Sunday Rundown: Instant takeaways from Week 3 early slate

Sunday Rundown recaps the most important developments from the day's action and examines their significance moving forward.

Early kickoffs

Browns stun Packers

Survivor pools everywhere just got decimated. The Browns entered their game against the Packers as 7.5-point underdogs, the largest spread in the league this week. Even that doesn't do justice to the polar-opposite outlooks that surrounded these teams heading in. The Packers have been generating deserved Super Bowl hype, while the Browns are widely considered to be a front-runner for the No. 1 overall pick. Perhaps this game proves to be a one-off for both in the long run, but this wasn't simply a matter of the heavy favorite not showing up. The Browns' defense overwhelmed the Packers in the trenches, and Quinshon Judkins already looks like a difference-maker for the offense. The second-round rookie had no trouble against a Green Bay defense that had allowed just 2.4 yards per carry over the first two weeks. The Packers are going to be fine, but the Browns might be more fun than we thought possible.

Positive signs for Eagles

The Eagles blocking two fourth-quarter field goals, including the Rams' game-winning try, ultimately made the difference in a thrilling win. Big picture, though, the clutch special teams plays weren't nearly as important as the Philly passing attack flipping the script following a dreadful start to the season. A 26-7 hole gave the Eagles no choice but to air it out after posting minus-1 passing yard in the first half. Maybe that's just what they needed. To the surprise of absolutely nobody, forcing the ball into A.J. Brown's hands was the key to it all. The superstar wideout made several big plays as the Eagles erased a 19-point deficit, turning his 10 targets into six catches for 109 yards and one touchdown. We know this team can defend a lead and bleed the clock as well as anyone. If this is what we can expect in the rare situations in which the Eagles fall behind, they're going to be every bit as difficult to beat as they were last year.

Texans in trouble

I take back everything I said about the Texans this week. An 0-2 start was disappointing, to be sure, but I was trying to avoid panicking over losses to the Rams and Buccaneers. Dropping a must-win game to the Jaguars is a completely different story. While the defense still has the makings of a dominant unit, the offense is somehow bad enough that it might not matter. The offseason coordinator change has done little to change the trajectory established last year. The front five remains a problem, and C.J. Stroud hasn't revived the superstar play he enjoyed as a rookie. A brutal fourth-quarter interception in Jaguars territory was particularly dejecting in that regard. The 2018 Texans are the only team this century to make the playoffs after starting a season 0-3. That will be nearly impossible to replicate, barring a monumental turnaround.

Same old Raiders

Pete Carroll's arrival was supposed to bring some much-needed stability to the Raiders. It turns out that's far easier said than done. Getting run off the field by a Commanders team playing without Jayden Daniels is so incredibly on brand with everything this team has done with its most winnable games over the last two decades. Scheme and skill-position talent only get you so far when the offensive line gives up constant pressure en route to five sacks. The special teams unit was every bit as bad in the 41-24 defeat. And after allowing Washington to run for 201 yards on 6.3 yards per carry, the defense is clearly in no position to compensate. Carroll's plans to compete right away seem to have been a little ambitious.

Long season ahead

I can't imagine anyone actually thought the Bengals would build upon a 2-0 start and stay relevant with Jake Browning at quarterback. A 48-10 loss to the Vikings (and Carson Wentz) demonstrated why that was never going to be happen. Cincinnati's many shortcomings become all the more glaring - and problematic - when Joe Burrow isn't there to elevate the entire operation. The losses won't all look like this, but wins will be especially tough to come by from here on out. On the bright side, a top-10 pick could go a long way toward improving this roster for Burrow's eventual return.

Patriots give one away

The Patriots should be 2-1 heading into Week 4. New England's offense easily outproduced Pittsburgh's in Sunday's matchup, with another strong performance from Drake Maye powering a 369-203 advantage in yardage. But yards mean little when you're consistently squandering opportunities. The Patriots turned the ball over five times on the day, four of which came on fumbles. A veteran backfield was responsible for three of those giveaways, with Rhamondre Stevenson coughing up a pair of fumbles and Antonio Gibson adding another. Don't be surprised if the costly ball security issues lead to a more prominent role for second-rounder TreVeyon Henderson. The electric rookie saw an uptick in usage following the turnovers, finishing the game with a team-high 11 carries.

Bucs do it again

The Bucs shouldn't have needed another clutch drive to win this week, but that's exactly where they found themselves after a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown saw the Jets complete a 17-point comeback to take a late lead. Fortunately for Tampa Bay, Baker Mayfield and the rest of the offense just so happen to be at the their best in moments like these. On the final drive, a pair of chunk gains almost immediately put the Bucs in field-goal range. Soon after, Chase McLaughlin converted a 36-yard kick to seal a third straight last-gasp victory to start the year. Tampa Bay would probably like to make the wins a little less stressful from here. The offense getting healthier would go a long way toward its chances of doing so, but the hamstring injury Mike Evans sustained Sunday could delay those plans. In the meantime, it can only be taken as a good sign that this group so consistently comes through with the game on the line.

Penix benched late

It was a rough day at the office for Michael Penix Jr. and the Falcons' offense. The second-year quarterback completed just 18 of 36 passes for 172 yards and two interceptions, including a pick-6, before giving way to Kirk Cousins in the fourth quarter of a 30-0 loss to the Panthers. Penix's outing was the second-worst performance by EPA/dropback (-0.56) of any quarterback in a game so far this season, second only to Browning against the Vikings. Interestingly, Penix's Week 2 performance versus Minnesota is the seventh-worst performance of the year by the same metric. The Falcons will almost certainly stick with their talented former first-rounder, but this situation is one to watch. They'll need more from him if they're going to make a playoff push this season.

Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.