Updated
Updated · ESPN · Sep 28
Five 2025 NFL Playoff Teams Stumble in Week 3 as 3 Blow Fourth-Quarter Leads
Updated
Updated · ESPN · Sep 28

Five 2025 NFL Playoff Teams Stumble in Week 3 as 3 Blow Fourth-Quarter Leads

3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Sep 28

Summary

  • Five 2025 playoff teams took damaging Week 3 losses, with the Chargers, Panthers and Texans all surrendering fourth-quarter leads while the Seahawks and Patriots fell in different but equally alarming fashion.
  • Three of the defeats turned on late-game failures: Houston allowed a 53-yard winning field goal, Carolina gave up a go-ahead touchdown after failing on a 2-point try, and Los Angeles wasted a plus-4 turnover margin in Buffalo.
  • Seattle's 12-game winning streak ended in a 2-point loss to Washington despite 379 yards and 4 touchdown passes from Sam Darnold, as three turnovers produced 21 Commanders points.
  • New England's collapse looked the most lopsided, with Drake Maye's turnover issues deepening after a blowout loss in Jacksonville left the Patriots facing 3-0 Buffalo and Las Vegas next.
  • The broader picture is a chaotic Week 3 that exposed different flaws in presumed contenders—quarterback mistakes, conservative coaching, injuries and late-game execution.

Insights

How did the Seahawks outgain Washington by nearly 200 yards yet still suffer a devastating home loss?
Will Mike Vrabel permanently bench Drake Maye after his historically disastrous turnover streak in Jacksonville?
What hidden factors drove Jim Harbaugh to make such overly conservative calls against a high-powered Bills offense?