age-old adage of 'who wants it more?' and 'who will stand tall', defensively, of course. But really who wins in watching this one are the fans. Because it’s always a true delight to see two high-octane teams take the field and any way you slice it, this one… is going to be outright fun.

Las Vegas Raiders (2-0) at New England Patriots (1-1)
Gillette Stadium – Foxboro, MA
Sunday, September 27, 2020 – 1:00 p.m. EST – CBS

​While this game should offer a good back and forth between two, fun to watch teams, let’s be honest… this is another litmus test for Cam Newton and the New England Patriots. Because the Seattle Seahawks exposed some flaws in Josh McDaniels’ new RPO offense on Sunday night, and those flaws are something that Jon Gruden has passed along to his defense and that’s bad news for the Pats. Because the Raiders do a fine job of stopping an opposing offense when necessary and that’s allowed for them to secure some big victories with minimal fuss, and you know these guys are itching for a shot at bringing down a top-tier team and a QB surrounded by hype. So, don’t be shocked if the Raiders win this one and handily, because they are on a mission; to prove to the league that they’re for real. And they are not going to let a flashy offense stop them from sending that message.

Monday Night Football
Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) at Baltimore Ravens (2-0)
M&T Bank Stadium – Baltimore, MD
8:15 p.m. EST – ESPN

​If there is one game above all else that you simply should not miss this weekend, this is the one. Because this is a matchup that could surprise us in multiple ways. For instance, this one could become quite the shootout, since Patrick Mahomes is able to will his offense to the end zone and extend plays with his legs while Lamar Jackson is able to evade any defender that comes his way as he scrambles toward the marker. But at the same time, this could become quite the defensive struggle since the Chiefs are allowing less points this year, while the Ravens are playing lights out defense. Which means that declaring a victor for this game would be silly at this juncture, since this one could go either way. But the one thing we can be sure of, is that this will be a thrilling prime-time game and you can never go wrong with that.