And two of the three teams sitting at 3-0 – Buffalo and Detroit – were 0-3 a year ago.

“It feels good to be 3-0,” says Bills quarterback RYAN FITZPATRICK. “That being said, we’re three games into the season and there’s still a lot of games to be played and a lot of work. The goal is to get better every week and we need to continue to do that.”

 

There is a lot of football left to be played. And while a strong start to the season is a good thing – 75.9 percent of teams (82 of 108) that started 3-0 since 1990 made the playoffs – it is hardly a guarantee of future success.

 

“We’re winning but guys are keeping it in perspective,” says Lions linebacker DE ANDRE LEVY. “I don’t think anybody’s getting too far ahead of ourselves. We know we’ve still got a long way to go and a lot of things to accomplish.”

 

Since 1990, 52 teams with a losing record after the first three games made the playoffs. So, entering Week 4, hope is still very much alive for everyone.

 

And the unpredictability of the NFL was on display in Week 3 as 12 contests featured second-half lead changes, 12 games were decided by seven points or fewer – tied for the most ever in a single week in NFL history (Week 15, 1993 and Week 12, 2003) – and two teams (Buffalo, 21 points; Detroit, 20) completed comebacks from 20+ point deficits for the first time since September 12, 1999.

 

The Bills, who erased a 21-0 deficit and defeated New England 34-31, became the first team in NFL history to win consecutive games in which it trailed by at least 18 points in each contest. The Lions, who trailed 20-0 at halftime and came back to win 26-23 at Minnesota in overtime, became the 10th team in NFL history to win a game in which it trailed by at least 20 points at halftime after being shut out in the first half.

 

“You have to keep playing in this league,” says Buffalo head coach CHAN GAILEY. “There are ups and downs in this game. Just handle the ups and downs and keep playing. If you keep playing, good things will happen to you. Our guys keep playing. You have to give them their due in the character department.”

 

Like the first three weeks of the season, there are plenty of enticing games on the schedule in Week 4. Among them:

 

DETROIT LIONS (3-0) at DALLAS COWBOYS (2-1) (Sunday, FOX, 1:00 PM ET)                

 

The Cowboys have won two in a row and will face the 3-0 Lions on Sunday afternoon.

 

Detroit rebounded from a 20-0 halftime deficit to win at Minnesota in Week 3, 26-23 in overtime. Quarterback MATTHEW STAFFORD passed for 378 yards and two touchdowns to help lead the comeback.

 

“It’s just a big win for us to win a division game on the road after being down 20 at the half,” says Stafford. “We made clutch kicks, clutch plays on defense and guys made unbelievable plays on offense. That’s what you have to have sometimes. Sometimes they come a little easier than that and this is one of the toughest games I’ve ever been a part of.”

 

Lions wide receiver CALVIN JOHNSON had seven catches for 108 yards and two touchdowns and became the first player in NFL history to have at least two receiving TDs in each of a team’s first three games of a season.

 

Dallas got six field goals from rookie kicker DAN BAILEY on Monday night to beat Washington 18-16. It marked the ninth consecutive game for the Cowboys decided by three points or fewer, the longest such streak in NFL history.

 

Bailey’s six field goals tied for the most by a rookie in one game – GARO YEPREMIAN (1966) and JEFF REED (2002).

 

“Dan’s a great kicker,” says wide receiver DEZ BRYANT, who had a key 30-yard reception from TONY ROMO on third-and-21 to set up the winning kick. “I went to school (Oklahoma State) with him and he used to hit them all the time. Dan has become better than good. He’s tremendous and ended up winning the game.”

 

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (2-1) at OAKLAND RAIDERS (2-1) (Sunday, CBS, 4:15 PM ET)                

 

Two of the league’s best offenses will meet in Oakland. The Patriots enter the contest with the NFL’s best passing (437.7 yards per game) and total (540.3) offense while the Raiders lead the league in rushing (185) offense.

 

New England is led by quarterback TOM BRADY, who has passed for 1,327 yards this season, the most ever for any three-game span in NFL history. Last week at Buffalo, Brady had 387 yards and four touchdowns and leads the league with 1,327 yards and 11 touchdowns. Wide receiver WES WELKER had 16 catches for 217 yards and two scores versus the Bills and he tops the NFL in receptions (31) and receiving yards (458).

 

The Patriots will face a Raiders team that knocked off another AFC East contender last week, defeating the New York Jets 34-24.

 

“It’s a great challenge for us,” says New England linebacker JEROD MAYO on facing Oakland. “Their offense has a lot of weapons. It’s a great challenge for our mental toughness.”

 

One of the Raiders’ weapons is running back DARREN MC FADDEN, who rushed for a career-high 171 yards and two touchdowns (70 and two yards) while averaging nine yards per carry versus the Jets. McFadden, the NFL’s leading rusher (393 yards), and Welker are tied for the NFL lead in scrimmage yards with 477.

 

“Let your players make plays,” says Raiders rookie head coach HUE JACKSON about his philosophy. “That’s what I’m trying to create here. I’m going to create an environment where our great players can do something special.”

 

NEW YORK JETS (2-1) at BALTIMORE RAVENS (2-1) (Sunday, NBC, 8:20 PM ET)     

 

A key AFC matchup will take place in primetime on Sunday night when the Jets visit the Ravens.

 

New York head coach REX RYAN will look to get his defense back on track against a team he used to coach as the  defensive coordinator.

 

“This is a bend in the road right now,” says Ryan. “But I can tell you one thing, I believe we’ll get this thing fixed.”

 

Jets running back LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON reached a milestone last weekend when he scored on an 18-yard touchdown reception, the 160th TD of his career. He joined Pro Football Hall of Famers JERRY RICE (208) and EMMITT SMITH(175) as the only players in NFL history to score 160 touchdowns.

 

The Ravens posted an impressive 37-7 road victory at St. Louis in Week 3. Wide receiver TORREY SMITH had three touchdown receptions (74, 41 and 18 yards) in the first quarter and became the first rookie in NFL history with three TD catches in the first quarter of a game.

 

“Torrey has really been catching the ball well in practice,” says Baltimore head coach JOHN HARBAUGH. “I think he and JOE (FLACCO) are starting to tie this thing together.”

###

AFC Notes — Week 4

GAME-CHANGER: TAKEAWAYS MAKE INSTANT IMPACT  

 

What’s the formula to winning on a consistent basis in the NFL? Turnovers.

 

“With teams being so evenly matched, the sudden change caused by turnovers decides many games,” says Baltimore Ravens head coach JOHN HARBAUGH, whose club ranks third in the NFL with 103 takeaways since he arrived in Baltimore in 2008. “A turnover can completely change the momentum of the game.”

 

Through Week 3 of the 2011 season, teams winning the turnover battle are 28-7 (.800).

 

New York Jets head coach REX RYAN certainly values the importance of takeaways.  The Jets are fifth in the NFL with 98 takeaways since 2008.

 

“That’s a huge emphasis for every team in the league", says Ryan.”  “I think that’s the number one correlation between winning and losing, more than any other statistic.” 

 

TEAM

MOST TAKEAWAYS SINCE 2008

RECORD SINCE 2008

Green Bay Packers

107

30-21 (.588)

Philadelphia Eagles

104

31-19-1 (.618)

Baltimore Ravens*

103

34-17 (.667)

Chicago Bears

101

28-23 (.549)

New York Jets*

98

31-20 (.608)

                                    *Jets-Ravens meet on Sunday night in primetime (NBC, 8:20 PM ET)

 

While registering a takeaway changes the momentum of a game, converting them to points can be the deciding factor.

 

“If you score a touchdown after taking the ball away, these are almost like hidden points you didn’t expect,” says Harbaugh, whose club ranks second in the NFL with 358 points off turnovers since 2008. “When you get a turnover deep in the other team’s end, those are huge factors in deciding games. Ideally, you want to maximize the extra scoring opportunities when you take the ball away. And, you want to minimize the effect for your team if you give the ball away.”

 

Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback and Oakland Raiders assistant coach ROD WOODSON, who ranks third all-time with 71 career interceptions, says your chances of winning instantly increase by turning takeaways into points.

 

“It’s hard for an offense to go 80 yards the entire game,” says Woodson. “The defenses that can capitalize on takeaways or give their offenses a short field to score on have better opportunities to win.”

                 

TEAM

MOST POINTS OFF TURNOVERS SINCE 2008

RECORD SINCE 2008

Green Bay Packers

392

30-21 (.588)

Baltimore Ravens

358

34-17 (.667)

New England Patriots

332

37-14 (.725)

New Orleans Saints

325

34-17 (.667)

Philadelphia Eagles

324

31-19-1 (.618)

 

# # #

NFC Notes — Week 4

SCORING & PASSING AT RECORD LEVELS

AS NFL ENTERS WEEK 4

 

Three weeks into the NFL season, offensives are putting on impressive displays.

 

Scoring is at an all-time high in 2011 as the league has set marks for the most points scored (2,157) and the most passing touchdowns scored (153) through the first three weeks of a season.

 

“The NFL is as hot as it’s ever been,” says NBC analyst AL MICHAELS.

 

SEASON

POINTS THROUGH WEEK 3

 

SEASON

TD PASSES THROUGH WEEK 3

2011

2,157

 

2011

153

2008

2,073

 

1987

137

2002

2,058

 

2010

136

2007

2,054

 

2002

135

1989

2,040

 

2007

135

 

Scoring has been helped by the increased passing numbers throughout the league as quarterback play has been at an elite level.

 

“The league that we’re in,” says NFL Network analyst and Pro Football Hall of Fame running back MARSHALL FAULK, “it’s not only quarterback driven, it’s quarterback thirsty.”

 

Net passing yards (23,560) are the highest ever through the first three weeks and the 34 individual 300-yard passing games are by far the most all-time in a season’s first three weeks.

 

SEASON

NET PASSING YARDS

 

SEASON

300-YARD PASS GAMES

2011

23,560

 

2011

34

2010

21,521

 

2009

21

2009

21,072

 

1994

19

2007

20,957

 

2007

18

2005

19,826

 

3 tied

16

 

Entering Week 4, there are eight quarterbacks with a passer rating of at least 100 and nine QBs are averaging at least 300 passing yards per game.

 

“We’re seeing a new age of quarterbacks,” says NFL Network analyst and former NFL quarterback KURT WARNER. “We’re seeing more quarterbacks with good numbers than at any time in the history of the league.”

 

QUARTERBACK

TEAM

100+ PASSER RATING

Aaron Rodgers

GB

120.9

Tom Brady

NE

113.8

Matthew Stafford

DET

110.7

Drew Brees

NO

109.7

Eli Manning

NYG

104.3

Ryan Fitzpatrick

BUF

103.5

Matt Hasselbeck

TEN

102.2

Matt Schaub

HOU

101.9

QUARTERBACK

TEAM

300 YARDS/GAME AVG.

Tom Brady

NE

442.3

Drew Brees

NO

353.0

Cam Newton

CAR

337.3

Philip Rivers

SD

326.3

Matthew Stafford

DET

325.7

Ben Roethlisberger

PIT

314.0

Tony Romo

DAL

314.0

Matt Hasselbeck

TEN

310.7

Aaron Rodgers

GB

305.7

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