It’s a bad week to be an NFL team with a cat-themed name. Week 3 has seen the Bengals and the Jaguars falling behind their opponents, setting up many fantasy teams for disappointment and stunning some fans. So, what happened? Let’s dive into the biggest highlights from Week 3 to figure that out.
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Jayden Daniels
Sometimes a player just pops up at the right time. That’s exactly what happened for the Washington Commanders’ Jayden Daniels, a rookie QB with a stellar approach to the job. He was the number 2 overall draft this year, and he’s more than proven himself worthy of that pick so far. In a game against the heavily favored Cincinnati Bengals, Daniels came up clutch and delivered a 38-33 victory.
He missed only two of 23 passes, throwing two touchdowns and getting one to the end zone himself. That puts him in rare company with Dak Prescott and Justin Herbert as one of only three QBs to both throw a touchdown and run one in their rookie game since 2000.
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Legendary Start
His ability to get out of the way of opposing defenders is admirable, and his accuracy is something that fans should keep an eye on. It’s an exciting time for strong new quarterbacks in the NFL, and the Commanders would certainly love to have a Mahomes-level newcomer to help propel them to new playoff greatness.
Notably, his completion percentage was the highest ever recorded by a rookie QB. He’s also the first player since 1950 to throw for 250 yards and multiple touchdowns while completing over ninety percent of his passes. That’s legendary stuff. If it wasn’t a fluke, Daniels might be one of the best players in the league, period.
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Bills Crush Jaguars
The Buffalo Bills continued this string of handing losses to cat-themed teams when they dominated the Jaguars 47-10. Their quarterback, Josh Allen, proved a point on Monday by completing 22 of 28 throws in an astonishing run that saw Buffalo jump to 34-3 at halftime. The second half was much quieter, with the Jags seemingly accepting defeat and the Bills not looking to overextend themselves.
The Bills are now 3-0 in the season, an impressive start that speaks to the current power of their QB and their dominant offensive team. Time will tell if they have the stuff to make a deep playoff run this season, but a 3-0 start puts a pretty big smile on fans’ faces.
Welcome Back
The game was also quite meaningful for Bills fans as Damar Hamlin snagged his first interception. In January of 2023, Hamlin collapsed on the field while suffering from cardiac arrest. He took a helmet to the chest, which stopped his heart and required him to be rushed to the hospital. He was on a ventilator for days after being revived.
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As such, his huge interception, grabbing a throw from Trevor Lawrence, was a huge moment for him and his fans. Hamlin himself noted it was a “special” achievement for him, as it was his first interception as a pro player.
