Early returns on the 2023 NFL Draft class show that Houston Texans may have gotten the best of the rookie quarterbacks. C.J. Stroud was the second quarterback chosen and hasn’t seemed out of place in his three NFL starts. On Sunday, Houston pulled a surprising upset by beating Jacksonville by 20 points on the road.

Indianapolis also was able to pick up a vital overtime victory over Baltimore. The Colts’ victory was impressive thanks to their ability to overcome late adversity and rally to come from behind and win the game. The Jaguars will be searching for answers after consecutive losses at home. Tennessee also had a tough week. The Titans squandered any momentum they built in Week 2 when their offense fell flat against Cleveland.

Current sports news shows the Colts were the biggest winners this weekend, as they took the division lead despite not having their starting quarterback available.

 

Place	Team	W	L	T	Week 3 Result
1.	Indianapolis Colts	2	1	0	W, 22-19 at Baltimore Ravens
2.	Houston Texans	1	2	0	W, 37-17 at Jacksonville Jaguars
2.	Jacksonville Jaguars	1	2	0	L, 37-17 vs. Houston Texans
2.	Tennessee Titans	1	2	0	L, 27-3 at Cleveland Browns

 

Stroud Torments Jacksonville

 

When the Texans took Stroud with the second pick, they hoped to have a potential franchise quarterback. It is too soon to judge Stroud’s career prospects, but the early returns have been good. What has been most important for Stroud is that he hadn’t given the ball away.

Stroud has completed 64.5 percent of his pass attempts and hasn’t thrown an interception. He was able to throw for 280 yards and two touchdowns against Jacksonville. After being sacked 11 times in Houston’s first two games, he wasn’t sacked once against the Jaguars. If the Texans can continue to get strong play from Stroud, Houston should be a contender to throw a wrench into the AFC South Division race. Many people who follow Black sports news will be excited to see how Stroud is doing.

There has been a wave of young, black quarterbacks who have found success in the league in recent years. Stroud’s addition to that lineup will be a welcome one.

 

Colts Benefit from Harbaugh Rolling Dice

When the Colts and Ravens meet, there is always a little extra for the Baltimore fanbase. The Colts jilted the city of Baltimore in 1984 and moved to Indianapolis in the middle of the night. While the NFL has been back in Baltimore for a long time, the Ravens’ fan base always enjoys a win over their old team.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh may have turned the game in overtime. Instead of punting on fourth-and-three near midfield, Harbaugh chose to have Lamar Jackson throw a pass, which fell incomplete. When the Colts took over at their own 47-yard line on the ensuing possession, they rode running back Zack Moss to a win. Moss carried the ball on four straight plays, picking up 18 yards to set up a game-winning 53-yard field goal by Matt Gay. Gay became the first kicker in NFL history to make four field goals of 50 yards or longer in a game. 

 

Titans are Listless on Offense

 

Tennessee thought it had some traction in Week 2. But the Titans’ rhythm and hopes for winning were snuffed out by Cleveland’s defense. During the Titans’ 27-3 loss, they were hampered by being unable to extend drives. Tennessee only converted 2-of-12 third-down attempts.

The Titans also only had 94 yards of total offense on 45 plays. Tennessee star running back Derrick Henry was limited to 20 yards on 11 carries. This was the lowest yardage total the team recorded since they moved from Houston in 1997. 

 

Jaguars Can’t Figure Out Houston

 

Jacksonville was a 7.5-point favorite to beat Houston, but things seldom go in the Jaguars’ favor. Jacksonville has now lost five straight games to Houston. The Texans have won 10 of the past 11 games in the series overall. Jacksonville didn’t do itself any favors during a slow start to the game on offense.

The Jaguars first five drives ended with two missed field goals, one of which was blocked, along with two punts and a fumble. Houston used Jacksonville’s tepid start to build a 17-point lead at halftime. 

 

Beck Sets Record on Kick Return

 

Houston fullback Andrew Beck, who weighs 255 pounds, did something hardly anyone at his position has ever done. He returned a kickoff 85 yards for a score and became the heaviest player in NFL history to return a kickoff for a touchdown. He initially muffed the kick at the 10-yard line before scoping it up and weaving 85 yards for a touchdown.

Beck became the first fullback to return a kickoff for a score, as Derrick Wimbush did for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2005. Beck hadn’t scored a touchdown of any kind since the 2019 season. Up-to-date sports news shows that many teams don’t carry fullbacks at all anymore. If they are on the team, many who play the position seldom touch the ball, let alone break a long run.

 

Garrett Gives Out Pointers

 

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett ripped apart Tennessee’s left tackle Andre Dillard. Garrett finished with 3.5 sacks and generally terrorized the Tennessee backfield. After the game, Dillard asked Garrett for some advice on the field. Garrett gave the lineman some things to watch out for moving forward.

Dillard, a 6-foot-3, 315-pound tackle, was the Eagles’ first-round choice during the 2019 NFL Draft. He played in 42 games and made nine starts during three seasons with Philadelphia. Dillard came to Tennessee before this season in free agency.

Top sports news today will show many fans will be calling for Tennessee to go in a different direction. If Dillard can’t improve quickly, the resentment may build as the season continues.

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