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NFL Week 3: Trends which will decide each game

By Russell S. Baxter

KANSAS CITY, MO - SEPTEMBER 22: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens is pushed out of bounds by Kendall Fuller #29 of the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - SEPTEMBER 22: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens is pushed out of bounds by Kendall Fuller #29 of the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 20: Jeff Driskel #9 of the Denver Broncos is sacked by Cameron Heyward #97 and T.J. Watt #90 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Heinz Field on September 20, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 20: Jeff Driskel #9 of the Denver Broncos is sacked by Cameron Heyward #97 and T.J. Watt #90 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Heinz Field on September 20, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

Cincinnati Bengals (0-2) at Philadelphia Eagles (0-2), 1:00 pm

Bengals: A season ago, no team in the league allowed more yards per game on the ground than Zac Taylor’s club. Two outings into 2020, the Bengals have surrendered 155 and 215 yards rushing, respectively, in losses to the Chargers and Browns. But the Eagles have run for only 178 yards combined in their first two outings in 2020.

Eagles: It’s obviously early but after two weeks, Doug Pederson’s team leads the NFL with six turnovers. And five of those miscues are attributed to fifth-year quarterback Carson Wentz, who has hit on less than 60 percent of his pass attempts, thrown twice as many interceptions (4) as touchdown passes and lost one of his two fumbles.

Houston Texans (0-2) at Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0), 1:00 pm

Texans: The Texans were less than stellar against the run a season ago and in the consecutive losses to the Chiefs and Ravens, Houston has surrendered a combined 396 yards on the ground. In their last three games (including the ‘19 divisional playoffs), Bill O’Brien’s team has allowed a whopping 118 points and a disturbing 13 offensive TDs.

Steelers: Mike Tomlin’s team has had two different players (Benny Snell and James Conner) run for 100-plus yards in as many games this season. But the Pittsburgh ground game was basically an afterthought in the win vs. Denver. Offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner may want to crank up the carries against the NFL’s 31st-ranked run defense.

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