The Kansas City Chiefs’ defense stepped up when it mattered to keep the back-to-back Super Bowl winners winning – but what else did we learn on Sunday?
The Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks are the other sides on perfect 3-0 records – a record the Bills will hope to match when they play Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday night.
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📰 Table Of Contents
Chiefs grind it out in Atlanta
The Chiefs have won the last two Super Bowls on the back of their stunning offense led by quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
But in Atlanta on Sunday it was the other side of the game that saw them hang on to win 22-17.
FIND. A. WAY. pic.twitter.com/5pKQSqtDYL
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) September 23, 2024
Tight end Travis Kelce was again kept quiet – receiving four catches for 30 yards – but two late stops shut the Falcons out.
“It helps when you have a defense that’s been in those moments before and is able to make those big plays,” Mahomes said.
“It’s a team game and we’re winning games and I feel like we’re gonna start getting better and better each and every week.”
Should the Vikings be feared?
Which 3-0 team are you riding with? pic.twitter.com/lALI6L1vqb
— NFL (@NFL) September 23, 2024
Minnesota picked up a biggest win for five years as they thrashed the Houston Texans 34-7 – with defense again the name of the game.
Sam Darnold matched his career high with four touchdown passes, and the undefeated Vikings intercepted C.J. Stroud twice and sacked him four times.
“We just dominated all around,” said star receiver Justin Jefferson. “But our defense is definitely the number one reason.”
Fields of gold?
Justin Fields threw for a touchdown and ran for another as Pittsburgh beat the LA Chargers 20-10.
Pittsburgh improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2020 behind another efficient performance from Fields, who completed 25 of 32 passes for 245 yards, including a 55-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Austin III midway through the fourth quarter.
The Steelers have conceded just 26 points in three games with Fields making a compelling case that he should be the starter even after Russell Wilson returns from injury.
Cowboys can’t stop the run
Derrick Henry and quarterback Lamar Jackson combined for 238 rushing yards and three touchdowns as the Baltimore Ravens ran the ball 45 times out of 60 plays in a 28-25 win in Dallas.
The Cowboys were 28-6 down and rallied but ultimately fell short against the impresssive Ravens.
“We have to make sure guys don’t dwell,” Cowboys QB Dak Prescott said after emerging from quiet, frustrated locker room.
“They can feel bad tonight, but come the morning, it’s over with. If you’re dwelling on that, you’re not going to prepare the right away. You’re still going to be looking back at things you could have done, should have done.”
Only one team since 2000 has made the playoffs after starting 0-3 so the win was big for the Ravens.
“Every game is a big game for us because we’re trying to get somewhere,” Jackson said. “We’ve got to win these games to get to the playoffs, and we need to get to the Super Bowl. But it starts with the game that’s in front of us.”
No Love = no problem
The Green Bay Packers are without star quarterback Jordan Love but they won again, with back-up Malik Willis leading them to a 30-14 win at the Tennessee Titans.
The Packers defense sacked Will Levis eight times and plucked two interceptions in a dominant showing.
Titans coach Brian Callahan said: “It’s embarrassing and disappointing,
“I’ve got to be a lot better than I’ve been, and this is frustrating and unfortunate and not what I thought we were capable of to start the season.”
