Man, if you had a parlay on the favorites for the NFL scores week 3, I’m genuinely sorry for your loss. Football is weird. One week you think you have a handle on who is a Super Bowl contender, and the next, you’re watching a backup quarterback or a blocked field goal return ruin your entire Sunday.
Honestly, this week felt like a fever dream. We had four pick-sixes, two blocked field goals returned for touchdowns, and two punt return scores all in the same window. That doesn't happen. Like, ever. If you were looking for normalcy, you weren't getting it from the NFL scores week 3 results.
The Chaos in the NFC: Chicago and Philadelphia Stun the World
Let’s talk about the Chicago Bears for a second. Everyone was ready to write off Caleb Williams. People were calling him a bust after two weeks. Then, he goes out against the Dallas Cowboys and puts up 298 yards and four touchdowns. Basically, he looked like the guy Chicago traded everything for. The Bears walked away with a 31-14 win that left Dallas fans looking for the nearest exit at Soldier Field. Rookie Luther Burden III caught a 65-yard flea-flicker touchdown that was just pure cinema.
Then you have the Eagles. They were down 19 points against the Rams. The Philly crowd was booing so loud you could hear it in Jersey. But Jalen Hurts woke up, found A.J. Brown and Dallas Goedert, and somehow dragged them back. The ending was insane. Jordan Davis—the 340-pound defensive tackle—blocked a field goal and watched it get returned for a score to seal a 33-26 win. It’s the kind of game that makes you love (or hate) this sport.
AFC Surprises: Browns and Vikings Play Spoiler
The Green Bay Packers were 7.5-point favorites against the Cleveland Browns. It seemed like a safe bet. Jordan Love was moving the ball well early on, and they had a 10-0 lead. Then the fourth quarter happened. The Browns' defense is basically a brick wall. They sacked Love five times and held the Packers scoreless in the final period. A 55-yard walk-off field goal by Andre Szmyt gave Cleveland a 13-10 win. That's a "tough luck" loss for Green Bay, but a massive statement for a Browns team that everyone thought was dead in the water.
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Meanwhile, the Minnesota Vikings are apparently a powerhouse? They absolutely demolished the Bengals 48-10. No Joe Burrow for Cincy, which obviously hurt, but the Vikings' defense under Brian Flores was terrifying. Isaiah Rodgers had two defensive touchdowns on his own. Carson Wentz—yes, that Carson Wentz—looked totally comfortable, throwing for 173 yards and managing the game perfectly.
Notable NFL Scores Week 3 (The Full Rundown)
If you missed the ticker, here is how the rest of the board shook out. It wasn't pretty for the home teams.
- Detroit Lions 38, Baltimore Ravens 30 (Monday Night thriller)
- Carolina Panthers 30, Atlanta Falcons 0 (A total shutout by Bryce Young's squad)
- Kansas City Chiefs 22, New York Giants 9 (Mahomes being Mahomes)
- San Francisco 49ers 16, Arizona Cardinals 15 (A literal one-point nail-biter)
- Seattle Seahawks 44, New Orleans Saints 13 (Sam Darnold is actually playing great)
- Washington Commanders 41, Las Vegas Raiders 24 (Geno Smith tried, but the defense failed)
- Indianapolis Colts 41, Tennessee Titans 20 (Jonathan Taylor went for over 100 yards)
- Jacksonville Jaguars 17, Houston Texans 10 (A defensive slog in the AFC South)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers 29, New York Jets 27 (Chase McLaughlin hit a game-winner as time expired)
- Pittsburgh Steelers 21, New England Patriots 14 (Classic Mike Tomlin football)
- Buffalo Bills 31, Miami Dolphins 21 (Josh Allen owns the AFC East)
- Los Angeles Chargers 23, Denver Broncos 20 (Jim Harbaugh's ground game is working)
Why These Scores Matter for Your Fantasy Team
If you own Derrick Henry, you're probably sweating. He lost a crucial fumble against the Lions, and it feels like the Ravens' offensive line is struggling to create holes. On the flip side, David Montgomery is a beast. He averaged 12.6 yards per carry against Baltimore. That's not a typo. 12.6.
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And don't sleep on the Commanders' receivers. While the Raiders lost, Tre Tucker had 145 yards and three touchdowns. If he's on your waiver wire, grab him. The Raiders might not be winning, but they are going to be throwing the ball a lot if they keep falling behind by double digits.
What's Next After Week 3?
The biggest takeaway from the NFL scores week 3 is that there are no "safe" games this year. The gap between the best and worst teams is getting smaller. You have teams like the Panthers, who were bottom-dwellers last year, shutting out a division rival. You have the Vikings looking like a legitimate NFC North threat with a backup-level quarterback.
If you’re trying to adjust your expectations for the rest of the season, look at the defensive lines. The teams that won this week—the Browns, Lions, and Vikings—all dominated the trenches.
Next Steps for Week 4:
- Check the Injury Report: Keep a close eye on CeeDee Lamb's ankle and James Conner's leg injury. Both could drastically shift the odds for Week 4.
- Sell High on Backup QB Hype: Don't assume Carson Wentz is going to put up 40 points every week. The Bengals' turnovers made his life very easy.
- Watch the Waiver Wire: Target Luther Burden III if he's still available; the connection with Caleb Williams is very real.
- Re-evaluate the Ravens: At 1-2, Baltimore is in a "must-win" situation next week. Their defense needs to find an identity fast.
Week 3 proved that the NFL is still the most unpredictable league on the planet. Whether you're a bettor, a fantasy manager, or just a fan, keep your expectations low and your eyes on the scoreboard.