The value of Ohio State’s opening-day win against Texas is being questioned as the Longhorns have not looked sharp since.
LSU’s early-season wins have lost significance after their opponents, Clemson and Florida, continued to struggle.
Notre Dame, an independent team, had a mixed weekend as the performance of its past and future opponents impacts its playoff chances.

We’re going to do things a little differently this week here at Overreaction HQ. Sure, there were plenty of happenings around college football that prompted strong responses from fans, from Indiana’s statement win against Illinois to the – ahem – interesting officiating in Oklahoma-Auburn.

But rather than focus on those, we’ll instead check in on a few playoff contenders with notable results from the first month of the season and discuss how their resumes stack up.

Some have held up well, while others have taken collateral damage from subsequent performances by their opponents. At this still early stage of the season, this entire exercise is probably an overreaction in itself, but that’s what we’re here for.

Ohio State

In terms of the polls, the Buckeyes’ opening-day win against Texas is still the best one on the board. Of course, the polls are not considered by the playoff committee, but it’s nevertheless fair to wonder if that win will retain its value. The Longhorns haven’t lost again since that trip to Columbus, but neither the team as a whole nor Arch Manning in particular, despite ironing out some kinks against winless Sam Houston State this week, has looked especially sharp.

In truth, the Buckeyes probably won’t have to concern themselves with how Texas fares the rest of the way. If Ohio State manages its own schedule, starting next week with its longest Big Ten road trip of the season to unbeaten Washington, the opportunity for back-to-back championships will be there.

LSU

Despite winning easily themselves, the Tigers had arguably the worst weekend imaginable. The continued implosions of Clemson and Florida made what appeared to be significant wins for LSU seem not so impressive after all.

The good news for the Tigers is there are a lot of quality opportunities in the SEC. But the Tigers are undoubtedly going to need to win a majority of them since the assets they have in the bank have depreciated.

Florida State

At first glance, the Seminoles’ victory against Alabama has held up quite well. It still will in all likelihood, but the Crimson Tide’s subsequent thumping of Wisconsin might not carry much weight in the end, as the Badgers had an equally bad offensive outing against Maryland.

Like Ohio State, FSU must be more concerned with its own performance the rest of the way. But unlike the Buckeyes, the ‘Noles have fewer true resume boosters on their ACC slate. Not that it needs any more of a buildup, but the looming Oct. 4 showdown with archrival Miami will be kind of important.

Iowa State

While the Cyclones picked up the first meaningful win on the calendar against Kansas State last month in Ireland, it might ultimately be the win against Cy-Hawk rival Iowa that holds up better should Iowa State need at-large consideration. That leads to the bigger question of whether the Big 12 can in fact send multiple teams to the playoff.

But, to alter a common metaphor more appropriate for agriculture country, the Cyclones can’t put the plow before the horse thinking about at-large possibilities. There’s a path back to the conference championship game for them, especially with no Texas Tech on the schedule, but one week at a time.

Notre Dame

For the team more dependent upon what its opponents do than any other on this list, the weekend was a mixed bag for the Fighting Irish. First and foremost, they got into the win column themselves, though taking down Purdue isn’t likely to yield future dividends. There were some positive developments, most notably Southern California keeping its record clean and potentially giving Notre Dame another opportunity for a ranked win.

But a couple other future foes didn’t do Notre Dame any favors. Arkansas suffered a come-from-ahead loss to Memphis, the second winnable game in succession that the Razorbacks couldn’t finish after coming up short at Ole Miss. Then there was North Carolina State’s loss to Duke that effectively ended any chance the Wolfpack would crack the Top 25 by the time they meet the Irish in three weeks. Even the big win by Syracuse, which will visit Notre Dame in November, came with bad news with Orange quarterback Steve Angeli out for the season. Again, all the Irish can really do is win the rest of their games and hope for the best.

Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw missed Sunday’s game to attend a memorial service for conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk, according to reports.
Shaw was personally acquainted with Kirk, who was assassinated earlier this month.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Shaw was expected to return for the team’s next game.

Chicago Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw missed Sunday’s game against the Reds in Cincinnati to attend a memorial service for conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk, according to multiple media reports.

Following the 1-0 loss on Sept. 21, Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters Shaw was away from the team to attend a friend’s funeral and was expected back for the team’s next game on Tuesday.

Shaw knew Kirk personally, and just last month posed for a photo with Kirk before a game at Wrigley Field. He was also scratched from the Cubs’ starting lineup on Sept. 10 – the day Kirk was shot and killed – because of what the team called a personal matter.

Elected officials, including President Donald Trump, along with faith leaders and conservative colleagues all spoke at Sunday’s memorial service for Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Kirk, 31, was assassinated earlier this month while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.

Shaw has hit .223 with 12 home runs, 42 RBIs and 16 stolen bases in his rookie season in the majors.

The MLB playoffs feature six teams from each league: three division winners and three wild card teams.
The top two division winners in each league receive a bye, while the remaining four teams play in a best-of-three wild card series.
The postseason is scheduled to begin on Sept. 30, with the World Series starting on Oct. 24.

The playoffs begin next week in Major League Baseball, but the participants and the matchups are far from settled.

The final week of the regular season should provide plenty of intrigue, especially for the teams seeking to secure the final wild-card berths.

Until the postseason was expanded to 12 teams in 2022, ties for playoff spots were broken by an extra regular-season game, sometimes called ‘Game 163.’ However, the expanded schedule in October doesn’t leave room for tiebreaker games anymore, so teams that finish with the same record will have their seedings determined by a tiebreaker formula — beginning with head-to-head record.

How many wild cards are in the MLB playoffs?

The addition of an extra wild-card spot in 2022 increased the number of playoff participants in each league to six: three division winners and three wild cards.

MLB playoff format

The top two division winners (best overall record) in each league receive an automatic bye into the division series.
The third division winner in each league (as the No. 3 seed) hosts the third wild card team (the No. 6 seed) in a best-of-3 series.
The other two wild card teams (Nos. 4 and 5 seeds) play each other, with the higher-seeded team hosting all three games.
The winner of the 4 vs. 5 matchup plays the No. 1 overall seed in a best-of-5 division series, while the 3 vs. 6 winner plays the No. 2 seed.
The winners of those series face each other in a best-of-7 league championship series, with the winners advancing to the World Series.

MLB playoff tiebreaker procedure

If two or more teams finish tied with the same overall regular-season record, the ties are broken by MLB’s predetermined formula. The criteria are as follows:

Head-to-head record
Intradivision record
Intraleague record
Interleague record after the All-Star break
Interleague record after the All-Star break, plus one

If three or more teams tie for a spot, they go through the same tiebreaker procedure outlined above based on winning percentages. However, if one team has a better record against all the other tied teams, that team gets the highest playoff seed and the others restart the tiebreaker procedure.

MLB playoff schedule

The MLB playoffs begin on Tuesday, Sept. 30, as two Ameican League and two National League wild-card series get underway.

The four divisional series are scheduled to start on Saturday, Oct. 4.

The American League championship series begins on Sunday, Oct. 12, while the National League Championship series begins on Monday, Oct. 13.

The World Series is set to begin on Friday, Oct. 24.

Chaos in the USA TODAY Sports Super 25.

Four of the top 11 teams in the nation lost last week, creating substantial movement in the rankings from No. 1 to No. 25.

It began with No. 9 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), which had been No. 1 up until a week ago. The Monarchs hung on to defeat Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.), which happened to be the team that took the top spot over Mater Dei.

That outcome opened the door for a new Southern California powerhouse to take the top spot, though Florida’s top-ranked team is making a strong push as well.

The Friday night mayhem didn’t end there.

Then-No. 7 Duncanville (Texas) also lost. Then-No. 10 Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah) followed up with a shocking defeat, as did then-No. 11 Mission Viejo (Calif.) and then-No. 21 North Crowley (Fort Worth, Texas).

When the final clock hit zero, two new teams found a spot in the newest national rankings.

As high school football action moves toward October, here is the full Super 25:

1. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)

Record: 5-0

Previous rank: 2

Last result: Defeated St. Louis (Honolulu, Hawaii) 49-20

2. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)

Record: 4-0

Previous rank: 3

Last result: Defeated Mandarin (Jacksonville, Fla.) 57-7

3. St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.)

Record: 3-1

Previous rank: 4

Last result: Defeated Hewlett Sports Academy (Waldorf, Md.) 66-0

4. Centennial (Corona, Calif.)

Record: 4-1

Previous rank: 8

Last result: Defeated Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) 42-14

5. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)

Record: 3-1

Previous rank: 9

Last result: Defeated No. 1 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) 27-24

6. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.)

Record: 4-1

Previous rank: 1

Last result: Lost to No. 9 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) 27-24

7. Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)

Record: 5-0

Previous rank: 5

Last result: Defeated Grovetown (Ga.) 51-0

8. Buford (Ga.)

Record: 5-0

Previous rank: 6

Last result: Defeated Discovery (Lawrenceville, Ga.) 71-7

9. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)

Record: 5-0

Previous rank: 13

Last result: Defeated Orange Lutheran (Calif.) 41-9

10. Edna Karr (New Orleans, La.)

Record: 3-0

Previous rank: 14

Last result: Defeated McDonogh 35 (New Orleans, La.) 63-0

11. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

Record: 4-1

Previous rank: 12

Last result: Defeated McArthur (Hollywood, Fla.) 31-7

12. Thompson (Alabaster, Ala.)

Record: 4-1

Previous rank: 16

Last result: Defeated Vestavia Hills (Ala.) 35-3

13. Chaminade-Madonna (Hollywood, Fla.)

Record: 2-1

Previous rank: 15

Last result: DNP

14. DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)

Record: 4-0

Previous rank: 17

Last result: Defeated Mt. Zion Prep Academy (Lanham, Md.) 41-0

15. Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)

Record: 3-1

Previous rank: 19

Last result: DNP

16. Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.)

Record: 3-0

Previous rank: 18

Last result: Defeated Pope John XXIII (Sparta, N.J.) 35-0

17. Carrollton (Ga.)

Record: 6-0

Previous rank: 20

Last result: Defeated Parker (Birmingham, Ala.) 43-7

18. Southlake Carroll (Texas)

Record: 4-0

Previous rank: 22

Last result: Defeated Trinity (Euless, Texas) 44-6

19. De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)

Record: 4-0

Previous rank: 23

Last result: Defeated Grant (Sacramento, Calif.) 47-20

20. Lone Peak (Highland, Utah)

Record: 5-1

Previous rank: NR

Last result: Defeated No. 10 Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah) 42-21

21. Duncanville (Texas)

Record: 1-1

Previous rank: 7

Las result: Lost to Waxahachie (Texas) 28-27

22. Grimsley (Greensboro, N.C.)

Record: 4-0

Previous rank: 24

Last result: Defeated Southwest Guilford (High Point, N.C.) 65-0

23. Allen (Texas)

Record: 4-0

Previous rank: 25

Last result: Defeated Plano (Texas) 56-0

24. Basha (Chandler, Ariz.)

Record: 4-0

Previous rank: NR

Last result: Defeated Mountain View (Mesa, Ariz.) 31-13

25. Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah)

Record: 5-1

Previous rank: 10

Last result: Lost to Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) 42-21

Super 25 watchlist

Waxahachie (Texas)
Brownsburg (Ind.)
Northwestern (Miami, Fla.)
Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
Central (Miami, Fla.)

For the second consecutive season, a team that looked like it cashed in its chips might be hitting the MLB playoff jackpot.

The Cleveland Guardians, sellers at the deadline and dead in the water at the plate most of the season, are on the verge of mimicking the Detroit Tigers’ wild run to the playoffs last year – while putting this year’s Tigers in peril of missing the postseason.

The Guardians are the first team in eight years to have both a 10-game winning streak and 10-game losing streak in the same season, the latter compelling them to sell Shane Bieber and other parts at the trade deadline. But that winning streak? Divinely timed.

They roared up the AL Central standings and drew within one game of the Tigers thanks to that streak, which finally ended Sept. 21. But that couldn’t stop the Guardians from soaring up two spots in USA TODAY Sports’ power rankings.

A look at our updated rankings:

1. Milwaukee Brewers (-)

Brandon Woodruff to the IL, a potentially devastating blow for postseason rotation.

2. Philadelphia Phillies (-)

Not the greatest timing for Nick Castellanos’ brutal honesty.

3. Toronto Blue Jays (-)

Thank goodness for Trey Yesavage: He starts two of the three games they won last week as division lead wobbled but held.

4. Los Angeles Dodgers (+2)

How about a Shohei Ohtani-Clayton Kershaw piggyback situation in a Game 4?

5. Chicago Cubs (-1)

Best hope that clinching hangover doesn’t last too much longer.

6. New York Yankees (+1)

Aaron Judge’s next home run will be his 50th.

7. Seattle Mariners (+3)

About to win the AL West for the first time since 2001.

8. Detroit Tigers (-4)

Charlie Morton released after emotional meeting with longtime manager.

9. Boston Red Sox (-)

Aroldis Chapman has 366 career saves, two shy of Jonathan Papelbon.

10. San Diego Padres (-2)

Just one win shy of clinching playoff berth, even if division is a pipe dream.

11. Cleveland Guardians (+2)

Jose Ramirez the first player since Barry Bonds in 1997 to notch 30-30 season at age 32 or older.

12. Houston Astros (-1)

Framber Valdez’s last start in Houston an absolute dud.

13. New York Mets (+1)

40-30 man Juan Soto stole 15 bags in his last 30 games.

14. Cincinnati Reds (+3)

They’re lining up Hunter Greene – fresh off his first nine-inning shutout – for the playoff opener.

15. Texas Rangers (-3)

Seven-game losing streak at worst possible time ends playoff dream.

16. Arizona Diamondbacks (+)

Corbin Carroll notches franchise’s first 30-30 season.

17. San Francisco Giants (-2)

Where did it go wrong? A combined 7-19 against Dodgers, Padres.

18. Kansas City Royals (-2)

What a rookie season for Noah Cameron: Nine wins, 2.90 ERA, 3.9 WAR.

19. St. Louis Cardinals (-)

John Mozeliak era comes to a quiet conclusion.

20. Miami Marlins (+1)

Have won 10 of 11 and, yes, are still technically alive for a playoff spot.

21. Tampa Bay Rays (-1)

Win Steinbrenner Field finale to finish 41-40 in the Hillsborough County elements.

22. Atlanta Braves (+3)

Well, they just might’ve ruined Detroit’s season, at least.

23. Baltimore Orioles (-1)

Gunnar Henderson’s home run total dropped from 37 to 16.

24. Athletics (-1)

With six games left in Yolo County, Brent Rooker on track to play in all 162 this year.

25. Los Angeles Angels (-1)

As Mike Trout passes 400, fair to wonder how soon he’ll approach 500.

26. Pittsburgh Pirates (+1)

Bubba Chandler with a 0.97 WHIP in 25 innings.

27. Minnesota Twins (-1)

Pablo Lopez gets off IL and then suffers forearm injury.

28. Washington Nationals (-)

If Daylen Lile is the only positive from this season, that’s not a bad bargain.

29. Chicago White Sox (-)

They won 10 more home games than last year. Then again, the bar was low.

30. Colorado Rockies (-)

Hunter Goodman with a 30-homer campaign.

The NBA is already nearly back.

Five teams — the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Pheonix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans — will report for their training camps this week. They’re the teams that will be playing preseason games outside of North America.

The rest of the association’s teams will report next week.

All of which means it’s time to assess the biggest storylines that will shape training camp, preseason, and the season beyond. That also means teams will be coming for the Oklahoma City Thunder, the reigning NBA champions.

Here are eight storylines to watch headed into the start of training camp:

What will the Lakers look like with the team seemingly phasing down its relationship with LeBron James?

When LeBron James issued a statement over the summer indicating that he intended to compete for an NBA title. It raised questions about the direction the Lakers would be taking, with Luka Dončić taking over as the face of the franchise. Still, for Los Angeles to compete in a stacked West, it will need both players to feed off each other — even if Dončić is to dictate the direction of the team. It’s a lot to ask from coach JJ Reddick, who also needs to see if DeAndre Ayton answers L.A.’s lack of presence in the low block.

Is the East a two-team race?

With so many injuries to key players in the Eastern Conference, the Cavaliers and Knicks appear to be the two front runners. New York will be implementing the culture and style of new coach Mike Brown, and Cleveland will try to build on a wildly successful first campaign under Kenny Atkinson. Both teams made moderate improvements — the Knicks added Jordan Clarkson for a spark off the bench and the Cavs brought in Lonzo Ball and Larry Nance Jr. — so the onus will be on established veterans to elevate them to a deep run.

How will the Clippers manage the Kawhi Leonard distraction?

The circumstantial evidence against the Clippers keeps mounting, and it paints owner Steve Ballmer and star forward Kawhi Leonard in a poor light. And, as the NBA-backed investigation continues to look into whether Los Angeles circumvented the salary cap, the Clippers might ultimately face very steep penalties. The Clippers were already in a delicate situation — they are an aging roster with players who sometimes battle injury issues — so adding the Leonard complication bears watching in what might be their final season to compete with this build.

Can the Celtics stay competitive in a transitional season?

Mainstays from their championship season (Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porziņģis) are gone and six-time All-Star Jayson Tatum (Achilles) will miss the entire season. But the Celtics still have plenty of talent in Jaylen Brown and Derrick White, and new addition Anfernee Simons is a breakout candidate. In a wide-open East, can Boston stay relevant? Brown will need to blossom as the unquestioned No. 1 option.

The Timberwolves have made consecutive conference finals appearances. Do they have enough to break through?

It has become clear that for Minnesota to break through, Anthony Edwards will need to assert himself into the Most Valuable Player conversation. At times, when defenses and the game dictate, Edwards has deferred to his teammates. The Timberwolves need him to confound opponents and take on more than he ever has in the offense. Losing Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Hawks) will certainly hurt their defense, so other players like Terrence Shannon Jr. will need to step up.

Will there be a hangover for the OKC Thunder?

They kept their core intact and remain an incredibly young and efficient team — and one that does not shy away from defensive effort, either. Mark Daigneault coached his team consistently and allows the Thunder to play within their style. But wining in the NBA is very difficult; no team has won consecutive titles in the last seven seasons. It will be fascinating to see if Oklahoma City can maintain this focus and intensity after reaching the highest levels of the game.

What will we see out of Cooper Flagg?

The reality is that the Mavericks are at a disadvantage with Kyrie Irving likely sidelined for the entire season. But this will also present an opportunity for No. 1 overall draft pick Cooper Flagg to immediately assume a massive role in Dallas. Fans should nonetheless temper expectations, though Flagg figures to be a favorite to coast to Rookie of the Year honors. The most positive outcome would be if Flagg flashes consistency, efficiency and an ability to score from all three levels.

Which playoff teams might be due for a regression?

Every year, there are teams that were fixtures in the playoff picture in the season previous that end up falling off. The Lakers, given their uncertainty with how they handle LeBron James, might be one of those teams. The Warriors, who suddenly might be seeing their window close, need to prove that their offense is more than just Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler. Could other teams slide in the standings?

Will the KD experiment work in Houston?

The splashy offseason trade makes the Rockets, who were already quite deep and talented, instant title contenders. But it takes a lot of work to incorporate a new star like Kevin Durant to seamlessly assimilate into a system. Ime Udoka is a coach who has managed personalities and he isn’t shy about encouraging his team to play with swagger and confidence. The Rockets have tremendous length and athleticism on defense. They’ll be appointment viewing.

Fernando Mendoza is making Indiana coach Curt Cignetti look like a genius, again.

Mendoza was Cignetti’s hand-picked replacement for Kurtis Rourke after the latter led the Hoosiers to a College Football Playoff berth last season. Mendoza has led Indiana to a 4-0 start, highlighted by a dominant 63-10 win over an Illinois team that entered the game ranked No. 8 in the country.

Mendoza completed 21 of 23 passes for 267 yards and five touchdowns in the win over the Fighting Illini, helping him to a nation-leading 14 passing touchdowns through four games. His 975 passing yards are good to rank him 30th nationally.

The first-year Hoosier transfer, who played his first two seasons at California in 2023-24, has thrown five touchdown passes in back-to-back games — and no fewer than four touchdown passes in three consecutive games. That follows a debut in which he threw no touchdowns or interceptions in a 27-14 win vs. Old Dominion in Week 1.

Now, he’s right in the Heisman Trophy race, which — if he won it — would make him the first Hoosier to win the award. Here’s a look at the latest odds following Week 4 of the college football season:

Fernando Mendoza Heisman odds

Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Monday, Sept. 22.

Heisman Trophy odds: +900

Following his five-touchdown performance against Illinois, Mendoza has the second-best odds (+900) to take home the Heisman Trophy, behind only Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer.

Mateer, himself a quarterback transfer from Washington State, has +700 odds to hoist the Heisman Trophy in New York. Mendoza jumped to No. 2 from outside of the top eight last week.

Has an Indiana player even won the Heisman Trophy?

No, an Indiana player has never won the Heisman Trophy.

The closest was running back Anthony Thompson, who finished as the runner-up in 1989. Houston quarterback Andre Ware edged out Thompson by 70 votes (1,073-1,003) for the Heisman Trophy that year after he finished with 4,699 passing yards and 46 touchdown passes to 19 interceptions.

Thompson had 358 carries for 1,793 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Fernando Mendoza stats

Here’s a look at Mendoza’s stats in his three collegiate seasons with Cal and Indiana:

2023 (Cal): 153-of-243 passing (63%) for 1,078 yards, 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions; 49 rushes for 86 yards and two touchdowns
2024 (Cal): 265-of-386 passing (68.7%) for 3,004 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions; 87 rushes for 105 yards and two touchdowns
2025 (Indiana): 76-of-99 passing (76.8%) for 975 yards, 14 touchdowns; 22 rushes for 76 yards and two touchdowns

Heisman Trophy odds

Here are the full Heisman Trophy odds from BetMGM, as of Monday, Sept. 22:

1. John Mateer, QB, Oklahoma: +700
2. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana: +900
T-3. Dante Moore, QB, Oregon: +1200
T-3. Carson Beck, QB, Miami: +1200
5. Gunner Stockton, QB, Georgia: +1400

Five backup QBs played Sunday, and most of them notched victories.
Nine non-offensive TDs were scored Sunday, the most in a weekend in five years.
Seven games were decided in the final three minutes, a rarity for one weekend.

The 32 things we learned from Week 3 of the 2025 NFL season:

0. Number of rushing TDs scored Sunday by Green Bay Packers RB Josh Jacobs, breaking his 11-game streak (including playoffs) of scoring at least once on the ground − the sixth longest in league history. Adding insult to injury, Jacobs averaged just 1.9 yards on his 16 carries, the worst output of his seven-year career when he had at least 12 attempts, as the Pack were shocked 13-10 on the road by the Cleveland Browns.

1. The number of Minnesota Vikings players − ever − to score two defensive touchdowns in a single game, CB Isaiah Rodgers becoming the founding member Sunday. The most dominant Mr. Rodgers in the league this day, he returned an interception 87 yards for a score and brought a fumble back 66 yards for another in the Vikes’ 48-10 blowout of the Cincinnati Bengals. For good measure, Rodgers caused two fumbles, including the one he returned, and broke up two passes. He’s the first player since 2000 with two TDs and a pair of forced fumbles in the same game. May as well hand Rodgers NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors now.

2. The number of backup quarterbacks saddled with losses Sunday, the New York Jets’ Tyrod Taylor and Cincinnati Bengals’ Jake Browning unable to pick up the slack for injured Justin Fields and Joe Burrow, respectively.

3. The number of backup quarterbacks who notched victories Sunday, the Vikings’ Carson Wentz, Washington Commanders’ Marcus Mariota and San Francisco 49ers’ Mac Jones all getting fill-in Ws for injured J.J. McCarthy, Jayden Daniels and Brock Purdy, respectively.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers now ranks alone with the fourth-most TD passes in league history (510) after breaking his tie with Brett Favre (508) on Sunday. Rodgers has a way to go to catch Peyton Manning (539), who is third on the list.

4a. Also Sunday, Rodgers surpassed Philip Rivers for the sixth-most passing yards (63,538) in league history.

5. Speaking of “backup” quarterbacks, the Atlanta Falcons’ Kirk Cousins will apparently remain one – for now – even though he’s making $27.5 million this season and was called in to take over for highly ineffective second-year QB1 Michael Penix Jr. on Sunday as the Falcons were blown out 30-0 by the previously winless Carolina Panthers.

6. The number of teams that remain undefeated, the Chargers, Bills, Colts, 49ers, Eagles and Bucs all improving to 3-0.

6a. The number of teams that will go into Week 4 winless, the Texans, Jets, Titans, Dolphins and Saints all 0-3 … and joined by the Giants on Sunday night.

7. The number of games through Sunday afternoon of Week 3 decided in the final 2 minutes and 30 seconds of regulation. This is why we watch!

7a. Per the NFL, the seven games in Week 3 that produced a game-winning score in the final three minutes (none occurred in overtime) is tied for the most in a single week since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.

8. Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams has endured his share of (deserved) criticism, some coming from me. But props on Sunday’s showing – probably his best in the NFL – when he matched his career high with four TD passes while crafting a personal best 142.6 passer rating in a 31-14 beatdown of the Dallas Cowboys. Maybe he’s about to take off with rookie coach Ben Johnson as the wind beneath his wings after all.  

9. The number of non-offensive touchdowns scored Sunday – five coming via defense, two off punt returns and the two from blocked field-goal tries. It’s the most in a week since 2020.

10. Combined catches by Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson and Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase − former LSU teammates who are now almost inarguably the league’s two best receivers − in a strange and lopsided matchup between teams deploying backup QBs.

11. Steelers OLB T.J. Watt had gone six consecutive games, including playoffs, without a sack before finally getting his first two of the season in Sunday’s 21-14 defeat of the New England Patriots. Previously, Watt had never had a sack-less streak of more than three games during his nine-year career.

12. Speaking of sacks, Washington Commanders LB Bobby Wagner, a future Hall of Famer if there ever was one, had two Sunday in his undermanned team’s 41-24 defeat of the Las Vegas Raiders. Pass rush impact isn’t what will eventually put Wagner – one of the best defensive quarterbacks of this century – into Canton, but this was the fifth time the typically effective blitzer has had multiple sacks in a game during his 14-year career.

13. Number of consecutive regular-season games the Buffalo Bills have won at Highmark Stadium going back to the 2023 season, currently the league’s lengthiest home heater. Not great news for the rest of the conference as the perennial AFC East champs are very much on track to capture home-field advantage for this season’s playoffs in their building’s final season.

14. Even with electric Daniels out and RB Austin Ekeler lost for the season, Washington still rushed for 201 yards by committee Sunday – journeyman Jeremy McNichols posting a career-best and game-high 78 on just four carries.

15. They weren’t necessarily impactful, but Raiders WR Tre Tucker caught three TD passes from Geno Smith in Sunday’s loss to Washington. Tucker already has five in 2025, matching his total − combined − from his first two NFL seasons.

16. The number of wins credited to Wentz since the start of the 2020 season. More notably, since then, he’s now started for six different teams in each of the past six years − a first in the Super Bowl era (since 1966) − making a (very) successful debut (173 yards, 2 TDs passing) for the Vikes Sunday in their win over the Browning Bengals.

17. ‘Do you believe in miracles? Yes!’ If only Al Michaels had been on the call for the Philadelphia Eagles’ 33-26 comeback win over the Los Angeles Rams. Not only did Philly win its second nailbiter of the year over LA − the Rams nearly upset the Eagles in the divisional round of the playoffs at Lincoln Financial Field in January − 336-pound DT Jordan Davis’ 61-yard TD run following a block of the Rams’ game-winning field-goal attempt allowed Philadelphia to cover the point spread … which Michaels would have gleefully made note of.

18. Davis’ block came on the heels of another by teammate Jalen Carter. The Eagles became the first team since at least 1978 to block a pair of FG tries in the fourth quarter of the same game.

19. The Jets were in position to get their first win for rookie HC Aaron Glenn, taking 27-26 lead with fewer than two minutes to play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after DE Will McDonald IV blocked a field-goal attempt of his own and returned it 50 yards to pay dirt.

20. The number of drives it took for the Indianapolis Colts to finally punt, the most ever to start an NFL season. And speaking of 20, it was a nice punt by Indy’s Rigoberto Sanchez, who dropped a 46-yarder inside the Tennessee Titans’ 20-yard line.

21. Number of combined penalties (14 by Tampa Bay) for 205 aggregate yards in the Bucs-Jets game.

22. Alas, the Jets didn’t have enough juice to win the Todd Bowles Bowl, their former coach’s Bucs driving 48 yard over the final seven plays to set up Chase McLaughlin’s game-winning 36-yard FG at the gun.

23. Perhaps Sunday’s close shave was due to Tampa Bay’s ‘Creamsicle’ white throwbacks, last worn in 1976 − when the expansion Bucs finished 0-14.

24. Tampa Bay, which has started 2-0 each of the past five seasons, including all four under Bowles, is now 3-0 for the first time since 2005.

25. However Taylor (197 yards, 2 TDs, pick-six passing and team-best 48 rushing yards) – the 15th-year vet was making his first start since 2023 – surprisingly played (very early) MVP candidate Baker Mayfield (233 yards, TD passing plus 44 yards rushing) to a surprising draw. The duo were Browns teammates in 2018, when Mayfield was the No. 1 pick of that year’s draft.

26. Not-much-to-see rookie watch: No. 1 pick Cam Ward continues to look overmatched for the Tennessee Titans, throwing an early pick-six and getting sacked four more times for his winless team. Such is the life of a young QB trying to lift a flailing franchise … but the 85-sack pace Ward is on remains highly worrisome.

27. Not-much-to-see rookie watch: No. 2 pick Travis Hunter played another 80 snaps (43 on defense, per PFF) and made six tackles but caught just one ball for 21 yards as  a receiver. Again, no intent here to pick on him, but he has yet to display the type of impact on either side of the ball that would justify the bold move rookie GM James Gladstone made to get him in April. But let’s give Hunter (a lot) more time.

28. Not-much-to-see rookie watch: No. 6 pick Ashton Jeanty rushed for 63 yards on 17 carries in Sunday’s loss. It was easily the best showing of his three games, which also tells you how it’s been going thus far.

28a. Jeanty’s NFL experience so far can best be described as “Boise to Men” – shoutout to Rich Eisen for turning that phrase.

29. A lot-to-see rookie watch? Browns RB Quinshon Judkins, the 36th pick of this year’s draft – and part of what Cleveland got in order to give up the pick used by Jacksonville on Hunter – ran for a 94 yards and a TD on Sunday, his second NFL game after an offseason when Judkins’ legal issues drew the kind of attention he didn’t want. But he now has 155 rushing yards after two games.

30. A lot-to-see rookie watch? Seattle Seahawks WR Tory Horton, the 166th pick of this year’s draft, scored on a 95-yard punt return and a 14-yard reception in Sunday’s 44-13 rout of the New Orleans Saints. Horton has already found the end zone three times in three NFL games.

31. The Bucs weren’t the only team in throwback – or alternate – uniforms Sunday, though their game against the Jets, who permanently reinstituted their 1980s look last season, was the most aesthetically pleasing game on the slate.

32. Also switching it up: Panthers (black helmet), Browns (debut of their all-brown “Alpha Dawg” look), Jags (“Prowler” throwbacks), Patriots (Pat Patriot throwbacks), Saints (debut of alternate white helmet) and 49ers (throwbacks).

32a. The Baltimore Ravens will be in their all-black kit Monday night – they are 20-6 in those alternates – in a highly anticipated matchup with the Detroit Lions.