2021 NFL season, Week 3: What we learned from Sunday's games

2022-05-29 15:04:50 By : Mr. Eric Yi

Around The NFL breaks down what you need to know from all of Sunday's action in Week 3 of the 2021 NFL season. Catch up on each game's biggest takeaways using the links below:

Next Gen stat of the night: Jimmy Garoppolo was pressured on 34.1% of dropbacks (pressured on 17.9% of dropbacks in Weeks 1-2).

NFL Research: 49ers tight end George Kittle has not scored a touchdown this season or since Week 6 of last season, which includes missing six games due to injury.

Next Gen stat of the game: Matthew Stafford was 6 of 12 for 162 yards and two TDs on vertical routes (post, corner, go and wheel). He has six TD passes on vertical routes this season, most in NFL (Jared Goff threw six such TDs all last season).

NFL Research: DeSean Jackson scored his ninth career TD reception of 75+ yards (tied HOFer Lance Alworth for most in NFL history). With his three-catch, 120-yard, TD game, D-Jax earned his fourth game with three or fewer catches, 100 or more yards, and at least one touchdown (ranks T-3rd since 1950).

Next Gen stat of the game: Kirk Cousins owns a 67.9 completion percentage, a 4-0 TD-INT ratio and a 150.3 passer rating on passes of 10-plus air yards this season. His passer rating on 10-plus air yards attempts is the best in the NFL.

NFL Research: The Vikings have broken 400 total yards and 24 points 11 times since 2020 (tied with the Cardinals for the most games reaching these marks), and have done so in each of their first three games this season. They've lost six of these games, but came away victorious Sunday.

Next Gen stat of the game: Jacoby Brissett was 5 of 16 for 53 yards under pressure (sacked twice).

NFL Research: With wins against the Ravens, Steelers and Dolphins, the Raiders have become the first team in NFL history to win each of their first three games in a season in which their first three opponents all had 10-plus wins the prior season.

Next Gen stat of the game: Broncos rookie RB Javonte Williams averaged 6.5 yards per carry (4 for 25) when running left.

NFL Research: The 15 sacks Zach Wilson has taken this season are the fourth-most ever for a first-year player in that time frame in the Super Bowl era. Ahead of him: David Carr (19), Archie Manning (18) and Kyler Murray (16).

Next Gen stat of the game: Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire averaged 6.5 yards per carry on runs between the tackles (11 for 72).

NFL Research: The Chiefs currently have a losing record for the first time since Week 10, 2015, and will finish a week in sole possession of last place in the AFC West for the first time since Week 6, 2015

Next Gen stat of the game: Justin Fields pressured on 16 of 29 dropbacks. Pressure on 55.2 percent of dropbacks is the third-highest by any QB in a game since 2020, min. 14 attempts.

NFL Research: Myles Garrett has set the Browns single-game sack record, surpassing Andra Davis who recorded four on Nov. 9, 2003. The nine total sacks on Fields are the most times a QB has been sacked in his first career start since Greg McElroy was sacked 11 times in his only career start in Week 16, 2012.

Next Gen stat of the game: The Steelers registered just one QB pressure Sunday for a pressure rate of 5.6%. Both results were the lowest by the Steelers in a game in the Next Gen Stats era.

NFL Research: With two receiving touchdowns Sunday, Ja'Marr Chase became the youngest player (and first 21-year-old) in NFL history to have four-plus receiving touchdowns in his team's first three games, surpassing Randy Moss, who scored three receiving touchdowns in his team's first three games.

Next Gen stat of the game: Josh Allen completed 12 of 17 attempts on passes of 10-plus air yards for 218 yards and 3 TDs.

NFL Research: The Bills recorded 21 unanswered points to start the game. Dating back to the fourth quarter of Week 1, they have scored 59 unanswered points, the second-longest such streak in franchise history (86 points in 1972).

Next Gen stat of the game: Matt Ryan was 24 of 29 for 189 yards and two touchdowns on passes of fewer than 10 air yards.

NFL Research: Sunday was Matt Ryan's 39th career game-winning drive, which tied Matthew Stafford (entering his game Sunday afternoon) for most among active QBs.

Next Gen stat of the game: The Jaguars' win probability hit 71% after James Robinson's TD to go up 19-10 in third quarter.

NFL Research: Jamal Agnew returned a missed 68-yard field goal attempt 109 yards for a TD for Jags, tied for the longest TD in NFL history (3rd return of 109 yards). Antonio Cromartie (missed FG) and Cordarrelle Patterson (kick return) scored the other 109-yard TDs.

Next Gen stat of the game: Carson Wentz was pressured 18 times (pressure percentage of 46.2) and sacked twice on 39 dropbacks Sunday.

NFL Research: Derrick Henry has rushed for 353 yards through three weeks, tying the franchise record (held by Chris Brown, who did so in 2004) for most rushing yards in the team's first three games.

Next Gen stat of the game: The Saints defense generated 18 QB pressures, two sacks and a turnover caused by pressure on 53 dropbacks (34.0 pressure pct).

NFL Research: The Patriots have lost three home games by 15-plus points since 2020 (T-4th-most in NFL) and had just two home losses by 15-plus in the previous 11 seasons combined (T-fewest in NFL in that span).

Next Gen Stat of the game: Lamar Jackson attempted 20 (of 27) passes for 10+ air yards (74.1%, excludes four throwaways). His previous career high was 52.9% in Week 10 of the 2019 season versus the Bengals.

NFL Research: Justin Tucker's previous career long was a 61-yard game-winner versus Detroit in 2013.

The complete 2022 NFL regular-season schedule is here! NFL Media's reporters share what you need to know about each team's 17-game slate, including the must-watch matchups and biggest takeaways.

The Los Angeles Rams won their second Super Bowl title in franchise history with a 23-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium.

Matthew Stafford and the Rams emerged from a slim halftime deficit to defeat the San Francisco 49ers in Sunday's NFC Championship Game, sending L.A. to its second Super Bowl appearance in four seasons.

For the first time since the 1988 season, the Cincinnati Bengals are going to Super Bowl LVI following their overtime win against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes found Travis Kelce in the end zone on the first drive of overtime to beat the Bills and conclude a Divisional Round classic.

On the strength of a Matt Gay field goal with no time remaining, the fourth-seeded Rams defeated the No. 2 Buccaneers on the road Sunday to advance to the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 2018 and end Tampa Bay's Super Bowl repeat bid in the process.

Another No. 1 seed has fallen on Day 1 of the Divisional Round as the 49ers toppled the Packers at home to advance to the NFC Championship.

After 33 long years, the Cincinnati Bengals are back in the AFC Championship Game with a 19-16 win over the Tennessee Titans in the Divisional Round.

A decisive victory over a division rival has placed the Los Angeles Rams back in the Divisional Round.

The Kansas City Chiefs punched their ticket to the AFC Divisional Round with a lopsided victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night.

The 49ers have begun another successful playoff run. Deebo Samuel continued his dual exploits on offense as San Francisco held on for a dramatic 23-17 victory over Dallas on Sunday in the Wild Card Round.

The reigning Super Bowl champions began their title defense Sunday in emphatic fashion. Tom Brady and the Buccaneers scored the game's first 31 points en route to a 31-15 victory over the Eagles to advance to the NFC Divisional Round.

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