Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields: Even if Russell Wilson‘s calf is entirely healed, there is no way the Steelers can make a switch now, not at 3-0 and not with Fields developing each week. On Sunday, he was excellent, completing 25 of 32 passes for 245 yards, a touchdown, an interception and two sacks taken — adding a score on the ground — in his team’s 20-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. Until now, you could say Fields’ best trait was that he hadn’t made mistakes in the first two games. But on Sunday, he threw a dart into a tight window that Calvin Austin III turned into a 55-yard touchdown. With a dominating defense, a solid running game and Fields thriving, it’s hard to imagine how Wilson regains what was supposed to be his starting job anytime soon.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis: He’s been with the Packers for less than a month, but on Sunday, Willis had the best game of his career against the team that gave up on him. That’s a pretty sweet redemption arc, with Willis running for one touchdown and passing for another. Matt LaFleur, who had limited Willis to just five pass attempts in the first half last week, called more early passes this week. Jordan Love appears ready to return for next week’s huge showdown with the Vikings, but Willis has shown they can win games with him.
Minnesota Vikings: All of it. Every part of this team is a winner right now. One week after beating one of the NFC’s best teams, they dominated one of the AFC’s best. Sam Darnold is hearing MVP chants after throwing four more touchdown passes (he has eight touchdowns to just two interceptions in three games), and the blitz-heavy defense overwhelmed the Texans’ offensive line, sacking C.J. Stroud four times. If this keeps up, Kevin O’Connell is going to be a strong Coach of the Year candidate for his work with Darnold, and defensive coordinator Brian Flores will get long looks for head-coaching jobs at the end of the season.
Baltimore Ravens offensive line: The biggest concern entering the season, and in this game, finally settled in, powering a 274-yard rushing attack that saved the Ravens’ season. The most important run of the year was the last when, having almost entirely blown a 28-6 lead, the Ravens needed a first down to run out the clock. They faked the jet sweep and Lamar Jackson ran virtually untouched through a huge hole in the middle of the line, securing the win.
Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton: Two things can be true at once. The Carolina Panthers failed Bryce Young in their efforts to develop the former first overall pick going back to last season. And Dalton was awesome Sunday. He is the only quarterback in the league this season with 300 passing yards and three touchdowns in a game. That’s the real indictment of Young, that Dalton could come off the bench and get these results from the same offense and the same personnel (it’s a real indictment of the Raiders, too, by the way). Dalton brought a measure of calm and confidence to the Panthers, and that allowed everyone else to play better.
Los Angeles Rams: The Rams saved their season, scoring the final 13 points of the game, the last 10 of them in the final two minutes Sunday. Both the 49ers and Rams were missing key offensive players, but the Rams finally got running back Kyren Williams going, with 89 yards and two touchdowns. A 38-yard punt return by Xavier Smith, with 42 seconds left, set up the game-winning field goal, which gave the Rams their first lead with 5 seconds remaining. Yes, it was a collapse by the 49ers defense, but the Rams were undermanned and teetering on the brink of 0-3. This was a win for never giving up.
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Nick Wagoner, ESPN Staff WriterNov 13, 2024, 07:09 PM ETCloseNick Wagoner is an NFL reporter at ESPN. Nick has covered the San Francisco 49ers and the NFL at ES