Week 3 NFL Recap: Ravens Rally, Commanders Upset Seahawks and Other Surprise Performances

NFL Nation | September 27, 2026

Week 3 of the 2026 season delivered drama, comebacks and surprise results across the NFL. From a last-second field goal in Rio to a stunning upset in Washington, here’s a breakdown of the biggest stories from Sunday’s action.

In a thrilling contest played in Rio de Janeiro, the Baltimore Ravens rallied from behind to defeat the Dallas Cowboys 31-28 on Tyler Loop’s 56-yard field goal with seven seconds left. The win snapped a 15-game losing streak for the Ravens when leading after three quarters, ending a prolonged slump in fourth-quarter finishes. Lamar Jackson orchestrated a precise comeback, connecting with Zay Flowers for 26 yards on the game’s final drive despite Flowers playing through a hamstring issue.

Meanwhile, the Washington Commanders pulled off a major upset, defeating the Seattle Seahawks 20-17 despite missing key starters including quarterback Jayden Daniels. Backup Marcus Mariota led the charge, guiding the offense with smart, efficient throws and capitalizing on three forced turnovers, including a pick-six by Kain Medrano. The Commanders’ defense, which had struggled with Takeaways early in the season, forced three scores off turnovers and showed marked improvement in coverage.

Elsewhere, the Pittsburgh Steelers overcame a high-octane Bengals offense to win 27-24, with running back Jaylen Warren shouldering the load after Rico Dowdle’s injury. Warren finished with 127 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, proving himself capable as a lead back. Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow threw for three touchdowns but was nearly turned over three times, highlighting ongoing special teams and defensive lapses for the Bengals.

The Cleveland Browns also found a way to win, with Deshaun Watson delivering a game-winning touchdown pass to Harold Fannin Jr. in the fourth quarter against the Carolina Panthers. It was Watson’s second straight game with a go-ahead score, giving the Browns momentum heading into their Thursday showdown with Pittsburgh.

Other notable results included the Detroit Lions avoiding a repeat of their 71-point collapse from Weeks 1 and 2, with Jahmyr Gibbs becoming the fastest player in NFL history to reach 43 rushing touchdowns in his first three career games. Gibbs surpassed Billy Sims in franchise history and caught a touchdown pass as well, finishing with three total scores in the win over the New York Jets.

The New England Patriots fell to the Jacksonville Jaguars 26-21, extending Drake Maye’s struggle with turnovers. The rookie quarterback has now thrown at least two picks in each of his first three games, including a critical end-zone interception before halftime. Jaguars rookie WR Josh Cameron emerged as a key weapon, catching a touchdown and returning one 42 yards, while the Jaguars’ offense tallied 82 points over three games with Trevor Lawrence thriving in the spreading roles.

On the other side of the coin, the Kansas City Chiefs remained undefeated but faced questions about their pass rush after managing no sacks in either game to start the season. In their 23-17 win over the Miami Dolphins, the Chiefs relied on Kenneth Walker III, who became the first player since 2017 to record both a rushing and receiving touchdown in each of the first three games of a season.

The Buffalo Bills survived a nightmare performance of their own — committing five turnovers and missing tackles — to edge the Los Angeles Chargers 24-17. Quarterback Josh Allen threw for just 157 yards with a passer rating below 50, yet the Bills avoided their first loss of the season, showcasing the resilience that has defined their recent playoff runs.

The Houston Texans fell to 0-3 for the second consecutive season, losing 23-20 to the Indianapolis Colts. Despite forcing three second-half turnovers, the Texans couldn’t overcome early mistakes. Daniel Jones led a game-winning drive capped by a field goal, helping the Colts snap a 1-2 start and avoid another Historically Low-scoring Start (HLS) season.

The San Francisco 49ers remained undefeated after defeating the Arizona Cardinals 24-21, despite injuries to key contributors including Mike Evans, Trent Williams and Dre Greenlaw. Brock Purdy threw two touchdowns and managed the game well, while second-year WR Jordan Watkins stepped up in Evans’ absence, catching both of his targets for 60 yards and setting up the winning field goal.

The Las Vegas Raiders improved to 3-0 behind Kirk Cousins, who completed 22 of 33 passes for 248 yards and three touchdowns against the New Orleans Saints. The offense reached 30 points for the first time since late 2023, signaling a return to form for a unit that struggled under previous coaching regimes.

In New Orleans, backup quarterback Tyler Shough impressed with accuracy and poise, completing 21 of 33 passes for 269 yards and a touchdown before late turnovers derailed the Saints’ momentum. His performance has given New Orleans faith in him as a potential long-term solution at the position.

The Minnesota Vikings dealt a blow to themselves, losing 21-10 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers despite the absence of Justin Jefferson. Kyler Murray struggled with accuracy and decision-making, completing only two of 15 passes at one point. Baker Mayfield threw for 217 yards and a touchdown but was sacked six times, underscoring ongoing offensive woes for Tampa Bay.

The Philadelphia Eagles remained the only team without a win after falling 20-17 to the Tennessee Titans, who have shown little consistency. Cam Ward’s mismanagement and a lackluster offensive line effort led to repeated three-and-outs, leaving the Eagles’ season in early turmoil.

The Arizona Cardinals showed life in the second half, outscoring the 49ers 21-6 over the final two quarters. Eight first-half penalties hampered their progress, but their aggressive play design and improved execution signaled potential if they can maintain consistency.

Fantasy football analysts Matt Bowen and Tristan Cockcroft will break down the top performers and waiver wire gems in their weekly rundown. With Thursday night football beckoning, the focus shifts quickly to the next wave of storylines.

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