This 2024 NFL season has showcased a clear trend: unexpected upsets are becoming commonplace.

Here’s a breakdown of the key winners and losers from Sunday’s Week 3 games:

WINNERS

Chiefs Continue to Thrive

While they benefited from a missed defensive pass interference call and an unimaginative running play decision by the Falcons on a crucial fourth down, the Kansas City Chiefs secured a 22-17 victory. They now join only four other teams in the NFL at 3-0, with the Buffalo Bills aiming to catch up on Monday Night Football– and the Chiefs show no signs of slowing down.

Patrick Mahomes has established a strong connection with rookie receiver Rashee Rice (12 catches on 14 targets for 110 yards and a touchdown). Steve Spagnuolo’s defense is consistently effective, applying pressure at critical moments. Kansas City boasts the top coaching staff in the league, and despite what others think, they seem poised to make history by being the first team to win three Super Bowls in a row.

Brian Flores Leads a Fearsome Defense

Following a stunning performance against the 49ers defense last week, Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores has proven his strategies can wreak havoc, as shown in the Vikings’ overwhelming 34-7 victory over the Houston Texans.

Flores’s defensive approach creates pressure from surprising angles, leaving quarterbacks scrambling and disrupting their rhythm. The Vikings sacked C.J. Stroud four times and held Houston to just 4-of-14 (29%) on third downs. With a perfect 3-0 record, Minnesota is making a strong case for having the top defense in the NFL.

Justin Fields Stays Strong at QB

While Justin Fields may not post the flashy passing stats that some coaches prefer, he has demonstrated sufficient prowess to remain the starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, even when Russell Wilson returns from injury.

Fields has been effective, completing 73.3% of his passes for a total of 518 yards across three games. With two touchdowns and one interception, the latter being a tipped ball against the Chargers, he also contributed a rushing touchdown in the Steelers’ 20-10 victory. While these figures may not be stellar, he is managing the game well and preventing turnovers. Pittsburgh’s strength lies in its defense, and Fields’s steady contributions put the team in a good position to continue winning (currently 3-0).

Defensive Performances Yield Surprise Wins

Both the New York Giants, facing the Browns, and the Denver Broncos, squaring off against the Buccaneers, entered their games as underdogs but emerged victorious thanks to dominant defensive displays.

The Broncos notched seven sacks, while the Giants brought down Deshaun Watson eight times. Together, they held their opponents to a combined 7-of-25 (28%) success rate on third downs and forced multiple turnovers. While projecting these teams as season contenders might be premature (Denver at 1-2 may struggle with rookie Bo Nix starting at quarterback, and New York has gaps to fill in their receiving corps and offensive line), both showed that their defenses could serve as strong foundations for their respective team identities moving forward.

LOSERS

Texans: Not Yet Ready for the Big Leagues

The Houston Texans are a young team brimming with potential. However, after a rough loss to the Vikings, they may still have more maturation to undergo.

Despite a record of 2-1, Houston displayed uncharacteristically sloppy play, tallying 11 penalties for 88 yards. At a crucial moment during the second quarter, trailing by two touchdowns, Houston faced a third-and-4 but immediately followed with three false starts and an incorrect formation, leading to a punt. This marked the second game in a row for the Texans with ten or more penalties. The team’s demeanor appeared flat, lacking urgency and readiness.

Cowboys Struggle to Defend Against the Run

The Cowboys seem to have revealed a significant weakness: despite their speed and athleticism on defense, their physicality is lacking, particularly in stopping the run, which has become an issue for head coach Mike McCarthy and his squad (currently 1-2).

In a close 28-25 loss, the Ravens accumulated 274 rushing yards against Dallas, following a previous game where the Saints rushed for 190 yards against the Cowboys. Currently, Dallas ranks at the bottom of the league in rushing defense, allowing 185.7 yards per game and eight rushing touchdowns. They are also tied for last in yards allowed per carry at 5.4. Furthermore, Dallas’s own rushing game has been underwhelming.

Concerns About Miami’s Roster Strategy

The Dolphins were aware that their championship window was closing, and they recognized Tua Tagovailoa’s history of injuries.

They realized that it was crucial to keep him standing. However, general manager Chris Grier did not adequately strengthen the offensive line, which was a known vulnerability. It seems that Grier and the Dolphins were also aware that Tagovailoa might be sidelined due to his history of injuries.

Even so, the team decided to rely on Skylar Thompson, a seventh-round draft pick from 2022, as their backup quarterback. This choice was made despite Miami witnessing teams like the Green Bay Packers trade for Malik Willis (now with two wins as a backup starter) and the Steelers acquiring Fields (who has three wins), both at reasonable prices. In a 24-3 defeat against the Seattle Seahawks, Thompson faced consistent pressure from the weak offensive line and ultimately suffered a chest injury. Now, with a record of 1-2, Miami is looking at a minimum of three more games without Tagovailoa, who is on injured reserve. In a competitive AFC East, their season could already be slipping away.

Are the 49ers in a difficult position?

There was a complete failure of what is usually a dependable offensive line, secondary, and special teams, combined with a lack of focus and execution. As a result, the 49ers are now at 1-2 and find themselves at the bottom of the NFC West. While it’s still quite early, the team is currently dealing with numerous injuries, despite having a history of success.

Nevertheless, San Francisco was up against a Rams team that was also struggling with similar injury problems. In the last three minutes of the game, the 49ers missed a field goal, allowed a long 50-yard pass that led to a touchdown, endured a critical dropped pass that could have led to a game-winning field goal, and conceded a 38-yard punt return in the closing minute that set up the decisive game-winning field goal. This marks the first time the Niners have dropped below a .500 record since Purdy took on the quarterback role.