NFL The Closing Phrase: Andy Dalton’s emphatic return, Dallas Cowboys alarm bells and Miami Dolphins quarterback ache | NFL Information

From a heroic Andy Dalton return to extra Dallas Cowboys distress, Sky Sports activities NFL presenter Neil Reynolds has his last say on Week Three of the 2024 season on the street to Tremendous Bowl LIX.

It was one other very unpredictable week within the NFL and it is actually getting tougher and tougher to select these video games each week.

It makes it vastly entertaining but additionally very laborious to gauge who’s main this race to Tremendous Bowl 59. It is very early, however that is going to be a wacky season for positive…

The Purple Rifle returns!

We’re in 2024 and Andy Dalton of the Carolina Panthers is enjoying just like the second coming of Joe Montana. He was wonderful towards the Las Vegas Raiders in main Carolina to their first victory of the season. He threw for 319 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions as he changed the benched first total decide from final 12 months, Bryce Younger.

And now, the query for the powers that be in Charlotte: What if Bryce Younger was the issue all alongside? That is going to be fascinating to watch within the coming months. Dalton is 36 and in his 14th season, so he’s not the way forward for the franchise, however is there a future for Bryce Younger? As a result of Dalton took the identical expertise that was depressing the primary two weeks of the season, and turned them into huge winners in Week Three.

Bryce might have to maneuver on to resurrect his profession.

Darnold strikes once more

Week Three noticed Sam Darnold write one other chapter within the story that’s changing into one of many NFL’s most fascinating of this younger season. He threw 4 landing passes because the Minnesota Vikings moved to 3-0 with a giant win over the Houston Texans, in what was presupposed to be one of many hardest-fought video games of the week.

As has been the case all season lengthy to this point, Darnold did not do it on his personal. Working again Aaron Jones had 148 scrimmage yards and a landing, Justin Jefferson and Jalen Nailor each scored for the third week in a row and Minnesota’s protection, which got here into the week main the NFL in sacks, had 5 extra quarterback takedowns, 5 sacks and two interceptions of CJ Stroud, who had gone seven video games with out an interception. The Vikings should simply be for actual.

Dolphins in a world of damage at quarterback

This week was positively a reminder of the worth of the quarterback place. We noticed it with what Sam Darnold continues to do for the Vikings, we noticed what Andy Dalton can do for the Carolina Panthers, and we noticed what dangerous performances can do to upend a staff’s possibilities as Will Levis made mistake after mistake as soon as once more for the Tennessee Titans, and we noticed the Miami Dolphins look punchless with out Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback.

With Tua out, the Dolphins turned to Skylar Thompson and Tim Boyle, and so they may very well be morphing into the 2023 New York Jets at this fee. They’re in a world of damage on the quarterback place, and them going from being the most effective offense within the NFL final 12 months statistically to trying one of many worst may be very a lot all the way down to the absence of a key participant on the sport’s most significant place.

Eagles produce spectacular response

Heading into their Week Three conflict with the New Orleans Saints, the Philadelphia Eagles weren’t getting a lot consideration. It was all in regards to the Saints, who had scored 91 factors within the first two weeks. The Eagles had let issues slip late towards the Atlanta Falcons with a poor defensive effort to fall to 1-1, which means that they had misplaced seven of their final 9 video games courting again to final season.

The Eagles produced the type of response that Nick Sirianni and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio may have demanded. They have been excellent on protection from begin to end and Saquon Barkley supplied these dwelling run punches they wanted on the bottom. This was an enormous 15-12 win on the street that means if Jalen Hurts can keep away from making a number of the pricey errors which reared their ugly head once more on this sport, this staff can go deep into the playoffs.

Considerations develop for the Cowboys

The Baltimore Ravens have been actually spectacular for 3 quarters, then they took their foot off the fuel and virtually allowed the Cowboys again into this sport. They ran the ball 45 occasions for 274 yards and three touchdowns, it was a heavy mixture of Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson and this sport steadied the ship in Baltimore, whereas elevating numerous questions in regards to the Cowboys.

Dallas are being pulled in all places on protection, they haven’t any operating sport, Dak Prescott – along with his new $60m-a-year contract – is just too inconsistent at quarterback and head coach Mike McCarthy may very well be operating out of time in Dallas. This sport raised many questions for the Cowboys, however did see the Ravens undertake that bodily method we count on from them.

Participant of the Week – Derrick Henry, RB, Baltimore Ravens

The 2-time speeding champion carried the ball 25 occasions for 151 yards and two touchdowns, and I feel he compelled Dallas defenders to make a number of enterprise selections. They did not wish to sort out Derrick Henry head-on; who would? He’s an absolute pressure of nature, and so they needed nothing to do with Derrick Henry and I do not suppose they would be the final staff to really feel that method this season. He was the point of interest of Baltimore’s assault, he nonetheless seems like an entire again and there’s loads of tread left on these tyres.

Play of the Week – Saquon Barkley’s 65-yard TD run

It was simply the type of play the Eagles wanted to energise them to victory in a really robust atmosphere. Jalen Hurts wasn’t getting an excessive amount of finished by way of the air and was blowing cold and hot. This landing, he broke by way of the road and sprinted away from safeties within the secondary, exhibiting precisely why the Eagles went and bought a home-run hitter like Saquon Barkley.

Coach of the Week – Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams

It was a decimated offensive line that he had, he was with out Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, and towards the San Francisco 49ers – who had accidents of their very own – the Rams trailed 14-0, 21-7 and 24-14 earlier than rallying. Matthew Stafford by no means provides up, Sean McVay places his offense able to succeed – Kyren Williams being a beneficiary of that – and so they kick the game-winning discipline purpose from Joshua Karty with two seconds left. What an effort from the Rams, just about to save lots of their season.

On my radar…

One factor on my radar is the variety of accidents we’ve seen early within the season. I do know we see them yearly and discuss them yearly, however we’re in Week Three, ought to we be seeing Skylar Thompson, Malik Willis, Taylor Heinicke and Tim Boyle enjoying at quarterback?

Houston performed an enormous sport towards the Minnesota Vikings with out Joe Mixon at operating again; the 49ers have been with out Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle; the Rams have been with out Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp. These are superstars of the NFL, these are promoting factors of the NFL.

The attrition on these gamers is actual. I do not know whether or not it’s as a result of they’ve quite a bit simpler a coaching camp and preseason, I am not a health care provider. All I do know is eighteen video games are coming and we are going to see extra of this until rosters are elevated and we discover a approach to shield the celebrities. The celebrities promote this sport.

Watch the Dallas Cowboys tackle the New York Giants to kick off Week 4 on Thursday night time, reside on Sky Sports activities NFL from 1.15am Friday morning; Additionally stream with NOW.

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