What to Look For - Week 3

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According to the cliché, sometimes the best offense is a good defense.

Other times, however, the “best offense” means just that: overwhelming your opponent on the ground and through the air.

And so far, offenses are ruling the National Football League, with scoring and quarterback efficiency among the stats at record levels after two weeks of the 2020 season.

Some of the League’s best offenses and offensive weapons will go head to head this weekend. Here is a look at what to watch for in Week 3 matchups:

OFFENSE IS KING: Through the first two weeks of the 2020 NFL season, there have been 186 total touchdowns and 1,611 total points scored, both the most in NFL history through Week 2.

MOST TOUCHDOWNS IN FIRST TWO WEEKS, NFL HISTORY		MOST TOTAL POINTS IN FIRST TWO WEEKS, NFL HISTORY
SEASON	TOUCHDOWNS	SEASON	TOTAL POINTS
*2020*	*186*	*2020*	*1,611*
2018	174	2012	1,556
2011	172	2018	1,506
2015	170	2011	1,502
2012	170	2015	1,488

Quarterback play has also been at an unprecedented level, as 13 quarterbacks have a passer rating of 100 or higher (minimum 20 attempts) through two weeks, the most in NFL history through Week 2. Five of those quarterbacks are under the age of 26 – Buffalo’s JOSH ALLEN (122.9 rating), the Los Angeles Rams’ JARED GOFF (108.5), Baltimore’s LAMAR JACKSON (134.6), Kansas City’s PATRICK MAHOMES (104.0) and Jacksonville’s GARDNER MINSHEW (115.7). Overall, the league has a 96.2 passer rating, the highest in league annals through Week 2.

Last season, 11 quarterbacks had a passer rating of 100 or higher through the first three weeks, the most in league annals. This season has a chance to surpass that mark.

The seasons with the most quarterbacks with a passer rating of 100 or higher through the first three weeks in NFL history:

SEASON	QUARTERBACKS
2019	11
2018	10
2015	10
2007	10

*2020*	13*
*Through two weeks

MVP MATCHUP: Baltimore quarterback LAMAR JACKSON, the 2019 NFL MVP, and Kansas City quarterback PATRICK MAHOMES, the 2018 NFL MVP, will meet for the third time in their careers when the Ravens host the Chiefs on Monday Night Football (8:15 PM ET, ESPN) in a battle of unbeatens. It will mark the first game in NFL history featuring two former league MVPs under the age of 26.

Monday’s showdown will be the fifth game in the last six years featuring the two most recent MVPs. The more recent winner has been victorious in the past two such meetings.

The past five meetings featuring the two most recent NFL MVPs:

MVPs (SEASON)	DATE	RESULT
*Lamar Jackson (2019) vs. Patrick Mahomes (2018)*	*Sept. 28, 2020*	*???*
Patrick Mahomes (2018) vs. Tom Brady (2017)	Dec. 8, 2019	KC 23, NE 16
Matt Ryan (2016) vs. Cam Newton (2015)	Dec. 31, 2017	ATL 22, CAR 10
Matt Ryan (2016) vs. Cam Newton (2015)	Nov. 5, 2017	CAR 20, ATL 17
Aaron Rodgers (2014) vs. Peyton Manning (2013)	Nov. 1, 2015	DEN 29, GB 10

WILSON WOWS: Seattle quarterback RUSSELL WILSON enters Week 3 as the league’s leader in touchdown passes (nine) and passer rating (140.0). He is the fourth quarterback with at least nine touchdown passes through the first two weeks of a season in league annals, joining DREW BREES (2009), PATRICK MAHOMES (2018) and PEYTON MANNING (2013). Both Mahomes and Manning would go on to win league MVP that season.

If Wilson, who had five touchdown passes in Week 2 and four touchdown passes in Week 1, has at least four touchdown passes on Sunday against Dallas (4:25 PM ET, FOX), he would become the first player with at least four touchdown passes in each of his team’s three games of a season in NFL history.

Additionally, Wilson would tie PATRICK MAHOMES (13 in 2018) for the most touchdown passes by a player through his team’s first three games of a season in league history.

The quarterbacks with the most touchdown passes through their team’s first three games of a season in NFL history:

PLAYER	TEAM	SEASON	TOUCHDOWN PASSES IN TEAM’S FIRST THREE GAMES
Patrick Mahomes	Kansas City	2018	13
Peyton Manning	Denver	2013	12
Tom Brady	New England	2011	11

*Russell Wilson*	*Seattle*	*2020*	9*
*Through first two games

DAK DASHES FOR SIX: Dallas quarterback DAK PRESCOTT passed for 450 yards with one touchdown and rushed for three touchdowns last week, becoming the first player with at least 400 passing yards and three rushing touchdowns in a single game in NFL history.

Prescott now has 24 career rushing touchdowns, the most among quarterbacks since he entered the league in 2016. With a rushing touchdown on Sunday at Seattle (4:25 PM ET, FOX), Prescott will become the fourth quarterback to rush for at least 25 touchdowns in his first five seasons in NFL history.

The quarterbacks with at least 25 rushing touchdowns in their first five seasons in NFL history:

PLAYER	TEAM	RUSHING TOUCHDOWNS
Cam Newton	Carolina	43
Otto Graham^HOF	Cleveland	27
Daunte Culpepper	Minnesota	26

*Dak Prescott*	*Dallas*	24*
*In fifth season

CARSON TD CATCHER: Seattle running back CHRIS CARSON had 108 scrimmage yards (72 rushing, 26 receiving) and a touchdown catch last week after recording two touchdown receptions in Week 1. Entering Week 3, Carson leads all NFL running backs with three touchdown receptions this season.

With a touchdown reception on Sunday against Dallas (4:25 PM ET, FOX), Carson would become the fourth running back with a touchdown reception in each of their team’s first three games of a season in the Super Bowl era, joining GARY ANDERSON (1986), CURTIS MCCLINTON (1966) and BRIAN WESTBROOK (2005). McClinton had a touchdown reception in each of his team’s first four games of that season.

The running backs with touchdown reception in each of their team’s first three games of a season in the Super Bowl era:

PLAYER	TEAM	SEASON
Brian Westbrook	Philadelphia	2005
Gary Anderson	San Diego	1986
Curtis McClinton	Kansas City	1966

*Chris Carson*	*Seattle*	2020*
*Through first two games

TOP BILLING: Buffalo quarterback JOSH ALLEN passed for a career-high 417 yards with four touchdowns and zero interceptions for a 147.0 passer rating in the Bills’ Week 2 victory. Allen, who has passed for 729 yards, six touchdowns and zero interceptions through the first two weeks, is the fourth quarterback with at least 700 passing yards, six touchdown passes and zero interceptions through his team’s first two games of a season in NFL history.

With at least 300 passing yards, two touchdown passes and zero interceptions on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams (1:00 PM ET, FOX), Allen will become the third player with at least 300 passing yards, two touchdown passes and zero interceptions in each of his team’s first three games of a season in NFL history, joining PATRICK MAHOMES (2019) and PEYTON MANNING (2013). Mahomes won Super Bowl MVP and Manning won league MVP in those respective seasons.

The players with at least 300 passing yards, two touchdown passes and zero interceptions in each of their team’s first three games of a season in NFL history:

PLAYER	TEAM	SEASON
Patrick Mahomes	Kansas City	2019
Peyton Manning	Denver	2013

*Josh Allen*	*Buffalo*	2020*
*Through first two games

TANNEHILL CONTINUES TO THRILL: Tennessee quarterback RYAN TANNEHILL passed for four touchdowns and zero interceptions last week in the Titans’ victory and now has six touchdowns and zero interceptions on the season.

Since Week 10 of the 2019 season, Tannehill has passed for at least two touchdowns with one or fewer interceptions in all nine games.

With at least two touchdown passes and one or fewer interceptions on Sunday at Minnesota (1:00 PM ET, CBS), Tannehill will become the fourth player in NFL history with at least two touchdown passes and one or fewer interceptions in at least 10 consecutive regular season games, joining AARON RODGERS (13 consecutive games), TOM BRADY (11) and PHILIP RIVERS (10).

The players with the most consecutive games with at least two touchdown passes and one or fewer interceptions in NFL history:

PLAYER	TEAM	SEASON(S)	CONSECUTIVE GAMES
Aaron Rodgers	Green Bay	2011	13
Tom Brady	New England	2010-11	11
Philip Rivers	L.A. Chargers	2017-18	10

*Ryan Tannehill*	*Tennessee*	*2019-present*	9*
*Active streak

RIDLEY ME THIS: Atlanta wide receiver CALVIN RIDLEY leads the NFL with four touchdown receptions through two weeks and ties for the league lead with 239 receiving yards.

After recording 130 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions in Week 1 and 109 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions in Week 2, Ridley became the first player since Pro Football Hall of Famer MARVIN HARRISON (1999) to record at least 100 receiving yards and two touchdown receptions in each of his team’s first two games of a season.

With at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown reception on Sunday against Chicago (1:00 PM ET, FOX), Ridley will become the fifth player with at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown reception in each of his team’s first three games of a season in NFL history, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers MARVIN HARRISON (1999), RANDY MOSS (2007) and JERRY RICE (1989) and DWIGHT CLARK (1982),

The players with at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown reception in each of their team’s first three games of a season in NFL history:

PLAYER	TEAM	SEASON
Randy Moss^HOF	New England	2007
Marvin Harrison^HOF	Indianapolis	1999
Jerry Rice^HOF	San Francisco	1989
Dwight Clark	San Francisco	1982

*Calvin Ridley*	*Atlanta*	2020*
*Through first two games

NOT DRAFTED? NOT A PROBLEM: Jacksonville running back JAMES ROBINSON, who went undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, leads all rookies with 210 scrimmage yards through the first two weeks of the season.

With at least 90 scrimmage yards on Thursday Night Football against Miami (8:20 PM ET, NFL Network), a mark he has hit in each of the first two games of the season, Robinson will become the second undrafted player with at least 300 scrimmage yards through his first three career games in the common draft era, joining JAMES BRIM (318 scrimmage yards in 1987).

The undrafted players with the most scrimmage yards through their first three career games in the common draft era:

PLAYER	TEAM	SEASON	SCRIMMAGE YARDS
James Brim	Minnesota	1987	318
Kevin Willhite	Green Bay	1987	288
Bobby Johnson	N.Y. Giants	1984	281

*James Robinson*	*Jacksonville*	*2020*	210*
*Through first two weeks

WATT FAMIILY REUINION: Pittsburgh linebacker T.J. WATT ties for the NFL lead with 2.5 sacks through the first two weeks of the season, while Houston defensive end J.J. WATT ties for third in the league with 2 sacks.

The two brothers will be meeting for the first time in their NFL careers when the Steelers host the Texans on Sunday (1:00 PM ET, FOX). Pittsburgh fullback DEREK WATT, who faced each of his brothers in 2019 with the Chargers, will also be on the field on Sunday.

J.J. enters the game with 98 career sacks in 10 seasons, while T.J. has 37 career sacks in four seasons. Their 135 combined sacks are the fourth-most among pairs of brothers or father-son duos since 1982, counting instances in which each player recorded at least one sack.

The pairs of brothers or father-son duos with the most combined sacks since 1982, counting players in which each player recorded at least one sack:

PLAYERS	COMBINED SACKS
Clay/Clay Matthews	161
Howie^HOF/Chris Long	154
John^HOF/Ervin Randle	145.5
J.J./T.J. Watt*	135*
Arthur/Chandler Jones	107
*Both active
Brothers

With at least two sacks on Sunday, J.J., playing in his 115th career game, will become the fourth-fastest player to reach 100 career sacks since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic.

The fastest players to reach 100 career sacks since 1982:

PLAYER	TEAM	GAMES
Reggie White^HOF	Philadelphia	96
DeMarcus Ware	Dallas	113
Bruce Smith^HOF	Buffalo	114
Jared Allen	Kansas City, Minnesota	122
Lawrence Taylor^HOF	N.Y. Giants	122

*J.J. Watt*	*Houston*	114*
*Has 98 sacks in 114 games

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