Week 3 of the 2025 NFL season was full of emotions and unexpected results, with several games that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the last second. Sunday afternoon’s games gave us dramatic finishes and surprising performances. On Thursday night, the Bills defeated the Dolphins to maintain their undefeated record. On Sunday, the Browns handed the Packers their first loss of the season thanks to a field goal by Andre Szmyt as time expired. The Rams-Eagles and Buccaneers-Jets matchups had decisive moments with blocked field goals returned for touchdowns, giving the Eagles the win after trailing by 19 points in the second half. The Jets couldn’t hold their lead, and the Bucs managed a game-winning field goal. The Sunday afternoon window also offered heart-stopping finishes, with the 49ers and Chargers securing victories with field goals at the last moment. In addition, the Seahawks and Bears dominated their respective games against the Saints and Cowboys. Here’s a summary of the most outstanding matches from Week 3:
Kansas City Chiefs vs. New York Giants
Results: Kansas City 22, New York Giants 9Chiefs
Did the Chiefs’ offense find long-term solutions in the second half? After an unusual start to the season, the Chiefs’ offense finally showed a competent performance against the Giants. After a slow first half, the Chiefs demonstrated creativity to achieve a balanced attack. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes remained calm in the pocket and completed quick passes to several teammates. One of the solutions the Chiefs found was to involve rookie running back Brashard Smith and receiver Nikko Remigio on the perimeter. Tight end Travis Kelce also didn’t have to carry much of the responsibility in the Chiefs’ passing game. Instead, Mahomes completed passes to seven teammates. Perhaps the most significant change occurred in the trenches. The Chiefs’ offensive line, with rookie left tackle Josh Simmons and left guard Kingsley Suamataia, better protected Mahomes, who was not sacked in the second half.
Most surprising performance: The biggest revelation so far is that Mahomes has found quality production from receiver Tyquan Thornton, who led the Chiefs with five receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown. The Chiefs signed Thornton, the second-round pick of the New England Patriots in 2022, to their practice squad in late November. With a full season in the Chiefs’ system, Thornton was one of the most impressive players in the preseason. His role increased a few minutes after the start of the season, when speedy receiver Xavier Worthy suffered a dislocated right shoulder. If Worthy can return next week, the Chiefs’ offense should be able to show more improvement in a stellar matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. – Nate TaylorNext game: against the Ravens (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)Giants
How bad will it get for the Giants with an 0-3 record? Well, the situation will only get more difficult next Sunday when the undefeated Chargers come to MetLife Stadium. The Chargers have proven to be one of the best teams in the league so far this season. The Giants will then play against the Saints before facing the Eagles, who are also undefeated. The pressure will only increase on coach Brian Daboll and quarterback Russell Wilson. Fans already chanted “We want Dart!” during Sunday’s 22-9 loss to the Chiefs. That’s in reference to rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart. All attention will be focused on when the Giants will turn to Dart as the losses pile up.Statistic to consider: Malik Nabers had no receptions in the first three quarters. The Giants couldn’t get the ball to their star receiver a week after he had nine receptions on 12 targets for 167 yards and two touchdowns. Nabers finished with two receptions for 13 yards on seven targets against the Chiefs. The lack of production is a rarity. Nabers had caught at least four passes in every NFL game of his career before Sunday night. – Jordan RaananNext game: against the Chargers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)L.A. Chargers vs. Denver Broncos
Result: L.A. Chargers 23, Denver 20Chargers
If running back Najee Harris misses significant time, how much will that change the Chargers’ offense? Not much. While Harris was recovering from an eye injury he suffered in a fireworks accident on July 4, the Chargers went through all of training camp without him. L.A. didn’t know if Harris would play in Week 1 until the week of the game. Therefore, the Chargers were already prepared for life without him. In the preseason, offensive coordinator Greg Roman said that first-round rookie Omarion Hampton would split carries with any of the team’s running backs, regardless of Harris’s status. Still, Hampton was the lead back after Harris was removed from the field on Sunday. One of the most important storylines to follow is whether Roman keeps his word, splitting carries with Hampton and others, or if the rest of the season looks like Sunday.The biggest hole in the game plan: Pass protection. The Broncos’ defensive line feasted on the Chargers and quarterback Justin Herbert throughout the game. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Herbert suffered 29 pressures and was sacked five times. He spent most of the day evading the Broncos’ pass rushers to complete passes, and was on the ground when he didn’t. If not improved, the Chargers’ offensive line struggles could significantly diminish this team’s ceiling. – Kris RhimNext game: against the Giants (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)Broncos
How much damage have consecutive blown leads done to the Broncos? Broncos coach Sean Payton spent an offseason stressing the importance of a good start to the season. Good teams, he said, true playoff threats, come out strong. Yet after the Broncos blew leads against the Colts and Chargers, they are 1-2. That follows an 0-2 start last year and a 1-5 start in 2023, Payton’s first season in Denver. To complicate matters, the Broncos have two of their next three games on the road and the Chargers now have three wins in the AFC West. So, the Broncos have work to do.Turning point: With a 20-13 lead and just over four minutes remaining, the Broncos had the Chargers facing a third-and-10 at the Los Angeles 24-yard line. Herbert completed an 11-yard pass to receiver Keenan Allen for the first down, and the Broncos added more damage when safety Talanoa Hufanga hit Allen against the turf. Hufanga was penalized for the personal foul, adding 15 yards to the reception. That moved the ball to the 50-yard line. The Broncos never regained their composure, and the Chargers tied the game 20-20 four plays later. The Chargers drove for the winning field goal on their next possession. – Jeff LegwoldNext game: against the Bengals (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET)San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals
Result: San Francisco 16, Arizona 1549ers
How long can the 49ers keep winning amid all the injuries? The 49ers entered the game without quarterback Brock Purdy, tight end George Kittle, and receivers Jauan Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk. At the end of the first quarter, they lost their defensive star Nick Bosa to a knee injury. Bosa is one of the team’s most indispensable players, but the 49ers’ defense still managed to keep them in the game and, ultimately, win it. The extent of Bosa’s injury is unclear, but it’s never a good sign when a player leaves with a knee injury and doesn’t return. For a team as outstanding as the Niners, the stars must be as healthy and productive as possible. The schedule will get more difficult in October, when the 49ers are away from home for most of the month.
Turning point: When the Cardinals tried to secure the game, they faced a third-and-9 at the 50. A conversion would have sealed the victory, and Kyler Murray’s pass to Zay Jones looked like it was going to do the job. But 49ers rookie cornerback Upton Stout managed to get his hand in and break up the pass to force a punt. From there, the Niners quickly moved into Arizona territory to set up Eddy Pineiro’s game-winning 35-yard field goal. – Nick WagonerBest quote from the locker room: “I think anytime you start 3-0 with two division games, that’s a big deal,” said Christian McCaffrey. “I think the best part about it is we’re definitely not satisfied with how we’re playing. But not being satisfied and still finding ways to grind out some wins, that’s a big deal… We have a lot of guys changing, this and that. All those can be excuses, but at the end of the day we’ve found some ways to win the last three weeks and today was a good example of that.”Next game: against the Jaguars (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)
Cardinals
What will the Cardinals do at running back without James Conner? While the Cardinals wait to learn the extent of Conner’s ankle injury, which took him out of the game, Arizona’s first option at running back will be Trey Benson. Behind Benson will be a rotation of Emari Demercado and Bam Knight, who was not active on Sunday. Before Conner’s injury, Arizona used Benson to relieve Conner and on third down. With Benson likely moving into the lead role, Demercado could become the third-down running back.Trend to watch: Coach Jonathan Gannon said last week that for Arizona’s offense to be top-notch, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. needs to touch the ball more. But Harrison’s modest start to the season continued with three receptions on six attempts for 44 yards. He now has 10 receptions, 17 attempts, 142 yards and a touchdown on the season. – Josh WeinfussNext game: against the Seahawks (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)Chicago Bears vs. Dallas Cowboys
Result: Chicago 31, Dallas 14Bears
What did the Bears’ offense discover against Dallas? Coach Ben Johnson fulfilled his plan to involve Chicago’s tight ends and put rookie WR Luther Burden III in position for his first 100-yard receiving day. QB Caleb Williams had the Bears playing from ahead after throwing for 249 yards in the first half (a personal record in any half). Chicago’s two-minute drill before halftime that resulted in a touchdown for TE Cole Kmet seemed like the best of the day. Then, the Bears put together a 19-play drive in the third quarter in which they ran the ball 11 straight times, consumed 9:54 of the clock, and capped it off with Williams throwing his fourth touchdown of the day to DJ Moore. It marked Chicago’s longest scoring play this century and served as the exclamation point of Johnson’s first win as an NFL head coach.Most surprising performance: Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson’s rough patch mirrored the Bears’ 0-2 start, as he entered Week 3 allowing a 158.3 passer rating in coverage. He played on Sunday like he had something to prove, starting with a forced fumble and recovery in the first quarter that set up Chicago’s first touchdown drive. Stevenson then deflected a pass in the red zone to hold Dallas to a field goal and nearly intercepted a pass before halftime. He also recorded another pass deflection. – Courtney CroninNext game: at the Raiders (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)Cowboys
How bad is the Cowboys’ defense? Just like last season, the Cowboys have a 1-2 record. Just like last season, they can point to their defense as a reason. Except that in 2024, the run defense was porous, yielding 190 and 274 rushing yards in the losses to the Saints and Ravens. This season, it’s the pass defense. A week after Giants QB Russell Wilson threw for 450 yards and three touchdowns, Williams lit up the Cowboys with four touchdown passes. But it was a 19-play, soul-crushing drive that did the Cowboys in during the third quarter. The Cowboys haven’t pressured the quarterback, they’ve given up the big play, and they can’t get stops when it matters. None of that is good.
Statistics to consider: In the season-opening loss to the Eagles, the Cowboys gave up a pass play of 25 yards or more. In their last two games, they have given up 12, seven last week and five against a Bears offense that would not be mistaken for the high-end units the Cowboys will face as the season progresses. According to ESPN Research, it’s the most such plays the Cowboys have allowed in three games in the last 25 seasons. And to make matters worse, the five touchdown passes allowed of 25 yards or more also lead the NFL. – Todd ArcherNext game: against the Packers (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET)Seattle Seahawks vs. New Orleans Saints
Result: Seattle 44, New Orleans 13Seahawks
Are the Seahawks really as good as they appeared in their crushing victory? One of the Seahawks’ most dominant performances in recent memory came against a team that arrived in Seattle with an 0-2 record, a rookie head coach, a second-year quarterback, and an injured offensive line. Then again, the Saints had a chance to win or tie in their final possession in losses to Arizona and San Francisco, so they might not be as bad as the Seahawks made them look. Either way, it was a beating in all three phases by Seattle, and it was so thorough that the team was able to pull most of its starters early in the final quarter. That will help with an NFC West game in Arizona in four days.
What to do with the QB’s performance: Among the reasons the Seahawks saw Sam Darnold as a good option in Klint Kubiak’s offense is the quarterback’s ability to throw on the run during designed rollouts. Darnold demonstrated that ability throughout the offseason, last week in Pittsburgh on a key play in the final quarter, and again on his first touchdown on Sunday, throwing accurately to receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba as he rolled to his left. Darnold threw another touchdown and completed 14 of 18 attempts for 218 yards in three quarters before giving way to Drew Lock. – Brady HendersonNext game: at the Cardinals (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET)Saints
Have the Saints hit rock bottom, or is the worst yet to come? The Saints were horrible in all three phases, giving up multiple big plays on special teams, unable to stop anything on defense, and struggling on offense. They pulled their entire starting lineup, including quarterback Spencer Rattler, at the end of the game when things got out of hand. But with a game against the undefeated Bills next week, things could get worse before they get better. If the Saints have a similar performance next week, they will not only be looking at an 0-4 start, but they will also likely be considering personnel changes.
Statistics to consider: The Saints had 11 penalties against the Seahawks and now average 10.3 penalties per game, which is possibly a symptom of a larger problem under a new head coach. Although Kellen Moore tried to find ways to fix this problem after Week 1, including bringing officials to practice, the fact that it only got worse in Week 3 is a worrying sign for the state of the team. – Katherine TerrellNext game: at the Bills (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)Washington Commanders vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Result: Washington 41, Las Vegas 24Commanders
How did Washington produce so much without QB Jayden Daniels? Explosive plays. Quarterback Marcus Mariota was efficient both running (40 yards) and passing (207 yards) in place of Daniels. But the Commanders made big plays after big plays. Receiver Deebo Samuel’s 69-yard kickoff return set up a score on the first possession, and kick returner Jaylin Lane returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown. Running back Jeremy McNichols scored on a 60-yard run. Receiver Terry McLaurin’s 59-yard reception to the 1-yard line set up another touchdown, and receiver Luke McCaffrey’s 42-yard reception capped the scoring.
Most surprising performance: The Commanders’ seven defensive linemen. Playing well wasn’t surprising, but the level of dominance was more than expected. They sacked Raiders QB Geno Smith five times, getting to him throughout the game with a variety of pressures: four players recorded sacks, with linebacker Bobby Wagner doing it twice. They limited RB Ashton Jeanty to 63 yards, with 45 on three carries. – John KeimNext game: at the Falcons (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET)Raiders
What is the level of concern for the Raiders’ offensive line? There are nothing but red flags surrounding the Las Vegas offensive line. The Raiders struggled to gain momentum in the passing or running game because they were beaten in the trenches. Smith was under pressure all afternoon, suffering 19 pressures and being sacked five times. Jeanty (3.7 yards per carry) barely had any open space to exploit. There were several occasions where Washington defenders met Jeanty as soon as he was given the ball. At the start of the season, it was evident that Las Vegas’ offensive success would be dictated by their performance up front. Through three games, the unit has struggled to perform.
Most surprising performance: Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby struggled to get anything going against Commanders rookie offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. The Raiders’ star defender had one sack in 11 matchups against the first-round pick. But the sack came late in the fourth quarter when the game was out of reach. – Ryan McFaddenNext game: against the Bears (Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET)Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans
Result: Jacksonville 17, Houston 10Jaguars
Did WR Brian Thomas Jr. regain his spark? After 58 horrible minutes, Thomas produced one of the most important plays of the season to set up the winning touchdown. The second-year receiver had three drops, including one on third down in the final quarter, along with only one reception for 9 yards until less than two minutes remained. But his 46-yard reception and run at the end set up running back Travis Etienne Jr.’s 10-yard touchdown. After the drop on third down, Thomas went to the bench, slammed his helmet against the ground twice, and put his head in his hands on the bench. But after his final reception, he threw the ball against the wall to celebrate and vent some frustration over his difficult start to the season.
Trend to watch: The Jaguars’ defense is quite good at forcing turnovers. It got three more on Sunday, including safety Antonio Johnson’s interception with 20 seconds left, and the unit now has nine, tying its total for the entire 2024 season. Cornerback Jourdan Lewis also had an interception and linebacker Devin Lloyd had a fumble recovery (forced by cornerback Tyson Campbell). The nine turnovers are the most in franchise history through the first three games. – Mike DiRoccoNext game: at the 49ers (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET)
