2026 NFL Week 3 Top Takeaways and Biggest Questions for Every Team

Desperation begins early in an NFL season. A 0-3 start makes it nearly impossible to make the postseason, though the Houston Texans did so last season.

Prior to the Texans, only six other teams in the modern era accomplished the same goal. Entering Week 3, eight teams faced the possibility of an 0-3 start, starting with the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday Night Football. The Falcons ensured they didn't find themselves in a hole they couldn't climb out of and may have found their starting QB along the way.

For others, a season can be over much sooner than anyone expects.

Bleacher Report NFL analysts Brent Sobleski, Kris Knox, and Moe Moton will follow all of the action to break down each contest, provide takeaways and ask the most pressing questions.

Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers

AP Photo/Mike Roemer

Falcons 35, Packers 14

Michael Penix Jr.'s Growing Confidence Provides Hope For Atlanta Falcons

The Atlanta Falcons already featured immense offensive talent at numerous spots. The quarterback position continued to hold back the team, though. Michael Penix Jr.s' performance Thursday against Green Bay Packers was quite promising after significant disappointment earlier in his career.

Penix started slowly during his first start after coming back from a torn ACL, including a poor interception on the opening drive where safety Xavier McKinney read the quarterback's eyes and easily drove on the pass for the turnover. From there, the 2024 eighth overall draft pick benefited greatly from Bijan Robinson running wild, offensive coordinator Tommy Rees giving the quarterback simple reasons and plenty of quick-hitters and manufactured touches to build the 26-year-old's confidence.

By the end of the game, Penix finished the contest with 256 passing and a touchdown. He also completed 72 percent of his passes.

The quarterback's performance is exactly what Atlanta needed to try and build something positive. It's a significant turn of events considering the Falcons wanted to enter this season with Tua Tagovailoa as their QB1.

Spoiler Alert: Bijan Robinson Continues to Run Wild

Robinson is arguably the game's best running back. The Packers won't argue after Thursday's performance.

Green Bay knew it had to slow the Falcons' lead back and failed spectacularly when trying to do so. Robinson's 29 carries became a new career-high, while he finished two short of doing the same with 194 rushing yards.

The 24-year-old ball-carrier sliced through Green Bay's defense, scored twice and served as a big-play threat even though Penix wasn't comfortable early and the Packers could key on Atlanta's run game—which showed how dynamic he really is.

Can Green Bay Do Anything To Improve Its Run Game?

The Packers entered Thursday's contest with the league's worst rushing offense. Green Bay's latest performance only made matters worse.

Matt LaFleur's unit had been averaging 64.5 rushing yards per game. The Packers managed a measly 17 yards against the Falcons. MarShawn Lloyd led the team. He produced 11 yards on four carries.

With Josh Jacobs' on the commissioner's exempt list with a potential league suspension forthcoming, general manager Brian Gutekunst must look at alternatives. Remaining free agents aren't promising. A potential trade could happen. The New Orleans Saints' Alvin Kamara may be the biggest name on the trade block.

Of course, the offensive line could help matters, but that doesn't seem likely.

Packers' O-Line Is Making Life Miserable for QB Jordan Love

Four-fifths of Green Bay's front five is unproven and it shows.

Jacob Monk moved from center to right guard, and he's a full-time starter for the first time in the NFL career. Anthony Belton took over at right tackle after Zach Bako-Bewele suffered a season-ending knee injury. Rookie Jager Burton moved into left guard for the injured Aaron Banks. Plus, Jordan Morgan may be a former first-round pick, but this season is his first as the squad's left tackle.

As a result, Green Bay can't run the ball, and Love isn't comfortable in the pocket. While the Falcons sacked Love only once, Atlanta hit him on 12 different occasions and applied consistent pressure.

An offense can't do much if its offensive line isn't solid, and Green Bay is a prime example.

Sunday Slate

AP Photo/Ashley Landis

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase

Once the weekend's games begin, the haves and have nots can be established rather quickly.

The Buffalo Bills can make a disappointing start even more devastating for the Los Angeles Chargers. The Kansas City Chiefs once again look like a Super Bowl contender, and Andy Reid's squad is set to face the NFL's least talented team in the Miami Dolphins. The Cincinnati Bengals can send a message to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Seattle Seahawks get to face the Jayden Daniels-less Washington Commanders.

The entire lineup is as follows:

Los Angeles Chargers at Buffalo Bills (1 pm)

Carolina Panthers at Cleveland Browns (1 pm)

New York Jets at Detroit Lions (1 pm)

Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts (1 pm)

Kansas City Chiefs at Miami Dolphins (1 pm)

Tennessee Titans at New York Giants (1 pm)

Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers (1 pm)

Seattle Seahawks at Washington Commanders (1 pm)

New England Patriots at Jacksonville Jaguars (1 pm)

Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers (4:05 pm)

Minnesota Vikings at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4:05 pm)

Baltimore Ravens at Dallas Cowboys (4:25 pm)

Las Vegas Raiders at New Orleans Saints (4:25 pm)

Los Angeles Rams at Denver Broncos (8:20 pm)

Monday Night Football: Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams

The matchup between two iconic franchises will look much different than it did when the season began. With Caleb Williams not expected to play Monday, the Chicago Bears will turn to journeyman Case Keenum with the Philadelphia Eagles coming to town. The Eagles had to battle the Washington Commanders and Tennessee Titans to emerge with a 2-0 start to the season.