NFL Week 3 Grades: Patriots Fall, Commanders Shine
Week 3 of the 2026 NFL season delivered a collection of surprising results, dramatic finishes and performances that could shape the early playoff picture. CBS Sports’ latest NFL Week 3 grades highlighted major swings across the league, including Jacksonville’s dominant victory over New England and Washington’s stunning upset of Seattle.
Several teams also produced impressive offensive performances, while others left Week 3 with major questions. The Raiders remained undefeated, the Vikings improved to 3-0, and the 49ers continued their perfect start. Meanwhile, the Patriots, Buccaneers, Chargers and Texans all suffered losses that exposed significant weaknesses.
Here is a closer look at the major NFL Week 3 grades and storylines.
Patriots Receive an F After Blowout Loss
The New England Patriots endured one of the roughest performances of Week 3, falling 35-6 to the Jacksonville Jaguars and dropping to 1-2 on the season.
CBS Sports gave New England an F, pointing primarily to quarterback Drake Maye’s three turnovers. Maye threw two interceptions and lost a fumble, with those mistakes contributing directly to 14 Jacksonville points. One interception came on a third-and-goal opportunity from Jacksonville’s 2-yard line.
The Patriots struggled to generate enough offense throughout the game, while Jacksonville consistently took advantage of New England’s mistakes. The loss represents a sharp contrast from the Patriots’ surprising 2025 campaign, when the team reached the Super Bowl.
Jacksonville, meanwhile, received an A+ from CBS Sports.
Trevor Lawrence threw three touchdown passes, all in the red zone, while running back Bayshul Tuten helped Jacksonville establish an effective ground game. The Jaguars also recorded three sacks and forced three turnovers.
Commanders Earn an A After Stunning Seattle
Washington produced one of the biggest surprises of Week 3 by defeating the Seattle Seahawks 33-31.
The Commanders entered the matchup as significant underdogs and were without starting quarterback Jayden Daniels. Backup Marcus Mariota stepped into the lineup and delivered three touchdown passes, while also converting a crucial third-and-7 run late in the fourth quarter to help Washington protect the lead.
Washington’s defense also made several decisive plays. A first-half goal-line stand kept Seattle from adding points, while Kain Medrano returned an interception for a touchdown that ultimately proved critical.
CBS Sports awarded Washington an A, describing the result as an important response after the team began the season 0-2.
Seattle received a C. Sam Darnold, returning from injury, threw two second-half interceptions, including a pick-six, while the Seahawks managed only 44 rushing yards.
Ravens Escape Cowboys in Dramatic Finish
The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Dallas Cowboys 34-31 in Rio de Janeiro in one of Week 3’s most dramatic games.
CBS Sports gave Baltimore a B+. Lamar Jackson delivered in the closing moments, throwing a 27-yard pass to Zay Flowers that helped set up Tyler Loop’s game-winning field goal. Baltimore’s defense then prevented Dallas from reaching the end zone during the final seconds.
Dallas received a B despite the loss.
The Cowboys had opportunities to win, but a decision to kick a touchback after Brandon Aubrey’s late field goal left Baltimore enough time to respond. Dallas also reached the Ravens’ 2-yard line during the final seconds but failed to score the touchdown it needed.
Vikings Stay Perfect at 3-0
The Minnesota Vikings continued their unbeaten start with a 23-16 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
CBS Sports gave Minnesota a B and emphasized the team’s defense and special teams. The Vikings recorded six sacks, including three from Kyle Van Noy, while their defense kept Tampa Bay from running a single offensive play inside the 20-yard line.
Minnesota has now won eight consecutive games dating back to last season, according to the CBS Sports report.
The Buccaneers received a C after another difficult offensive performance. Baker Mayfield was sacked six times, while Tampa Bay’s offensive line struggled against Minnesota’s pass rush. A punt-return touchdown also proved costly.
49ers Continue Their Perfect Start
The San Francisco 49ers remained undefeated after beating the Arizona Cardinals 36-30.
CBS Sports graded San Francisco B+, praising an offense that produced explosive plays throughout the afternoon. The 49ers opened with an 82-yard touchdown created by a hook-and-ladder play and built an early 14-0 advantage.
Four San Francisco players recorded at least 40 receiving yards, while Christian McCaffrey added 75 rushing yards.
Arizona received a B despite the defeat. The Cardinals’ defense struggled to contain San Francisco’s offense, particularly early in the game, while the team’s offense also had a slow start.
Raiders Improve to 3-0
The Las Vegas Raiders continued their undefeated campaign by beating the New Orleans Saints 35-27.
CBS Sports awarded Las Vegas an A-.
Brock Bowers returned to the lineup and immediately became a major part of the offense, catching 10 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown. Kirk Cousins also continued to produce through the air as the Raiders improved to 3-0.
The Raiders’ defense was particularly important in the fourth quarter, forcing four turnovers while protecting the lead.
New Orleans received a B-. The Saints held a 27-16 advantage in the third quarter, but four fourth-quarter turnovers changed the game. Quarterback Tyler Shough was responsible for three of those turnovers.
Falcons Receive an A+ After Dominant Offensive Showing
The Atlanta Falcons delivered one of the most impressive offensive performances of the week, beating Green Bay 35-14.
CBS Sports awarded Atlanta an A+.
Michael Penix Jr. returned to the starting lineup and helped the Falcons’ passing game become much more effective. Drake London caught nine passes for 194 yards, while Bijan Robinson rushed for 194 yards and added 111 yards during the first half alone.
The performance represented a major turnaround after Atlanta’s offense struggled during the opening weeks.
Green Bay received an F. The Packers struggled to run the ball, Jordan Love had accuracy issues and the defense repeatedly failed to contain Robinson. Injuries along the offensive line also contributed to the team’s problems.
Bills Survive Five Turnovers
Buffalo remained unbeaten despite an unusually sloppy performance, defeating the Los Angeles Chargers 24-16.
CBS Sports gave the Bills a C+.
Buffalo turned the ball over five times, including three turnovers by Josh Allen. However, the Bills’ defense repeatedly stopped Los Angeles from converting those opportunities into points. James Cook also helped stabilize the offense with 154 rushing yards.
The Chargers received a C- after failing to capitalize on their defensive takeaways. Los Angeles forced three turnovers during Buffalo’s first four possessions but could not maintain enough offensive production to complete the upset.
Steelers Rally Past Bengals
The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 30-27 in another close divisional matchup.
CBS Sports gave Pittsburgh a B, with Jaylen Warren standing out after rushing for 127 yards at an impressive 7.5 yards per carry. Aaron Rodgers also connected on two passes of at least 20 air yards for touchdowns after failing to complete such a pass during the first two weeks.
Cincinnati received a C-. The Bengals struggled against Pittsburgh’s rushing attack and committed costly special-teams mistakes. Joe Burrow still had an opportunity to lead a late winning drive, but a fumble in the final minute ended that chance.
Chiefs Remain Unbeaten
The Kansas City Chiefs improved to 3-0 with a 24-10 win over the Miami Dolphins.
CBS Sports gave Kansas City a B-.
Patrick Mahomes completed 20 of 24 passes and finished strongly in the fourth quarter, completing six of seven passes for 93 yards and a touchdown during that period. Kansas City’s defense also stopped Miami on a critical fourth down.
The Dolphins received a C+ after keeping the game competitive for much of the afternoon. Miami ultimately struggled with turnovers and failed fourth-down attempts, preventing the team from completing the upset.
Giants Win a Rain-Soaked Battle
The New York Giants defeated the Tennessee Titans 12-7 in difficult weather conditions.
CBS Sports gave the Giants a C+, with kicker Dominic Zvada making four field goals in the rain. Cam Skattebo and Najee Harris also helped New York maintain its rushing attack.
The Titans received a C- after quarterback Cam Ward threw an interception from New York’s 7-yard line with less than 30 seconds remaining, ending Tennessee’s final opportunity.
Browns Move to 2-1
The Cleveland Browns defeated the Carolina Panthers 21-18, improving to 2-1.
CBS Sports gave Cleveland a B+, highlighting a defense that held Carolina to a 4-for-18 conversion rate on third- and fourth-down attempts. Mason Graham also recorded two sacks.
Carolina received a B-. Bryce Young threw 48 passes and generally played well, but two fourth-quarter decisions ultimately hurt the Panthers’ chances of winning.
Lions Hold Off Jets
The Detroit Lions defeated the New York Jets 31-24, with Jahmyr Gibbs again playing a central role.
Gibbs finished with 164 total yards and three touchdowns, while Detroit’s pass rush recorded five sacks of Geno Smith. CBS Sports awarded the Lions a B-, while the Jets received a C.
Smith nevertheless produced an impressive fourth quarter, throwing for 156 yards and two touchdowns during the final period alone. The Jets have now lost consecutive close games despite putting themselves in position to win.
What Week 3 Tells Us
The biggest theme from the NFL Week 3 grades is how quickly the league’s early-season picture can change.
The Patriots’ offensive problems have become a major storyline after a 35-6 loss, while Jacksonville responded emphatically following its Week 2 defeat. Washington, meanwhile, demonstrated that it could remain competitive without Jayden Daniels by getting a major performance from Marcus Mariota and its defense.
Elsewhere, the Raiders, Vikings, Chiefs and 49ers all remained undefeated, while the Falcons showed how dramatically an offense can change when its preferred quarterback is available.
With only three weeks completed, there is still plenty of football ahead. However, Week 3 has already provided several developments that could become important as the 2026 NFL season progresses.
