NFL Week 3: Observations heading into Sunday’s slate

NFL Week 3 of the regular season is a pivot point. With some teams sitting at 1-1, it can serve as a launching pad or the start of a quagmire. For 0-2 clubs, it’s time to. win or face a long three months ahead. For 2-0 squads, a win means the postseason is all the more likely by the percentages.

With every team in action for the last time until Week 13, let’s look at what to watch for come NFL Week 3 Sunday afternoon:

Want $250 to bet on NFL Week 3?

• Are the Baltimore Ravens a legitimate contender in the AFC? Baltimore won the AFC North last season with 10 wins. However, it wasn’t given any respect in the offseason, with most pundits picking the Pittsburgh Steelers (guilty) or the Cleveland Browns. All the Ravens have done is win their first two games, albeit against the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals. Now, Lamar Jackson and Co. invade Arrowhead Stadium to take on the also-unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs. If Baltimore wins, or perhaps even plays a tight game, it earns major respect around the football world.

• Can Kirk Cousins finally get going? The Minnesota Vikings paid Cousins $84 million guaranteed over three seasons to be one of the better quarterbacks in football and certainly to be an upgrade over Case Keenum. This season, Cousins has been neither. He’s yet to complete more than nine passes in either of Minnesota’s forays, including a dismal 9-of-21 showing in a 21-16 loss to the Green Bay Packers last weekend. With the Oakland Raiders coming into town Sunday, Cousins needs to showcase why general manager Rick Spielman acquired him.

Read: Falcons, Colts Both Facing Opportunity in Even Affair

• Daniel Jones is going to be tested mentally on Sunday. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be the opponent, and defensive coordinator Todd Bowles is one of the more blitz-happy coaches in football. Rest assured, the New York Giants’ rookie quarterback will be seeing pressure often, forcing him. to make some quick decisions. Frankly, the play will be won and lost before the ball is snapped, with Jones having to identify where pressure is coming from and how to slide protection. Should be fascinating to see where Jones is in his early development.

• Can the Miami Dolphins even pretend to be an NFL team? Miami is on the road for the first time this year, taking on the Dallas Cowboys. After being outscored 103-10 by the Ravens and New England Patriots, does Miami have any ability to make this competitive for a half? Not likely.