Who needs to bounce back in Week Three?

Week 2 is in the bag and we quickly turn our attention to week 3. Who needs a big turnaround? Whose season is slowly getting away from them? Who needs to silence some of the critics? 

Let’s have a look……

1. Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings are now 0-2 after they were beaten in Philadelphia on TNF. Despite Justin Jefferson getting off to a flying start, the Vikings have been their own worst enemy.

After only two weeks to have 6 turnovers is a real concern and you begin to ask what record could they have if they hadn’t been making these costly mistakes.

The Vikings face off against another 0-2 rival in the Chargers and if they want any chance of playoff football, they need to come up big in this matchup. Major bounce back is required.

2. Jalen Hurts

Jalen Hurts’ Eagles are 2-0 which on paper is right where both need to be. However, neither the Eagles or Hurts have performed how many thought they would to start this season.

Hurts is no newcomer to being criticised and I’m sure it doesn’t affect him much, especially at this stage of the season, but he will want to answer some of the questions quickly. Something I believe he will do.

In week 1 the defence won the game and in week 2 it was their new RB Swift who dragged them to victory. Hurts in both games, has done okay, but he hasn’t looked as confident or assured, as you would like to see. But at the same time, 2-0 is 2-0, so when he does start to pick up his form, the league needs to watch out.

He faces a Tampa defence who will punish him if given the chance, however, this might be the game where we see the real Jalen Hurts for the first time this season.

3. Justin Fields

I was full of excitement for Fields this season and so much was made of the progression he was making from last season, but so far it has been poor viewing at best.

He has made comments this week about why that may be, but talking is done, I need to see performances from him. That won’t get any easier the longer it goes and he faces the Chiefs this weekend.

It isn’t a game you would pick for him to show up in but maybe it can be the one where we get to see Fields be himself and at least give the Bears a chance. Something will have to give soon in Chicago and I’m not sure how much of a future he may have with the Bears if the losses keep adding up.

If he was in the right set up, Fields could be anything. Just now though, he has to be up at the top of the list of players needing to bounce back, turn the tide and to really get something positive going. Huge ask this week but in the NFL you learn to expect the unexpected.

4. Jacksonville Jaguars

I didn’t expect to see the Jags feature on this, at least not after two weeks. They had such a great opportunity to hand the Chiefs a loss, but the Jags weren’t anywhere near where they needed to be to do just that.

It’s one thing to have a loaded offense on paper, but it is an entirely different thing to play like one, week in and week out. The offense wasn’t present against the Chiefs and I expect the Jags to quickly rectify that.

They face the Texans, who are rebuilding and the Jags really need to win, but more importantly, win well. The quicker they get the offence properly up and running, the better it will be. I don’t want to see them have to dig deep to win this one, they need to show a clean and clinical performance.

5. Deshaun Watson

Watson doesn’t need a bounce back from week 2 but just an overall bounce back. Despite all of the issues that have surrounded him, he was once a great quarterback.

The problem the Cleveland Browns have, he hasn’t shown that since he put on their Jersey. It wasn’t long ago that Mayfield took them to a playoff win and if asked who would you currently want as your QB out of the two, it isn’t Watson.

He doesn’t look like a game changing QB, he doesn’t look to have enhanced his team or taken them to a new level. With the contract he was given, nothing is changing anytime soon and it’s looking more and more like a really bad deal from the Browns. It raised questions at the time and continues to raise questions now.

If Watson wants the questions to stop he needs to pick it up and start to show some of the talent that got him the lucrative contract in the first place. Being great once before doesn’t mean he will be again, but it’s good to know he has been great, the talent is there, it’s now up to Watson to show it.

–

So there it is, our bounce back candidates heading into week 3 are complete. Now we need to wait and see how it all plays out.