Broncos deny Rams and Seahawks lose - five things from NFL week three

ByBen Collins

BBC Sport journalist

The NFL produced another thrilling day of action on Sunday with a shock for the defending champions as five teams maintained their unbeaten record this season.

There were several nail-biting finishes as 12 of the 14 games were decided by eight points or fewer, tying the NFL record for the most one-score games in a day.

One of those took place in Brazil, where the NFL staged the second of a record nine international games to be played this season.

But they saved the best for last as the two teams that went within one win of last season's Super Bowl traded blows in a gripping primetime clash.

The Denver Broncos and the Los Angeles Rams remain potential Super Bowl contenders after losing last season's Conference Championship games.

Both teams had an underwhelming season opener before bouncing back last week, and Sunday's game in Denver gave them an opportunity to show their title credentials.

The Rams dominated the first half and led 16-0 at the interval, but the Broncos regrouped to draw level in the third quarter.

That set up a fascinating finish, with three lead changes in the final five minutes, beginning with an interception by Denver safety Talanoa Hufanga which he ran back for a 66-yard touchdown.

In just over a minute, last season's Most Valuable Player Matt Stafford led the Rams down the field, culminating in a 48-yard touchdown for receiver Konata Mumpfield to regain the lead.

The Broncos replied with quarterback Bo Nix reaching into the endzone after another long drive to put the hosts back in front.

That left Stafford 47 seconds to get into a game-winning position and he did just that. With two seconds left, he had a shot at the endzone from 19 yards, but Hufanga intercepted for a second time to clinch a 30-26 Broncos win.

The Washington Commanders' hopes of getting back in the play-offs were dealt a huge blow last week as quarterback Jayden Daniels dislocated his left elbow.

But Daniels could be back inside three weeks and, although the Commanders hosted defending champions the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, they led 24-10 after experienced back-up Marcus Mariota threw his third touchdown pass.

The Seahawks drew level in the fourth quarter, but Sam Darnold, who returned from a game out for Seattle, then threw his second interception, and it was returned by linebacker Kain Medrano for a 50-yard score.

That proved enough for Washington to clinch a 33-31 win and halt a 12-game win streak by Seattle, which included last season's Super Bowl run.

The New England Patriots were their opponents in the Super Bowl, but their quarterback Drake Maye has struggled since.

After having only 11 turnovers last year, he already has seven this season after another three against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and he was benched as the Jags romped to a 35-6 home win.

After playing in Sao Paulo the past two seasons, the NFL returned to Brazil for its first game in Rio de Janeiro.

There had been concerns about the condition of the field at the iconic Maracana stadium, but there were no issues.

The NFL picked a mouth-watering match-up for Rio and it delivered, with the Baltimore Ravens and the Dallas Cowboys producing a thriller.

Two Derrick Henry touchdowns helped the Ravens into a 24-13 lead in the third quarter before Dallas, playing only their second international game, fought back.

The lead changed hands twice in the fourth quarter and the game looked set for overtime when a Cowboys field goal levelled the score with seven seconds left.

But Lamar Jackson then completed a 27-yard pass down the middle to get the Ravens within field-goal range and Tyler Loop made a 56-yard kick as time expired to win the game 34-31.

That sparked wild celebrations at the Maracana and means all four AFC North teams have a 2-1 record this season.

Some Cleveland Browns fans cheered when quarterback Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending injury in 2024.

Some booed as he returned to action in pre-season, but could Watson finally be winning over the 'Dawg Pound'?

The 31-year-old led the Browns to a comeback win at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week and repeated the feat as Cleveland beat the Carolina Panthers 21-18 in their home opener.

Watson held his nerve to step out of the pocket and fire a 14-yard touchdown pass to tight end Harold Fannin Jr to cap a game-winning 65-yard drive.

"The past is the past," said Watson. "I know we've been through some ups and downs. But if we look forward, build off this win, come back Thursday night and get another big one, we can make something special for this city."

The Browns are at home again on Thursday against divisional rivals the Pittsburgh Steelers, who enjoyed a morale-boosting victory in another AFC North match-up on Sunday.

After only one offensive touchdown in their opening two games, Aaron Rodgers got the Steelers firing, throwing three touchdown passes before Derrick Harmon pulled off a strip-sack on Joe Burrow to seal a 30-27 win at home to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Three of the teams who remain unbeaten are regular play-off contenders. The Buffalo Bills came from 10-0 down to beat the Los Angeles Chargers 24-16, with quarterback Josh Allen barging over for two touchdowns.

Travis Kelce scored as the Kansas City Chiefs won 24-10 at the Miami Dolphins, while Brock Purdy threw four touchdown passes in the San Francisco 49ers' 36-30 win at home to the Arizona Cardinals.

Few expected the Minnesota Vikings to be 3-0, though. They won 23-16 at Tampa Bay despite losing receiver Justin Jefferson to an early ankle injury.

And the biggest surprise has been the Las Vegas Raiders. They have now won as many games as they did last season, when they had the league's worst record.

For the third straight game veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for three touchdowns as the Raiders fought back from 27-16 down to win 35-27 at the New Orleans Saints.

The Philadelphia Eagles could make it six teams with a 3-0 record when they end week three with a trip to the Chicago Bears on Monday.