NFL Week 3’s Top Storylines | Overreaction Monday with Rich & Chris Brockman

Three weeks into the NFL season, what do we know? Nothing, according to Chris, and Rich didn't argue. We know about some crushing injuries, and we know some undefeated teams look terrific but could lose on any given Sunday. That was the backdrop for the Week 3 edition of Overreaction Monday, with Chris bringing the hot takes and Rich deciding which ones survive contact.

**The Rams as NFC contenders**

Chris opened in Denver: it's officially time to worry about the Rams. Rich called it an overreaction. The Rams scored 16 unanswered in the first half, left points on the field by settling for field goals, and then the roof fell in with a Matthew Stafford pick six, which Rich called "par for his Hall of Fame course," the 33rd of his career. Stafford also became the first player in NFL history with 20,000 passing yards for two different franchises.

More to the point, the Rams nearly won in Denver without Puka Nacua and Myles Garrett, with Aaron Donald still working his way back and not yet playing 60 snaps. Chris pushed on the play calling, noting only 21 dialed-up runs against 55 Stafford throws. Rich conceded that happens with Sean McVay, "but you need him on that wall."

The two split on the late pass interference call. Chris saw Josh Wallace with his hands on Pat Bryant. Rich saw Bryant dragging Wallace by the right shoulder and flopping, with the official who had the front view keeping his flag. Rich also floated a bigger theory: September now "appears to be an extended preseason that counts," with offensive lines, play callers and new coaches all still adjusting. A 1-2 start is not a disqualifier.

**No clear Super Bowl favorite**

Chris's second take, that there is no clear-cut Super Bowl favorite after September, got a yes from Rich. The Bills are 3-0 but giving up points. Nobody in the AFC North is unbeaten. Rich likes the Jaguars as a potential contender, has the Broncos winning back-to-back games after trailing by 10 or more, and sounded less convinced by the 3-0 Raiders. "I need to see it a little bit more." The Texans were 0-3 last year and made the playoffs, Rich noted, the only franchise to do it, and they've done it twice.

**Drake Maye and the Patriots**

Chris called this one a therapy segment: Drake Maye was a one-year wonder and the Patriots will pick in the top five. Rich isn't ready to throw Maye in the trash, but he didn't sugarcoat it either. "It looks like he's just got a bad case of the yips and a bad dose of lack of confidence." This is the guy who called his own play to beat the Broncos in the AFC Championship Game in the snow. "That guy is gone," Rich said, wondering whether the Seahawks "put him in the tank."

The numbers are ugly. Six interceptions, the most by a New England quarterback in the first three games since Drew Bledsoe in 1994. Pressured on half his dropbacks. The lowest QBR by a Patriots starter since Bailey Zappe in 2023. A points-per-drive pace similar to the 2021 Jets in Zach Wilson's first three games. Trading Kayshon Boutte before the season, in a league where depth disappears fast, didn't help either. Rich invoked Mac Jones in Frankfurt, "a kid who needed a hug," but said Maye has a staff in Josh McDaniels and Mike Vrabel willing to give it. Still, it's September, the Patriots are 1-2, not 0-3, and they started 1-2 last year and made the Super Bowl. Overreaction.

**Deshaun Watson in Cleveland**

Chris's take: Deshaun Watson leads the Browns to the playoffs and earns a new contract. Rich split it. The contract part is an overreaction; there were cheers in the fourth quarter, but also boos. But Rich gave full credit on one thing. A month ago, after Watson was booed in the preseason, Todd Monken named him the starter anyway, and everyone predicted disaster. Instead Watson has back-to-back wins, found Harold Fannin twice, and gets a Thursday night start against the Steelers with a chance to go 3-1. "That's a fact. The other part is an overreaction."

**Chiefs vs. Raiders for the AFC West**

Both are 3-0 and play each other this week, so Chris said the winner takes the division. Rich said the Broncos still have a say. He pointed to Denver's next game in San Francisco, where Trent Williams left with a stinger. The 49ers have lost five straight without him and are 1-10 in their last 11 games without their left tackle. Then comes a Chargers team that "can't tie their own shoes" and a Week 8 date with Kansas City. Rich respects the Raiders, who have already matched last year's three wins and look sharp with Brock Bowers back "like he didn't miss a snap," but winning the division is a different ask.

**Ravens-Cowboys in Rio**

Chris called it the best international game ever, and Rich brought the receipt. Never before in the Super Bowl era had both teams scored in the final 10 seconds of the fourth quarter. It was also only the Cowboys' second international game, after London in 2014.

Rich praised Zay Flowers as a home-run hitter, Lamar Jackson as "at the top of his game," and Derrick Henry for his 34th career game with at least two rushing touchdowns, two behind Emmitt Smith and four behind LaDainian Tomlinson. Henry now has 13,319 career rushing yards, ninth all time after passing Eric Dickerson, with Jerome Bettis about 350 yards away. His 38 rushing touchdowns as a Raven passed Ray Rice for second in franchise history, eight shy of Jamal Lewis. Rich also sees Kyle Hamilton building a Hall of Fame career under Jesse Minter.

The ending stung Dallas. The Cowboys gave up a near 30-yard throw over the middle in seven seconds and kicked deep instead of burning clock. On third down, Dak Prescott threw the ball away per Brian Schottenheimer's instruction rather than trusting George Pickens. Schottenheimer later admitted he over-coached Dak. Chris wanted Dak to go rogue. Rich called the whole thing a proper reaction.

**Joe Burrow's elite status**

Chris's take: Joe Burrow is no longer elite, and Brock Purdy has taken his top-five spot. Burrow had the ball with a chance to win in Pittsburgh and fumbled. Rich called it an overreaction. The defense let him down, with Aaron Rodgers finding Roman Wilson early and Jaylen Warren piling up a career-best 176 yards from scrimmage. Burrow scored enough to win on the road with Higgins and Chase. Rich read the Bengals' schedule and called them "absolutely a playoff team," though not a division winner.

**The Chargers' collapse**

Chris said the 0-3 Chargers are the most disappointing team and won't make the playoffs. Rich couldn't push back. Two teams in their division are 3-0, and since 1990, 171 teams have started 0-3 and only five made the playoffs, a 2.9 percent chance. They were in the game in Buffalo until Justin Herbert threw what Tom Brady called a "meatball sub." Josh Allen became the fourth player ever with two or more rushing touchdowns in each of the first three games, and James Cook ran for 154 yards. Next up is a trip to Seattle.

**Sam Darnold's return**

Chris argued Sam Darnold came back too soon and Seattle should have stuck with Drew Lock. Rich disagreed. Darnold threw a pick six, but "Darnold's not the reason why they lost." The defense couldn't stop Marcus Mariota, and the run game with Jadarian Price hasn't clicked. Rich also noted how Jaxon Smith-Njigba lit up with his quarterback back. "Do they not know he's on the field?"

**The Vikings' defense**

The final take: Minnesota's defense is so good it doesn't matter who plays quarterback, and the Vikings are the NFC North favorites. Rich couldn't argue, even though Kyler Murray is "so frenetic" to watch. The Vikings have been outgained by 244 yards, the second worst differential by a 3-0 team ever, behind only the 2020 Seahawks. But they're 2-0 in the division and next host a Miami team without De'Von Achane, out for the season with an ACL, against a Brian Flores defense that surely wants to bagel the Dolphins. Not an overreaction.

**Tweet of the week**

Phil Whittley proposed that the NFL mandate all starters play four total quarters in the preseason. Rich's verdict was blunt: it will never happen. Teams would manipulate depth charts, and nobody can codify who counts as a starter. We'll keep wringing our hands every August and September, Rich said, but the owners will never pass it.