Week 3 had a little bit of everything for Oregon Ducks in the NFL: clutch defensive plays, late touchdowns and, in one ugly case, a team already wobbling hard.
The biggest headache from the weekend belonged to the Chargers, who dropped to 0-3 after the Bills outscored them 14-3 in the fourth quarter. Los Angeles entered the season with Super Bowl expectations and a healthy offensive line, but the start has been a disaster.
Justin Herbert was up and down again, finishing 20 of 34 for 226 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The rushing game has not given him much support, but Herbert also has to play cleaner if the Chargers are going to dig out of this hole.
Elsewhere, several former Ducks helped decide games in the closing moments.
Juwan Johnson was one of the Saints’ best weapons in a wild loss to the Raiders. New Orleans had a chance to get to 2-1, but came up short in a back-and-forth game.
Johnson caught 8 passes for 53 yards and two touchdowns, giving the Saints a big night even in defeat. The team is 1-2, but the NFC South is still there for the taking.
Kenyon Sadiq also delivered a breakout moment for the Jets. The rookie tight end turned in a huge performance with 7 catches for 105 yards and his first receiving touchdown, giving New York another encouraging sign from a young offense that is trying to build something.
Marcus Mariota stepped back into the spotlight after Jayden Daniels’ injury last week, and he handled the moment against the Seahawks. The numbers were not flashy, but Mariota protected the ball and threw three touchdowns in a win the Commanders badly needed after opening 0-2. That kind of steady play is exactly what keeps a team afloat.
On the defensive side, Jevon Holland kept stacking big plays for the Giants. He came through in the fourth quarter with an interception of Cam Ward on first and goal, helping New York survive in a Nor’easter. Holland already has 3 picks and 2 forced fumbles this season, and he’s been covering up some of the issues in the Giants’ secondary.
Derrick Harmon also delivered a game-sealing play for the Steelers. His strip sack of Joe Burrow locked up a major divisional win, another one of those Oregon moments where the defense slammed the door at the finish.
And then there was Bo Nix. Denver’s first half was a mess, and it briefly looked like the Broncos might need to rethink things on offense.
Instead, they found life after halftime, and Nix capped it by punching in the game-winning touchdown in the final minute. It was his third touchdown of the day and enough to stun the Rams.
In Other News...
Oregon Suddenly Has A Bigger Quarterback Question After Beating USC
Dylan Raiolas primetime debut gave Oregon a timely burst of stability in a game that briefly tilted toward uncertainty. After starting quarterback Dante Moore left with an injury, Raiola stepped in and delivered a poised performance, completing 19 of 25 passes for 289 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions as the Ducks pulled away for a 41-27 win over USC.
Dan Lanning came away impressed with the way Raiola handled the moment, especially the confidence he showed in a spotlight game that could have unraveled quickly. Still, the bigger question for Oregon now is Moores health, and the Ducks will spend their bye week sorting out how serious the injury is and what it might mean for the stretch ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Just Sent Lincoln Rileys USC Problem Into Overdrive
USCs loss to Oregon did more than hand the Trojans a damaging defeat in the standings. It also reopened the conversation around Lincoln Rileys tenure, with Paul Finebaum using an ESPN First Take appearance to press on the bigger issue hanging over the program: whether Riley has actually moved USC forward in a meaningful way.
The critique landed because the game itself offered USC plenty of offense, but not enough balance to survive Oregons pressure. Defensive problems again loomed large, and Rileys overall record has started to draw uncomfortable comparisons to Clay Heltons time in charge. Add in the shifting College Football Playoff prediction market and the margin for error is shrinking fast, leaving USC with more questions than comfort after this one. [Read more 🡒]
Marcus Mariota Just Gave Ducks Fans A Reason To Pay Attention
Marcus Mariota got another turn under center Sunday, and the former Oregon star made it matter. Starting for the Washington Commanders in place of injured quarterback Jayden Daniels, Mariota helped guide Washington to a 33-31 win over the Seattle Seahawks, delivering a steady performance in a game that stayed tight throughout.
Mariota completed 19 of 31 passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns, a line that will resonate with Ducks fans who still keep one eye on his NFL stops. Seattle got big production from Sam Darnold in his return from injury, as he threw for 379 yards and four touchdowns, but also turned it over twice, leaving Mariota and Washington with the final edge in a high-scoring finish. [Read more 🡒]