NFL Week 3 in Focus: Patriots square off vs Saints, while Packers travel to 49ers

After the NFL season commenced last month, the eye-flinching, neck-busting football action is coming thick and fast and we’re already in our third week of high-octane fixtures. 

Although the third round of fixtures was kicked off by some Thursday Night Football action, where Carolina Panthers eased past the Houston Texans 24-9, let’s look forward to the plethora of matches unwinding on Sunday.

1. New England Patriots vs New Orleans Saints

The first big-money fixture to look forward to on the weekend is the clash between New Orleans and New England. The tie will mark the first time the teams have met since 2005 that Drew Brees and Tom Brady won’t be the opposing quarterbacks.

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Coming off their first win last week against the Jets, the Patriots want to keep that momentum going ahead of the highly anticipated return of Brady in Week 4. Meanwhile, the Saints are hoping to bounce back after an ugly 26-7 loss at Carolina.

2. Green Bay Packers vs San Francisco 49ers

Hailed as one of the great inter-division rivalries, when Green Bay (1-1) visits San Francisco (2-0) on Sunday, it will be the fourth trip to the Bay Area for the Packers in 22 months.

The Niners won the first two meetings in the 2019 regular season and the NFC title game. Green Bay won last year in the regular season.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Los Angeles Rams

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0) will visit the Los Angeles Rams (2-0) for an early-season showdown between the team that won the Super Bowl in its home stadium last season and a team that hopes to duplicate the same feat this year.

Tampa Bay and Los Angeles have been two of the most impressive teams in the NFL over the first two weeks of the season.

Don’t miss out on the duel between two veteran quarterbacks — Matthew Stafford and Brady.

4. Buffalo Bills vs Washington Football Team

The Washington side (0-2) will be looking for their first win at Buffalo (1-1) since 1987 when the two sides collide on Sunday. 

In the last meeting, Bills beat Washington 24-9 on November 3, 2019, in Orchard Park, New York.

5. Dallas Cowboys vs Philadelphia Eagles

All eyes are set to be on the Cowboys‘ encounter against the Eagles, primarily because Dak Prescott will play his first home game since the star Dallas quarterback’s gruesome ankle injury at AT&T Stadium last October.

Meanwhile, the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts will be hoping to put up a show in his home state and beat the Cowboys.

With inputs from the Associated Press