The third and closing week of NFL pre-season is in the books.
The costume rehearsals are over and the auditions accomplished forward of the large present that’s the begin of the brand new season.
Patrick Mahomes regarded sharp for the Kansas City Chiefs, whereas Micah Parsons regarded thorooughly fed up being with the Dallas Cowboys.
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Here’s our decide of week three’s motion.
Mahomes & Chiefs starters trying sharp
Patrick Mahomes took the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl defeat personally, and he is been fired up all summer time coaching exhausting forward of a revenge tour this coming season.
He definitely regarded sharp as he threw for 143 yards and a landing, and had one other cross dropped in the tip zone when displaying his trademark playmaking potential, whereas additionally touchdown a 58-yard completion.
“I was super excited to get out there, especially at Arrowhead and get real reps,” Mahomes mentioned after main the Chiefs starters to 17 factors in simply over 1 / 4 of motion in opposition to the Chicago Bears.
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The Chiefs really misplaced the sport 29-27 after Mahomes and the primary workforce left the sector, however regardless of going 0-3 in pre-season head coach Andy Reid shall be pleased with the starvation and sharpness of his beginning offence.
That’s greater than will be mentioned for brand new Bears boss Ben Johnson, an offensive mastermind for the prolific Detroit Lions who hopes to spark 2024 general first decide Caleb Williams into life this season.
Johnson bemoaned some “really sloppy football” from Williams and the starters, earlier than back-up Tyson Bagent, who went viral together with his tears of pleasure when signing a $10m contract, threw three touchdowns to win the sport.
Parsons on the lookout for Cowboys exit
Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones is enjoying hardball with Micah Parsons [Getty Images]
Superstar defender Micah Parsons nonetheless desires to go away the Dallas Cowboys, and is beginning to present his frustration on the sidelines as he was noticed mendacity down on a remedy desk throughout their closing recreation in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons.
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“Without talking to Micah, I need to figure out what he was doing and why he was doing it,” mentioned new head coach Brian Schottenheimer after witnessing Parsons’ barely weird actions.
Parsons is a large expertise and his future is a large storyline this summer time – as his contract dispute with Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones reveals no indicators for being sorted any time quickly.
Shedeur sacked however nonetheless hopes for job
Shedeur Sanders was again on the sector for the Cleveland Browns however endured a torried time as he was sacked 5 instances – together with a 24-yard loss when he was caught scrambling backwards.
Sanders impressed in the opening pre-season recreation, however looks to be fourth selection for Kevin Stefanski, though the pinnacle coach has not but named a back-up to confirmed starter Joe Flacco.
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Dillon Gabriel and Kenny Picket nonetheless look to be ahread of Sanders, however issues may change because the Browns appear to have determined to maintain all 4 quarterbacks
“We have a room that we like all the guys in there,” mentioned.Cleveland common supervisor Andrew Berry. “We don’t really see that as a problem. We more see it as an opportunity.”
Shedeur’s brother Shilo Sanders additionally endured a troublesome week as he was launched by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after being ejected from their win over the Buffalo Bills for throwing a punch.
“You can’t throw punches in this league – that’s inexcusable,” mentioned head coach Todd Bowles. “They’re going to get you every time. You’ve got to grow from that.”
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Giants maintain actual hope for Jaxson Dart
The Giants look to have severe quarterback depth [Getty Images]
There’s real excitment in New York for Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart, who may properly obtained a shot sooner relatively than later at changing starter Russell Wilson.
The first-round decide had one other stable outing in their simple victory over the New England Patriots, throwing his third landing cross of pre-season – the place he is additionally managed to not throw an interception.
Fourth string quarterback Tommy DeVito threw a hat-trick of touchdowns in an emphatic win over the Pats – with linebacker Abdul Carter, the third decide of the draft, inflicting havoc.
Ravens aid over Jackson, Stafford’s again a difficulty
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh mentioned “prayers do get answered” after constructive X-rays got here again of star quarterback Lamar Jackson’s foot.
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The two-time MVP had his foot stepped on in coaching to power him out of Baltimore’s emphatic 30-3 win over the Washington Commanders – and he has his boss fearful.
“I told the guys, ‘Prayers do get answered,'” Harbaugh mentioned. “I was praying.”
Matthew Stafford has greater issues, because the Los Angeles Rams quarterback has an aggrevated disk in his again that he is been attempting to take care of all summer time.
The 37-year-old Super Bowl winner admits his again is “day to day” and his availability for the beginning of the season continues to be undecided, together with his harm robust to foretell.
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Even if Stafford could make the opening recreation of the season, there’s severe doubts he could make it via a full marketing campaign.
NFL pre-season outcomes – week three
(Pre-season document in brackets)
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(2-1) Pittsburgh Steelers 19-10 Carolina Panthers (0-3)
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(2-1) New England Patriots 10-42 New York Giants (3-0)
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(2-1) Philadelphia Eagles 19-17 New York Jets (1-2)
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(0-3) Atlanta Falcons 13-31 Dallas Cowboys (1-2)
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(1-2) Minnesota Vikings 13-23 Tennessee Titans (2-1)
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(2-0-1) Chicago Bears 29-27 Kansas City Chiefs (0-3)
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(3-0) Baltimore Ravens 30-3 Washington Commanders (0-3)
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(1-2) Indianpolis Colts 41-14 Cincinnati Bengals (1-2)
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(2-1) Los Angeles Rams 17-19 Cleveland Browns (3-0)
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(2-1) Houston Texans 26-7 Detroit Lions (1-3)
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(3-0) Denver Broncos 28-19 New Orleans Saints (0-2-1)
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(1-1-1) Seattle Seahawks 7-20 Green Bay Packers (2-1)
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(0-2-1) Jacksonville Jaguars 6-14 Miami Dolphins (2-0-1)
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(1-2) Buffalo Bills 23-19 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1)
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(2-2) Los Angeles Chargers 23-30 San Francisco 49ers (2-1)
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(0-2-1) Las Vegas Raiders 10-20 Arizona Cardinals (2-1)