Through 3 weeks of the NFL season, we can finally start to asses what’s real and what’s fake. While you can typically say there are some aberrations with things, you typically know where teams stand. For example - there is not a dominant team in the NFL right now. For those of you pointing to Kansas City, they are two PI calls away from being 1-2, Travis Kelce looks like a shell of himself and Patrick Mahomes has looked like the league’s most average player.
We also know that anything can happen any given week in the NFL where guess what, everyone gets paid to play. These guys are professionals and the gap between team #1 and team #32 is as small as perhaps it’s ever been. Everyone has weaknesses and everyone has things they can rely on to win football games. With that said, in the 3GML it’s no different. So through 3 weeks of regular season action, let’s see where the GMs feel confident and where they should be worried, not just for this season but for the future.
THE LA CHARGERS
I’m going to be honest there are more reasons for worry than optimism with the Chargers. That said, there is some optimistic things here including potentially a dynamic CB room.
REASON FOR OPTIMISM:
While Patrick Surtain has taken a step back from his dominant days, he’s still a very talented corner and rookie first rounder Quinyon MItchell can ball. He hasn’t been perfect, including a rough last drive of the game in week 2, he’s been impressive and very sticky in coverage. Those two have the potential to combine for a dynamic and elite cornerback tandem in years to come.
REASON(S) FOR WORRY:
The biggest reason for worry is WTF Will as he’s known now throughout the NFL. While Levis shows flashes of brilliance, including dealing at times this weekend, he also has an NFL leading 7 turnovers including 4 beyond atrocious ones through 3 weeks. While the offensive line in Tennessee is a train wreck, even with HOF OL coach Bill Callahan there, Levis has made some awful decisions. His QBR of 29 through 3 weeks, paired with a 33 QBR last season in 9 starts is a worrying trend, and when the upside is just 193 yards per game throwing though 3 games with a good trio of WRs and duo of pass catching RB’s, you have to wonder how long his leash is going to be.
The other worrisome peace is the downfall of the GOAT Justin Tucker. Tucker is the best kicker of all time but field goals now from beyond 50 yards is now a serious issue. Tucker has missed 7 of his last 8 attempts from beyond 50 yards and missed a 47 yarder this past weekend. Considering the NFL is now nailing 50+ yarders with regularity, is this something that can get fixed or did father time catch up with the best kicker of all time?
THE SF 49ERS
REASONS FOR OPTIMISM:
The three core players the team extended not named Jordan Love are playing excellent football. The 9ers paid big money this offseason to extend Jaylon Johnson, Brian Burns, and CeeDee Lamb. Johnson and Lamb are making a legitimate case to be the best in the NFL at their respective position(s) and Burns had a masterful performance this past weekend for the Giants. When you have truly elite core players at EDGE, CB, and WR, everything else gets easier and the 49ers clearly have monsters at all 3 positions.
REASONS FOR WORRY:
The team has bad OL depth. Zack Tom is a really good player and one of the better draft picks all time from GM CD, and James Daniels is a nice piece, but after that this team is in trouble. Robert Hainsey is on the bench now, Austin Corbett has done okay but he’s part of one of the worst OLs in football, and Alaric Jackson just came back from suspension and had an absolute dud of a game. They simply don’t have depth nor quality at the other positions and while it may not show up in Madden sims it’s a serious issue for the roster.
The Green Bay Packers
REASONS FOR OPTIMISM:
The easiest reasons for optimism with Green Bay will be the same every year, they have a plethora of offensive weapons that will always be among the best in the NFL. Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and even freaking Dallas Goedert all have over 200 yards receiving through 3 weeks, and after a very slow start where separation was an issue Rome Odunze had his coming out party in week 3, pushing him up over 150 yards for the season. On top of that David Montgomery is leading the NFL in PFF grade, as he’s hammered defenses consistently. The team is loaded with weapons.
REASONS FOR WORRY:
This is the easiest reason for worry for any team in the NFL, is Tua done? The rumor mill says that he has no plans to retire, but should he? This is his 4th known concussion and he’s likely had more in the past. Considering the treasure chest of money this team still owes him and the fact that the team is still very good, are the Packers going to get stuck in QB purgatory? Is Tua’s concussion issue going to hang over this franchise’s head in perpetuity?
THE HOUSTON TEXANS:
REASONS FOR OPTIMISM:
The main reason for optimism with the Texans right now is their running game has been dominant. Derrick Henry has 281 yards and 4 TD through 3 weeks, Tyler Allgeier has been extremely efficient and at times looks like he needs more carries, running for 5.6 yards per carry, and Antonio Gibson is averaging 6.2 yards per carry behind the travesty that is the NE offensive line. The run game, along with Isaiah Likely (PFF’s number one rated TE and number one rated run blocker for the second time in his career) leading the way, the run game in Houston is deadly.
REASONS FOR WORRY:
This is one that I don’t think many people saw coming but the trio of corners in Houston has played poorly to start the season. While the matchups have been tough for Deonte Banks, he’s gotten beaten up. Banks has given up 3 TD this season and 183 yards through 3 weeks. While L’Jarius Sneed was better this week, he definitely hasn’t been lock down for the Titans and uncharacteristically has missed tackles. Again a better week for Asante Samuel Jr this week but he also hasn’t been dynamic this season. Samuel has given up over 100 yards through 3 games - but he a lot of that was him getting picked on week one by Davante Adams. That said, the team invested a lot of money and resources in draft capital to get this trio together and through three weeks the returns have been lukewarm - and that’s putting it very generously.
