The NFL regular season can feel like a sprint, and for the Las Vegas Raiders, it’s been a tough journey over the last several years.
It’s not like they haven’t made the effort. Since 2020, they’ve cycled through six head coaches. Remember when they brought Jon Gruden back from the Monday Night Football set in 2018? When he left amid controversy, special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia took the reins and impressively guided the Raiders to the playoffs. Yet, he didn’t get the permanent promotion. That went to Josh McDaniels, whose stint mirrored his previous one in Denver—a quick exit after a 9-16 record. Fast forward, the Raiders did finally give the interim head coach a longer leash when they appointed Antonio Pierce for the 2024 season, but he, too, was let go after a dismal 4-13 campaign.
After experimenting with a mix of coaches—some called “gurus” while others were completely out of their depth—the Raiders aimed to turn the tide in 2025 by hiring Super Bowl champion and future Hall of Famer Pete Carroll. He traded for quarterback Geno Smith, with whom he had found success in Seattle. Unfortunately, Carroll’s time with the Raiders was a colossal failure, ending in a 2-15 season, marking yet another one-and-done for Las Vegas.
This time, though, something feels different. Following a particularly disheartening previous season, the Raiders decided to hire Klint Kubiak, the offensive coordinator who had recently helped lead Sam Darnold and the Seattle Seahawks to a Super Bowl victory. Given their recent past and what many deemed a talent deficit, expectations for Las Vegas were low—but perhaps that suits them just fine.
After winning only two games in 2025, the Raiders have already secured three victories before September wraps up and are among just five unbeaten teams heading into Week 4. They’ve not only been winning but doing so convincingly. They kicked off the season with a 27-13 win over the Miami Dolphins. Sure, the Dolphins haven’t been a strong team, yet had they barely scraped a win or lost, the criticism would have been fierce. So, they deserve kudos for their decisive victories. In Week 2, they beat the Chargers, a popular AFC West contender, 26-14, including two picks of Justin Herbert. Then, in Week 3, they faced the rising New Orleans Saints and triumphed 35-27, with Maxx Crosby forcing a critical late fumble. This marks their first 3-0 start in two years, and only the third since the 2000s.
This isn’t just beginner’s luck. Their wins are impressive, not flukes, unlike some past seasons where they barely won contests or were gifted points. Currently, the 2026 Raiders rank eighth in passing success rate, with Kirk Cousins leading the league in touchdown passes while holding the tenth spot in EPA per pass. Not only are they excelling offensively, but Rob Leonard’s defense is also performing admirably. The team has the third-best defensive EPA per play, trailing only Seattle and Minnesota. Moreover, they lead the league with four interceptions and rank fourth in sacks. This success isn’t coincidental—it’s a testament to their hard work. The 2026 Raiders are making strides, not sneaking in unnoticed.
Does this mean they’ll be among the final teams in January? Not necessarily, but what matters is that they are finally competing—something we haven’t been able to say in ages.
That’s the prelude—now, on to the Hot Read.
Honestly, I’m kind of trying to convince myself. Back in the summer, I published my ranking of the top 40 NFL quarterbacks, placing Purdy at 18—one spot ahead of Aaron Rodgers and one behind C.J. Stroud. Let me take a moment to acknowledge my misstep and highlight how incredible Purdy’s performance has been.
Through three games, Purdy is far ahead of every other quarterback in terms of total EPA. He holds an EPA figure of 56.42, while Josh Allen is the closest at 28.39. He’s also completing over 72% of his passes, which puts him fourth among quarterbacks with at least 25 dropbacks, and his nine touchdown passes tie him with Kirk Cousins for the league lead.
Furthermore, we can dismiss the notion that Purdy’s success is solely due to being in Kyle Shanahan’s system. When plays have deviated from the plan, he has still excelled. He ranks third in EPA per play under pressure, and his three TD passes while facing pressure place him second in the league. Purdy’s excellent play is a big reason why the 49ers are also sitting at 3-0. I can admit when I’m wrong, and I’ll admit it: I significantly misjudged Purdy from the start—what an impressive player he has become.
Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy Shine
After a Week 2 loss felt like rock bottom for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense, Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy flipped the script, finally delivering the dynamic offensive display fans had anticipated since McCarthy’s hiring. With just 16 points in the first two games, the Steelers broke free and scored 30 against a Bengals defense that had just stifled the Texans. Rodgers threw three touchdown passes, and running back Jaylen Warren rushed for 127 yards, contributing to their 411 total yards as they defeated their division rivals to improve to 2-1. Even in a transitional phase, writing off the Steelers would be unwise.
Case Keenum and Ben Johnson Lead Bears Past Eagles
The performance from Case Keenum in Week 3 is what fuels our love for sports. After injuries sidelined Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent, the 38-year-old Keenum stepped in for his first regular-season game in over a thousand days. You wouldn’t know he’d been absent so long, considering how well he performed. On his initial drive, he took the Bears downfield, tossing a touchdown to Luther Burden. Later, leading 13-7 in the third quarter, he connected with Kalif Raymond for a crucial 41-yard touchdown that sealed the deal against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Keenum finished the game with 24 completions on 34 attempts for 247 yards and three touchdowns, all thanks to Ben Johnson’s strategic play-calling against a defense led by Vic Fangio, limiting the Eagles to their lowest point total under Nick Sirianni.
A Play That Altered Everything
The conclusion of the Ravens-Cowboys shootout featured some iffy decisions, but one moment that might slip under the radar was Dallas’s kickoff to Baltimore at the end of regulation. After Dak Prescott threw an errant pass out of bounds, even with George Pickens available for a potential tying touchdown, the Cowboys went for a field goal and then kicked to the Ravens with just seven seconds left. Instead of activating the play, Brandon Aubrey’s touchback didn’t use any clock. That might have been overlooked had the Cowboys opted for the standard prevent defense, but they didn’t, leading to Lamar Jackson connecting with Zay Flowers and allowing them to set up for the game-winning field goal. If the Cowboys miss the playoffs, this moment will likely haunt them for how things went awry in rapid succession.
Buy: Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars are enjoying a 2-1 season, and both victories have been decisive. Following an impressive 35-6 win over the defending AFC champion Patriots, they are securely at the top of the AFC South, with a quarterback in Trevor Lawrence who is excelling. He ranks ninth in EPA per play (minimum 25 dropbacks) and has thrown seven touchdown passes, putting him third in the league. What’s more, their defense is fourth in defensive EPA per play. This is a team that looks primed to repeat its success from last season.
It’s really frustrating to watch the Broncos. I can see that Bo Nix isn’t performing well, yet somehow their defense manages to step up just enough to keep the offense in games. While that’s helpful for now, it’s likely not a sustainable approach, especially with Nix’s lower EPA compared to Cam Ward. I think I’ll eventually be right about this. But for now, Broncos fans continue to dream they might steal a Super Bowl.
Buy: Texans, Bucs, Chargers Are Finished
All three teams entered the 2026 season with expectations of making the playoffs. For the Texans and Chargers, some even speculated they could represent the AFC in the Super Bowl.
We can rave about how solid the Texans’ defense is, but it doesn’t matter if the offense can’t score, which is precisely what we’ve been pointing out as their main hurdle. Despite only allowing 39 points over two weeks, their offense has managed a mere 23 points. Yes, they pulled off a similar comeback last season, but expecting that to repeat itself so soon seems unrealistic.
The Chargers were our feature story last week, and I ask again—what’s the excuse for Justin Herbert this time? Go ahead, Herbert supporters, try to tell me he’s not to blame for scoring just 16 points after the defense forced five turnovers. Explain how he isn’t at fault for squandering a fumble recovery in promising territory by tossing an awful interception back to the Bills. Sure, Josh Allen didn’t have an impressive game, but that’s what separates good quarterbacks from the elite: they find a way to win despite less-than-ideal performances. Allen did it. Mahomes did too. When has Herbert pulled that off? To add insult to injury, the Chargers have the toughest remaining schedule in the league—they’re done.
With Baker Mayfield out for 2-4 weeks due to a thumb injury, Tampa Bay’s fate now rests on the shoulders of undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels, sealing an early end to the season for all three teams.
It’s tough to admit, but something is off, and it’s not just a 2026 issue. Maye hasn’t turned in a quality performance since late last season against the Jets. Currently, he’s thrown just one touchdown against six interceptions, with questionable decision-making. Have we ever witnessed such a drastic drop-off from a quarterback who once contended for MVP honors? It feels somewhat unprecedented.
- Week 1: Steelers will trade Joey Porter Jr: TBD
- Week 2: Rams will beat Broncos handedly: Incorrect
Well, the Rams spoiled what seemed like a solid prediction. As we close out Week 3, I’m hoping to get back on track with my predictions. With that in mind, I’m going to look at the primetime matchup, calling for a decisive victory for Detroit against Carolina. I believe Carolina has been overhyped following their eight-win season last year. My only concern is that Bryce Young has capitalized on weaker defenses, and considering the Lions’ struggles in that area, I might be setting myself up for failure. But Detroit’s offense is potent enough to pull off a yearly rout, likely scoring over 40 points. Even if the Panthers manage some big plays, I see Detroit taking it 41-24.
