What To Look For – NFL Week 3

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LIGHTING IT UP: Three of the top four scoring offenses through the first two weeks are set to visit a divisional opponent in Week 3.

The BUFFALO BILLS (2-0) lead the NFL in total points scored (72) and rank second in scoring defense, allowing only 17 points in their first two games of the season.

On Sunday in Miami (1:00 PM ET, CBS), the Bills can become the fifth team since 2000 to score 100-or-more points and allow 40-or-fewer points in their first three games of a season.

The teams to score 100-or-more points and allow 40-or-fewer points in their first three games of a season since 2000:

The DETROIT LIONS (1-1) are tied for second in scoring offense (35.5 points per game) and have scored at least 35 points in each of their first two games for the first time since 1970. The Lions are one of five teams to average 400-or-more yards of total offense per game (405.5) through the first two weeks.

When Detroit visits Minnesota on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX), they can become the fifth team since 2000 to score at least 35 points and record at least 375 total yards of offense in each of their first three games of a season. Each of the previous four teams to accomplish the feat made the postseason, with two advancing to the Super Bowl.

The teams to score at least 35 points and recorded at least 375 total yards of offense in each of their first three games of a season since 2000:

The PHILADELPHIA EAGLES are off to a 2-0 start with quarterback JALEN HURTS under center, one of two quarterbacks (LAMAR JACKSON) with at least 500 passing yards (576) and 100 rushing yards (147) through the first two weeks. The Eagles recorded 455 total yards of offense in Week 1 and 486 total yards of offense in Week 2. On Sunday at Washington (1:00 PM ET, FOX), Philadelphia can become the fourth team since 2000 to begin a season 3-0 and register at least 450 total yards of offense in each game.

The teams to begin a season 3-0 and register at least 450 total yards of offense in each game since 2000:

SECOND-YEAR STARS: Dallas linebacker MICAH PARSONS has recorded two sacks in each of his first two games of the season and can become the third player to record at least two sacks in each of his team’s first three games of a season since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer KEVIN GREENE (1998) and MARK GASTINEAU (1984).

Parsons, who has 17 sacks in 18 career games and is one of six players since 1982 with at least two sacks in five of his first 20 career games, needs two sacks against the New York Giants on Monday Night Football (8:15 PM ET, ESPN/ABC) to tie JOEY BOSA (19 sacks) for the most sacks by a player in his first 20 games since 1982.

The players with the most sacks in their first 20 career games since 1982:

 
Detroit wide receiver AMON-RA ST. BROWN has registered at least eight receptions in eight consecutive games, tied for the longest such streak in NFL history, while Miami wide receiver JAYLEN WADDLE registered 11 receptions in Week 2 and his four games with at least 10 receptions since the beginning of the 2021 season rank as the fourth-most among all players.

When St. Brown faces the Vikings in his 20th career game and Waddle welcomes the Bills in his 19th career game, each player can join ODELL BECKHAM JR. as the only players to record at least seven receptions in 10 of their first 20 career games in NFL history.

The players with the most games with at least seven receptions in their first 20 games in NFL history:

 
Waddle, who set the NFL rookie record with 104 receptions last season and has 15 catches through his first two games of 2022, needs three receptions on Sunday to surpass ANQUAN BOLDIN (121 receptions) and MICHAEL THOMAS (120) for the second-most receptions by a player in his first 20 career games in NFL history.

The players with the most receptions in their first 20 career games in NFL history:

Last season, New England quarterback MAC JONES led all rookie quarterbacks with a 67.6 completion percentage and tied an NFL rookie record for most games (nine) with a completion percentage of 70-or-higher. Jones, who has a 67.2 completion percentage through his first 19 career starts, can surpass CHAD PENNINGTON (67.3 percent) for the highest completion percentage by a quarterback in his first 20 career starts in NFL history (minimum 200 attempts).

The quarterbacks with the highest completion percentage in their first 20 career starts in NFL history (minimum 200 attempts):

KEEPING IT CONSISTENT: Through the first two weeks of the season, Buffalo wide receiver STEFON DIGGS ranks second in the league with 270 receiving yards, while Los Angeles Rams wide receiver COOPER KUPP ranks fourth with 236 receiving yards. Diggs and Kupp are the only two players with at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown catch in each of the first two weeks of the season.

If Diggs records at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown reception against Miami on  Sunday (1:00 PM ET, CBS), or Kupp does so at Arizona (4:25 PM ET, FOX), they would join Pro Football Hall of Famers MARVIN HARRISON (1999), RANDY MOSS (2007) and JERRY RICE (1989), as well as DWIGHT CLARK (1982) as the only players with at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown reception in each of his team’s first three games of a season in NFL history.

The players with at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown reception in each of their team’s first three games of a season in NFL history:

BRADY/RODGERS: The back-to-back reigning Associated Press MVP AARON RODGERS faces off against the seven-time Super Bowl champion TOM BRADY when Green Bay visits Tampa Bay on Sunday (4:25 PM ET, FOX). Both players have had continued success in their later years, as Brady led the league in passing touchdowns (43) in 2021 while Rodgers led the league in passer rating (111.9). It’s the fifth time in the last 15 seasons the passing touchdown leader and the passer rating leader from the previous season go head-to-head.

The matchups of the passing touchdown leader and the passer rating leader from the previous season in the last 15 years: