Nine of 32 teams remain unbeaten entering Week 3. The esteemed group: The Bills, Buccaneers, Chargers, Chiefs, Saints, Seahawks, Steelers, Texans and Vikings.
At least two of these teams will have their perfect records soiled this weekend, because the schedule features two games between undefeated teams: Texans at Vikings and Chargers at Steelers.
The Texans, led by second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud and coach DeMeco Ryans, displayed grit and resilience in their first two games of the season. They held off the Colts for a 29-27 road win in Week 1, then weathered challenges from a stout Bears defense at home last Sunday night. Now they take on a Vikings squad that has been one of the early season surprises.
Many expected Kevin O’Connell’s team to take some steps backward following Kirk Cousins’ departure for the Falcons. Instead, new starting quarterback Sam Darnold looks like a man reborn. Deemed a bust after awful experiences with the Jets and Panthers, Darnold (the third pick of the 2018 draft) spent last season as a backup in San Francisco, then was signed by Minnesota as an insurance policy for the rookie quarterback it planned to draft. But after J.J. McCarthy suffered a season-ending knee injury in August, the Vikings turned to Darnold, and he has delivered two strong performances to help Minnesota take an early lead in the NFC North. Can Darnold continue his resurgence against a Texans defense that ranks third-stingiest in yards allowed and second in sacks through two games? (Speaking of sacks, Minnesota has 11, so Stroud and Houston’s line better buckle up.)
Meanwhile, Chargers-Steelers should have a throwback feel. New coach Jim Harbaugh has guided L.A. to back-to-back victories while leaning heavily on a strong run game (running back J.K. Dobbins leads the NFL with 266 rushing yards) and dominant defense (227.5 yards and only 6.5 points allowed). The Chargers could need that rushing attack and stout defense more than ever Sunday, because quarterback Justin Herbert (three touchdown passes, one interception through two games) is questionable with a high ankle sprain. Interestingly, Pittsburgh utilizes a similar approach. Through two weeks, Mike Tomlin’s Steelers defense also has dominated, allowing 260.5 yards and just 8.0 points per game. That defense and a rushing attack that averages 139 yards per game has helped ease pressure on Justin Fields, who is expected to start his third game in place of a hobbled Russell Wilson.
It may not be sexy, but this approach has served both teams well. Which bruising squad will stay unbeaten?
