49ers news: Which Sunday Week 3 games caught your attention the most?
By Peter Panacy
![Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3845,h_2162,x_0,y_214/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/42/01hb5kbkkvyjcnst5hwx.jpg)
The 49ers got their Week 3 win out of the way on Thursday, meaning Sunday's slate of contests resulted in stress-free football.
While it's usually nice working San Francisco 49ers football into a normal Sunday during fall, the occasional time when they're idle on the final day of the week is actually quite pleasant.
On those days, either due to a bye, Thursday Night Football or Monday Night Football, having a Sunday to watch everyone else but the Niners helps alleviate some stress.
San Francisco won its Week 3 contest already, beating the visiting New York Giants on Thursday Night Football 30-12. While the victory wasn't perfect by any means, it'll still be tough for anyone else to wholly dislodge head coach Kyle Shanahan's squad from the top spot in most experts' NFL power rankings heading into Week 4.
There are still a couple of Monday night games to be played before that's determined, though.
So, with the Niners enjoying a "mini bye week," of sorts, which Sunday game was the most provocative and eye-popping?
Here are the ones we thought raised some eyebrows.
Most telling Week 3 games from around the NFL (some impact the 49ers)
Dolphins 70, Broncos 20
Is this a NCAA basketball game between a powerhouse like Kentucky against a Div. III school?
San Francisco's former offensive coordinator, Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, has to feel pretty good about his offense absolutely throttling the visiting Denver Broncos by scoring 70 points, marking only the fourth time that's happened. Had he not called to take a knee late in the game, McDaniel and the Dolphins could have made history by scoring 73 points with a late field goal.
Either way, Miami's offense will be ranked No. 1 in the league for a while now, and it's always laughable for 49ers fans when quarterback Russell Wilson is on the losing end of a blowout.
Chiefs 41, Bears 10
Remember how all those experts said quarterback Justin Fields and the Chicago Bears would be a legit playoff contender and could easily win the NFC North this season?
Fields is playing horribly, and Chicago is 0-3 after the latest beatdown.
Oh, and Taylor Swift is happy.
Steelers 23, Raiders 18
Stop if you've heard this before, but games can be tough to win if quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo throws an interception.
San Francisco knows that too well, and the Las Vegas Raiders just got handed that lesson with Jimmy G's three picks tossed against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who turned them into 10 points.
Sure, Garoppolo threw for 324 yards and two touchdowns, too, while wide receiver Davante Adams had himself a stat-filled day.
But those turnovers were brutal.
Cardinals 28, Cowboys 16
Wait, what?
The Dallas Cowboys are supposed to be one of the top contenders in the NFC this season, a threat to both the 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles for the conference title, while the rebuilding Arizona Cardinals are contending for nothing else but the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Related story: Trey Lance still hasn't taken a snap since being traded to Cowboys
Instead, Dallas couldn't stop the run, couldn't get out of its own way in the penalty department (13 flags for 107 yards), couldn't convert in the red zone and looked completely disjointed against a far inferior opponent.
And, no, missing three starters up front on the offensive line won't be a good enough excuse for the Cowboys against such a bad red birds squad.
That Arizona squad will play San Francisco next week.
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