NFL 2022: Football Food For Thought (Week 3)

As NFL 2022 enters Week 3, only a half-dozen clubs are off to a 2-0 start. That’s the fewest in the league since 2012. Every team in the NFC North and NFC West owns a 1-1 record. And the Jacksonville Jaguars are the only club in the AFC South with a victory.

It’s been quite a start to this season. And there is once again a full slate of games.

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Sunday, Sept. 25

New Orleans (1-1) at Carolina (0-2): For the third straight week, the Saints face an NFC South rival. Meanwhile, the Panthers’ two losses this season are by a combined five points. Last season, Matt Rhule’s club won its first three games. Since then, the Panthers are a combined 2-14 and are currently in the midst of a nine-game losing streak.

Houston (0-1-1) at Chicago (1-1): The Texans head to Chicago for the second time in three years. Rookie running back Dameon Pierce could bear watching this week. He leads the club with 26 carries and 102 yards on the ground. And Houston faces a Bears’ team that surrendered 203 yards on the ground in last week’s loss at Green Bay.

Kansas City (2-0) at Indianapolis (0-1-1): Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes has been sharp during the team’s unbeaten start. He’s thrown for a combined 595 yards and seven scores without an interception in wins over the Cardinals and Chargers. The Colts’ last win came in Week 16 a year ago and Frank Reich’s team is 0-3-1 since.

Buffalo (2-0) at Miami (2-0): There was a 10-year stretch from 1970-79 in which the Dolphins defeated the Bills 20 consecutive times. These days, it’s the team that Orchard Park that has had the upper hand in this AFC East rivalry. Sean McDermott’s explosive club has prevailed in seven straight meetings – by a combined score of 258-123.

Detroit (1-1) at Minnesota (1-1): A year ago, Dan Campbell’s club was winless in its first 11 outings (0-10-1). They outlasted the Vikings, 29-27, in Week 13. Including that victory, the Lions are now a respectable 4-4 in their last eight contests. Dating back to Week 18 of 2021, Campbell’s team has scored 37, 35 and 36 points, respectively.

Baltimore (1-1) at New England (1-1): The Ravens made plenty of offseason changes to the secondary. Injuries did play a part in the team’s 42-38 loss to the Dolphins which saw Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa throw for 469 yards and six scores. Baltimore has allowed the most passing yards in the NFL – which was ironically the case for all of 2021.

Cincinnati (0-2) at N.Y. Jets (1-1): Last season in Week 8, Robert Saleh’s club got a big outing from reserve Mike White (405 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs) as the Jets beat the eventual AFC champions, 34-31. Now the club turns to yet another backup quarterback albeit 14-year pro Joe Flacco. And he’ll be facing the Bengals for the 21st time.

Las Vegas (0-2) at Tennessee (0-2): Las Vegas led the Cardinals, 20-0, at halftime and were outscored 29-3 the rest of the way in last week’s overtime loss. Tennessee led the Giants, 13-0, at intermission in Week 1 and have been outscored a combined 62-14 since – including Monday night’s humbling 41-7 setback to the Bills in Orchard Park.

Philadelphia (2-0) at Washington (1-1): The Eagles clash with their one-time starting quarterback for the first time in Commanders’ signal-caller Carson Wentz. Nick Sirianni’s club has gained the most total yards in the league after two weeks. And only the Browns have run for more yards. Washington ranks 28th in rushing defense this season.

Jacksonville (1-1) at L.A. Chargers (1-1): The Jaguars have finished last in the AFC South each of the past four seasons. But it’s surprising to note that after two weeks of play, Doug Pederson’s club is the only team in the division to win a game. But Jacksonville has dropped 18 straight road games dating back to Week 16 of 2019.

L.A. Rams (1-1) at Arizona (1-1): The Rams hires Sean McVay in 2017 and he’s enjoyed quite the run. And there’s no team in the division that he has dominated more than the Cardinals. Including last year’s wild card win, the franchise owns a 10-1 mark vs. the Cards under McVay. And the Rams have won seven straight games at Arizona.

Atlanta (0-2) at Seattle (1-1): Pete Carroll’s offense is off to a dreadful start. Only the Bears have gained fewer total yards in the league after two weeks. The Seahawks have the fewest rushing attempts (33) and fewest yards on the ground (112) in the league. And the club has twice as many turnovers (4) as offensive touchdowns early on.

Green Bay (1-1) at Tampa Bay (2-0): It’s a clash of 2021 division champions in Tampa. While there will be plenty of talk about Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady, this contest could come down to how Leonard Fournette and the Bucs’ ground game fares against Green Bay’s defense. The Packers have allowed the sixth-most rushing yards in the NFL.

San Francisco (1-1) at Denver (1-1): The 49ers face old division rival Russell Wilson, now the starting quarterback in Denver. The former Seahawks’ field general will be facing the Niners for the 22nd time, including the 2013 NFC title game. Seattle won 17 of the previous 21 meetings, with Wilson throwing 37 TD passes and 10 interceptions.

Monday, Sept. 26

Dallas (1-1) at N.Y. Giants (2-0): Cowboys’ OLB Micah Parsons has picked up where he left off in 2021 when he earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. One season after he finished with 13 sacks, he’s already totaled four quarterback traps in Dallas’ first two games. Parsons has 17 quarterback traps in 18 regular-season contests.