NFL over/underreactions: Week 3

Three weeks of the NFL season have come and gone, and it’s been eventful, to say the least. Here’s what fans are overreacting and underreacting to so far.

Jon’s underreaction: The Minnesota Vikings are NFC North contenders

After Kirk Cousins chose to leave Minnesota for the Falcons, not many NFL fans gave the Vikings a fighter’s chance this year.

Some hope may have been restored for the Vikings after they landed J.J. McCarthy in the first round of the draft, but it was again lost after he tore his right meniscus and underwent season-ending surgery.

The fate of the Vikings then rested in Sam Darnold’s hands, a former first-round pick turned NFL journeyman, and Vikings fans were seemingly ready for next season to start already.

However, Darnold has been outstanding so far, throwing for 657 yards, eight touchdowns, two interceptions and leading his team to a 3-0 start, including two huge upsets over the 49ers and Texans.

Not only has Darnold begun a career resurgence, but so has Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores. Flores has had the Vikings’ defense playing with their hair on fire the first three weeks of the season, holding their opponents to a combined 30 points.

We also can’t forget about Head Coach Kevin O’Connell, who is a key reason Darnold is turning his career around and has been a masterful playcaller.

If the Vikings keep this up, they are serious threats to win the NFC North.

Ben’s overreaction: The Pittsburgh Steelers will win the AFC North with ease

Justin Fields and the Pittsburgh Steelers have been exceeding many people’s expectations so far, being one of the five undefeated teams left standing after Week 3.

Fields is proving the doubters who wanted Russell Wilson at the helm; providing positive scoring drives that have come by often the past couple of years with this offense.

To go along with an offense that seems to finally be clicking for Pittsburgh, the defense looks to be as good as ever.

The Steelers are the fifth team in the NFL since 2000 to hold their opponents under 10 points in the first three games.

The last time the Steelers accomplished this feat was back in 1973…the Steel Curtain days.

With a functioning offense to go along with a stifling defense starting out, Pittsburgh is looking good in the standings early.

The rest of the division is lackluster so far, giving Mike Tomlin a good shot to take the AFC North crown.

Alex’s underreaction: The Cleveland Browns are finished

While a 1-2 start to the year is not the worst thing in the world, it seems as if the Cleveland Browns are not what they had hoped to be.

Deshaun Watson is now in his third season as the Browns' starting quarterback, and many thought this would be the year that the Watson of years past finally emerged.

However, through the first three games, Watson is currently ranked 30th in QBR and 26th in passing yards amongst all NFL quarterbacks.

Watson’s poor performances have stalled a Browns offense that has yet to eclipse 20 points in a game this season. Cleveland is most recently coming off of a loss at home to the rebuilding New York Giants.

Needless to say, the Browns have been disappointing. Watson has yet to show any real signs of being the MVP-caliber player he was in Houston.

In a tough AFC North division, it won’t be easy for Cleveland to make up any lost ground. Despite the high expectations set at the start of the season, it seems the Browns will be lucky to reach them.

Joe’s overreaction: The Buffalo Bills will win the AFC

Since Josh Allen’s arrival in 2018, the Bills have made the playoffs every postseason following his rookie campaign. However, they have yet to reach a Super Bowl, despite being one of the few perennial preseason favorites in each of the last three seasons.

Buffalo hasn’t advanced to the AFC Championship game since their 2020 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, who went on to defeat the San Francisco 49ers, securing their first Super Bowl title in 50 years.

Through the first three games of the season, Josh Allen has emerged as the early favorite for MVP, leading all quarterbacks with nine total touchdowns.

This surge comes despite the absence of a true No. 1 wide receiver–a sharp contrast to previous seasons, such as the Bills’ in 2020, when the offense was centered around Stefon Diggs.

Now, Buffalo has transformed into a balanced attack, relying on a run-first approach while still capitalizing on Allen’s throwing abilities.

A well-rounded offense paired with a defensive unit that ranks eighth in fewest yards allowed, and seventh in points allowed per game, and you have got a legitimate AFC title contender.

With AFC powerhouses like the Bengals, Ravens, and Dolphins stumbling out of the gate, the biggest obstacle standing between the Bills and a Super Bowl might just be the Kansas City Chiefs—again.

Jonathan Hartley is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jdh6293@psu.edu.

Ben Barker is a second-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email bsb5566@psu.edu.

Alex Harkins is a second-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email arh6278@psu.edu.

Joseph Granton is a fourth-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jlg6619@psu.edu.