Week 3 might go a great distance towards figuring out how groups will end this season.
At dwelling towards the Washington Commanders, the determined Cincinnati Bengals (0-2) — who misplaced a Week 2 heartbreaker at Kansas Metropolis — ought to get nicely. In the meantime, the 0-2 Denver Broncos, 0-2 Indianapolis Colts and 0-2 Jacksonville Jaguars look like at a season’s crossroads already.
Forward of Week 3, Yardbarker NFL writers provide a prediction for each AFC staff.
BUFFALO BILLS | Payments dominate Jaguars behind RB James Prepare dinner’s stellar encore | Prepare dinner’s three first-half touchdowns propelled Buffalo to a blowout win over Miami in Week 2, and the staff will certainly lean on him closely once more at dwelling towards Jacksonville, which has already allowed 273 yards to running backs. If Jaguars HC Doug Pederson is not already on the new seat, he certainly will likely be after Prepare dinner rushes for 120 yards and two touchdowns on this “Monday Evening Soccer” matchup.
MIAMI DOLPHINS | RB De’Von Achane leads staff in receptions, receiving yards | With QB Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) on injured reserve, backup Skylar Thompson will begin Sunday’s street matchup towards Seattle, which does not bode nicely for the manufacturing of wideouts Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Achane (132.5 all-purpose yards per sport), although, might finally turn into the point of interest of Miami’s passing assault. He caught four of Thompson’s eight completions in Week 2.
NEW YORK JETS | WR Garrett Wilson delivers breakout efficiency | The 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Yr hasn’t made a lot of an affect to start the season, catching 10 passes for 117 yards. Anticipate issues to vary at dwelling on “Thursday Evening Soccer” towards a Patriots protection that allowed 327 yards and one landing passing in Week 2 towards Seattle. Wilson will cross the 100-yard plateau and rating a TD for the primary time in 2024.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | Requires rookie QB Drake Maye to play get louder | Regardless of main New England to a 1-1 begin, QB Jacoby Brissett hasn’t performed significantly nicely, as he’s one among just four starters who have not accomplished a move of at the very least 20 yards this season. If Brissett, who had simply 32 passing yards within the second half and extra time within the Week 2 loss to Seattle, struggles Thursday towards a stable Jets protection, New England will really feel stress to show to Maye. — Colum Dell
AFC West
DENVER BRONCOS | Offense fails to attain 20 factors for second straight sport | After a 13-6 loss to the Steelers in Week 2, Denver head coach Sean Payton admitted he should discover solutions for his inept offense. By way of two video games, the Broncos rank thirtieth within the league in factors (13 PPG). Nevertheless, don’t count on Payton to resolve the unit’s issues in Sunday’s street sport towards the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are tied for sixth in the league in factors allowed (18 PPG).
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | Rookie RB Carson Steele rushes for 50-plus yards |In a Monday news conference, head coach Andy Reid mentioned Steele should assist Okay.C. substitute beginning RB Isiah Pacheco, who is predicted to overlook six to eight weeks with a fractured fibula, per ESPN’s Adam Teicher. The undrafted free agent has solely rushed for 27 yards in two video games, however he’ll step up in Sunday’s street sport towards Atlanta, which allowed 186 speeding yards in a 22-21 Week 2 win over Philadelphia.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | DE Maxx Crosby finishes with two-plus sacks | On Monday, Carolina benched second-year QB Bryce Younger, changing him with journeyman Andy Dalton. Dalton has been sacked 348 occasions in 14 seasons, sixth among active QBs, so financial institution on Crosby dominating in Sunday’s dwelling sport.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | Rookie RT Joe Alt holds edge-rusher T.J. Watt to 1 sack |Per Pro Football Focus, No. 5 general decide Alt has allowed one sack and two pressures in two video games. Though Watt is probably one of the best pass-rusher within the NFL, the rookie received’t let him wreck L.A.’s offense in Sunday’s street sport. — Clark Dalton
AFC North
BALTIMORE RAVENS | Protection will get torched once more | The protection has allowed the most passing yards per game (257) within the league by way of the primary two weeks of the season, and issues will not be any simpler on the street towards the Cowboys. Dallas QB Dak Prescott might not be having the beginning many imagined (472 passing yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions), however count on him and the offense to bounce again towards Baltimore’s underwhelming secondary.
CINCINNATI BENGALS | WR Ja’Marr Chase has a 100+ yard outing | The offense has disillusioned by way of the primary two weeks, and an enormous motive why is the shortage of affect by Chase, who has 10 catches for 97 yards and nil touchdowns. Nevertheless, that ought to change Sunday when Cincinnati hosts the Washington Commanders, who’ve allowed the 10th-most passing yards per game (227.5) within the NFL. If vast receiver Tee Higgins (hamstring) is out once more, Chase will get much more alternatives.
CLEVELAND BROWNS | Protection posts NFL’s first shutout | The protection has uncharacteristically allowed 46 factors by way of the primary two weeks, but it surely has an awesome probability to bounce again Sunday at dwelling towards the Giants, who’re averaging the third-fewest points per game (12). With a dominant displaying Sunday, Cleveland might closely affect New York to drag the plug on QB Daniel Jones.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS | Host the shortest sport of the week | The Steelers prefer to run early and sometimes and play good protection and so do the Chargers below new head coach Jim Harbaugh. By way of the primary two weeks of the season, Pittsburgh has the most rushing attempts (77) within the NFL whereas Los Angeles has the fifth most (71). This sport will likely be quick, however will it’s thrilling? — Aaron Becker
AFC South
HOUSTON TEXANS | Nico Collins tops 100 receiving yards and makes historical past | After posting 135 receiving yards within the Texans’ Week 2 19-13 victory over the Chicago Bears, Collins has at the very least 100 receiving yards in three consecutive regular-season outings relationship to final season. On the street Sunday towards the Minnesota Vikings, who allowed 11 completions of 10 or extra yards final week, the fourth-year wideout will feast, becoming a member of DeAndre Hopkins (2018, 2015) and Corridor of Famer Andre Johnson (2008) as the one receivers in Texans’ historical past to high the century mark in four straight games, per Stathead.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | Protection snaps interception-less streak | The Colts are one among solely 9 NFL groups with out an interception in 2024. They have not recorded one since Week 15 of final season, tied for the longest streak within the franchise’s historical past (5 video games). At dwelling Sunday towards the Chicago Bears, Indianapolis will file a decide towards rookie QB Caleb Williams, whose 5 turnover-worthy throws trails solely Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles (six) for essentially the most within the NFL by way of two weeks, per Pro Football Focus.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | Man protection lets protection down | No NFL staff has performed extra man protection than the Jaguars (63.3 p.c) this season, and it is going to be their undoing in a Week 3 street sport towards the Buffalo Payments on “Monday Evening Soccer.” Because the begin of 2023, Buffalo’s Josh Allen is the top-graded QB within the NFL towards Cowl 0, per Dalton Wasserman of PFF.
TENNESSEE TITANS | Protection ruins QB Malik Willis’ homecoming | On Sunday, the Titans host the Inexperienced Bay Packers, probably with out injured beginning QB Jordan Love for an additional week as he continues to nurse an MCL sprain. That may enable Tennessee’s top-ranked defense (206.5 YPG) to lock in on RB Josh Jacobs and arrange an attractive matchup towards former Tennessee QB Malik Willis, who threw for less than 122 yards (12-of-14) in Week 2. — Mike Santa Barbara