2025 3GML Season - Week 3

Texans Make Unwanted History in 33-28 Loss to Jaguars

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The Houston Texans hit rock bottom on Sunday, becoming the first team in NFL history to allow three separate 100-yard rushers in a single game in their 33-28 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Trevor Lawrence stunned by tucking and running for 105 yards of his own, while Travis Etienne (105 yards, TD) and Tank Bigsby (102 yards, TD) joined the rushing parade. In total, the Jaguars piled up a staggering 509 yards of offense, leaving Houston’s defense in shambles.

Despite Drake Maye and the offense scratching out 28 points — usually more than enough to win — the Texans’ defense was so porous that even head coach David Shaw, normally the picture of calm, looked like a man at his wit’s end.

When asked postgame what he would say to defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard in the locker room, Shaw replied coldly: “I don’t know, Jim isn’t welcome in the locker room after that performance.” The room erupted in laughter, but Shaw’s face remained unreadable. He turned and walked into the locker room, leaving the press corps stunned into silence.

Reports soon confirmed Leonhard had been fired immediately, with linebackers coach Aaron Curry stepping in as interim defensive coordinator. As if the debacle couldn’t get more surreal, Leonhard was later spotted wandering the streets of downtown Jacksonville. Witnesses said the Texans didn’t even provide him cab fare.

By Monday morning, rumors swirled that Leonhard had managed to hitchhike home — not in a car, but on a cargo plane bound for a small airfield just north of Houston.

For Houston (2-1), the loss isn’t just another mark in the standings — it’s a sobering reminder that their “talented but underachieving” defense must turn things around quickly, or more changes may be coming.

Packers Storm Back to Beat Browns 23-13

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Green Bay Packers flipped the script on Sunday, erasing a sluggish first half to beat the Cleveland Browns 23-13 on the road.

Cleveland controlled the opening half, putting up all 13 of its points before halftime behind steady defensive play and timely offense. But after the break, the Packers found another gear. Green Bay scored all 23 of its points in the second half, leaning on explosive plays from their stars to secure the win.

Wide receiver Justin Jefferson was the spark, catching eight passes for 117 yards and a touchdown as he consistently found holes in Cleveland’s secondary. On defense, it was a homecoming performance for pass rusher Myles Garrett. Facing his former team, Garrett racked up 1.5 sacks and an eye-popping eight tackles for loss, disrupting the Browns’ protection and shutting down their ground game.

For Garrett, the game carried extra meaning but little sentimentality. “Coming back here, I wasn’t thinking about memories or emotions — just business,” Garrett said. “My job is to dominate up front, no matter who’s on the other sideline. Today was about getting this team a win.”

The Packers (3-0) remained unbeaten to start the season, showing resilience in hostile territory, while the Browns (1-2) were left frustrated after failing to sustain their early momentum.

49ers Fall to Cardinals 20-16, Drop Second Straight

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers stumbled for the second week in a row, falling 20-16 to the unbeaten Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

Quarterback Jordan Love once again struggled with consistency, completing just 57% of his passes as the 49ers’ offense failed to sustain drives. Love admitted afterward that mechanics may have been part of the problem. “I’ve got to go back and look at my footwork — I felt off at times, and that shows up in the accuracy,” Love said.

Arizona, meanwhile, leaned on the dynamic play of Kyler Murray. The Cardinals quarterback hurt San Francisco repeatedly with his legs, rushing for 93 yards and scoring both of Arizona’s touchdowns on the ground.

The loss drops the 49ers to 1-2, while the Cardinals moved to 3-0 and cemented themselves as the early surprise of the NFC West.

Chargers Dominate Broncos, Stay Perfect at 3-0

DENVER (AP) — The Los Angeles Chargers look every bit the early-season juggernaut after a 27-3 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday, fueled by another monster outing from Christian McCaffrey and a defense that is playing at an elite level.

McCaffrey carried the Chargers’ offense, pounding out 254 rushing yards on 31 carries and wearing down Denver’s front throughout the game. His blend of vision and power left the Broncos with no answers.

On the other side of the ball, the Chargers’ defense was smothering. They limited Denver to just 172 total yards, closing lanes in the run game and making life miserable for quarterback Bo Nix. Through three weeks, the unit is building a case as one of the league’s best, combining speed off the edge with lockdown play in the secondary.

The win puts Los Angeles at 3-0 overall and, perhaps more importantly, 3-0 in the AFC West. In a division often defined by razor-thin margins, stacking early wins against rivals could prove pivotal in December.

2025 3GML Season - Week 2

Chargers Rally Past Raiders 31-28 in Vegas

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Los Angeles Chargers stormed back with 21 fourth-quarter points to stun the Las Vegas Raiders 31-28 on Sunday, improving to 2-0 in division play.

After trailing 17-3 in the third quarter, Matthew Stafford steadied the offense and finished with 251 passing yards and two touchdowns. But once again, it was Christian McCaffrey who carried the load and fueled the comeback. The veteran running back shredded the Raiders’ defense with 148 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground, while also adding 68 receiving yards and a touchdown through the air.

“This team doesn’t panic,” McCaffrey said. “We knew if we kept grinding, the opportunities would come, and in the fourth quarter everything clicked.”

The Chargers’ offense roared to life late, controlling possession and piling up points while their defense forced key stops to give Stafford and company repeated chances.

The win moves Los Angeles to 2-0 overall and in AFC West play, setting up momentum for what looks like an early-season push toward the top of the division standings. The Raiders, meanwhile, fell to 0-2 and are left searching for answers after letting a double-digit lead slip away at home.

Texans Outscore Buccaneers 39-31, Move to 2-0

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Texans leaned on their offense once again Sunday, pulling out a 39-31 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to remain unbeaten at 2-0.

Houston’s defense was expected to be the hallmark of the season, but two weeks in, it’s the offense that’s carrying the load. The Texans have now given up 31 or more points in consecutive games, raising questions about their ability to hold up over the long haul. Still, timely turnovers made the difference in this one. Safety Jabrill Peppers and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed each came up with key interceptions that halted Buccaneers drives and kept Tampa Bay from closing the gap late.

On the other side of the ball, Houston continued to score at will. Quarterback Drake Maye spread the field and kept drives alive, while Derrick Henry bulldozed his way to 85 rushing yards and a touchdown, once again moving the chains and wearing down the defense.

“We’re not happy about giving up that many points,” Texans coach David Shaw said, “but winning is winning. And until the defense gets to where we want it, our offense has shown it can handle the pressure.”

With the win, Houston (2-0) keeps pace early in the AFC race, while Tampa Bay (0-2) leaves frustrated after another high-scoring defeat.

Packers Defense Smothers Commanders in 27-3 Win

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers leaned on a relentless defense and a powerful ground game to take down the Washington Commanders 27-3 at Lambeau Field on Sunday.

From the opening whistle, Green Bay’s front seven made life miserable for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Myles Garrett and Ernest Jones IV each came up with interceptions, and the Packers’ pass rush battered Washington’s offensive line, forcing Daniels into hurried throws and broken plays all afternoon.

On offense, it was the Isiah Pacheco show. The running back gashed the Commanders’ defense for 155 rushing yards and two touchdowns, consistently breaking into the second level and keeping the chains moving.

“This is exactly how we want to play — defense flying around and the run game setting the tone,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said. “When we play complementary football like that, we’re tough to beat.”

With the win, Green Bay improved to 2-0 on the season, sending a message that their combination of defensive dominance and ground control could be the recipe for another deep run. The Commanders, meanwhile, dropped to 0-2 and will have to regroup quickly.

Saints Hand 49ers First Loss, 27-14 in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers came into Week 2 riding high off their opener, but left New Orleans humbled after a 27-14 defeat at the hands of the Saints.

Quarterback Jordan Love struggled from the start, looking out of rhythm against a Saints defense that disguised coverages and tightened up on key downs. Love completed just 45% of his passes, finishing with two touchdowns and two interceptions, but never able to establish a consistent rhythm for the offense.

On the other side, New Orleans leaned heavily on veteran running back Alvin Kamara, who shredded San Francisco’s interior defense for 104 rushing yards and a touchdown. His ability to find lanes inside kept the Saints ahead of the sticks and wore down the 49ers’ front seven as the game wore on.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan didn’t mince words postgame, visibly frustrated with his team’s lack of urgency. 

“That wasn’t us out there. We got outplayed, outworked, and out-executed in every phase. If we want to be taken seriously this season, that effort can’t ever happen again,” Shanahan said.

The 49ers (1-1) will look to regroup quickly, while the Saints (1-1) walked away with a big win over one of the NFC’s contenders.

2025 3GML Season - Week 1

Chargers Dominate Chiefs in Brazil, 27-6

SÃO PAULO (AP) — The Los Angeles Chargers opened their season in style, shutting down the Kansas City Chiefs 27-6 on Sunday in Brazil.

The Chargers’ defense was the story of the game, holding Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs to just 180 total yards of offense and no touchdowns. Haason Reddick led the way with three sacks as Los Angeles controlled the line of scrimmage.

“This defense came to make a statement today,” Reddick said. “We knew if we got pressure and kept our energy up, we could keep them out of the end zone. That’s exactly what we did.”

On offense, the Chargers leaned heavily on Christian McCaffrey, who delivered a monster performance with 234 rushing yards and two touchdowns. His explosive runs consistently broke through the Kansas City front, helping Los Angeles (1-0) build and maintain its lead.

The Chiefs (0-1), meanwhile, never found a rhythm and will look to regroup after one of their most lopsided losses of the Mahomes era.

With the win, the Chargers not only started their season strong but also made an early statement that they intend to be contenders in the AFC playoff race.

Texans Edge Rams in 41-38 Shootout

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Houston Texans outlasted the Los Angeles Rams 41-38 on Sunday in a wild back-and-forth game that saw both offenses trade blows until the final whistle.

Running back Derrick Henry was a force for Houston, dragging tacklers for tough yards and finishing with 83 yards and a touchdown. Rookie quarterback Drake Maye showed poise in the shootout, throwing for 303 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions while keeping pace with one of the league’s best.

On the other side, Justin Herbert looked every bit like an MVP candidate for Los Angeles. He carved up Houston’s defense with 389 yards and four touchdowns, keeping the Rams in it until the very end.

Ultimately, Houston’s ability to finish drives proved the difference, as Maye spread the ball around and Henry iced the clock late. The Texans (1-0) opened their season with a statement win, while the Rams (0-1) will leave wondering what more Herbert could have done.

“This was about staying composed,” Texans head coach David Shaw said. “Our guys matched every punch and found a way to make one more play when it mattered.”

Packers Hold Off Lions’ Rally, Win 31-24 at Lambeau

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers opened their season with a 31-24 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday, fending off a furious late rally led by Jared Goff.

The Packers built a commanding 31-14 lead, sparked by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s dual-threat performance. Tua accounted for all four Green Bay touchdowns — two through the air and two on the ground — finishing with 224 passing yards, two interceptions, and a previously unseen ability to improvise outside the pocket.

Running back Isiah Pacheco helped open up the offense, grinding out 98 yards at a clip of 6.5 yards per carry, keeping Detroit’s defense on its heels.

But the Lions weren’t done. Wide receiver Romeo Doubs burned Green Bay’s secondary, posting 119 yards and three touchdowns, including two scores in the second half to bring Detroit within one possession. The Lions even recovered an onside kick in the closing minutes, but Green Bay’s defense stiffened to preserve the win.

“This league is never easy,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “We made it harder on ourselves late, but we’ll take the win and learn from it.”

The Packers (1-0) move into early control of the NFC North, while the Lions (0-1) will look to regroup after a near comeback that came up just short.

49ers Dominate Seahawks 48-7 in Seattle

SEATTLE (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers rolled to a 48-7 rout over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, putting together one of their most complete performances in recent memory.

San Francisco’s offense clicked on all cylinders, racking up 469 total yards while the defense suffocated Seattle, holding the Seahawks to just 158 yards.

Quarterback Jordan Love orchestrated the attack with efficiency, throwing for 237 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. On the ground, Jaylen Warren provided the balance the 49ers have been searching for, powering his way to 184 rushing yards and two touchdowns behind a dominant offensive line.

Defensively, linebacker Drue Tranquill delivered a statement performance with 10 tackles, a forced fumble, and an interception, leading a unit that never let Seattle breathe.

“We wanted to set the tone for the season, and that’s exactly what we did today,” Tranquill said. “When the offense and defense play like that together, we’re tough to beat.”

The 49ers (1-0) start their season with a convincing division win, while the Seahawks (0-1) will need to regroup quickly after a humbling defeat at home.