NFL Week 3 grades delivered some of the most surprising results of the young 2026 season, with the Washington Commanders pulling off an unexpected victory while the New England Patriots suffered a brutal setback.
Washington entered Sunday facing the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks without starting quarterback Jayden Daniels. Instead of collapsing, the Commanders produced a dramatic 33-31 victory. Meanwhile, New England was overwhelmed by Jacksonville, falling 35-6 despite entering the matchup with momentum from a strong defensive performance in Week 2.
The results produced a dramatically different picture for two teams that entered the weekend looking for answers.
Washington showed resilience and made enough plays to defeat Seattle. New England, by contrast, struggled to generate offense and committed three turnovers in a performance that raised fresh questions about quarterback Drake Maye and the team’s overall consistency.
NFL Week 3 Grades: Washington Commanders Earn an A
The Washington Commanders deserve one of the highest marks of the week.
Few expected Washington to defeat Seattle after Jayden Daniels suffered another left-elbow injury in Week 2. Marcus Mariota stepped into the starting role and delivered a steady performance when the team needed it most.
Mariota completed 19 of 31 passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns without throwing an interception. More importantly, he protected the football while Washington’s defense and special teams made enough plays to survive a furious Seattle comeback.
The Commanders led for much of the game before the Seahawks rallied in the fourth quarter.
Seattle eventually tied the game at 24 before taking advantage of another Washington mistake. However, a defensive touchdown after Sam Darnold’s interception helped the Commanders regain control.
Washington ultimately held on for a 33-31 victory.
Grade: A
The victory was not perfect. Washington managed only 258 total yards and averaged just 4.0 yards per play. Seattle, meanwhile, generated 437 yards.
Yet football games are decided by more than yardage.
Washington avoided turnovers, converted critical opportunities and remained composed when Seattle mounted its comeback. Those are encouraging signs for a team that entered Week 3 under significant pressure.
NFL Week 3 Grades: Seahawks Get a C-
Seattle’s offense produced enough statistics to win.
Sam Darnold threw for 379 yards and four touchdowns. Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught 10 passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns. The Seahawks also finished with 437 total yards.
But the offense’s production was undermined by turnovers.
Darnold threw two interceptions, including one that was returned for a Washington touchdown. Seattle also lost a fumble, giving the Commanders three total takeaways.
That proved costly.
The Seahawks repeatedly moved the ball, but Washington found ways to capitalize on Seattle’s mistakes. A team that entered the game with championship expectations cannot afford to lose a turnover battle so decisively against a backup quarterback.
Grade: C-
Seattle still looks dangerous, but Week 3 exposed a major problem: offensive production means little if turnovers continue to erase scoring opportunities.
Patriots Stumble Against Jaguars
If Washington represented one of the week’s biggest surprises, New England represented one of the biggest disappointments.
The Patriots lost 35-6 to the Jacksonville Jaguars, falling to 1-2.
The defeat was especially damaging because New England had entered the game after a convincing Week 2 victory over Pittsburgh. That performance had created optimism around Mike Vrabel’s team, particularly its defense.
Against Jacksonville, however, almost nothing worked.
The Patriots scored only six points and turned the ball over three times. Drake Maye completed 14 of 25 passes for 199 yards and threw two interceptions.
The offense also struggled to establish the run.
TreVeyon Henderson managed just 23 rushing yards on eight carries, while Rhamondre Stevenson added 22 yards on seven attempts. New England’s rushing attack never created consistent momentum.
Grade: F
The Patriots did produce 317 total yards, only slightly more than Jacksonville’s 315. That makes the final score even more revealing.
New England repeatedly failed to turn possessions into points.
Drake Maye Faces New Questions
Drake Maye was expected to take another step forward in 2026, but Week 3 created more questions than answers.
His 199 passing yards were respectable, but the two interceptions were costly. The Patriots also failed to record a passing touchdown.
Maye had already faced scrutiny following inconsistent stretches of play. Before Week 3, analysts were debating how to restore his confidence after uneven performances.
The Jaguars game will only intensify that discussion.
The challenge for New England is that the quarterback cannot shoulder the blame alone. The offensive line, running game and overall offensive execution must improve as well.
Still, Maye is the centerpiece of the Patriots’ long-term plans. His development will remain one of the biggest storylines surrounding the team.
Jaguars Deserve an A+
Jacksonville delivered one of the most complete performances of the weekend.
Trevor Lawrence threw three touchdown passes while completing 19 of 29 attempts for 182 yards. The Jaguars also produced two rushing touchdowns and controlled the game despite New England having comparable total yardage.
The difference was efficiency.
Jacksonville consistently turned drives into points, while the Patriots struggled in scoring situations.
The Jaguars also protected the football much better. They committed only one turnover compared with three by New England.
Grade: A+
Jacksonville’s victory moved the team to 2-1 and could prove important as the AFC playoff race develops.
Why Turnovers Defined Week 3
One of the clearest lessons from this week’s games is the importance of turnovers.
Washington won despite being outgained by Seattle by nearly 180 yards. The Commanders forced three turnovers and committed none.
New England, meanwhile, produced 317 yards but lost the turnover battle 3-1.
Those numbers demonstrate why raw yardage does not always tell the story.
Seattle’s offense looked explosive, but Washington repeatedly converted defensive opportunities into points. The Patriots had enough offensive production to make the Jacksonville game competitive, but turnovers and poor finishing prevented that from happening.
For coaches and quarterbacks, the message is obvious: protecting the football remains one of the fastest ways to improve a team’s chances of winning.
Ravens and Cowboys Deliver a Thriller
Another major storyline from the NFL Week 3 grades is the Baltimore Ravens’ dramatic 34-31 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
The game came down to the final seconds, with Baltimore winning on a 56-yard field goal as time expired.
Lamar Jackson threw two touchdown passes and ran the offense efficiently, while Derrick Henry carried the ball 26 times for 89 yards and two touchdowns.
Dallas had more total yards, finishing with 415 compared with Baltimore’s 378. Dak Prescott also threw for 276 yards.
But Baltimore avoided turnovers and made the critical plays late.
Ravens Grade: A-
Cowboys Grade: B
Dallas showed enough offense to remain competitive, but another close loss leaves the team at 1-2.
For Baltimore, improving to 2-1 keeps the Ravens firmly in the AFC playoff conversation.
Broncos Escape Rams in Another Thriller
The Los Angeles Rams and Denver Broncos produced another dramatic finish Sunday night.
Denver overcame a 16-point deficit to defeat Los Angeles 30-26.
The Rams finished with an impressive 482 total yards, while Matthew Stafford threw for 390 yards and two touchdowns. Davante Adams also produced 137 receiving yards.
Yet Stafford’s two interceptions proved devastating.
One of those interceptions was returned for a touchdown, giving Denver seven points without the Broncos’ offense having to drive the length of the field.
Denver quarterback Bo Nix threw two touchdowns and ran for another score. The Broncos eventually completed the comeback and improved to 2-1.
Broncos Grade: A-
Rams Grade: B-
The Rams can take positives from their offensive production. However, giving away multiple possessions in a close road game is a recipe for defeat.
What the NFL Week 3 Grades Tell Us
The biggest lesson from Week 3 is that the NFL remains extremely difficult to predict.
Washington entered the weekend without its starting quarterback and defeated the defending Super Bowl champions.
Jacksonville dominated New England after the Patriots appeared to gain momentum in Week 2.
Denver came back from a huge deficit despite being outgained by more than 200 yards.
Baltimore survived a high-scoring battle in Dallas with a last-second field goal.
Those results show why early-season records can be misleading.
A 2-1 team may have significant weaknesses, while a 1-2 team could still have legitimate playoff potential.
The most important question is not simply whether a team won or lost.
It is how the team responded to adversity.
Washington’s answer was impressive. The Commanders lost their starting quarterback, faced a reigning champion and still found a way to win.
New England’s answer was much less encouraging.
After an impressive defensive performance against Pittsburgh, the Patriots looked unprepared for Jacksonville’s attack. The team now has another week to determine whether Week 3 was an isolated failure or a sign of deeper problems.
The Early Playoff Picture Is Taking Shape
Only three weeks into the season, it is too early to make definitive playoff predictions.
However, some trends are becoming easier to identify.
Teams that protect the football, finish drives and remain competitive through injuries are separating themselves from teams that struggle with consistency.
Washington’s victory could become a turning point.
The Commanders entered the season with expectations surrounding Daniels and their revamped roster. His injury created a major obstacle, but Mariota’s performance gives the team reason to believe it can remain competitive while Daniels recovers.
For New England, the situation is different.
The Patriots need Maye to develop into a reliable quarterback, but they also need stronger support around him. The Jaguars exposed weaknesses that Pittsburgh did not exploit the previous week.
That inconsistency is exactly what makes the Patriots difficult to evaluate after three games.
Final NFL Week 3 Grades
The weekend produced several standout performances and equally notable disappointments.
Washington Commanders: A
A resilient victory without Jayden Daniels puts Washington back in the conversation.
Jacksonville Jaguars: A+
A dominant 35-6 win showed impressive efficiency on both sides of the ball.
Baltimore Ravens: A-
A dramatic road win over Dallas keeps Baltimore moving in the right direction.
Denver Broncos: A-
A remarkable comeback demonstrated resilience after a terrible first half.
Seattle Seahawks: C-
Massive offensive production was undermined by three turnovers.
Dallas Cowboys: B
Dallas showed enough offense to win but could not finish.
Los Angeles Rams: B-
The offense was productive, but turnovers proved costly.
New England Patriots: F
A six-point performance after a promising Week 2 win was a major step backward.
Final Takeaway
The NFL Week 3 grades make one thing clear: the 2026 season is already producing unexpected twists.
Washington overcame quarterback uncertainty to beat Seattle. Jacksonville exposed major problems for New England. Baltimore won a thriller in Dallas, while Denver completed a remarkable comeback against the Rams.
For the Patriots, the road ahead now becomes more complicated. For the Commanders, Sunday’s victory provides something even more valuable than a better record: confidence.
With the season still young, these teams have plenty of time to change their stories.
But after three weeks, the NFL’s early winners and losers are becoming much easier to identify.
