Week 3 of the NFL had almost as many surprises as the first two weeks. If this is any indication of the season we have ahead, it should be an interesting one. With the being said, here is our NFC West game recap!
Los Angeles Rams @ Cleveland Browns
Both teams struggled in this matchup. The Rams offensive line struggled mightily against the Browns in the first half, showing the Browns ability to defend the run. Not much offensive action occurred for either team though as the first half ended Browns up on the Rams 6-3. What seemed to be working for the Browns in the 1st half, was suddenly stopped in the 2nd. The pass rush was clearly having an effect on Jared Goff, and in the 2nd half the Browns chilled out on the blitz. What seemed to turn the game was Aaron Donald and Clay Matthews exposing the inefficiencies in the Browns offensive line.
Through 3 games the ultra-hyped Browns offense has yet to find a steady rhythm and I didn’t figure it would against this Rams defense. Some of the blame can be placed on head coach Freddie Kitchens for calling a run play on 4th and 9 late in the fourth when the game could have easily been tied. One positive the Browns should take is that they kept this high powered offense to 20 total points. The Rams as expected, did enough to win and remain one of the league favorites on the path to the Super Bowl.
Rams beat Browns, 20-13.
My Prediction: Rams beat Browns, 34-17.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ San Francisco 49ers
The second I praise the 49ers it seems they turn back into a dumpster fire. Maybe dumpster fire is harsh, because they are 3-0 but they are a lucky 3-0. This team committed 5 turnovers narrowly escaping 24-20. They even had what most would call a luxury of facing a new starting quarterback in Mason Rudolph. How the game played out was not what I had envisioned for a team that just returned home from a 2 game road trip that showed some dominance.
Jimmy Garoppolo finished with 277 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions. He did enough to win the game but the credit has to go to the 49ers red zone defense. They forced 2 turnovers that created 14 points to keep them in the game. The game winning drive occurred because Arik Armstead forced a fumble from James Connor that DeForest Buckner recovered. This team is 3-0 and fans should be happy, but 5 turnovers against a better team could easily end in a loss. That many turnovers can even give a lesser team the opportunity to steal a win, much like the 2018 match up on October 7th against the Cardinals, where the 49ers turned the ball over 5 times. At the end of the day the 49ers did enough to win and preserve their record, but I am hesitant to say they will remain atop the NFC West.
49ers beat Steeler, 24-20.
My Prediction: 49ers beat Steelers 34-21.
New Orleans Saints @ Seattle Seahawks
I feel I completely misread this game last week when trying to predict what would happen. First, I think I gave the Seahawks way too much credit. They are indeed a good team, but there are real struggles with this team this year that are becoming more and more apparent. Second, I didn’t give Teddy Bridgewater a chance leading this Saints team into Seattle territory. Even with his highly skilled teammates there to help him. The Seahawks were able to keep pace with the Saints in the first quarter. But the Saints special teams and defensive units were on point this game.
Deonte Harris gave the Saints the lead in the first. He took a punt return 53 yards to the house after a quick 3 and out by the Seahawks offense. The Seahawks were able to score in the first quarter. They would not see the end zone again until the 4th quarter though. Entering the 4th quarter it was 27-7, Saints dominating in all phases.
I always say Russell Wilson will always give you a shot to win. That almost happened in the 4th quarter this week. The Seahawks would score 20 points to the Saints 6 in the 4th quarter but fell short 33-27. Losing this game seemed so impossible to me. The Seahawks had just dismantled the Steelers out in Pittsburgh a week prior. Drew Brees had also been shelved due to the thumb injury. So some early season struggles with the Bengals game and now the Breesless Saints has my eye brow raised a little for the Seahawks.
Saints beat Seahawks, 33-27.
My Prediction: Seahawks beat Saints, 31-13
Carolina Panthers @ Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals entered this match up slight favorites after it was declared Cam Newton would not be playing, but the Red Sea’s defensive unit apparently had other plans. The only way to describe what happened on the defensive side of the ball is “epic collapse”. This defensive unit is missing very key players and has not been praised for its 2019 performance thus far, but surely it could take advantage of backup quarterback, Kyle Allen, who this time last year did not have a job in the NFL.
That is what logic would tell you, but not what happened in reality. Kyle Allen, the Scottsdale Arizona native, posted 261 passing yard, 4 touchdowns, on 19 completed passes against the Cardinals defense.
The Cardinals started the game out on the right foot, with a forced fumble by Chandler Jones and a touchdown pass to Larry Fitzgerald. However the offense stalled out in the 2nd and 4th quarters, while the defense let Allen make easy touchdown passes to Curtis Samuel, D.J. Moore, and Greg Olsen. The defense also let Christian McCaffrey break away for a 76 yard touchdown right through the middle of the defense. Right after the Cardinals established hope through a tie and loss against the Detroit Lions and Baltimore Ravens respectively, they take a step back with this loss letting the Panthers win 38-20. I truly did not expect this from a Cardinals team that almost beat Baltimore the previous week.
Panthers beat Cardinals, 38-20.
My Prediction: Cardinals beat Panthers, 34-27.
Summary
Entering week 3, I was anointing the NFC West the toughest division with 3 out of 4 teams 2-0 and the Cardinals starting to get their scheme together. At the end of week 3, the Rams played with the most competence and skill. The 49ers are lucky to have won that game. Seahawks have some concerns that may get masked by their week 4 match up against the Cardinals. Kliff Kingsbury and company still have a lot of holes to hide, and Vance Joseph needs to figure out the issue with the Cardinals defense. I still remain strong that the division will end up Rams, Seahawks, 49ers, and Cardinals in terms of rank.
Week 3 prediction – Win-Loss-Tie
Los Angeles Rams – 3-0-0
Seattle Seahawks – 3-0-0
San Francisco 49ers – 3-0-0
Arizona Cardinals – 1-1-1
Week 3 Result – Win-Loss
Los Angeles Rams – 3-0-0
Seattle Seahawks – 2-1-0
San Francisco 49ers – 3-0-0
Arizona Cardinals – 1-1-1
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