NFL Week 3 Overreactions and Calls to Action

The NFL landscape can change in a hurry, and we saw plenty of shake-ups in Week 3.

The Green Bay Packers looked like the best team in football through two weeks but laid an egg against the winless Cleveland Browns. The Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams experiment seemed doomed to fail before Williams and the Chicago Bears carved up the Dallas Cowboys.

Of course, strange things often happen in sports that don't merit a panic move or overreaction. Some of what we saw in Week 3, however, calls for exactly that.

Overreaction: Bengals Must Find a New QB or Risk Wasting Another Season

AP Photo/Mike Stewart

Bengals QB Jake Browning

The Cincinnati Bengals have one of the league's top quarterbacks in Joe Burrow. Yet, they've managed to miss the playoffs in three of his five seasons—twice because he was injured and, in 2024, because the defense was atrocious.

Burrow is sidelined once again, and Cincinnati's defense is looking just as suspect as it did a year ago. There's a chance that Burrow, who had toe surgery on Friday, can return late in the year. However, that's likely only going to happen if the Bengals are in a position to make the playoffs.

At 2-1, there's certainly hope, but the Bengals need better quarterback play if they're going to tread water until December. Cincinnati has the offensive talent needed to offset its poor defense, but it can't keep overcoming Jake Browning's mistakes.

Browning, who went 4-3 as the starter in 2023, has thrown five interceptions in his two appearances this season. The Bengals survived a two-interception game against the Jacksonville Jaguars last week but got steamrolled by the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

Calling for the Bengals to replace Browning with a trade candidate, such as Kirk Cousins or Jameis Winston, is a bit of an overreaction after just two games.

Cincinnati has an elite receiving corps, but Zac Taylor's decision to air it out with a backup quarterback instead of leaning on the run was the real issue in Week 3. The Bengals should probably try utilizing a more balanced approach and limiting Browning's exposure to game-altering mistakes before outright abandoning their quarterback.

If Browning keeps putting the ball in harm's way, though, a change may indeed be needed.

Overreaction: The Packers Need to Bolster Their Offensive Line Immediately

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Browns DT Mason Graham sacks Packers QB Jordan Love on Sept. 21

The Packers looked like a Super Bowl-bound squad during romps over the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders over the first two weeks. Against the Browns on Sunday, they failed to get much of anything going offensively.

Despite possessing the ball for more than 34 minutes and converting 10 of 18 third downs, the Packers mustered a mere 10 points. Jordan Love was sacked five times, while Josh Jacobs averaged just 1.9 yards per carry.

Sure, Green Bay was ultimately done in by a blocked field goal, but it's not a stretch to say that poor offensive line play wrecked Matt LaFleur's game plan. Should GM Brian Gutkunst look to swing a trade for a starting-caliber lineman or two? Maybe not just yet.

The Packers were forced to shuffle their line on Sunday because right tackle Zach Tom and guard Aaron Banks both left with injuries and did not return. While the results were disastrous, it's worth noting that Green Bay won't see many defensive fronts as talented as Cleveland's this season.

There's also a good chance that Green Bay will have its usual starting lineup sooner than later. If the Packers can outlast the Cowboys in Week 4, they'll have a chance to recoup and regroup during the Week 5 bye.

Of course, it never hurts to have reliable depth along the offensive line. If Gutekunst can add insurance without overpaying, he should. It's just too early to consider Green Bay's line a fatal flaw.

Call to Action: The Giants Need to Make a QB Change

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Giants QB Russell Wilson/Adam Hunger

The New York Giants are winless through three games, and two bad ones by quarterback Russell Wilson.

Wilson looked fantastic against the aforementioned Cowboys defense in Week 2. In Weeks 1 and 3, however, he threw for just 328 combined yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. New York's offense produced just 15 combined points.

It's pretty obvious that the Giants aren't going on a playoff run with Wilson at the helm. Naturally, they should go ahead and hand the reins to rookie Jaxson Dart, right?

Well, maybe.

It is time for New York to make a quarterback change because the offensive ineptitude threatens to consume the team's confidence.

"I'm bummed," wide receiver Malik Nabers said, per Dan Martin of the New York Post. "...We're 0-3. We can't win a game. It's frustrating. We can't win."

However, pivoting to Jameis Winston would make a lot more sense than switching to the rookie. Winston can get careless with the football, but he's also going to force defenses to cover all areas of the field. He's also experienced enough to handle a schedule that won't get easier in the near future.

The Giants have a winnable game against the New Orleans Saints in Week 5 but will also face the Philadelphia Eagles (twice), Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers over the next six weeks. Brian Daboll has to think long and hard about the potential repercussions of throwing an unpolished rookie into that particular fire.

Whether Daboll decides to risk it with Dart or use Winston to bide the rookie more time, it's not an overreaction to say that Wilson's time in New York should be up.

Overreaction: The Cowboys Need to Trade for a Defensive Star to Salvage Season

AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski

Bears RB D'Andre Swift runs through the Cowboys defense on Sept. 21

If the Cowboys are going to climb out of a 1-2 hole and get back in the playoff picture, they're going to have to improve their defensive efficiency. Through three games, Dallas has surrendered 92 points and 1,193 yards.

While the Cowboys have a talented offense, they're not equipped to carry the defense as currently constructed—and the high-ankle sprain CeeDee Lamb suffered in Week 3 certainly won't help.

Should the Cowboys look to trade for an elite defensive difference-maker? Franchise owner Jerry Jones discussed the idea of making a move after Sunday's loss to Chicago.

"You've got to have something that comes your way that's really special, and if you've got the currency to do it, which in this case would be draft picks, we'll do it," Jones told reporters.

The irony of Dallas' situation couldn't be clearer. The Cowboys have two extra first-round picks over the next two years because that's what Green Bay sent them for star pass-rusher Micah Parsons. Now, Jones is being asked about using those picks to trade for a player who can help replicate Parsons' impact.

Let's be clear. The Cowboys are not built to chase a championship in 2025. While it would certainly make sense to add a high-end defender, it would have to be under the right circumstances. Trading a first-round pick for, say, a 30-year-old Trey Hendrickson who might only provide temporary help, would be foolish.

Overpaying to fill an immediate need is something Jones has done in the past—we haven't forgotten about last year's deadline deal for Jonathan Mingo—and something he should avoid now.

Any defenders the Cowboys try to acquire must have long-term value because this team is closer to rebuilding than a championship.

Overreaction: It's Time for the Dolphins to Clean House

AP Photo/Jim Rassol

Dolphins GM Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel

While the Cowboys may be approaching the need for a rebuild, the Miami Dolphins are already there. At least, that's the feeling after Miami fell to 0-3 on Thursday night.

Nothing seems to be working in South Beach. The Dolphins' defense isn't good. Tua Tagovailoa is playing like a decidedly average quarterback—certainly not like one deserving of $53.1 million per year—and stars Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and De'Von Achane don't seem to be creating the mismatches they did in years past.

It's time to find a new quarterback, a new head coach and a new general manager, right? Well, not quite.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Sunday that Dolphins franchise owner Stephen Ross believes in McDaniel and plans to be patient with his head coach. He should.

Miami showed plenty of fight against the Buffalo Bills in Week 3, suggesting the players aren't close to quitting on their coach. McDaniel also had an excellent game plan for Buffalo, one that was undone by Tagovailoa's late interception.

Coaching is far from Miami's biggest problem.

It might be time to move off of Tagovailoa, who seems to have lost the confidence and decisiveness that once made him a Pro Bowl talent. If he hasn't regained it by midseason, auditioning backup Zach Wilson could make sense.

Ross should definitely question GM Chris Grier too, if for nothing else, his decision to give Tagovailoa an early extension. And, yes, if the locker room starts to fall apart, it may be time to let McDaniel go as well.

Blowing everything up three weeks into the season, however, would simply leave the Dolphins with more questions than answers.

Call to Action: The Raiders Need to Replace Brennan Carroll

AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson

Raiders OL coach Brennan Carroll

The Las Vegas Raiders won their season opener but have been embarrassed over the last two weeks. A big part of the problem has been poor offensive line play.

Las Vegas has averaged just 3.1 yards per carry as a team this season and has already surrendered 12 sacks. That level of performance, unsurprisingly, has led fans to call for the firing of offensive line coach Brennon Carroll.

In this case, the fans are probably right. Carroll—yes, the son of head coach Pete Carroll—isn't solely responsible for the team's struggles up front. Jordan Meredith hasn't been good at center, and right tackle DJ Glaze has struggled. Of course, it was probably Carroll's decision to start Meredith over Jackson Powers Johnson at center—and for constructing the line in general.

Carroll is also Las Vegas' run-game coordinator, and the Raiders' ground game isn't exactly thriving. The Raiders used the sixth overall pick on Ashton Jeanty and, to this point, have failed to get him going.

Jeanty has just 147 scrimmage yards and one touchdown through three games.

If the Raiders are going to salvage their season, something needs to change. Moving on from Carroll would be a great start. It won't fix every issue, of course, but giving more power to offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, offensive assistant Joe Philbin and assistant offensive line coach Andy Dickerson might just provide the spark Las Vegas needs.

Overreaction: The Texans Need to Fire Their Offensive Coordinator Now

AP Photo/Maria Lysaker

Texans OC Nick Caley

The Houston Texans regressed in 2024, which led to the firing of offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik. Nick Caley was hired during the offseason to replace him, and the early results have been underwhelming, to say the least.

After three weeks, the Texans rank 29th in total offense and 32nd in scoring. Unsurprisingly, head coach DeMeco Ryans has already been questioned about Caley's performance.

"We got the right staff and we have the right players we just have to figure it all out and show it," Ryans told reporters.

The reality is that firing Caley before the calendar turns to October wouldn't solve much. Starting running back Joe Mixon remains on injured reserve, and C.J. Stroud is still adjusting to a lot of turnover at receiver.

Houston's offensive line also isn't good, and that's where a lot of the problems start. Stroud is at is best when attacking down the field, and he simply hasn't had the time to do that often in 2025. He's also been sacked eight times this season and 60 times since the start of 2024, which seems to have affected his confidence and decision-making.

It takes time to learn a new offense and adapt to unfamiliar pass-catchers, and we should see Stroud's play improve as the season goes on. And let's not pretend that the Texans aren't just a few plays—including fumbles by Dare Ogunbowale and Collins—away from potentially being 3-0 instead of 0-3. Caley deserves a little more patience.