The Blitz Read: NFL Week 3 marked by milestones, breakthroughs

Ron Clements

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The Blitz Read: NFL Week 3 marked by milestones, breakthroughs image

Sunday was a day of firsts in the NFL.

Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota threw his first career interception in a shootout loss to the Colts.

MORE: Big-time Week 3 matchups | Michael Vick can save Steelers' season | Woodson obeyed his kids' orders 

Buccaneers linebacker Kwon Alexander picked off Texans quarterback Ryan Mallett for his first career interception in a 19-9 loss to Houston. 

Rams running back Todd Gurley made his NFL debut against the Steelers, but did little with just 9 yards on six carries in a 12-6 home loss. 

While the Steelers lost quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to a knee injury, they did see running back Le'Veon Bell get his first action of the season following a two-game suspension. Bell had 19 rushes for 62 yards and a touchdown while adding seven receptions for 70 yards.

Vikings running back Adrian Peterson scored his first touchdown in nearly two years in a 31-14 win over the Chargers, and added a second for good measure.

The Raiders got their first road win since Nov. 17, 2013, ending an 11-game road skid with a 27-20 victory in Cleveland. 

With their come-from-behind win against the Cowboys, the Falcons became the first team in NFL history to start 3-0 after trailing in the fourth quarter of each game.

Then there were the teams that got their first wins of the season three games in — the Texans, Eagles, Colts and Seahawks. Surprisingly, the Ravens, Lions and Saints are 0-3 while every team in the AFC South owns a 1-2 mark.

Injury report

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was carted off the field following an injury to his left knee. Roethlisberger underwent an MRI late Sunday to determine the extent of the injury. ESPN reported it revealed a sprained MCL that will keep Roethlisberger out about six weeks.

Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch entered Sunday's game hampered by a calf injury, but left the 26-0 win over the Bears with a hamstring injury and did not return. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said the injury "is nothing to be alarmed by" and is unlikely to sideline Lynch for an extended period.

Falcons tight end Jacob Tamme left Sunday's win at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with a concussion and will be evaluated this week. 

Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson suffered a hamstring injury in the 27-22 win over the Saints and did not return. Johnson will be evaluated, but coach Ron Rivera said he is concerned the injury could force Johnson to miss multiple games. 

Big day for tight ends

Carolina's Greg Olsen caught eight passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Saints, but he wasn't the only tight end to go off Sunday. Cleveland's Gary Barnidge had six catches for 106 yards and a score in a loss to the Raiders. Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski had 101 receiving yards on just four catches in New England's rout of the Jaguars. Jimmy Graham finally found the end zone for the Seahawks as part of a seven-catch, 83-yard day. Then there was Cincinnati's Tyler Eifert, who scored a touchdown only to have the NFL's dumbest rule take it away. 

No starter, no win

The Cowboys, Saints and Bears all started backup quarterbacks Sunday and all three lost without their injured incumbent.

The Cowboys and Saints lost despite solid games from Brandon Weeden and Luke McCown, respectively. Weeden had just four incompletions, but did not throw a touchdown in a 39-28 loss to the Falcons. McCown passed for 310 yards and had seven incompletions in 38 attempts, but also was held without a touchdown and threw a late interception. 

Bears quarterback Jimmy Clausen was ineffective on the road against the Seahawks. Clausen completed nine of his 17 pass attempts for only 63 yards as the Bears were held to 146 yards of total offense. 

Impact rookies

Raiders receiver Amari Cooper became the first rookie since DeSean Jackson in 2008 to have two 100-yard receiving games in the first three weeks of the season. Cooper finished Sunday's 27-20 win over the Browns with eight catches for 134 yards. 

Bucs linebacker Kwon Alexander showed some nice athleticism to get his first career interception in a 19-9 loss to the Texans. 

Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett continues to be a special teams dynamo.

Milestone Marker

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady became the fourth quarterback with 400 career passing touchdowns as the Patriots won a 51-17 laugher over the Jaguars. 

Highlight reel

Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib blocked this extra-point attempt, which Chris Harris Jr. recovered and nearly ran back for two points under the NFL's new rule.

Eagles running back Darren Sproles is faster than all the Jets. 

Chargers tight end John Phillips is a seven-year veteran known as a blocking specialist. He began Sunday's game against the Vikings with 35 career receptions, but none better than his diving 15-yard catch in the second quarter. 

Panthers cornerback Josh Norman helped preserve a 27-22 win with an unreal end zone interception.

Charles Woodson has been around for a long time, and the veteran defensive back was not going to allow a late touchdown to let the Browns beat his Raiders. Woodson has at least one interception in each of his 18 NFL seasons, joining only Hall of Famer Darrell Green to have an interception in 18 straight seasons. 

Bengals receiver A.J. Green was just ridiculous Sunday with 10 catches for 227 yards and two touchdowns, showing determination to get into the end zone for an 80-yard score.

The Vikings got a big day from running back Adrian Peterson, who ran for 126 yards and two touchdowns, but they also got a 91-yard interception return from linebacker Chad Greenway in Minnesota's 31-14 win over the Chargers. 

Sunday's scores

Bengals 28, Ravens 24
Panthers 27, Saints 22
Raiders 27, Browns 20
Falcons 39, Cowboys 28
Texans 19, Buccaneers 9
Vikings 31, Chargers 14
Patriots 51, Jaguars 17
Colts 35, Titans 33
Steelers 12, Rams 6
Eagles 24, Jets 17
Cardinals 47, 49ers 7
Bills 41, Dolphins 14
Seahawks 26, Bears 0
Broncos 24, Lions 12

Monday's game

Chiefs at Packers, 8:30 p.m. ET 

Ron Clements