NFL Week 3 observations

There’s just one game left in Week 3 of the NFL, so with 15 games behind us it’s time for my main observations from the weekend’s action. Let’s get right into it.

Kyle Allen may be better for the Panthers, right now, than Cam Newton

Hear me out on this one. I’m not saying Kyle Allen is a better QB or player than Cam Newton, there is not nearly enough evidence to go that far. However, Allen has now started two games and had meaningful action in a third, and it is hard not to like what we have seen.

Today especially, he displayed the arm talent that made him such a high recruit out of high school and made him start ahead of Kyler Murray at Texas A&M. He showed he was capable of running the Panthers' offense comfortably and successfully. In his two starts the Panthers have scored 68 points and he is 35/54 (64.8%) for 489 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions. He's also added a rushing touchdown.

Admittedly he hasn’t faced the toughest opposition, but what has Cam Newton shown you in the last 11 games he's played to suggest he will produce like that? He has looked reluctant to run and throw the ball deep and the offense has faltered. Newton is physically and possibly mentally not 100%. Allen is, so maybe it’s time to hand over the keys until Newton is truly back to himself.

Cam Newton has already been ruled out for Week 4 so Kyle Allen has another opportunity to prove he belongs in the starting lineup.

Can’t believe this kid was Kyle Allen pic.twitter.com/WCbK4i3BY8

— Eric Rosenthal (@ericsports) September 23, 2019

Marcus Mariota may be done in Tennessee

I said last week I thought Mariota looked better. I was wrong. Thursday night was a horror show. He could’ve used a lot more help from his offensive line, but he still showed the same as he has his whole NFL career in struggling to move the offense with any urgency, regularity, or success.

I can’t imagine he has much time left as the starter in Tennessee, as it doesn’t seem like anything is going to change, and Vrabel is going to feel his seat heating up. But I actually think that’s a good thing for the both sides.

The Titans/Mariota wedding has not worked, so it’s time for the Titans to find someone who really fits their scheme, and for Mariota to get a fresh start. I floated the idea on Twitter that I’d love to see him with an offensive mind like Andy Reid, Sean McVay or Sean Payton (add Kyle Shanahan and Matt LaFleur here, too). I want to see him with someone who can really unlock his best traits and playmaking ability that has been hidden in a plain, pro-style offense with average at best pieces.

Here’s a fun idea: Bridgewater and Hill aren’t it in NOLA. Vrabel is done with Mariota with the Titans at 1-3 so swings a trade with the Saints. Brees retires at the end of the year and Sean Payton makes Mariota great behind an amazing o-line, great running game and Mike Thomas.

— Remy Cabache (@RemyCabache) September 20, 2019

Can you not see a world in which he replaces Drew Brees or Aaron Rodgers? Or what if Jimmy Garoppolo isn’t actually all that? Could Shanahan not get something from Mariota? I’d like to see it if nothing else because I find it hard to believe one of the most exciting QB prospects of the last decade would become such a vanilla player in the NFL. 

I was wrong about Dalvin Cook

During his final year at Florida State I wanted to love Cook. His highlights were incredible and I wanted to evaluate him and love him as a player. As it turned out I didn’t. I didn’t think he ran with very good strength or balance, I thought he was big play dependent and I had big concerns about his health.

He still needs to prove he can stay healthy, but he has shown he is everything the Vikings need in a running back. He is running the ball so well and it is elevating the play of the offense. It allows the Vikings to cover up the shortcomings in their passing game and makes them a dangerous offense. He is getting the short, tough yards and contributing plenty in terms of big plays.

I still don’t think Kirk Cousins is it, and when they need to rely on him they will struggle, but while Cook is running for 100-yards every game this team is a significant threat, and I have to hold my hands up and say I was wrong about Dalvin Cook before the draft and even before this season.

The Green Bay Packers are lurking in the shadows

I’m sure everyone knows the Packers are 3-0 and will scoff at this notion: the Packers are underrated right now.

Today reaffirmed their defense is for real and their ground game is a legitimate threat. That should have everyone terrified and Aaron Rodgers is yet to reveal his signature self. Of course, he is still playing better than a lot of starting QBs, but he has gone under the radar in that no-one seems to be talking about him. The only ‘talk’ about him I’ve seen is from Michael Fabiano saying he’s no longer matchup proof in fantasy football, perhaps insinuating a step back.

12.9 points
14.4 points
13.3 points

That's the first three games for Aaron Rodgers. I get that the schedule has been tough, but he used to be matchup proof in fantasy. This is no longer the case.

— Michael Fabiano (@Michael_Fabiano) September 22, 2019

I don’t think that’s true, it’s just the Packers are winning in a way they haven’t been able to for several years now. They can lean on the ground game and defense and let Rodgers just manage the game. But beware, Rodgers is still here and he is waiting to unleash his signature heroics when the Packers need it.

Josh Rosen is the unluckiest QB in recent memory

Josh Rosen was my number one QB in the 2018 Draft. I thought the Cardinals were fortunate to get him with the tenth pick. Unfortunately for him the 2018 Cardinals roster was potentially the most talent-poor team I’d ever seen. The offensive line was awful and Rosen paid for it. Nevertheless, through the season I believed, and still believe, he showed enough times why he was picked when he was.

He has incredible arm talent. He can and does make any throw you need, he moves well in the pocket and I think he has grit and shows it. So when the Dolphins traded for him I was excited for the team and for Rosen.

Of course I didn’t know then that the 2019 Miami Dolphins would embark on the most obvious and unapologetic tank ever, and he would yet again be on the most talent-poor team I’ve ever seen. The offensive line sucks, he has no reliable receivers, he has no running game to rely on and absolutely no defense to lean back on or bail him out.

Inevitably, come the draft with the Dolphins picking number one overall, he is going to be looking for a home once again, or sitting behind Tua Tagovailoa. I still believe that given the right opportunity he can be a very good starting QB in the NFL, but at this point I don’t think he’ll ever get the opportunity.

Speaking of the Dolphins…

The Miami Dolphins and New York Jets may be competing to finish 0-16

The Dolphins are obviously tanking. Everyone has seen it and no-one can question it. The Jets weren’t meant to be tanking, but man, that team is bad right now. Even with Sam Darnold and CJ Mosely back in the lineup I’m not sure they’re going to be giving too many teams many issues.

It would not surprise me at all if both teams were 0-7 going into Week 8 when the two teams meet, and I truly believe the two games these teams play, the second coming in Week 10, will decide who has the number one overall pick in April.

Quick hits

Here are some other observations I had that I’m not going to breakdown, but hit me up to talk about them or give me your own!

• The Ravens loss was simultaneously humbling and exciting.
• The loss was painfully avoidable: two penalties to give the Chiefs two touchdowns, three missed 2-point PATs and blown coverages for good measure. But to lose by only five is somewhat indicative of this team’s talent.
• The Steelers offense is just not good.
• Even with Big Ben this should have been obvious, but their personnel just isn’t that good.
• Nick Foles may be the new Jaguars backup.
• If Gardner Minshew II keeps playing like he has, like the Cowboys with Dak, they can’t bench him.
• Melvin Gordon has cost himself in more ways than one.
• The Chargers relative success without him lowers the contract he’ll get and diminishes his trade value, meaning he’ll likely only be able to play for the Chargers as no team will give what the Chargers want.