In Brian Flores we trust.
Week 3 Results
Kansas City (at Miami) - 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT
That's right, zero sacks. Andy Reid on the Dolphins: "One thing I mentioned to him was his guys play hard, and they play hard every snap. And that's a positive that means they're listening and trusting him. That's a positive that he can build on, and he'll do that. He's a sharp guy, so he's got a good staff, but they play hard." Be on the lookout for the Dolphins improving as the season goes on.
A Look Ahead: @LV BYE LAC - The Raiders are 3-0? We aren't using the Chiefs in Week 6
Minnesota (at Tampa Bay) - 6 sacks, 2 INT, 1 DEF TD
And one injured thumb for Baker Mayfield. The Vikings are the #1 D/ST through three weeks in most scoring systems. The Bucs will be a potential target with UDFA rookie Jalon Daniels starting.
A Look Ahead: MIA @NO BYE - The Vikings might be worth just carrying all year as your every-week play.
Cincinnati (at Pittsburgh) - 2 sacks, 1 INT
The Bengals' defensive resurgence took a detour in Pittsburgh when the Steelers successfully ran multiple plays when Cincinnati defenders took the bait and left big spaces in the field open for easy completions. We will slow down on adopting them as a go-to D/ST
A Look Ahead: JAX @MIA BYE - With Malik Willis improving and the Bengals defense showing cracks, we might not play them in Week 5 and certainly won't hold them this week on our bench to make sure we have them for next week.
Buffalo (vs LA Chargers) - 2 sacks, 1 INT
The Bills were in a generous mood and gave the ball away five times, so this one did not go as planned.
A Look Ahead: NE @LAR @LV - Drake Maye is scuffling, and the Patriots defense got dogwalked in Jacksonville last week, so consider sticking with the Bills D/ST even though they didn't come through for us last week.
San Francisco (vs Arizona) - 2 sacks
The Cardinals offense was humbled by Seattle in Week 2, but it appears that they are going to be much more competitive this season. The 49ers losing Nick Bosa during the week didn't help.
A Look Ahead: DEN @SEA WAS - There's no gold in them thar hills
Green Bay (vs Atlanta) - 1 INT
Michael Penix Jr. looked very comfortable against the Packers' Micah Parsons-less defense. Give Kevin Stefanski, Drake London, and Bijan Robinson some of the credit, but know that this Packers defense is not that imposing without Parsons.
A Look Ahead: @TB CHI DAL - Would we still try the Packers D/ST against Jalon Daniels? Depends on who else is out there.
Carolina (at Cleveland) - 2 sacks, 1 fumble recovery
There were some near interceptions thrown by Deshaun Watson, and the Panthers lost both of their starting corners during this game.
A Look Ahead: DET BYE @PHI - There's no obvious spot to use the Panthers D/ST on the rest of the schedule at this point.
Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda
Denver (vs LA Rams) - 4 sacks, 2 INT, 1 DEF TD
Talanoa Hufanga was responsible for both interceptions and the touchdown to turn this game for the Broncos
LA Chargers (at Buffalo) - 4 sacks, 3 fumble recovery, 2 INT
It was just one of those days for the Bills... and they still won.
Jacksonville (vs New England) - 3 sacks, 1 fumble recovery, 2 INT
We should give the Jaguars defense a bump at home and consider Drake Maye a potential target for a rent-a-defense when he's facing a good offense... like he is this week in Buffalo.
Carolina (at Cleveland) - 1 fumble recovery, 2 INT, 1 DEF TD
Kain Medrano had never taken an NFL regular-season snap on defense going into Week 3. He replaced Leo Chenal - who left with a fracture in his neck - and had the game-winning pick-six against Sam Darnold.
Las Vegas (at New Orleans) - 2 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries, 1 INT
Which is most shocking - That Kirk Cousins has nine touchdown passes through three games, that the Raiders are 3-0, or that the Raiders D/ST is a top-five play so far this season?
Week 4 Candidates
**Seattle, Houston, and Philadelphia are all assumed to be rostered**