Three weeks into the 2026 NFL season, the panic meter is already smoking in some places and barely blinking in others. A few teams have earned full-blown alarm status, while one or two are still hanging on by the slimmest of threads. The Chargers, though, have gone way past that point.
Los Angeles Chargers
Panic meter rating: 11/10
This is the kind of start that makes you check whether the scale is broken. It isn’t.
The Chargers are already there. They needed a win in Week 3 to avoid an 0-3 hole, forced five turnovers against the Buffalo Bills, and still walked out with a 24-16 loss.
That collapse was historic in the wrong direction. Per Evan Abrams of Action Network, it was only the third time since 2013 that a team forced five turnovers, finished with a +4 turnover margin, and still lost. The teams that had done it before were 81-3-1.
And the larger picture is even uglier. Los Angeles has managed only 44 points through three games, and the schedule is about to get mean: the Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens are next. At this point, the idea of a playoff push feels dead on arrival.
Houston Texans
Panic meter rating: 8/10
Houston’s 19-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts dropped the Texans to 0-3, and that alone puts them in a rough spot. The reason this doesn’t hit the maximum level is simple: the Texans did make the playoffs after an 0-3 start last year.
But that path is not a common one. Only seven teams in NFL history have pulled it off, which is why the optimism here has to stay pretty limited. A repeat feels unlikely.
New England Patriots QB Drake Maye
Panic meter rating: 5.5/10
Drake Maye was the guy who led the Patriots to the Super Bowl and nearly won NFL MVP last season, so this fall has been jarring. Through three games, he has just 585 passing yards, six interceptions, two fumbles and one touchdown.
The deeper numbers are rough too. Among 36 qualified quarterbacks, Maye is last in turnover-worthy plays with eight, 29th in big-time throws with one and 34th in overall PFF grade at 40.4, according to Pro Football Focus. He also sits 28th in EPA per play at -0.070, per rbsdm.
We’ll wait for A.J. Brown’s return before fully pressing the panic button, but it’s been ugly for Maye and the Patriots so far.
Los Angeles Rams
Panic meter rating: 1.5/10
The Rams did blow a 16-point lead to the Denver Broncos and fall to 1-2, but this is not a crisis zone. Not yet.
Los Angeles still outgained Denver 482-257, but the game slipped away thanks to two turnovers and 13 penalties for 91 yards. That kind of self-inflicted mess will bury you against any competent opponent.
Even so, there’s a big reason not to overreact: the Rams are missing Puka Nacua and Myles Garrett, their best offensive and defensive playmakers, respectively. Once they’re back, the Rams should start looking more like the Super Bowl contender they are.
In Other News...
Matthew Stafford Sparked A Broncos Debate With His Tunnel Exit
After the Rams 30-26 loss to the Broncos, a postgame video of Matthew Stafford moving through the tunnel quickly became a talking point beyond the final score. The clip showed the veteran quarterback walking past Denvers 5280 sign and appearing to spit in that area, a moment that drew immediate attention because it came in the wake of a game the Rams had led at halftime.
There has been no official confirmation about what Stafford intended or even exactly what he was spitting at, and he has not commented on the incident. For a game that already featured a big passing night from Stafford, 390 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, the late video added an odd extra layer to a loss that left plenty for the Rams to sort through. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Trade Speculation Says A Lot About Their WR Problem
The Rams 1-2 start has already put a spotlight on a receiving room that looks thinner than expected, especially with Puka Nacua sidelined early and expected back by Week 4. Davante Adams remains the headliner, and Terrance Ferguson is in the mix, but the injuries have left Los Angeles needing more than just a short-term patch as it tries to steady an uneven opening stretch.
ESPNs Ben Solak even floated the idea of the Rams exploring a trade for another wideout, naming Marvin Harrison Jr. and Quentin Johnston as possible targets. It is the kind of speculation that usually says as much about a teams present discomfort as it does about any specific deal, and for the Rams, the real question is how much urgency they feel to add help before the season gets away from them. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Offense May Need Another Reset Before Eagles Game
The Rams came out of their game against the Broncos with more than one injury wrinkle to sort through before turning the page to Philadelphia. Tight end Terrance Ferguson is expected to miss the Week 4 matchup with a medial ankle sprain, while Colby Parkinson is dealing with an AC shoulder sprain on top of the knee issue that had already been monitoring his status.
Puka Nacua gives the offense a more encouraging note, with the team optimistic he could be back after sitting out the previous two games. Even with that possible boost, the Rams are still facing another short-week reset in a game that will ask the offense to adjust quickly against the Eagles. [Read more 🡒]