Watchability Stakes: Which NFL Week 3 Games Matter the Most?

Welcome to the “Watchability stakes” – a ranking of the weekly matchups ahead in the NFL. Games are tiered based on three factors: narrative, implications and general intrigue. You will see The Lead’s NFL game watchability rankings at the start of the week to prepare you for football action.

Week 3 of the NFL season usually means panic time for many fanbases. Suddenly, an already interesting collection of games this week looks even more interesting.

Several 0-2 teams (Jacksonville, Cincinnati, Baltimore, Los Angeles Rams, etc.) need to win if any plan to stay in the playoff mix. A few preseason favorites (San Francisco, Philadelphia, Dallas) fell flat in Week 2 after commanding Week 1 wins. Then, there’s the handful of teams surprising out of the gate like Pittsburgh, New Orleans and Minnesota.

All in all, it means the stakes will certainly be pretty high this week for many fanbases. For context, seven of this week’s 16 games cracked Tier 1 and 2. On the flip side, only two games are at the bottom in Tier 5.

Week 3 also features two critical differences for watching the whole slate this time: a more balanced early-afternoon to late-afternoon balance on Sunday, and two Monday night matchups.

With all that said, The Lead’s ‘Watchability stakes‘ return yet again as we get you ready with our Week 3 game rankings.

Tier 1: Absolutely can’t miss

Baltimore Ravens (0-2) versus Dallas Cowboys (1-1) – Sunday @ 4:25 pm EST

• Let’s make this clear: any of these games has a case to be No. 1. This matchup gets a bump for being the premier late-afternoon game this week. Additionally, the stakes couldn’t be higher this early in the year. Baltimore and Dallas are each coming off pretty underwhelming defeats. An 0-3 Ravens start would be really bad, but two straight losses for Dallas isn’t great either. Down the road, there’s too much at stake here.

Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) versus New Orleans Saints (2-0) – Sunday @ 1 pm EST

• Likewise, surprising results in Week 2 propel this game up safely in Tier 1. Philly’s late-game collapse versus Atlanta on Monday night suddenly means the Eagles are at risk of dropping below-.500. New Orleans’ offense continues to stay hot, and Philadelphia’s defense versus this Saints offense is a primetime matchup. The 1 p.m. window is stacked and this game headlines that.

Houston Texans (2-0) versus Minnesota Vikings (2-0) – Sunday @ 1 pm EST

• Two undefeated teams square off to also headline the early-afternoon slate. Minnesota’s surprising start is impressive, especially after upsetting San Francisco. After a sluggish game against Chicago on Sunday night, are the Texans on upset alert now? It’s a good test for both teams and could mean a lot for their outlooks for the rest of this year.

Tier 2: This could be fun

Detroit Lions (1-1) versus Arizona Cardinals (1-1) – Sunday @ 4:25 pm EST

• Two different teams coming off two completely different results. Arizona smoked the Rams and is back home to try its hand versus another top-tier team in Detroit, after nearly upsetting Buffalo. The Lions looked sluggish versus Tampa Bay. Also, this game has a case to be the best late-afternoon window matchup this week if you aren’t feeling Ravens versus Cowboys.

Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2) versus Buffalo Bills (2-0) – Monday @ 7:30 pm EST

• This game gets a bump for being the clear fun game of the two matchups set for Monday night. Bonus points as well for the AFC playoff implications here. The season could be over for Jacksonville after this week, while Buffalo’s commanding win over Miami was significant. Another dominating win could firmly give the Bills more respect as a contender.

Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) versus Atlanta Falcons (1-1) – Sunday @ 8:20 pm EST

• Another one-score win for Kansas City plus Atlanta’s stunning MNF victory combines to make a unique Sunday night matchup. It’s also the first road game of the year for the Chiefs— a quality way to end a packed Sunday of games.

Los Angeles Chargers (2-0) versus Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0) – Sunday @ 1 pm EST

• This is probably the only matchup with two teams who are each surprising out of the gate. Unfortunately, it gets lost in a stacked 1 p.m. slate, but this will still be fun. A 3-0 start for either has many implications for the AFC playoff picture. it’s also just one of two games featuring a matchup with two undefeated teams.

Tier 3: Decent floor, high upside

New England Patriots (1-1) versus New York Jets (1-1) – Thursday @ 8:15 pm EST

• New England against New York makes the Tier 3 cut for a) being the lone Thursday night game and b) a divisional matchup (one of only two divisional games this week). The Jets get their first home game of the year against a frisky Patriots team.

San Francisco 49ers (1-1) versus Los Angeles Rams (0-2) – Sunday @ 4:25 pm EST

• Another divisional game here, this one can go in all sorts of directions. Like the Ravens, an 0-3 start could put an end to the Rams for at least this season. On the flip side, back-to-back losses for the 49ers would be troubling for a team seen as a favorite to come out of the NFC West. In the late afternoon, there’s at least an upside for this to be a Tier 2 game. But there’s also a strong likelihood the 49ers smoke the Rams and this drops down to Tier 4 in hindsight.

Chicago Bears (1-1) versus Indianapolis Colts (0-2) – Sunday @ 1 pm EST

• Two teams coming off a loss and a game lost in the middle of a strong 1 p.m. slate. Two things keep this game at Tier 3. Obviously, there’s the young quarterback battle between Caleb Williams and Anthony Richardson. Second, the loser of this game might start to feel like it could be the beginning of the end of this season.

Tier 4: It could always be worse

Washington Commanders (1-1) versus Cincinnati Bengals (0-2) – Monday @ 8:15 pm EST

• Not the greatest combination for a MNF game. However, Cincinnati needs a win to stay afloat this year. This is also another fun quarterback matchup between Jayden Daniels and Joe Burrow.

Miami Dolphins (1-1) versus Seattle Seahawks (2-0) – Sunday @ 4:05 pm EST

• A Tua Tagovailoa-less Miami team sets forth for Seattle. Big-picture playoff implications aside, this could’ve been Tier 2 or 3 if both offenses were at full power. No Tua for the Dolphins makes this game tough to be excited about.

Denver Broncos (0-2) versus Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0) – Sunday @ 1 pm EST

• The one case for this game: watching Tampa Bay. The Bucs look great out of the gate, and both these defenses are pretty sturdy. Not much else, but as the name for the tier implies, it could always be worse.

Green Bay Packers (1-1) versus Tennessee Titans (0-2) – Sunday @ 1 pm EST

• The Malik Willis revenge game versus Will Levis and the Titans, from a narrative standpoint, is at least worth staying in tune with on Sunday. Gets buried in the 1 p.m. slate.

Tier 5: Snooze Fest

New York Giants (0-2) versus Cleveland Browns (1-1) – Sunday @ 1 pm EST

• Like the game above, your attention deserves to go elsewhere out of your options for the 1 p.m. games. An underwhelming Giants team is a tough watch, but so is Cleveland’s offense. This could be a low-scoring one.

Carolina Panthers (0-2) versus Las Vegas Raiders (1-1) – Sunday @ 4:05 pm EST

• Carolina’s well-documented struggles still exist. Benching Bryce Young could do something, maybe? There’s not much optimism for the Panthers. The Raiders will likely win, but this does have at least a chance to be a close game.