NFL Week 3: Notes and Quotes from Sunday's Action

It might seem hard to believe, but we're already three weeks into the 2014 NFL season and the third Sunday of football has come and gone.

The day brought along some exciting finishes, an incredible comeback, a couple of games that really weren't all that close and a highly anticipated Super Bowl rematch.

As has been the case all year, significant injuries were also a major storyline. 

Over the next few pages, we will take a look at some of the most important stories and statements to emerge from Sunday's action.

Cross-Country Trips Are Not Kind to the Raiders

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With a loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday, the Oakland Raiders have now lost 15 consecutive games in the Eastern time zone.

Travelling to the opposite coast isn't the easiest thing for teams to do, but finding a way to pull off difficult wins is how successful teams establish themselves. The division rival San Diego Chargers, for example, traveled to Buffalo to take on the Bill on Sunday and headed home with a 22-10 victory.

Of course, the Raiders haven't only struggled across the country. The team hasn't posted a winning season since 2002.

 This is a team that is trying to turn the page on their recent troubles and showed a lot of fight against the mighty Patriots. Oakland pulled within a point in the third quarter and appeared to have scored a game-tying touchdown in the fourth before the play was erased by a holding penalty.

"I don’t know (if Jackson’s hold) was a penalty or not, but we have focus on finish drives, finish plays. That’s what we have to get better at." guard Austin Howard said of the call, via Bill Williamson of ESPN.com.

If the Raiders are to develop into a successful franchise once again, this team is going to have to learn to do things like finish drives and win on long road trips. Getting close isn't going to be enough.

But Home Openers Are Great for the Patriots

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New England certainly didn't dominate Oakland, but the team made enough plays to come out on top.

Playing at home may have made the difference.

The Patriots improved to 12-1 in home openers at Gillette Stadium with their win on Sunday. It wasn't pretty, but good teams find a way to get the job done..

"When it comes to style points, the Patriots don't get many for this one. It was ugly and produces more questions than answers about the team. But the end result is this: The Patriots are 2-1." Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston wrote  of the performance

Ugly or not, this was a big win for New England, who has battled back from a 0-1 start to the season to tie Buffalo for first place in the AFC East.

Jason Peters Will Stand Up for His Quarterback

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Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Jason Peters was kicked out of Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins for throwing punches and going after Redskins defensive tackle Chris Baker.

According to Peters, he was only trying to stick up for quarterback Nick Foles, who was laid out by Baker during an interception return.

Peters, via CSNPhilly.com:

“I wasn't having it. That’s just a cheap shot. You’re taking on the smallest guy on the field and you’re cheap-shotting him, and he’s not even trying to make the play. I just reacted. I shouldn’t have did what I did, but I was just trying to protect my quarterback. I really wasn’t thinking. I seen him hit him, and I just reacted.

Baker was ejected for the hit and for his part in the ensuing melee. 

Though Peters was not allowed to return to the game, the Eagles managed to come out on top in an exciting 37-34 shootout. Philadelphia is still perfect on the season and in sole possession of first place in the NFC East.

Jacksonville, Minnesota Will Be Starting New Quarterbacks

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Matt Cassel suffered a broken foot during the loss to the New Orleans Saints, which paves the way for rookie Teddy Bridgewater to take the reins.

According to former NFL physician David Chao, Cassel probably won't return this season.

Bridgewater finished the game 12-of-20 for 150 yards. Bridgewater will likely remain the starter, moving forward.

The Jacksonville Jaguars also turned to their rookie quarterback on Sunday, but not because of an injury to starter Chad Henne. 

Henne was benched after producing just 33 yards in the first half and suffering three sacks.

Bortles apparently showed enough for head coach Gus Bradley to name him as the starter in Week 4.

Bradley, via NFL.com's Chris Wesseling:

"

[Bortles] made some plays, he kept plays alive, he's got really good instincts, made some really good decisions and some good throws -- and then some of the throws that you saw, I'm sure he wishes he had back.

But we'll learn through those, but I just love his mindset, I love the strength that he has. He is a tough, hard-nosed competitor, and he will attack.

"

But the Browns Should Stick with the One They Have

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The Cleveland Browns lost to another last-second field goal on Sunday and dropped to 1-2 on the season. 

However, the Browns definitely didn't lose because of subpar play from quarterback Brian Hoyer.

Against a vaunted Baltimore Ravens defense, Hoyer completed 19 of 25 pass attempts for 290 yards and a touchdown.

The journeyman signal-caller and Cleveland native has played exceptionally well this season, which should quiet any demand for rookie Johnny Manziel.

Through three weeks, Hoyer has completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 716 yards and three touchdowns. He has yet to commit a turnover this season. Actually, he hasn't turned the ball over since his first start as a Brown against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3 of last season.

Had kicker Billy Cundiff not missed a long field goal and had another blocked, the day would have likely ended with a victory. Hoyer looks to have what it takes to be a successful starter and the Browns should put themselves clearly behind him.

The Broncos Still Aren't Better Than the Seahawks

John Froschauer/Associated Press

The Denver Broncos were handed an embarrassing 43-8 loss by the Seattle Seahawks in last season's Super Bowl.

A busy offseason with plenty of free-agent additions was intended to allow  the Broncos to close the gap with the defending league champions.

After watching the Broncos take the Seahawks to overtime in Seattle, it would seem that the gap isn't all that wide.

However, Seattle was the team that made the impacting plays when they mattered most. Denver quarterback Peyton Manning forced overtime with an impressive 59-second drive and a successful two-point conversion.

However he never got the ball in the extra period as the Seahawks drove for a touchdown on he opening drive of overtime.

"I can't wait for those moments, those big-time moments and have guys to continue to believe in what we do," Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson said, via the Associated Press. "That was a great experience tonight."

Chip Kelly May Be to Blame for Eagles Slow Starts

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

The Eagles came back against Washington and have yet to lose a game this season.

Yet the team has found itself down early in every single contest (17-0 against the Jaguars, 17-6 versus the Indianapolis Colts and 17-7 against Washington).

Cornerback Cary Williams seems to believe that the slow starts are the product of head coach Chip Kelly's physically taxing practice program. 

Williams, via ESPN.com's Phil Sheridan: 

"

I'm just going to be honest with you. It's hard to go out there and fight for 60 minutes when you're fighting throughout the week to make it through one practice. I'm not the only one. I'm just the only one that's man enough to stand up here and talk to y'all. It's obviously, in my opinion, an issue in our starts.

"

Cowboys Provide Historic Comeback

Scott Kane/Associated Press

The Dallas Cowboys always seem to garner attention when someone on the team makes a game-altering mistake.

They don't seem to get as much credit when the team finds a way to will itself to victory.

This is exactly what Dallas accomplished against the St. Louis Rams on Sunday. The Cowboys found themselves down 21-0 in the second quarter against the Rams, but managed to battle back for a 34-31 win.

It equaled the largest comeback in franchise history.

''We never blinked, I can honestly say that,'' Wide receiver Dez Bryant said, via R.B. Fallstrom of the Associated Press.

''Tony went out there and did what Tony do,'' Bryant said of quarterback Tony Romo. ''He was poised and he knew what he wanted to do.''

At Least One Defender Believes Wilson Is Better Than Luck

John Froschauer/Associated Press

Colts quarterback Andrew Luck was extremely impressive on Sunday, completing 31 of 38 passes for 370 yards and four touchdowns.

However, Broncos cornerback Chris Harris believes that Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is the truly superior young gunslinger.

"Keep keep talking up Andrew Luck. Russell Wilson is better than luck. No question." Harris said after the Broncos lost in Seattle Sunday, according to according to Vic Lombardi of CBS 4 in Denver.

Harris played against Luck and the Colts back in Week 1.

Big Injuries Still Adding Up

David Richard/Associated Press

We already mentioned the potentially season-ending injury to Vikings quarterback Matt Cassell. Unfortunately, his was not the only significant injury of the day.

Baltimore Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta was taken to an area hospital during the team's game against the Browns Sunday afternoon. According to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun, the Ravens fear that he may have suffered a fracture to go along with a hip dislocation. However, initial tests have revealed no breaks.

Pitta might avoid being lost for the season, but Washington cornerback DeAngelo Hall might not be as lucky. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, early indications suggest that Hall has suffered a torn achilles tendon, which would most likely end his year.

According to former NFL physician David Chao, Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor suffered a two-bone fracture in his forearm that will require surgery.

The San Diego Chargers will likely be without running back Danny Woodhead for the remainder of the season. According to NFL.com, Woodhead suffered an ankle sprain and a broken fibula on Sunday.

Other significant injuries include a groin injury for Minnesota Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph, A knee injury for Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier and a foot injury for Raiders wide receiver Rod Streater.